If you regularly feel unhappy, physically tired or emotionally drained, it's time to reevaluate some of the choices you make on a daily basis. More than likely, you adopted...
Personal development is all about self-improvement. It includes achieving heightened self-awareness, striking an ideal work-life balance, developing your potential and...
Everyone wants to work in a calm, stress-free environment, but not all workplaces deliver. Few things cause discord in an office setting like the discussion of a controversial...
Change is inevitable, and it's how you deal with these changes that determines your success in life. Whether you have a new boss or are taking on new responsibilities, there...
Have you ever wondered how your colleagues feel about the interoffice emails you send? Probably not, as most people who send emails are concerned with the content and nothing...
More than likely, your boss has at least one favorite worker at the office. Good bosses generally don't declare the names of their favorite workers in a public forum, but most...
A company's meeting rooms are in constant demand, and the frequent use of these rooms by different teams can leave things messy and disorganized. Good management is essential...
The workplace can be stressful enough without employees who are constantly negative, moody or sullen. Co-workers who pessimistic, cynical or gloomy tend to bring down the...
It's a well-known fact that physical clutter can wreak havoc on your mental well-being; a disorganized home or work space can cause higher stress levels, fatigue and even...
Spending a long, hard day at work and then coming home to deal with numerous family and financial responsibilities can overwhelm anyone. Those who don't find ways to...
You likely receive work-related memos, emails, texts or phone messages from colleagues on a daily basis, but nothing beats team meetings when it comes to sharing company...
If you consistently come up with new ideas at work but your boss never implements them, you've probably considered dumping your current job for a company that values your...
Maintaining the role of an administrative assistant comes with challenges. Not only are you tasked with multiple duties, but you are also responsible for keeping the office...
From email to Skype chat, digital communications enable faster collaboration and fewer meetings, but they also put your business writing skills in the spotlight more than ever....
From waiting in line for security clearance to sitting through flights and shuttle rides at odd hours, traveling for business can be tiring. Fortunately, travel planners can...
When working in an office environment, it's important to have cohesive relationships with your co-workers. However, when tensions are high, employee morale suffers, ultimately...
As a busy administrative assistant, it can be challenging to juggle all of your daily responsibilities, especially if your email inbox receives a constant stream of messages....
Have you ever given any consideration to what your writing style reveals about your personality? Those who read your letters, emails and other correspondence make certain...
By the year 2020, almost 50 percent of employees will be millennials. These workers are not the generation of the past and require something a little different to keep them...
As an administrative assistant, you know you're a vital part of the office as opposed to just having a support role. Without you, some people may fall apart because you're not...
Even in a dynamic career, your enthusiasm can burn out as the job becomes less challenging. Projects that once made you happy at work start to seem tedious, and it gets harder...
The performance reviews of the past may no longer be relevant for the modern-day workforce. Employees want quality feedback in a timely and constructive manner, which has led...
For an administrative worker, professional networks are useful for more than job hunting. When utilized correctly, they can also help you become more productive and efficient....
On the job, others' perceptions of you matter, since the way you come across to managers, colleagues and subordinates directly impacts your ability to advance your career. One...
For administrative professionals, presentations are often part of the job. Whether you're an assistant or a full-time administrator, you're likely to find yourself putting...
When you want to forge ahead in your field, certain productive habits can streamline the process. By following the example of successful people, you can refine your...
Writing letters in a professional setting is an art. Whether you're writing to customers, employees or higher-ups, you need to assert yourself and get your point across without...
As an administrative assistant, you're in a position to influence the mood of your office. At the same time, you likely pick up a lot of stress from others and from your own...
Whether you are anticipating a career change or adjusting to the changing workforce within your current job as an administrative assistant, it is natural to experience...
If you have a disorganized boss, you might think you are doomed to work in a chaotic environment. However, there are ways to compensate for your boss's lack of organization and...
Drumming up topics to maintain small talk with your boss can be awkward, but preparing yourself for these conversations can actually help you to learn more about your workplace...
Productivity is a key part of getting work done in the office, but it's very easy to get distracted. Unfortunately, multitasking is one of the biggest distractions out there,...
If you work in an administrative or clerical position, you may feel a bit awkward if your boss or others in your department ask you to voice your opinion about a potentially...
Working for multiple bosses is no easy task, but many administrative assistants and other employees sometimes find themselves in this tricky situation. Instead of collapsing...
As an administrative assistant, you need to remain at the top of your game at all times, even on days when you don't feel your best. In addition to having the most efficient...
It can be difficult to define what makes a charismatic person. Charisma seems like such an elusive characteristic — something you're either born with or you're not. The good...
By the end of the workweek, you're likely dragging as a result of the physically and mentally demanding duties you've faced during days prior. Don't let yourself run out of...
The role of an administrative assistant within a company changes constantly. There are new tools, new duties and new people to handle as you expand your skills and experience....
Executive assistants support the top-level executives of an organization and usually report directly to the CEO. Like administrative secretaries, they perform a wide range of...
In the contemporary office, it is rare for anyone to have a personal secretary. With modern technology decreasing the time necessary for many administrative tasks, it is...
In today's modern and often challenging workplace, an administrative assistant serves as the nucleus of the office. Admins play an essential role as the liaison between a...
Acquiring new skills is integral to administrative and clerical roles, but finding the time and money for formal education can be challenging. Fortunately, most professional...
Work productivity takes a dive when distractions become a standard part of your day. Whether you're struggling with personal procrastination or environmental disruptions,...
Most admin jobs require professionalism, top-notch communication skills and a myriad of other talents, no matter what industry you work in. Up for the challenge? Be prepared to...
Being a great administrative assistant requires excellent organizational skills and a knack for being ready for anything. Keeping the right supplies on or in your desk is an...
If you want to move beyond your position as an administrative assistant, you could be in luck. A recent New York Times survey of top executives suggests opportunity for admin...
When entering salary negotiations or preparing for an annual evaluation, it's in your best interest to know your worth and investigate comparable salaries. Businesses often...
