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With new to-dos coming their way like Post-Its in a gale, administrative professionals often feel like they have no choice but to live and work in the moment. But enabled by information and communication technologies and entrusted by their bosses with more responsibility and resources, admins can and should take a longer perspective.
Indeed, planning for their own careers as well as the future of their companies is key for admins. Check out these seven ways you can help shape your own destiny.
Find a Project to Manage, Regardless of Your Work Circumstances
There’s no better way for an administrative professional to get into a more strategic role than to take charge of a substantial project, whether it’s planning a major meeting, developing training or implementing a marketing program.
And these opportunities can be available to admins regardless of their work arrangement. “Working temporary or contract jobs is a good avenue to gain experience in project management,” says Brooks Savage, CEO of Executive Staffing Group. “For example, admins can learn meeting planning and include that on their resumes.”
Make Yourself the Go-To Person for Technology Questions and Training
How can you immerse yourself in your company’s future? By embracing the technologies that are key to the firm’s administration, from Webmastering to database management and training other employees on new software. Make yourself the technology answer person, and you’ll stay on the cutting edge of your company’s business.
“I’ve been here so long that I have a lot of answers,” says Colleen Hays, who’s been an administrative manager with real estate and financial services firm Baird & Warner for seven years. “I train new sales agents, orient them to company policies and answer questions throughout the day.”
Never Let Up on Getting Yourself Trained
Of course, you can’t be the go-to guru if you don’t have the knowledge others in your organization require. That’s why administrative professionals must learn the skills they’ll need in the future. Some 88 percent of International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) members responding to a 2007 survey said they’re now using skills they didn’t need just three years ago.
Take the Lead -- That’s Where the Jobs Will Be
With technology automating more of the routine tasks admins traditionally have performed, job growth in administration will be at the high end -- where most admins want to be, to keep challenged and on a path to better compensation.
While just more than a quarter-million administrative assistant and secretarial jobs will be added in the decade from 2004 to 2014, the growth of office supervisor positions is projected to be much greater: 438,000 new jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Make Sure What You Do Helps the Bottom Line
Admin professionals need to keep asking themselves key questions, says Rick Stroud, a spokesman for IAAP. “Have you done anything to bring in new clients or cut costs without cutting services?” he asks. “Do you regularly look at your department’s budget and ask yourself how you can make it stretch further?”
Admins can even get involved in developing their companies’ growing ventures. “I’m on a team to determine how to encourage our sales agents to use the company’s financial services and title businesses,” says Suzette Brien, an administrative manager with Baird & Warner.
Build Your Professional Network to Cultivate Future Opportunities
Finally, admins can boost their own future prospects by reaching out -- and up.
“Hang out with people ‘above’ you, and get on the mailing list for publications that seem to be on the periphery of what you do,” suggests Susan Fenner, manager of education and professional development at IAAP and Monster’s Admin/Support Advisor.
Says Savage: “Networking helps admins get known in their company and industry as a contributor, not just a support person.”
Additional Articles in This Feature
• Shape Your Future as an Administrative Professional home
• Reward Yourself This Administrative Professionals Week
• Start Your Own Admin Business
• Become an Executive Assistant
• More Than Just a Secretary
• Get Noticed at Promotion Time
• Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work
• Resolve Office Conflicts
• Audio: Take Control of Your Admin Career
For more information and tips to help you advance your administrative career, see all our advice for admin professionals.
