| Every business or corporation has key people who | | | | certified by the National Association of Legal |
| keep the office running smoothly. They take calls, | | | | Secretaries (NALS), Inc. |
| schedule meetings, prepare reports, oversee mailings, | | | | Training for a Career as an Administrative Assistant |
| troubleshoot problems, and manage projects. They are | | | | How do you prepare for a career as an administrative |
| administrative assistants and secretaries, and without | | | | assistant? You need to be prepared. Personal |
| them the world of business would grind to a halt. | | | | grooming is important, and you have to know how to |
| You can find them in a wide variety of office settings. | | | | work in an office environment. A high school diploma |
| Administrative assistants work in small offices, in | | | | or GED is essential. College-level training is even better. |
| nonprofits such as museums, in universities, in big | | | | Many accredited career schools offer diploma, |
| multinational corporations, and in government. They | | | | certificate, associate degree, or bachelor's degree |
| often have skills that are transferable from one setting | | | | programs in business. Programs typically last from one |
| to another, so they can more easily jump up the ladder | | | | year for a diploma to four years for a bachelor's |
| of business success. Many administrative assistants | | | | degree. For the convenience of working adults, many |
| get additional education, which may include a master of | | | | business degree programs are available online, even |
| business administration, to qualify for upper | | | | MBAs. |
| management positions. | | | | New Jobs Are Being Created Now |
| In the old days, they were all simply called secretaries. | | | | The job outlook is good. According to the U.S. |
| They had to know how to type and how to make | | | | government, in the current decade from 2008 through |
| coffee. No longer! Today's administrative assistants | | | | 2018 the U.S. will add about 471,000 new administrative |
| are highly qualified members of the office team. They | | | | assistant and secretarial jobs of all types. Growth will |
| must be proficient in many computer software | | | | vary according to the job category. The best |
| applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and | | | | prospects will be for medical secretaries, legal |
| Access. They may use Powerpoint to create | | | | secretaries, executive secretaries, and administrative |
| audiovisual presentations, and they prepare reports | | | | assistants. Career opportunities are expected to be |
| from database information and coordinate projects. | | | | best for people with training in software applications, |
| They use a variety of office equipment including | | | | and for experienced administrative assistants and |
| photocopiers, scanners, fax machines, and | | | | secretaries. Opportunities should be very good for |
| videoconferencing and telephone systems. | | | | applicants with advanced computer and |
| Many administrative assistants specialize in a specific | | | | communication skills. |
| career field. Medical secretaries work in health care | | | | But how do you get started? The best way is to |
| settings, including physician's offices and hospitals. They | | | | research career colleges. Log onto a reputable online |
| do not treat patients, but assist physicians or medical | | | | college directory. Search for administrative assistant or |
| personnel with reports, articles, speeches, and | | | | business programs. Compare colleges and what they |
| conference proceedings. Legal secretaries assist | | | | have to offer, including financial aid and career |
| attorneys in law offices, reviewing legal journals and | | | | services. Then contact the schools that offer what |
| assisting with legal research. They may also prepare | | | | you need. In less time than you think, you could be |
| legal papers including complaints, motions, summonses, | | | | training for a rewarding career or expanding your |
| responses, and subpoenas under the supervision of an | | | | existing training to qualify for a better job. |
| attorney or a paralegal. Legal secretaries may be | | | | |