I’ve been working in administrative support for over 15 years, and I’ve noticed that some of my coworkers have gone on to bigger and better things. So what’s their secret? It turns out it’s not just luck—it’s their skills! In this article, we’ll go over some of the most important administrative assistant skills you can learn to move up in your career.

1. Strategic planning and time management skills

  • Strategic planning and time management skills are essential for administrative assistants. It’s important to manage your time wisely to ensure that you’re accomplishing what needs to be done within the scope of your job.
  • Use a calendar or planner to plan out your day, week, and month so that you know what tasks (both big and small) need to be completed before any meetings begin.
  • Prioritize tasks according to importance, urgency, and deadline dates. This will help prevent last-minute scrambles when trying to complete tasks on time or before a meeting begins.
  • Be prepared for meetings: have materials in advance so there are no delays when the meeting starts; ask questions beforehand if needed; make sure everyone has access to information they need such as phone numbers or email addresses; follow up with relevant parties after the meeting ends.

2. Communication skills

Communication is the most important skill for any administrative assistant to develop. It can be difficult to master, but you must do so. Good communication encompasses a lot of different behaviors and skills:

  • Listening well
  • Speaking clearly and not interrupting others when they’re speaking
  • Asking questions when you don’t understand something instead of making assumptions
  • Not being afraid to speak up if you disagree with what someone has said or done
  • Being open to criticism

You must possess strong communication skills if you want to be successful in your administrative assistant career. 

3. Organization and problem-solving skills

You’ll be surprised how many people have trouble with organization, even if they are not administrative assistants. If you think that someone who doesn’t do this job should not be expected to organize their work, consider the fact that an administrative assistant is often the first point of contact for important documents. They may also have to coordinate schedules and make sure everyone knows what they need to know.

If you have good organizational skills, you will be more efficient at your job and less likely to make mistakes when it comes time for someone else’s approval or sign-off on something. Getting proper training in customer service can help level up your problem solving skills.

4. Basic management knowledge

An administrative assistant should have basic knowledge in business management. In order to be an effective administrative assistant, you’ll need to know how your company operates and how it interacts with the outside world. For example, you’ll want to know who your manager reports to and what their goals are. You’ll also need to understand how your company’s products or services fit into the industry at large, as well as how they’re marketed and sold.

Knowledge of these things is essential for any administrative assistant because it helps them do their jobs more effectively. For example, you can take courses related to business management and strategy from Nicholas Patterson. If you know that a particular decision will have an impact on your team members’ workflows, you can adjust accordingly so everyone is ready for it when it happens.

5. Tech-savvy

It’s important to note that tech skills are not just a useful tool for administrative professionals. Many industries require this type of knowledge, such as the healthcare industry, which relies heavily on computers and digital records.

Computers can be used in many jobs since they provide an efficient way to communicate with people around the world. They also make it easier for employees to get their work done efficiently by allowing them to research things online instead of having to go through books or other sources of information.

Tech savvy is especially helpful in office settings like customer service departments or other places where constant communication is required between employees and clients/customers (ease).

6. Personal characteristics

Being a good administrative assistant requires more than just knowing how to type. You need to show you have the right personality for the job, too.

The following are some personal characteristics that will help you succeed as an administrative assistant:

  • Be a team player.

When working in an office environment, you must be able to work with others and support them as much as possible. This means being flexible about your schedule, having patience when others need guidance, and being willing to stay late if necessary—but also taking care of yourself by setting aside time for self-care so that you can stay healthy and focused on getting your work done at all times.

  • Be confident in yourself and your abilities

and be able to communicate those things! Being confident doesn’t mean bragging or bragging to other people; it means having a good attitude when faced with challenges or setbacks (which will happen). Confident people don’t panic under pressure because they know they’re capable of handling whatever comes their way—and they let everyone around them know this through their words AND actions (including body language).

7. You can use these skills to move up in your career.

According to the leading executive assistant recruitment in Sydney, these skills can definitely be used to help you move up in your career to an executive assistant. As an administrative assistant, you’re likely being relied on for a lot of tasks and responsibilities. You may have taken on more responsibility than a new hire would have been given. You may have been asked to take on challenging tasks, such as handling sensitive information or working with different departments or teams within the company. If this is true for you, then congratulations! You already know what it takes to succeed in an administrative role—and that means that you are ready for even more!

Conclusion

These are just a few of the administrative assistant skills that can get you ahead in your career. The great news is that anyone can learn them, as long as they’re willing to put in the time. So if you’re looking to boost your career, start by learning these key skills today!