Administrative assistants are tasked with a plethora of projects and job duties, but one of the most important characteristics needed to succeed in the position is leadership...
It can be nerve-wracking to fill the shoes of your boss during a business meeting, but with preparation and a confident attitude, you can make both your boss and your company...
Maintaining a positive attitude might seem impossible at times, particularly for those who have high-stress jobs or spend the entire workday around pessimistic, unhappy people....
As an administrative or clerical professional, you already know that having administrative procedures in place makes your job easier. However, many businesses, especially...
No matter how well administrative assistants communicate with their bosses, they don't always feel comfortable discussing their pet peeves. Assistants who are afraid to speak...
It isn't uncommon for an organization to have at least one negative employee. This person might try to find flaws in any situation, spread gossip, undermine managers, harass...
Running a business without a plan can slow your progress and make your workload seem unmanageable. Whether you're a rising executive or entry-level assistant, organizational...
Administrative professionals are the unsung heroes of many businesses, as they often work behind the scenes to ensure that the company operates seamlessly. If you're looking...
An administrative assistant wears many hats in a company, including confidante to the boss, switchboard, receptionist, organizer and self-starter. One role that may not seem so...
An administrative assistant needs to know a little bit of everything to succeed at the office. A true pro must juggle schedules, know how to use every piece of office software,...
Regular communication among team members is vital in the workplace, as it allows them to collaborate, solve problems and make important business decisions. Email is convenient,...
Modern administrative professionals deal with input from multiple channels simultaneously. Requests come in through text, email, instant message, social media, standard mail...
For administrative professionals, operational inefficiencies are a constant source of frustration. They lead to wasted time, a drop in output and missed deadlines. If you're...
"Demanding" and "inflexible" probably aren't leadership qualities you look for in an ideal boss, but a tough leader is often the driving force behind a successful career. Tough...
As an administrative assistant, your workload sometimes seems overwhelming. For times when that big report is due, the shareholders' meeting is coming up, a huge client is in...
Administrative assistants regularly rely on goal setting to succeed personally and professionally while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. However, without the necessary...
Your workplace is likely driven by deadlines, and the hustle and bustle can cause you to abandon a work-life balance when the pressure takes over. However, your health and...
Changes are inevitable, both in life and in the workplace. How you deal with change determines how quickly you adapt to something new at the office, whether you have a merger,...
The pace of business increases thanks to the global economy, more technological tools that make jobs more efficient and the improving job market that occurred after the end of...
Whether you're fresh on the job market looking for your first professional position or you're an industry veteran trying to score a promotion, it's important to market your...
Companies who seek an outstanding administrative assistant want an employee who can help everyone at the office excel at their jobs. The person who fills that role must...
Administrative assistants play a major role in the day-to-day operations of any business. Great administrative assistants come with a variety of technical and interpersonal...
The role of administrative assistants often changes from one day to the next. You may be asked to organize an event, follow up with client correspondence and assist executives...
Not everyone at the office sees eye to eye all of the time — and that's OK, because not everyone has the exact same personality. Just because people come from different...
For an ultra-organized administrative professional, an unorganized boss can be a nightmare. The constant disorder from a superior can upset your system and impact your...
To-do lists help you separate actionable tasks from conceptual goals so you can efficiently allocate your time. Focus on what needs to happen now, and avoid getting distracted...
Perpetually running behind isn't the best formula for a successful career, but scrambling to finish your workload on time is pointless if you don't learn how to differentiate...
Whether you're a marketing director working on your company's latest advertising campaign or an administrative assistant juggling supply orders and employee records, to-do...
A to-do list can be your best friend or your worst enemy on any given day. The tasks looming may haunt you, yet you get a feeling of accomplishment once you cross off each...
To be a successful administrative assistant, you must become a jack-of-all-trades and feel comfortable adapting to new skill sets as need arises. Besides, you often have...
Administrative assistants do much more than take phone messages, organize files and schedule appointments. These hardworking professionals exist throughout nearly every...
It can be challenging to start a new job as an administrative assistant. You have a new boss, a new team and a new company culture to learn. Identify how you can succeed by...
As an administrative assistant, you have many tasks, duties and jobs around the always-busy office you help run. You should have a job title that matches your prowess, but you...
Organizing digital files may seem like a thing of the past thanks to the Search function on your computer. However, nothing could be further from the truth. As an...
The end-of-the-year holiday season is a busy time in many offices. While cheery music and festive lights can put a smile on your face, an undercurrent of "need-to-rush" paired...
Company leaders often expect executive assistants to know what they're thinking and make their demands a reality. Yet, the wants and needs of assistants are rarely priorities...
If you're unsure if your company has an emergency action plan, it means that even if one exists, it either isn't adequate or hasn't been implemented properly. The point of an...
Surviving each day as an executive assistant requires the right balance of skills, personal motivation, awareness and interpersonal communication. Your job can become...
The role of an administrative assistant is to provide support for employees, executives and administrators. The position is demanding and requires strong communication skills,...
Being an administrative assistant is a crucial role at many companies, from small businesses up to huge companies that make billions of dollars in revenue. Opportunities for...
Administrative jobs are dynamic by nature, requiring you to adapt to whatever tasks arise on a daily basis and come up with creative solutions to operational hiccups. While...
As an administrative assistant, you take on many roles as someone who knows how to do a little bit of everyone's job in the office. Aside from filing papers, scheduling...
It is no secret that the role of an administrative assistant is demanding, fast-paced and hectic at times. Partnering with your boss to complete projects, provide support and...
Administrative assistants wear a variety of hats in the modern workplace, and their role extends far beyond simple clerical duties. Today's admin ensures a company runs...
Steady focus is essential for administrative professionals, especially those who support large departments or work in executive suites. Unfortunately, many things make it...
Administrative assistants are tasked with a significant amount of ever-changing duties that often leave them with questions on a daily basis. Breakdowns in office communication...
If you are looking for an entry-level office job, consider becoming an administrative assistant. The administrative assistant is an essential position in most organizations,...
