Guide To An Administrative Assistant Career Path
The administrative assistant career path offers plenty of growth potential for jobseekers across all industries. Administrative assistants have a highly critical position in many departments, in practically all companies in Malaysia. It also remains highly in-demand despite the pandemic, as the role involves skills and duties that are valuable in remote work situations.
The following is JobStreet’s complete guide for jobseekers who are interested in building a career path as an administrative assistant. Read more for tips, insights, and other relevant job information.
What does an administrative assistant do?
Administrative assistants provide administrative support to the management team by performing a wide range of clerical tasks. Managers hold many responsibilities that entail a lot of daily administrative work, hence their need for assistance. Since they would typically prefer spending a majority of their time with big business decisions and activities, administrative assistants help managers by shouldering the daily tasks involved in operations. These include:
- Answering phone calls and replying to emails
- Scheduling meetings and appointments
- Organising the manager’s work calendar
- Generating reports
- Facilitating and filing of business documents as well as letters
- Managing files and databases
- Taking minutes of meetings attended by managers and executives
- Making travel arrangements for managers and executives
Salary Range
The average annual salary of an administrative assistant is RM 21,305. For entry-level administrative assistant jobs, one can expect an annual salary of about RM 18,000. As with most positions, however, the more experience you have, the higher the salary that you can command. Those with administrative work experience of five years or more typically earn at least RM 23,000 yearly.
What is the career path of an administrative assistant?
An administrative assistant job is often a gateway into a variety of different careers in various industries. The role is organisational in nature, which helps develop transferable skills within the industry and prepares one for higher positions in the future.
For instance, an administrative assistant job within the marketing department of a company can lead to a role as marketing coordinator down the line. Similarly, an administrative assistant role in a law firm, when performed exceptionally well, could eventually lead to advancement as a paralegal.
The administrative assistant role is one filled with growth potential as long as you spend a lot of your time learning all about the company and the industry while on the job. Workers who show promise and consistent improvement are often rewarded with a promotion. As they build their skill set, they also build trust with management.
Junior level (1-3 years experience)
Mid-level (4-8 years experience)
Senior level (8 years or more)
What requirements do you need to become an administrative assistant?
The skills required of an administrative assistant is one of the most extensive and varied in the job market. It is a job that is ideal for generalists, or people who have many transferable skills from other jobs. This is why it is relatively easier to start a career as an administrative assistant, as it rarely entails highly specialised skills. However, it requires at least these two basic technical skills:
Computer literacy
This involves basic competency in using word processors, spreadsheets, and communication software.
Written and oral communication
You must be able to write correspondences, memos, and other official documents, as well as speak effectively to staff and managers alike.
Most of the skills you will be needing in this job are soft skills. These also happen to be transferable skills that you may have developed in your past work or even in school:
Multitasking
An effective administrative assistant must be able to handle various tasks on a daily basis.
Attention to detail
Managers entrust plenty of information and responsibilities to administrative assistants so it is important to get every detail right.
Organisational skills
A workplace looks to its administrative arm for business continuity and smooth work processes, which is why administrative assistants need to be organised in all aspects of their work.
Problem-solving
Managers will often rely on their assistants to troubleshoot problems in daily operations. Being adept at handling issues and resolving them is a very important skill to have.
People skills
Administrative work involves a lot of coordination with different people from different departments. Having a pleasant personality and being a good team player are important soft skills that employers look for.
Many entry-level administrative assistant jobs are available to high school graduates, as long as they have good communication and computer skills. But there will always be employers who look for college degree-holders, especially those that require specialised knowledge related to their industry.
Opportunities for Continuous Education
You can take up a course specific to the industry you are working in. Generally, the best way to gain expertise in your industry is to learn on the job. Ask your company if they offer internal learning programs. Even if your organisation does not have formal courses, you can always learn through mentorship and asking for more responsibility, especially in areas where you want to gain more knowledge.
How to write an administrative assistant resume
The most important thing to highlight in your resume is relevant experience and skills. Jobseekers who are applying for their first administrative assistant job can build a compelling resume as long as they have transferable skills.
Mention all of your skills relevant to the job, even in your work experience. The more tasks and responsibilities you highlight, the better chances you have of getting noticed. Employers will always look for candidates who are not only capable of doing many things, but are also very willing to contribute to the company.
Here is a sample resume for administrative assistants.
Mohammad Bin Yussof Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia| [email protected] Career SummaryMultitasker with plenty of experience in administrative work and passion for providing solutions. Looking to contribute and further develop my skills in an organisation that fosters growth and innovation.ExperienceAdmin ClerkSun Corporation, 2019-2021
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Download the Administrative Assistant resume template here
Related careers
There are many other entry-level administrative jobs that you can pursue. Many of these require a similar set of skills, while others require more specialised skills specific to the industry.
An administrative assistant career path could lead to plenty of opportunities for growth in different industries. As you start your career, you must first identify the transferable skills that you have developed in your previous work or school experience. These are the skills that you can take with you as you start your new career journey.
Keep these skills in mind as you update your JobStreet profile, so the right employers can find you as you seek passion and purpose in a new career. You can also search for the #JobsThatMatter to you on our website or app.
For more expert insights and helpful tips on growing your career, visit the Career Resources Hub.
