These days, it’s getting harder and harder to just walk out of high school and find a job. The need for skilled laborers is getting more intense. Positions such as executive or administrative assistants, once simply called secretaries, are now considered “high school plus” (Note: this is not to be confused with various training courses) positions. In other words, you now need one to two years additional schooling after your high school diploma to land this position.
It has a lot to do with advancing technology. An administrative assistant’s knowledge of technology today is far more than the coffee machine and Selectric. One must be at ease with computer technology, social networks, and be able to jump on the internet as soon as he or she sits down at his or her desk.
The workload has also increased exponentially. In this current economy, company personnel are expected to do more than ever before. An administrative assistant’s responsibilities could include rudimentary bookkeeping, advertising layout and placement, and inter-office communications, among others.
So, it should come as no surprise that vocational schools have sprung up. A number of them are affiliated to accredited universities. After attending one of these programs, the students might even walk away with a vocational certificate or diploma. It is not uncommon for administrative assistants to need further education after they find a job, with the costs being covered by the company itself.
When it comes to financial aid, the standard sources are really all that’s open to a student. That means, applying for the Pell Grant, ACG, or similar federal program as well as any state plans that are out there. If you are lucky, your school will have some personal endowments it can apply towards your cause. These classes are relatively inexpensive compared to four-year degrees and can even be obtained through online schools. So, these can wind up being enough.
A good administrative assistant is the core of any office and is paid accordingly. The average salary is about $32, 000 for a governmental agency and $42,000 for commercial industry. Secretaries to senior level executives earn considerably more. The job also includes such benefits as vacation time, health benefits, and continued education perks.
As it is, the educational requirements of senior level administrators could become even more important. Many senior execs are now looking for assistants with Bachelor’s degrees. In these cases, they are looking for a person with a four-year degree in a field related to either the company or position. For example, a company controller might want a person with a Bachelor’s in a related business like accounting or management.
As said before, it is getting harder and harder to find a job straight out of high school. More and more recruiters are looking for “high school plus” training than ever. At the same time, enrolling in an administrative assistant program could become a good way to beat this. You could find a good paying job with one to two years of additional education and then use the position to further your education and start climbing up the corporate ladder this way instead. Students can also complete online certificate programs to meet the qualifications of certain professions.