For administrative assistants, time management is crucial to a productive workday. Wasting time can increase stress and cause you to get behind on important assignments. If...
If you find yourself stuck in a rut as an administrative assistant, perhaps you find yourself lacking a challenge or bored with mundane, everyday tasks at your current...
Millennials — those born in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s — are a working class all their own. Also known as Generation Y, this group makes up the largest generation in the...
Office workers, executive assistants and office managers may feel like another "cog in the corporate wheel" as just another staffer in a large corporation. One way to stand out...
Like any other communication medium, email comes with a set of unwritten, but widely accepted, rules of conduct. The rules are particularly important in the workplace, where...
The job of an administrative assistant goes way beyond typing, filing and greeting clients who come through the door. An administrative assistant is essentially the backbone of...
The role of an administrative assistant includes not only managing an office environment but also maintaining effective communication with employees and clients. You can...
When you spend hours churning out work at a desk, it's easy to forget that your body isn’t working nearly as hard as your brain. Desk jobs are prevalent in many corporate,...
For most professionals, the idea of a carefree summer break is a long-gone privilege, reserved only for schoolchildren. In reality, you must complete a full workday even when...
A common procedure during employee evaluations is to compile a performance improvement plan. Employers often focus on ways their subordinates can improve skills to enhance the...
It is inevitable that administrative assistants have to deal with rude clients or even impolite employees on the job. Administrative assistants must provide service with a...
Individuals in administrative and clerical positions provide a vital service for businesses. A career in this field requires professional to manage office procedures and...
Professionals often wear many hats and are expected to sacrifice personal time to further their career. You can achieve healthy boundaries and a career balance to succeed on...
Administrative assistants are tasked with more than just gathering files, answering phones and providing clerical support. Today's executives need an assistant who provides...
Administrative assistants are tasked with managing an office environment and providing support for executives and employees. These type of clerical positions play an important...
Administrative professionals work with a wide range of people during the course of a normal business day. Inevitably, some of those people have difficult personalities that...
The role of administrative assistant has moved beyond just an office secretary. More often than not, executives, managers and bosses count on office staff to become valuable...
Today's administrative assistant is an essential part of any successful organization. Quill conducted a survey of over 1,500 administrative assistants to define characteristics...
Nearly every successful business relies on a skilled administrative assistant or group of administrative assistants to maintain the workflow and increase productivity. Today's...
Administrative assistants juggle many tasks at once, often take care of several people in an office, and must manage several facets of their job simultaneously. When your boss...
Many workers must fight the urge to procrastinate every day. Whether you have a presentation to create, a client to impress or a stack of documents to edit, you must learn to...
New ideas play a critical role in any sustainable business model, and it is therefore important for both managers and employees to be able to nurture and develop these ideas...
Administrative careers put you in close contact with a company’s entire network, so creative avoidance is rarely a long-term option when coping with difficult colleagues or...
A successful administrative assistant has just the right blend of job-specific skills and personality traits. If you're ready to move from an entry-level administrative...
Many professionals find themselves attending a seemingly endless parade of dry, boring meetings as part of their work week. Good meetings are meant to motivate, organize and...
Secretaries Day, now updated to Administrative Professionals Day, falls during the last week of April every year around the world. This day gives bosses, managers and...
Today's executive assistant is much more than a generic secretary. You may find yourself managing personnel, creating and managing complex itineraries and events, and...
Public speaking skills aren’t always listed in job descriptions, but employers expect you to communicate ideas and deliver engaging presentations to succeed in professional...
Administrative assistants are the central characters of any successful business. Great administrative assistants have a good combination of soft skills, such as communication,...
As an administrative assistant, you likely handle dozens of tasks each day. If you don't have the ability to prioritize tasks and keep track of what you've accomplished, it's...
For administrative professionals, it is not uncommon to spend a great deal of time in a single position. If your office ergonomics are not up to par, the way you work may be...
As an executive assistant, you must be comfortable being assertive with your colleagues and visitors to your office. Unfortunately, some assistants shy away from being...
Today's administrative assistant is a far cry from the secretaries of the past. The modern administrative assistant is truly the nucleus of any company, no matter the industry,...
A stressful company culture can significantly impact productivity and profitability, not to mention the health of employees. Workplace stress can also cause employee...
By maintaining confidentiality, administrative assistants can protect their company and its clients and prevent potentially destructive issues. Consider some of the ways...
As an administrative professional, you must have the ability to look at a to-do list and immediately determine which tasks are the most important. Prioritizing tasks...
Whether you are a new hire or a seasoned employee, winning respect on the job is essential for your confidence, peace of mind and joy at work. Consider some ways that you can...
A manager is supposed to be one of the most competent people in the department. Unfortunately, not every manager has the skills required to lead a team of employees. If you...
It's no secret that it can be a challenge to maintain productivity and profitability in a chaotic work environment. Administrative assistants are tasked with keeping control of...
Keeping the office kitchen and other communal areas tidy and sanitary is a hot topic for many companies large and small. A good approach to keeping things tidy is to involve...
The role of the admin assistant has changed drastically in recent years, with still more changes expected. Today's administrative professional regularly spends less time on...
The role of the administrative assistant is constantly evolving, creating a lot of competition within the industry. Some employers receive hundreds of applications for each...
Dealing with a bad boss makes everything about your job more difficult, from getting through team meetings to performing some of your most basic job duties. As an...
Administrative assistants can’t succeed without impeccable interpersonal skills. Honing your interpersonal skills is necessary, but what type of soft skills should your strive...
What does the conference room of the future look like? Before the advent of videoconferencing, a meeting room probably resembled a wide-open room with tables that faced each...
Even the most organized employees face challenges with time management from time to time. Workplace distractions, such as urgent tasks, frequent phone calls, client follow-ups...
The role of administrative assistant has changed drastically over the years. The misconception that the position solely consists of photocopying documents and making coffee is...
Administrative assistants have many responsibilities in the office, and sometimes a suitable replacement cannot be found when an administrative assistant needs time off. Enjoy...
