Administrative Professional In-demand Skills You Need Today

According to a study conducted by Robert Half in 2020, related to the Administrative Professional industry, while employers were cautious about adding staff, the need for skilled administrative professionals is gaining momentum and on the rise. Especially in specific sectors such as government, healthcare, financial services, technology, and manufacturing.

Companies hire support staff to help them handle high volumes of customer outreach, assist with remote workers, office reopening, business continuity planning, projects, and address seasonal workload demands.

The study has provided positive news to individuals who work in the administrative profession as Executive Assistant, Administrative Assistant, HR coordinators, etc.

A new shift was reported, as recruiters forecast trends continuing through 2021; so, what are those trends or shifts? Good question: the answer is that support staff are key to business continuity. In a more challenging economic environment than organizations have faced in recent years, tech-savvy and versatile administrative professionals help businesses stay in business. They are serving as essential partners by supporting companies’ efforts to run smoothly and maintain staff collaboration when many employees and executives work remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For some of these firms that have reopened office locations, administrative professionals help create a safer workplace. In many instances, they are responsible for implementing physical distancing best practices and projects and managing a calendar of rotational shifts for on-site employees. Some office support professionals are also taking duties, not part of their traditional purview as various company departments have become leaner due to staff leave and layoffs.

In short, support professionals are on the front lines of business continuity efforts; if there was ever a doubt in mind as to what value an administrative professional can bring into an organization, business, or a team, I hope this has answered some of those questions. Why do organizations not allocate an annual budget for the training and development of their top-performing support professionals? Why is it so difficult for an Assistant who makes life easy for their executives and colleagues to ask their company to cover courses and training expenses? The answer is a sad one; because administrative professionals are non-revenue generators roles within organizations. But when this trend and limited thinking change? Now more than ever, I believe support professionals have risen to the occasion, rolled their sleeves during COVID-19 challenges, and stood by their businesses and executives in facing challenges, and in some cases, to took on more, above and beyond their job descriptions.

I encourage you to invest in your administrative professional stars’ development and training to continue this momentum. Helping them to upskill is a no-brainer. They have the potential to rise every single time if given the opportunity.

So, administrative professionals, are you ready to kick your career up a notch for 2021?

Here are some essential skills worth the investment if you are interested in polishing up on technical or non-technical skills or looking for professional development and improvement; what matters own your professional growth staying relevant, in demand, and strategic.

 

In-Demand Technical Skills:

• Collaboration software
• Customer relationship management
• Document creation
• Online conferencing
• Social media
• Project management software
• Electronic filling
• Email marketing
• Google drive
• Graphic design and presentation software
• Microsoft 365

 

In-Demand Non-technical Skills:

• Active listening
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Creative problem-solving
• Emotional intelligence
• Leadership
• Interpersonal skills
• Discretion
• Critical thinking, creative and connective
• Project Management
• Negotiation skills
• Levelheadedness
• Multitasking

 

In summary, being able to negotiate like a true diplomat in a tactful, empathic, and savvy manner during discussions with everyone to achieve a positive outcome is essential to your success in the role as well.

Administrative professionals, for the most part, must juggle a variety of tasks simultaneously, dealing with demanding stakeholders, co-workers, and all the while, dealing with numerous changes, often at the last minute and often with minimal support. The very best of these administrative professionals can keep a level head and manage their emotions, regardless of the situation at hand. Having a calm presence when others are stressed or unable to focus is a skill those in your orbit will be grateful for. Using your critical thinking, understanding your organization’s goals, making decisions or recommendations accordingly, and coming up with innovative solutions is another asset to add under your belt.  Your connective thinking centers on the invisible lines among people, data, and ideas; while using those connections to work effectively is another hidden superpower, don’t be afraid to use it.

On point, administrative professionals are known for being comfortable at multitasking on several high priority items simultaneously with frequent interruptions. However, are your skills up to the task? If you need help, look for ways to improve your organizational expertise, whether with productivity apps or training on time management or other skills. It is essential to help keep operations running smoothly. Being able to track and manage resources and information effectively makes everyone else’s jobs easier.

I hope you consider these essential skills to help with your planning, objectives, and professional development goals.