The administrative assistant profession is often highly competitive. It’s an unregulated industry, and there are no specific qualification requirements for anyone looking to step into this career.
This of course can increase the number of applicants for a position, as anyone is eligible to apply.
But don’t let that put you off pursuing this interesting and potentially lucrative career – there are a few things you can do to stand out from the crowd. Let’s explore!
Education is an excellent way to make your resume stand out
When you know a job is going to have a whole load of applicants, you need to find a way to make your resume catch the eye of the recruiter and there are many ways to do this.
You can ensure your resume is professionally designed, free from errors and clearly highlights all your skills and experience.
You can also brush up on your admin skills, making sure you’re up to date with all the latest office software.
However, these things are fairly easy to achieve. If you’ve done it, you can guarantee that many of the other applicants will have taken this path too.
Perhaps the best way to make your resume stand out from the crowd is to showcase an education that is specific to administrative assistant work.
Even better, if you take a course that results in certification, such as the administrative assistant certification we offer here at the Administrative Assistant Institute. This gives you the credentials to prove your abilities and your commitment and dedication to the industry.
While anyone can quickly put together a good-looking resume, not everyone will have taken the time to undertake extra study in order to achieve an administrative assistant certification.
This will definitely attract the attention of anyone hiring a new assistant. They’ll know you’ll be capable and motivated and won’t require vast amounts of training.
There are many options for administrative assistant education
Luckily, you’ll have no problem finding courses to pursue your administrative assistant educational goals.
However, not all courses are created equal. While some are outright better than others, you’ll also find establishments that offer a high-quality course, but each one is better suited to students with particular requirements.
It’s important to find the course that perfectly suits your needs.
So let’s take a look at some factors you should take into account when choosing an administrative assistant course to take…
Is the course convenient to attend?
Search online for administrative assistant courses and you should find several available in your local area.
Research exactly where they are held to decide whether it would be convenient for you. Perhaps there is a night class you can take close to your current workplace, or maybe there is a college located near your home.
Or perhaps you’d find it easier to study at home. There are many online administrative assistant courses you can take remotely, eliminating travel time and costs. Remote online courses offer the maximum convenience.
Are the hours suitable or flexible?
Check the times of your course before you sign up. There’s no point in taking a course that requires your attendance during the day, either in person or via Zoom etc. when you work 9-5 full time!
Instead, you may want to look for night classes or better still, search for courses where the work can be completed in your own time, giving you total flexibility.
This is ideal when you need to fit your study around your job or other commitments such as childcare.
With a high level of flexibility, you can work in the evening, at weekends, early in the morning, whatever suits you.
Is the course a reasonable length?
Determine how long it will take to finish the course. Some courses, particularly online courses, can offer a great deal of flexibility, allowing you to complete your studies quickly, by putting in a lot of time straight away, or more slowly, over a longer period of time, which is perfect for anyone with very little free time. You’ll get there in the end!
However, if the course is over a set time period, you need to be sure it meets your needs.
If you’re hoping to leave your current job soon and become an administrative assistant, you don’t want to embark on a lengthy course that takes years to complete.
You’ll find administrative assistant courses of varying lengths available, courses that can be completed in anything from just a few weeks up to several years, so you can pick out one that works best for you.
Does the course offer certification?
In an industry that does not require certification, having a relevant certificate can certainly be of huge benefit to you, making you clearly stand out from the crowd during the job application process.
It’s an excellent way to prove your credentials and is an impressive addition to your resume.
Not all educational establishments reward successful students with certification, so be sure to check for this if earning a certificate for your hard work is important to you.
Ensure you’re eligible
Luckily, many administrative assistant courses have no eligibility criteria, but it’s certainly something you should check before signing up or parting with any money.
Some courses may require a particular level of education or qualification, such as a high school diploma, so always make sure that you meet the criteria.
If you don’t then don’t worry, there are many courses available with no entry requirements whatsoever.
Is the course good value for money?
When you’re searching for your ideal administrative assistant education, you’ll find courses available at many different price points.
Of course, you need to pick a course you can afford and it’s unwise to get into a large amount of debt for a course when you don’t need to.
Shorter courses will invariably be more cost-effective than those that span a longer time period, and courses that can be completed remotely online often offer excellent value when compared to courses where the students physically attend a college or university each day.
So find out the fees, check there are no hidden costs, and research exactly what you get for your money. Does the curriculum cover everything you need?
Has the course received positive reviews from past students?
Check out reviews and testimonials. Have past students been happy with the experience and has it been useful to them in their future careers?
Taking time to search for information, both regarding the course you’ve chosen, and the company offering it, can help you to avoid any rogue businesses, or courses that don’t deliver on their promises.
When you’ve completed your course, don’t forget to pay it forward and leave a review yourself, to help guide others in the right direction.
