Everybody has to start somewhere.
For many people, a career as an administrative assistant can be rewarding in itself; but if your goal is to climb the corporate ladder, working as an administrative assistant is a great “somewhere” to start. Today’s administrative positions are typically much more comprehensive than the title would lead you to believe – making the job a great starting point for advancement. In fact, many administrative personnel use the position to advance into fields such as marketing, human resources, operations, office management and facilities management.
But how do you progress from where you are now, to where you want to be? Use these tips from A.R. Mazzotta. Our ideas will help you gain experience, showcase your skills and take that next step in your administrative career:
Straighten out a mess. Use your problem-solving and organizational skills to get someone out of a professional jam. When you come to a co-worker’s or superior’s rescue, that person will take notice – and hopefully want to return the favor. Make your aspirations clear, and see if your new ally can help you with the internal networking needed to be considered for a promotion.
Ask for more challenging responsibilities. Think about the areas of the company in which you’re most interested. Look for opportunities to help with higher level projects in those areas – but be careful not to spread yourself too thin.
Repackage yourself. Look at yourself as an HR professional would. Identify the experience, skills and personality traits you already possess that can transfer into the higher level role you’re seeking. Update your resume to recast your professional assets and abilities in the language of the job you want. Doing so makes it easier for a hiring manager to see you as a strong candidate for the position.
Formalize your efforts. Be proactive and request a brief meeting with your boss to explain that you’re serious about making a career in the industry. Come prepared with a list of everything you’ve accomplished, as well as ideas for how you can make yourself more valuable to the company.
If your boss understands that you’re career-minded, he can help you plan for your professional development. Together, you can create objectives that allow you to take on more responsibility, master new skills and move one step closer to a higher level position.
Get the timing right. If you’re new in your administrative position, wait at least six months before pursuing a higher level role. You need to show that you can excel in your existing job. Plus, you don’t want to appear as though you’re not interested in your administrative position.
Take the next step in your administrative career with A.R. Mazzotta.
Looking to develop your skills? Broaden your experience? Move beyond your administrative role? We can help. With free online skills training for qualified candidates, and a wide range of CT jobs, A.R. Mazzotta can take you from where you are now, to where you want to be. Contact us today to learn more.