Robert Hosking discusses 5 skills shared by the best administrative professionals in 2024
With a diverse skillset and exceptional adaptability, administrative professionals are in high demand. Here are five skills common to the best administrative pros in 2024.
1. Industry Know-how
Whether you’re a fresh face or a seasoned veteran, enhancing your knowledge of your company’s industry can help move your career forward. The best part? You don’t need to return to school to increase your industry knowledge. Dive into online forums, listen to podcasts during your commute, and strike up conversations with colleagues from other departments.
2. Tech Fluency
Administrative professionals need a solid understanding of essential business software, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and Google Workspace. Additional experience with cloud applications or HR and sales tracking software is a definite plus, depending on your particular role. When your company introduces new office technology, volunteering to learn it first can help you shine by helping out your colleagues as they encounter it. With smaller teams, these companies often rely on their administrative staff to help monitor the company’s online presence, create engaging posts, and build or modify profiles for executives. This presents an opportunity to showcase your creativity and digital proficiency.
These days, a basic understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming an essential skill. You don’t need to be a tech expert, but staying curious, continuously learning, and being open to embracing AI technologies can greatly benefit your career.
3. Mastery of the Art of Communication
As an administrative professional, you interact with a lot of different individuals throughout your day – customers, executives, colleagues, and vendors, just to name a few. The key to success? Be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing. In your field, it’s a skill employers expect and, when you’re good at it, value highly. Don’t forget to practice your presentation skills; you never know when you will be called upon to present information either virtually or in person.
Become an expert problem-solver. Your ability to understand and address issues and questions quickly and with empathy can make all the difference.
4. An Eye for Savings
As an administrative professional, you’re in a unique position to impact your organization’s bottom line. Your role gives you a bird’s eye view of everything from daily operations to contract negotiations, allowing you to identify areas where expenses can be trimmed.
Whether negotiating better deals with vendors, finding ways to reduce waste, or proposing innovative cost-saving measures, your efforts will be widely appreciated. Developing a keen eye for budget-watching can make you an indispensable team member. Becoming a “savings sleuth” benefits your company and showcases your resourcefulness and value-adding potential.
5. Grace Under Pressure
As an administrative professional, you’re often at the center of the storm, juggling multiple tasks, deadlines, and demands. This can be a tall order day in and day out, but employers value individuals who focus on keeping a cool head and maintaining productivity, even when the pressure is on.
One word of caution, though. Embracing a fast-paced environment doesn’t mean settling for burnout. Managers also appreciate team members who are transparent about their workload and aren’t afraid to speak up when they feel overloaded. Recognizing when you need support and proactively seeking help demonstrates self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
To learn more about what employers value the most, check out the Robert Half Salary Guide.
