A real pillar of the business, the administrative assistant has to be able to juggle a wide range of tasks. Several skills are needed to carry out this work with flying colours. According to Audrey Roy, coordinator of the Employment and Recruitment Assistance Service at O’Sullivan College, a management training institution, here are the 10 most sought-after qualities.
1. Attention to detail
The work of the administrative assistant must be done conscientiously. “It’s the very nature of the job. There is a great deal of correspondence to be done in various departments, which requires attention to a lot of detail,” emphasizes Mrs. Roy.
2. Fluency in written French
Having a good command of French is essential. Without being an award-winning author or having a diploma in literature, the administrative assistant must know the rules of French. Antidote software is a good additional safety net.
3. Good level of English
“Assistants who can express themselves in correct English are sought after. That’s why our college is bilingual, that is, the training in office procedures is half in French, half in English,” underlines the O’Sullivan College coordinator.
4. Organizational skills
Within SMEs, the administrative assistant acts as a real pillar, because she interacts with nearly all departments. Very often, she must know how to manage her boss’s schedule as well as her own. Fortunately, there are many tools available to help her in this task. “Outlook, for example, is used for meetings, reminders, etc.,” says Mrs. Roy.
5. Proactivity
The administrative assistant must be able to anticipate the organization’s needs and take initiatives to effectively move issues forward.
6. Independence
“In the course of our work, we need to be self-sufficient, whether in taking notes, preparing a procedures specification or designing a project, without having to constantly ask for approval,” Audrey Roy points out.
7. Communication skills
The administrative assistant not only helps her colleagues in all sorts of tasks, but she also often responds to customers, since she is frequently the first contact they have with the organization. As a result, she must have strong interpersonal skills.
8. Adaptability
Since the administrative assistant has many and varied tasks, frequently unexpected, the office professional must demonstrate an ability to adapt to any challenge.
9. Diligence
Diligence, it goes without saying, is essential in this job. There are many responsibilities on the administrative assistant’s shoulders… as well as her employer’s trust. She must therefore offer a continuous quality of work and be accurate on a daily basis.
10. Stress management
Of course, managing stress is not solely the prerogative of the administrative assistant, but since she manages several issues at a time and regularly handles urgent or last-minute tasks, she must be able to manage her stress effectively.