Administrative assistant jobs are abundant, but there are also a lot of people seeking jobs as administrative assistants. You must be prepared to compete for a job; to get the best administrative assistant work, you'll want to make sure you stand out in the sea of job seekers.

To stand out among the crowd of job seekers, you'll want to hone your skills. Administrative assistants not only perform specific tasks asked of them by their bosses, they also type, organize, use computer programs and take phone calls. To get the best administrative assistant salary possible, make sure you're the best of the best. Consider the following:

1. Get the right education. Businesses that offer administrative assistant employment sometimes require candidates to hold at least a technical certificate or AA degree.

2. Familiarize yourself with all aspects of the personal computer. Administrative assistants must be able to use Microsoft programs and do basic bookkeeping.

3. Fine-tune your resume. To stand out in the crowd of other administrative assistants, keep it short and concise and highlight your greatest achievements first.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Educate yourself to have a better chance at the administrative assistant job opening you want

You may be a busy housewife or stay-at-home mom, but if you're looking to get back into the workforce, you might consider making the time for a bit of school. While you can get a job as an administrative assistant with just a high school diploma, to give yourself a better chance of getting that job, you might want to earn a certificate or Associate's degree. This will give you basic knowledge of business practices as well as prove that you have the drive to get through some kind of collegiate program. Being a self-starter is an attribute many employers look for.

I recommend: Try out the correspondence course available at Penn Foster. Take a look at the professional courses offered by Allied Schools, which offers both correspondence and online formats.

Obtain software for administrative assistant employment training

Competition for employment in administrative assistant industry is fierce. To increase your chances of getting the job you desire, you'll want to perfect your computer skills. You should be proficient at different computer programs, increase your typing speed and know a bit about accounting. Prepare yourself for anything an employer could desire in an administrative assistant.

I recommend: Select from the software titles at Velsoft Courseware, or buy the complete package. Individual Software has several selections to help you improve your typing speed and accuracy. Learn a variety of software programs through the tutorials available from TeachUcomp; examples include Microsoft applications and small business accounting.

Locate administrative assistant job opportunities in your area

After you've completed your training, you'll want to update your resume and start your job search. A good place to start is with your local newspaper, but more and more businesses are placing ads in online job databases since they can reach more potential employees that way. An administrative assistant job opening may also be listed under the headings of 'executive assistant' or 'executive secretary.'

I recommend: Find administrative assistant positions in your area using Job.com. You can also find a job on Indeed.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Administrative assistant salaries vary widely. Your pay will depend on your skills and experience as well as the amount of duties you're assigned. Some entry-level positions pay hourly wages, sometimes not much higher than minimum wage, but on occasion, very experienced assistants working at large corporations can sometimes see six-figure salaries.