A Guide for Admin Assistants to Get Recognized and Grow in Their Careers

Working as an administrative assistant is one of the best career moves you can make if you are looking to move up the career ladder. While many believe it’s just a glorified secretary, the job is much more than that. Not only is it a role that requires a long list of skills, but it’s also broad enough to allow for plenty of movement within many different industries.  

If you’re interested in furthering your career but are unsure how you’re in luck. We’re giving you the tools you need to get recognized and grow in your career. From furthering your education to showcasing your achievements to helping you find the perfect job for you here in Lancaster, PA, you’ll find yourself in a higher-up role in no time.  

Administrative Support: Staffing Agency in Lancaster, PA Outlines How to Get Ahead in Your Career 

Know Your Company and Industry Inside and Out 

Knowledge is power–especially when it’s about your company and the industry you’re interested in. Learn the mission statement, the history, and everything in between. This gives you an idea of how everything works behind the scenes. This gives you an advantage when pitching promotions or career advancements. 

And while this is important, it’s also imperative that you know the industry as a whole inside and out. If you only focus on the company you’re at right now, you will find yourself plateauing sooner than you want. Why? Because as an admin assistant without this knowledge, you are relying on others to be a source of information when to move up, you need to be the one that is relied on. 

Part of this industry knowledge that we recommend having included upcoming trends within industries. If you are looking at going into an industry where there is no projected growth in the forthcoming years, you are going to struggle to find a job. Use the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to your advantage. They help break down median pay, job outlook, similar occupations, and more.  

Analyze Your Experience 

Now that you’ve looked at your company and the industry you’re interested in, it’s time to look inwards. There are three main things that you should consider when looking to grow–your personality, your skills and experience, and your talents. Ask yourself the following questions: 

• What are you most comfortable doing? What do you enjoy doing most? 
• What comes naturally to you? 

• What are admin assistant tasks that you tend to struggle with? 
• Can you juggle multiple tasks at once, or do you perform better when you have one task at hand? 
• What tasks have you done at your current job that could transfer to your new occupation or role? 
• What tasks are you interested in but haven’t had the chance to try out yet? 

Asking yourself these questions may feel silly in the beginning, but they will help point out where your strengths and weaknesses lie. If there are areas where you feel that you are lacking, you can look at training or certification within those areas (which we touch on later).  

Go Above and Beyond 

It’s no secret that administrative assistants wear many hats in their roles. You need to be well-versed in many different areas, from answering calls and emails to scheduling meetings to acting as a receptionist. That’s why admin assistants are so important in an office. The team would be nowhere without you. And while knowing how to do the job in the first place is essential, if you’re looking to grow your career, you need to go beyond the expected duties and responsibilities. 

As with any other role, when you put in more effort than is required, your leaders will take notice. And while some of the tasks may seem mundane, doing so with consistent enthusiasm and your creative spin on them will put you at an advantage with the higher-ups.  

Further Your Education 

No matter what role you are in, getting more education will only help you further your career. Not only does doing so give you a chance to learn new skills, but it also proves that you are serious about your job and future career path. What company doesn’t want someone willing to push themselves and demonstrate that they’re willing to take the initiative to better their skills? 

There are multiple ways that you can further your education. Start by taking any training or certification programs that your company has to offer. If there are none, research what your options are externally. No matter where you take the courses, you will be in a better position than you were before. 

Some of the courses and certifications that you can take include: 

• Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE) – Issued by the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP), this certification helps teach interpersonal communications, project management, computer and technology, and management skills  
• Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) – Hosted by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), this certification is extremely popular amongst admin assistants. It takes place twice a year–once in the spring and once in the fall–and covers topics including organizational communications, business writing and documentation, office record management, event and project management, and more 
• Administrative Assistant Certification (CAA) – Put together by the National Career Certification Board (NCCB), this certification offers all of the basic information that one needs for the role, including clerical, administrative, and organizational duties 

These are just some certifications you can take to help you grow your career. You can find many more, with options that are extremely broad to courses that are tailored to very specific areas. Sites like Skillshare, edX, and Coursera offer an abundance of classes for either free or very little money. 

Once you take these courses, you’ll be able to find a career in a long list of industries–from marketing to HR to sales. If the available jobs that you are coming across are not in the industry that you want, or you just want to try something out part-time before you fully commit, this is a great time to try your hand at freelance or contract work. 

Share Your Accomplishments 

You should be proud of your accomplishments and the certifications you complete. That’s why we can’t recommend sharing your achievements enough. Not only is it the perfect time to showcase your hard work, but it also allows potential employers in Lancaster, PA find you. Even if you’re not big on social media, a LinkedIn account can be highly beneficial for your career. You never know who may stumble across your profile and offer you the job of your dreams. 

Step Out of your Comfort Zone 

One of the best parts about being an admin assistant is the flexibility that you have to get creative within your role. Whether you discover a way to improve your company’s drip campaign or streamline the appointment making process, don’t be afraid to try new things. And when you find something that works, bring your ideas to leadership. Just like with the certification, they will be impressed with your ambition to better the company and the initiative you took to figure this out without being asked.  

Another way to get out of your comfort zone is to volunteer for opportunities that may not necessarily be within your job description. Although these tasks may not be something that you are interested in, in the long run, they help you navigate through your strengths and weaknesses, give you potential new skills, and keep you fresh in your management’s eyes. They also may spark interest in a field that you may have never considered beforehand. 

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask 

Many people–no matter what field they’re in–are too afraid to ask for more. If you’re looking to go further with the company that you’re in now, let those who are in charge of your promotion know that it is something you are interested in. Tell them the roles you are interested in and pick their brains on what they think you need to do to make this possible.  

While this may seem intimidating, most people will appreciate your efforts. They want to see you succeed as much as you want to, and planting this seed in their minds will help them keep you in mind when those important decisions are being made.   

Interested in advancing your career? Work with an Administrative Staffing Agency in Lancaster, PA  

We know that finding a job can be a daunting task. No one wants to sit and scroll through countless job boards to find the job best suited for them. We are firm believers that there are better ways to spend your time. At TriStarr, an administrative staffing agency, we want you to spend more time bettering your skills and less time hustling to find an interview. That’s why our competent team is willing to work with job seekers in Lancaster, PA. To find the perfect job opportunity for you, contact us today!