One of the primary challenges in the workplace is learning how to voice your opinion and maintain professionalism and credibility. The risk of offending bosses and coworkers...
Is a messy desk truly the sign of a cluttered mind, as some have opined? Or is it an indication that there's creative work going on, even if it's hard to find amid all the...
Businesses rely heavily on the support of administrative assistants. You are the one who keeps the office running efficiently and fuels improvements that benefit the company....
For administrative professionals, a typical day can involve multiple projects, meetings and tasks — enough to cause stress for even the most seasoned worker. Over time, that...
For clerical and administrative staff, forms are in constant use. Another constant of your day should be time management, and learning to make interactive Word documents is one...
Administrative professionals have come a long way from the days when they were only expected to be able to type, make coffee and perhaps take shorthand. As of 2015,...
No matter what your industry, disorganized co-workers are an inevitability. For administrative professionals who depend heavily on organization to get through the day, dealing...
If you're an administrative assistant, it likely falls to you to create office signs every time your boss wants to remind employees about the rules of the department....
Purchasing professional attire on a limited budget isn’t always easy. However, a proper wardrobe is necessary if you want to be successful. A good rule of thumb is to dress for...
A scientific study has shown that people who spend most of their day sitting down have a higher risk of death than those who are more active. In light of this finding, many...
Office assistants navigate through many different people in a given day from both inside and outside of work. While most people are generally pleasant, some workplace...
As a leader, your responsibilities vary from day to day and sometimes from hour to hour. Inevitably, upper management holds you accountable for the results of your team. The...
In most organizations, executive assistant is one or more steps up from other administrative positions such as receptionist or secretary. On an executive level, administrative...
Personality traits in the workplace are a key part of the company culture. Assertive workplace personalities may appear to be confrontational, but the reality is that assertive...
If you are planning to take a vacation from work, you need to prepare yourself and others. Consider some of the things you can do to make your upcoming vacation as stress-free...
People argue for three primary reasons. Either they want to convince the other person to see things their way, they want to prove the other person wrong, or in many cases, they...
As an administrative assistant, getting a well-defined list of your responsibilities may be difficult. You will likely do a wide variety of tasks for one or more office...
Business meetings are a necessary evil. They can be a productivity killer since they disrupt workflow and distract people from their daily tasks. However, communication is...
Being an administrative assistant involves far more than just filing papers and taking notes. Admin assistants actually have an array of responsibilities, including helping...
If you work as an admin assistant or in another administrative or clerical profession, then you know how many events, meetings and deadlines you have to keep track of every...
Almost every office worker has to put up with one or two whiney coworkers, but admin assistants often have to handle far more than their fair share of complainers. Although it...
If you want to progress in an administrative or clerical career, it is essential you continue learning and developing your skills. Gaining extra qualifications and...
Holding a position as an administrative assistant brings new challenges to the table for anyone desiring to work in the field. Consider the ways that the work of administrative...
Today's administrative assistant is the backbone of any company, and as such, needs to be adept at a variety of tasks. As the instability of the economy causes many businesses...
To be a top-notch administrative assistant, it takes more than just showing up and looking professional. This office support position requires certain qualities and attributes...
Executive assistants have specific, vital and tricky roles within a company. An employee in this position anticipates an executive's work, helps run day-to-day operations and...
Becoming a virtual assistant may seem like the ideal job for the person who has great administrative skills but is burned out from dragging in to an office every day. Maybe...
Constantly viewing emails while at work may be a sign of a good administrative assistant. It shows due diligence, dedication to the job and an ability to discriminate between...
Even during the happiest of seasons, the holiday blues can sneak up on you. All of the excitement and build-up to the holidays can lead to a big letdown after it's all over....
An administrative assistant in the 21st century need not be tied to her desk in order to run an efficient office. A fast computer and a great phone system are still necessary...
As an administrative assistant, what you do in the morning has a big impact on the rest of your day. In fact, your morning routine affects your entire department and determines...
The last two months of every year mark a time when companies, employees, executives and administrative assistants take stock of the previous year and set goals for the future....
An administrative assistant is an invaluable employee to company managers and executives, especially when this type of professional makes the entire office run more...
An increasing number of companies are adopting a BYOD (bring your own device) policy in their workplaces. Rather than providing each employee with a computer and phone, many...
Administrative professionals often work behind the scenes, quietly ensuring that projects run smoothly. That lack of visibility may lead superiors to unwittingly overlook your...
You have encountered at least one of them at some point in your career. Just the mere mention of one of their names causes you to involuntarily roll your eyes. They are often...
The rise of the Internet is affecting the job market and traditional roles. Employees can now work remotely while maintaining complete communications with their offices and...
Change is a tough pill to swallow no matter what your profession is. Whether you work in an environment that is constantly evolving or one that remains fairly stagnant,...
The administrative assistant skills necessary to be successful in an administrative support role have changed significantly over the past 15 to 20 years. Managers and...
During recent years, the number of security breaches that were responsible for leaking sensitive information has skyrocketed. As a result, many companies are anxious to find...
Saying no at work is, in today’s world, still seen as a taboo action that many assume to be costly and unprofessional. Saying no to the boss in and of itself is a big no-no....
Every year, many companies celebrate the holidays by throwing a party for their employees. Not only do holiday parties boost employee morale and help get people into the spirit...
Many administrative professionals work on multiple projects simultaneously or provide support to more than one person, making excellent organization a must. Highly developed...
Many people wonder what special methods it takes to stand out in any professional work environment. As an administrative worker, you can do a few key things to give yourself an...
Imagine your future. What do you see? Perhaps this is just the beginning of a much broader career path for you; maybe it's the start of, or the continuation of, excellence in...
Office life can be stressful: employees are routinely asked to take on heavy workloads, work longer hours and take pay cuts. In some cases, a bad boss can add even more stress...
Most people think of the relationship between mentoring and career building as a one-way street. People look for mentors to help them advance in their careers, right? A little...
