Administrative Assistants: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of administrative assistants about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for administrative assistants to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of administrative assistants expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for administrative assistants.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Administrative Assistants?

Do administrative assistants need a degree? What kind of experience do administrative assistants typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for administrative assistants to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Administrative Assistants

High School or GED is the level of education sought the most by employers of administrative assistants. According to job data, a High School diploma or GED was required for 37% of positions. In 35% of job listings no education level was listed and in 26% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Administrative Assistants

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for administrative assistants. In 46% of job postings for Administrative Assistants, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 45% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 8% of job postings for administrative assistants.

What Kind of Degree Do Administrative Assistants Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for administrative assistants, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective administrative assistants, and in 2021 a total of 21,882 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective administrative assistants.

Top Degree Programs for Administrative Assistants

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Administrative Assistants

What Skills Do Administrative Assistants Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by administrative assistants to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for administrative assistants, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Administrative Assistants
Based on 0 job postings

Based on 0 job postings related to administrative assistants, was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with % of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for were also highly sought.

As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for administrative assistants, followed by detail oriented, microsoft office, customer service, clerical works and microsoft excel.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about administrative assistants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for administrative assistants.

What do administrative assistants do?
How much do administrative assistants make?

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