Career Tracks: Administrative Office Technology

Administrative assistants perform a variety of administrative and clerical tasks to assist professional staff members and to maintain smooth and efficient office operation.

They monitor day-to-day office operations and set up and maintain schedules. In addition, they operate a variety of office machines and equipment to process and facilitate internal and external correspondence.

Duties

Graduates in this field may be required to:

  • perform a variety of clerical tasks
  • prepare letters, memos, invoices, legal documents and manuscripts using computerized equipment and software
  • answer telephones, take messages, schedule appointments, greet visitors
  • open and classify mail
  • take and transcribe dictation
  • take notes during business meetings and conferences
  • maintain business files
  • make travel, restaurant and other reservations as needed
  • operate office machines
  • may supervise other clerical workers

Working Conditions

Graduates in this field commonly experience:

  • work inside; office environment
  • work under direct supervision
  • work in cooperation with other people
  • perform a variety of duties
  • work under stress to meet schedule deadlines
  • generate considerable paperwork
  • may require some overtime / night / weekend hours

Physical Demands

  • sedentary
  • general moving about an office environment
  • light lifting (boxes of papers, files, etc.)

Characteristics & Temperament

Graduates in this field should have:

  • ability to make generalizations, evaluations or decisions
  • ability to deal well with people
  • ability to work well within established guidelines / policy
  • ability to change from one task to another while maintaining composure and efficiency
  • ability to handle stress
  • ability to resolve conflicts competently
  • ability to do what is necessary to get the job done
  • good communication skills - writing and speaking
  • ability to work with machines (computers, etc.)
  • ability to "catch on" quickly
  • ability to follow directions
  • attention to details
  • good motor coordination (hand / eye coordination, manual dexterity, accurate and swift movement)
  • flexibility and adaptability
  • self-discipline; self-motivation
  • ability to think independently

Employment Outlook

Employment statistics for 2015 - 2017 PTC graduates, who found jobs in this field, are as follows:

  • salary averages according to the US Department of Labor for various Administrative Office Technology careers may be viewed at: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/home.htm.
  • 77% placement rate for 2015 - 2017 graduates
  • experience may lead to advancement within a company
  • entry level positions: administrative assistant, legal secretary, medical secretary, bookkeeper, teller, data entry clerk, typist, librarian, office manager, accountant assistant, telemarketer, office assistant, customer service representative
  • employment in cities and towns of all sizes
  • self-employment
  • secretarial services / "temporary" agencies

Employers

Some recent graduates have found work at:

 

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