In a world which seems beset by constant change, the very concept of job security sometimes seems passé. The real key is to stop thinking about security in your current...
Administrative professionals often work in close proximity to colleagues, creating a lack of personal space. A noisy and annoying co-worker can damage your productivity by...
A firm grasp of office technology and procedures is needed to excel as an administrative assistant. Most administrative assistants oversee the daily function of their office,...
Being a good administrative assistant is not easy. It requires a lot of hard work, sometimes longer hours, more tasks, more deadlines and more drive. Not everyone is cut out to...
Managing time can be a challenging feat for the average worker: long meetings, constant emails and other petty distractions can take a big chunk out of your productivity....
Becoming a mentor to others is a noble, rewarding choice that you can make today to make a lasting difference. Consider some of the reasons why you should become a mentor to...
As 2015 looms ever nearer, many businesses are beginning to consider the potential operational and technological changes for the new year. Because administrative professionals...
Gone are the days when administrative assistant training consisted of little more than typing and shorthand classes in high school. Contemporary administrative assistants need...
A good administrative assistant combines administrative skills with professionalism and enthusiasm for the work at hand. Organizations hiring clerical or administrative staff...
The executive assistant position in today's fast-paced office bears little resemblance to the more common administrative assistant role and even less to the position of...
For a busy administrative professional, it is not uncommon for work to bleed over into the personal realm. When it does, finding time for personal development can feel...
As an administrative assistant, you are tasked with taking a lot of notes. Sometimes you take notes during business meetings. Other times you take notes when your boss is...
An executive assistant role is different from the typical administrative assistant role in that, instead of serving a team or department of people, the executive assistant...
The median annual salary of an administrative assistant, or AA, is $35,330, according to data gathered by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2012. However, the...
The role of an administrative assistant, or AA, is to keep the administrative functions of an office running smoothly. An administrative assistant performs traditional...
Being an administrative assistant is not easy. It is a job title that does not always command the amount of respect it deserves. Many administrative assistants share a core of...
If you have too many things to do in a day and you need help, it may be time to hire a personal assistant. A personal assistant is a business professional that works for you to...
Gone are the days when working as support staff in an office setting meant fetching coffee and running personal errands for upper management. Advanced technology has taken...
Becoming an administrative assistant can be a daunting task to some, but even professionals with basic computing skills can succeed with a little time and extra training. To...
Every industry has office assistants. The type of work these assistants perform can vary, but there are certain skills, traits and requirements that all office assistants are...
A difficult supervisor in the workplace makes the work environment more stressful for everyone. Bad bosses can create a toxic work situation, decrease workplace efficiency and...
Administrative assistants, often known as AAs, are taking on increasing amounts of responsibility in the workplace. The role of an admin assistant has grown to include...
For administrative workers, professional development often falls by the wayside. Whether you are an assistant or an administrator, new skills can make you a more valuable...
At the beginning of any new career, many people wonder if joining professional organizations would be beneficial to their career advancement. Membership in some of these...
These days, people are more technologically plugged-in than ever before. It seems there's hardly a moment when you're not plugged into a smartphone, tablet, computer or other...
Working for one boss can be a challenge — let alone multiple bosses. When you report to more than one person, the burden often falls on you to manage each set of...
Most administrative positions come with a healthy dose of stress. While some stress is unavoidable, how you handle stress on a daily basis determines not only the quality of...
Efficiency is the key to being a successful administrative professional. Excellent communication and organizational skills are what separates exceptional admins from the rest,...
Getting a new administrative assistant job can be tricky, but you can shine in your position if you are well-prepared. The extent of the job responsibilities varies in every...
For an administrative professional, offering feedback to a supervisor can be a complicated and even uncomfortable process. In more modern workplace cultures, supervisors...
Sometimes referred to as AAs or admins, administrative assistants are expected to grow in importance as organizations restructure and offices increasingly adopt new...
Burnout is a chronic state of stress that leads to total exhaustion, loss of efficiency, and lack of optimism for work and life. It's important to be able to spot the signs of...
If you think being an administrative assistant only means making photocopies and answering phones, think again. Administrative assistants are taking on more roles, including...
An office manager serves as a general overseer of a business' operations. The person who holds this position is responsible for a wide variety of tasks and responsibilities...
A receptionist is the central point of any business, and it takes a good receptionist to keep the daily operations of a company running smoothly. This is the first person with...
People working in administrative and clerical roles often have to communicate with many different people within an organization. One of the hardest aspects of managing this...
It seems as though in today’s online and virtual business spaces, administrative assistants are in decline. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the administrative...
In the administrative and clerical field, it's important to know how much of your time at work is spent productively. Improving your time management skills will prevent you...
Administrative assistants not only require all the organizational and communications skills they have always needed, but they also need to have some key technology skills that...
People working in administrative or clerical positions often have to walk a delicate balance between getting work done and providing customer service. These tasks often have to...
A bad boss can quickly become a long-term thorn in an employee’s side. There are two small ways to tell whether to move forward with an opportunity or run for the hills....
Administrative assistants play a very important role in any office. They are the ones who keep the office running and are the central point of reference for other employees....
The importance of having an effective email subject line cannot be understated. According to Digital Marketing Advisors Convince & Convert, 35 percent of individuals open an...
Admin assistants play a vital role in keeping offices running efficiently, but they are often undervalued and underpaid. In order to advance their careers, admin assistants...
While it's a supervisor's job to make sure that his employees produce quality work in a timely manner, some are harder to get along with than others. Putting up with a...
Google Chrome has emerged as a heavily used and high-performing web browser. It offers quite a few optional extensions that enhance its already impressive capabilities and...
From a boss who gets in your face over deadlines to those that micromanage every minute, most employees agree that forced productivity is a working nightmare. Using some simple...
New technologies often have the potential to save time and streamline operating procedures at the office. For administrative professionals, who often carry out tasks for a...
Not every boss enjoys working with people, and many lack communication skills. If you think you're doing your job properly but routinely find yourself in hot water for...
