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Administrative assistants typically work with others to make sure that an office functions better. Most employers prefer administrative assistants with a high school diploma at least, two or more years of college and experience working in an office. Administrative assistants may help someone specifically or the assistant may work for the entire group. An administrative assistant must have many skills in order to perform her job effectively.
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An administrative assistant may report to more than one person. Each supervisor may have separate goals. The assistant must be able to work with all of her supervisors to make sure that any desired tasks are carried out. As part of her duties--making sure that the office functions efficiently--she must help coworkers work as a team.
time management
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Administrative assistants must be able to prioritize their time at work. In a single day, they may have a long list of tasks to carry out and the administrative assistant must make sure that each task is completed within the time frame allotted.
copier
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Knowledge of office equipment such as fax machines is vital for any administrative assistant. The assistant must know how to operate a phone system with multiple lines. An assistant also must understand how to work a copy machine and even how to fix one.
computer
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Most offices rely heavily on computer systems to function. An administrative assistant must have a thorough understanding of computers. Besides sending emails and doing Internet research, an administrative assistant must be able to create spreadsheets, scan documents into a scanner and even teach computer basics to other people in the office.
typing
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Many administrative assistants help a supervisor write documents. A supervisor may dictate the document in question and ask the assistant to proofread it for typos and grammar issues. An administrative assistant also must know how to compose business letters. The assistant may need to correspond with a vendor to make sure that items are delivered on time and to the right specifications.
