Are you looking to step into a career as an administrative assistant but are worried about getting a job because you don’t have any relevant experience? Don’t worry, this goal certainly isn’t out of your reach. With a little work and motivation, you can make this happen, and we’re here to help you. So read on to find out more…
The work is out there
The good news is that there are many positions for administrative assistants, in every city, in every state. With more jobs to go around, there’s a greater chance that one of them can become yours. However, as with most jobs, you’re unlikely to be the only applicant. Because administrative assistant positions often don’t require candidates to have degree-level education, they can attract quite a large number of applicants. So you need to do everything you can to make your application stand out from the crowd. But, when you don’t have any experience to add to your resume, this can seem like a difficult task.
So let’s find a way around this!
You’re motivated and dedicated, you’re not going to let your lack of experience put you off achieving your goal. Everyone had to start somewhere, right? Every administrative assistant got their break and found their first position, and you will too.
Skill up with training and certification
With no experience, your resume is going to look rather lacklustre! You need something else to prove you are more than capable of being a brilliant administrative assistant. Qualifications are always going to impress, and by taking training courses, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge you’re going to need to perform your job well. Some positions may be offered on a trial basis, so you’ll need to prove yourself before you’re offered a permanent contract. If you can dive right in, and get on with the job, this is going to give you a fantastic head start.
With administrative assistant being such a varied job position, there’s no end of courses you can take. You can learn office management skills, gain a deep understanding of the software you’ll use, and learn to improve your communication and customer service skills. You could take courses in accounting and bookkeeping or take things a step further and gain skills in writing press releases or managing social media accounts. These extra, complementary skills can be very attractive to potential employers.
If you want to quickly bulk out your resume, look for multiple shorter courses that result in certification, for maximum impact. You don’t need to spend years taking a degree course, you can even study from home in your spare time. You’re sure to find something that works for you and fits around your other commitments.
Put together an excellent resume
The next step is to gather together all your skills and training, and flaunt it on your resume! So many job applications are rejected at a mere glance of a resume, so you need to get this right. Look at examples online, or download a template to ensure your layout is smart, easy to read, and modern. Keep it short. A job may have hundreds of applicants, and no busy employer in need of the help of an administrative assistant is going to have the time to read your 3-page resume with a huge section about your hobbies and interests. Make sure that all your skills and training stand out at a single glance.
It’s also very, very important, that your resume has no errors. The role of an administrative assistant relies on attention to detail, so a poorly written resume is not going to help you get the job! Check it several times, and look for spelling and grammar errors. Ask someone else to look it over too, they might spot something you’ve overlooked. It absolutely has to be perfect.
Let your personality shine at interview
Once your attention-grabbing resume has done its job, then hopefully you’ll be through to the next stage, and you’ll be called in for an interview. This is most likely to be in person, although it could be online via video or voice call, so be prepared for any of these scenarios.
Succeeding at an interview is a skill, and it’s one that can be learned. Good preparation is important. You certainly don’t want to be left lost for words because you’ve been asked a curveball question! You can find lists of common interview questions online, so why not work through them all so you know you have a good answer for anything that might be asked?
Does the whole interview process make you nervous? Nerves sure can affect your performance in this sort of situation, so you need to conquer your fear. Practicing a mock interview can really help, so if you can find someone to take the time to roleplay a variety of interview scenarios, it could help you feel more comfortable when you’re being interviewed for real.
Hunt out any and all experience
So you haven’t got any experience to put on your resume. This does put you at a disadvantage, so one way to solve this problem is to get some experience! Just because you haven’t yet scored a full-time position as an administrative assistant doesn’t mean you can’t gain relevant experience. It’s time to think outside of the box and look for work that may not be your dream job, but that offers experience in a similar field. It’s a great way to work your way up to achieving your ultimate goal. Look into temp work, intern positions or voluntary work. All experience is good experience! Look for work in a similar field. Time spent working in a call centre or as a receptionist will prove you have customer service experience. Any IT position shows you have a high level of computer literacy. So if your aim is to become an administrative assistant, look for jobs that will lead you in the right direction, providing you with valuable skills that you can take with you as you move up the ladder to eventually secure a position as an administrative assistant.