Great employees realize that an upcoming vacation from work is more blissful when critical tasks are completed ahead of schedule. You can do a few things to prepare for your...
Although the specific job skills that are crucial to running a successful company may vary from one field to another, indispensable employees share qualities that transcend...
Membership in a professional group can have a positive impact on your career. Many groups provide everything from networking opportunities to job referrals. Before you invest a...
If you are like many administrative professionals, you handle requests from executives and other employees. Over time, you may find that other employees begin to take it for...
Most job seekers are advised to develop a five-year plan to help them plan their careers. However, people who choose administrative or clerical jobs often wonder whether the...
Administrative assistants serve as a figurative jack-of-all-trades for modern workplaces, as they juggle a multitude of different tasks and responsibilities over the course of...
Scheduling a meeting for employees or managers cuts into your organization's time and resources directly, so you want to make sure you achieve maximum productivity during each...
From time to time, nearly every modern worker needs to send a difficult email. Whether communicating with a colleague, business partner or customer, sending one of these...
With the advent of mobile computing, today's workers have many options for remaining efficient on the go. Mobile productivity is greatly enhanced through the multitude of...
Many administrative assistants put in a long day at the office and go home thinking they have been diligent, hard workers all day without realizing that, in reality, they are...
Writing down a quick note occasionally to jog your memory at work is a basic function, but using your notebook in a methodical, purposeful manner to accomplish a variety of...
Workplace stress is rarely confined internally; if you aren't careful, it can affect your attitude, communication style and interactions with others. For administrative...
Social media has made it easy for consumers to communicate with companies online, which has created more work for administrative professionals. It is common for one person to...
For many administrative professionals, productivity is difficult to achieve on a regular basis. From constant employee requests to the call of social media, the modern...
Administration assistants and clerical workers provide an invaluable lifeline for companies of all shapes and sizes. As an admin professional, you handle a myriad of tasks on...
Businesses often employ metrics as a way to track progress and productivity over time. If you are serious about career development, you can use the same strategy to boost your...
An effective administrative assistant serves a vital role in the function of a healthy workplace. These multi-talented individuals provide a myriad of unique services for their...
An office visit from a high-level guest is an important opportunity to demonstrate top quality customer service. The best administrative and clerical staff understand that...
Whether you're trying to get ahead at the office or have trouble managing your workload, it can be a challenge to maintain a healthy work–life balance. By finding ways to...
As the saying goes, the best defense is a good offense, and in the office that would include sanitizing your workspace. Whether you are in a cubicle, an open bull pen or have...
If your boss is going to be away for a day or more, strive to be a star employee. Employees who perform well when the boss is absent benefit the company and positively promote...
Administrative assistants fill a wide assortment of different roles in offices across the nation. Not only is a career as an assistant a fulfilling and interesting option, but...
The first few days in a new office can be challenging for any new employee. For administrative professionals, who often need a thorough understanding of the company and its...
Administrative associations offer a number of benefits that are important for advancing your career and searching for a new administrative job. Since memberships can be costly,...
An Executive Assistant is probably the most versatile and necessary piece of the corporate puzzle. No longer limited to generic secretarial duties like answering phones and...
When analyzing your long-term career goals, you might be considering pursuing an administrative assistant career to utilize your impeccable organizational, time management and...
Administrative assistants are quickly becoming one of the most important employees in the workplace. Today's administrative assistant performs a variety of tasks and has the...
Nearly every job industry requires administrative assistants to keep the business running. Administrative assistants handle much of the background work required to run a...
Several recent studies have brought attention to the fact that the role of administrative assistants is rapidly changing. Industry experts point to the recession as the cause...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for administrative assistants will increase slightly faster than for other professions through the year 2022. The...
Technology is changing the way the business world works, and administrative assistants are feeling the impact. As technology automates some traditional administrative tasks,...
After you've had your job interview, conventional wisdom suggests you follow up with a second contact to keep your name fresh in the hiring manager's mind. This can backfire,...
For temporary workers, instability and job insecurity are part of life. The constant insecurity can wreak havoc on your mental and physical well-being, particularly when it is...
It would be nice to avoid mistakes completely, but that's not a reasonable or even attainable goal. As long as it's not a careless error or something that would threaten life...
When you are an administrative assistant in a busy office, you probably do not get a lot of opportunities to network with people in other offices or companies. Since most of...
The Affordable Care Act has changed the way companies do business in so far as how they classify and schedule their employees. This is especially true for those companies that...
In the course of a normal workday, an administrative professional handles a variety of tasks, often for numerous people. On days where you feel overwhelmed with demands, it may...
Whether you have deadlines set by a teacher, a boss or yourself, they are fantastic tools to help you manage time, motivate yourself and get the job quickly. When you know how...
Everyone’s familiar with the phrase, "work smarter, not harder" but that is not always easy to do. When all of your tasks seem to have the same priority, things can feel...
If your boss is a fierce micro manager, it can feel frustrating, demeaning and constricting. However, you can ease the discomfort of micromanagement and empower yourself at...
If you are one of the many workers on the admin job hunt after a long stint with a single company, you need to strategize to target the right employers and positions....
Productivity is a top concern for everyone in the workplace. Authorities in a company will often implement new ideas or seek to improve existing protocol to increase...
Working in an administrative or clerical setting normally means that you sit at a desk for most of your work day, which can easily lead to aches and mental fatigue. Although...
In a competitive workforce, an outdated resume is a guaranteed way to place you behind the pack. The rules for resumes you learned in college are not as effective in this...
Staying connected is an important part of today's workplace. Supervisors, clients and coworkers all expect to be able to reach you for questions, project updates and work...
When you are facing a whirlwind of business obligations, weighing information and focusing on crucial matters is essential to raise productivity, save time and conserve...
If you've applied for numerous administrative assistant jobs without any luck, it's time to look at your approach to the application and interview process. Resume mistakes,...
When you are employed in administrative work, juggling multiple tasks becomes commonplace. However, juggling multiple customers is a complex task that often leads to frustrated...
