Administrative Assistant Training

Question:
I'm looking for online courses to advance my career. My background is in the secretarial field, but I have no degree and I'd like to become an administrative assistant. Please help me find information about online courses I could take to find a job in this profession, and about job opportunities.

Answer:
Administrative assistants need to possess strong computer skills, and therefore, administrative assistant courses should include training in software applications--word processing, spreadsheets, and database management.

Job opportunities in the field are diverse and plentiful, as administrative assistants are needed in every business. In particular, there is a rising demand for legal secretaries. In this role, you would likely work for an attorney's office. And while you'll need to possess the same computer skills as administrative assistants do, you'll also be required to work with legal documents. As either an administrative assistant or a legal secretary, you'll need strong grammatical and writing proficiency, so your online courses should focus on this as well.

If you're unsure which secretarial program to pursue, look at your local want ads to see what kind of jobs are available in your area. The following resources might also be helpful: IAAP (International Association of Administrative Professionals), NALS (National Association of Legal Professionals), and Legal Secretaries International, Inc. Good luck!