You may rely too much on technology when it comes to getting organized. Tablets, laptops, email, cloud storage systems and other high-tech organizing solutions provide great...
Organizing paper files and hard copy documents, plus figuring out methods for creating logical, user-friendly systems of organization for electronic files and for saving web...
For many professionals, meetings are a significant time sink, and they often come without discernible rewards. As an administrative professional, you can improve the company's...
If you have a demanding job, finding a good work-life balance can seem impossible. The reality is that you have to set boundaries in your work life to get more personal time....
When you are an administrative professional, it sometimes seems as if half your workday consists of saying no to various people. You have to turn down people's requests for...
Taking the first steps often presents the biggest challenge when you decide to go for a paperless office. However, you can create an all-digital office much easier than you...
Everybody makes mistakes. When you are the one that has to own up to being wrong, this reality can be hard to acknowledge. You may try to avoid admitting mistakes at work, but...
An action plan helps you organize your objective and career goals. An effective action plan also includes the steps you need to take to reach your goals. Action plans are great...
Online collaboration tools are designed to increase productivity and keep projects running smoothly. Collaboration tools also allow admins to communicate more effectively with...
Microsoft now offers its OneNote app free for computers, smartphones and tablets. This app lets you take and format notes on a number of platforms, including Windows, Mac,...
"Keep your nose to the grindstone." "He who snoozes, loses." These are the types of aphorisms that are frequently slung around the workplace, sending the message that work...
Working as a personal assistant is very rewarding. Although the job requirements vary from position to position, most personal assistants perform a variety of tasks each day....
When you are applying for a position, it is important to understand the administrative assistant skills that potential employers want in a candidate. It is essential that your...
As an office administrator, you probably write thousands of words every day. Between emails, meeting requests, memos, reports and other documents, office administrators often...
Getting an entry-level administration job is a great way to develop skills and qualifications to further your career. However, to get a promotion, you need to show that you are...
Today's young adults are graduating high school and college without cursive writing skills, or even decent penmanship. But is cursive writing really necessary in today's...
As an administrative professional, you need to save time whenever you can. Improving efficiency gives you more time to learn new skills or perform extra tasks, which could help...
Human multitasking is not uncommon in the workforce. It's easy to be interrupted by a wide variety of tasks while you're trying to accomplish a specific job. Most people have...
Getting a personal assistant job is a great way to keep your administrative skills fresh and learn how to perform new tasks. If you're interested in becoming a personal...
The average email inbox is swamped on a daily basis with a variety of personal, professional, and promotional emails. Whether you're learning business email etiquette or...
Your admin resume should convince the reader you are the right person for a particular job. Instead of sending the same resume to every potential employer, you should customize...
It's completely natural when you are job searching to wonder which direction you should take. Following your head may be the smart thing to do, but if you really want to live...
If you are considering a career in office management, many administrative clerical jobs serve as excellent preparation. Administrative workers generally handle a high level of...
Conference calls are meant to be convenient, informative, and engaging. If you can get a group of participants on the line together, you can share valuable information without...
If you don't have a college degree, a data entry job is an excellent way to enter the administrative and clerical industry. Data entry positions usually don't require formal...
Administrative assistants must often record notes at meetings with executives or company managers. Follow-up meeting success often depends on the understanding of those who...
If you are an administrative assistant, office manager, or executive assistant, spreadsheet skills are essential for your success. Administrative professionals use spreadsheets...
Note-taking skills are essential and are usually learned while you're still a student in school. You were probably taught how to take notes by hand, but a boom in technology...
Many companies use temporary employees to keep work from piling up when employees are out sick or on vacation. Some companies also hire temporary workers to help with large...
If you have advanced job skills as an admin, it might be a good time to apply for an executive assistant job with your current employer or search for opportunities with another...
Technology is meant to increase your productivity at work, but it also presents plenty of new toys and shiny objects that vie for your attention as you try to get things done....
Telling stories is a skill set that most people relegate to the kindergarten teacher or parent come bedtime. Business storytelling plays an important role in the professional...
The human body runs on a circadian rhythm, which acts as an internal clock that controls periods of awareness and exhaustion. If, like many administrative professionals, you...
Good phone skills are a prerequisite for working in the administrative field, and improving communication skills is a continuing goal for many in the office environment. Skill...
Whether you're an executive or an administrative assistant, nothing is more important than understanding how you're spending your time during the workday. Learning how to...
By the time they graduate high school or college, most people have experience with taking notes. Good note taking is a valuable skill that lets you acquire and retain important...
Thanks to the popularity of desk jobs and passive entertainment sources, many people devote more than half of their waking hours to sitting down. The very nature of...
Mobile apps are a common tool in today's modern business world. Administrative assistants and clerical workers use them to verify information, share data with other...
Public speaking is an essential part of many administrative assistant and clerical worker roles. Assistants are often called on to communicate important information to managers...
Negotiating a raise is one of the more unpleasant and stressful parts of holding an admin job. Sometimes, particularly in unionized offices, your raises will be set by a...
To customers, perception is reality, and foremost among admin roles and responsibilities is creating the perception in the customers' minds that you're genuinely there to help...
The job description of a clerical worker is never stable. Sometimes, it seems admin workers get every job that's left after management and the consultants finish their work....
As the United States continues to rebound from the recession of 2008, competition for administrative jobs is still steep in many areas. To increase your chances of getting to...
For many administrative professionals, a typical day is busy and filled with a variety of projects. To help you stay on task, it is helpful to create an admin toolkit that...
What are your thoughts about currently available admin jobs? Some people consider them dull, but if you're well informed about the most interesting admin positions available,...
Making friends and work connections can be challenging if you're shy, introverted, or socially awkward. It may seem easier to be nonsocial and simply focus on getting your work...
Highly effective administrators know how to manage their time, stay organized, and keep calm. When you lack these good work habits, you risk compromising your work performance...
As any administrator knows, a well-managed office is an efficient office. By making an effort to improve your office management skills, you can help your colleagues be more...
For administrative professionals who handle a wide range of daily tasks, organization is crucial. If one of your goals for 2014 is to get organized at work, follow these...
If you are like many administrative professionals, you have an established daily routine that includes both positive and negative work habits. Unfortunately, some of those...
Résumés that contain common clichés do not make an impact in the business world. When applying for admin jobs, your résumé introduces you to your potential employers. As an...
For most administrative professionals, making decisions is just another part of the workday. Whether you are deciding how to prioritize your task list or determining the best...
Administrative assistants are regularly tasked with ensuring their own schedules, as well as those of managers and executives, are perfectly timed to handle the many tasks...
Keeping focused and staying productive while you're working isn't always easy. Work stress eats away at your ability to concentrate, erodes your productivity at work, and can...
Administrative assistants and clerical workers often juggle many different tasks over the course of a day or week. Task management is essential to ensuring that everything runs...
Some of today's administrative professionals spend nearly as much time searching for jobs as performing them. This isn't surprising, as admin jobs come and go regularly in the...
Running a home office often means serving as your own supervisor and support team. Integrating smart business technology helps you resolve difficulties in your day-to-day...
In the age of texting, good English grammar seems to be a low-value skill. When it comes to business communication, however, professionals of all levels and industries...
When you are looking for a job in the administrative industry, a resume serves as the first example of your professional communication skills. If you are uncertain about your...
Career advancement is like a game of chess: you need to stay one step ahead at all times. Your plans need to include accomplishment, accountability, and promotion. If they...
Administrative assistants need to possess a variety of good job skills, including rapid typing, multitasking, and operating office equipment. However, the ability to take no...
Workplace productivity is the concern of every employee at the company—perhaps most of all for the office admin and clerical staff. Admin workers are the connective tissue that...
As an administrative assistant, you probably handle lots of incoming and outgoing emails each day. Unless you've been very fortunate, there have likely been times when you've...
Task management is an important part of any job, but it's especially important for clerical staff members because their jobs affect the jobs of the people they are supporting....
Administrative assistants juggle many different tasks throughout the day. Asking for help can seem like it places you in a bad position, but you shouldn't feel bad when you...
For many people in administration careers, the standard job progression leaves little room for flexibility. Before you embark on a path that leads you up your company's career...
Good writing skills are a great asset for any administrative professional. Whether you're writing reports or taking notes during a meeting, you will need to communicate with...
Designers introduced the open office as a way to improve communication and make it easier for people to collaborate. Having an open office offers some benefits, but it also...
Efficiency is important for administrative professionals at all levels, but it is especially important when you are job hunting. Searching for jobs, filling out applications,...
As an administrative or clerical professional, research is likely one of your skill sets. You know how to find jobs, but spending all your free time with the search engines and...
Understanding office etiquette is one of the most important parts of being an administrative professional, especially if you manage employees or work directly with customers....
Admin jobs can be hard to come by. As with any scarce and valuable commodity, the competition for admin jobs can be tight. If you're ever going to get anywhere in the field,...
Job hunting can be a dangerous business when you're already employed. While no one could fault you for trying to advance your career, some employers look askance at...
The skills involved in decision making apply to a variety of different roles in modern business organizations. Administrative assistants and clerical workers benefit from quick...
Administrative assistants and clerical workers have a bevy of options when it comes to finding jobs online. Job leads may come from a variety of different sources and tools,...
For administrative professionals, it can be difficult to stay productive and appear confident during long days on the job. One solution, which you can implement immediately,...
Nearly one billion people have a social media presence on Facebook, and another 160 million maintain social media profiles on LinkedIn. Given these numbers, it's not surprising...
Because many administrative professionals work while they're traveling or share their desks with other workers, mobile devices are important tools for administrative assistants...
Writing skills are essential for any administrative professional, but many people find it difficult to write introductions in cover letters and other types of business...
Dropbox has simplified the process of document sharing, making it easier to share spreadsheets, documents, and presentation files with colleagues. This tool is especially...
More and more, administrative workers are taking work home with them. Another rising trend involves work-from-home admin or clerical work. Both options call for fresh home...
Do you have trouble with stress management? As an administrative assistant, you most likely work in a fast-paced environment where you're responsible for answering phones,...
The fourth quarter of the year means crunch time for many businesses as they scramble to finish projects and meet yearly goals. However, this time of year can take a toll on...
Administrators often serve as the invisible backbone of a successful company. From keeping your boss on track to juggling employee demands, running a business from behind the...
As with anything in life, first impressions count when it comes to getting people to read your emails. If you want to increase the success of your email campaigns, then you...
You hold a clerical or an administrative position—and chances are that you're good at what you do. Maybe you work electronically; perhaps you handle paper files. Either way,...
With the rise of computerization, office work has revealed some surprising weaknesses in human physiology. Efforts have been made to improve employee health with more...
Just a few decades ago, administrative professionals handled reams of paper on a daily basis. Office technology has made it possible to eliminate paper waste and increase...
If you like to do multiple things at once, you might be surprised to learn that multitasking could actually be slowing you down. According to recent research, multitasking...
Technology is an essential part of life. As such, knowing how to use it is a skill people in administrative jobs must have if they want to be successful in their careers....
For administrative professionals, job turnover can be relatively high, particularly in entry-level positions. At some point in your career, you'll probably need to conduct a...
If you’re moving up the administrative ladder and applying for a new job, you’ll want to get recommended by your boss to really impress a prospective employer. A recommendation...
Office noise can be a helpful buzz or a hindrance—it all depends on the activity you’re engaged in. Sometimes, coworkers’ supportive comments lift spirits on a dull day; on...
Tight deadlines and narrow time constraints are the bane of busy professionals. This is felt even more keenly if you used to enjoy taking time to read books or other written...
Many administrative assistants attend off-site meetings and conferences throughout the year. If you are one of them, you need to carry tools and apps to make admin work easier...
If you're looking for new career opportunities, you may be compelled to look for jobs while you're at work. Job seeking from your desk may be tempting, but it's important to...