More than just a job, your administrative talent is the backbone of your company. From balancing the books to greeting clients at the door, they do it all — so you need to hire right.
Putting considerable thought into the hiring process is a must, but some skills are more important than others. Here’s a look at five must-have abilities for your next administrative professional.
Excellent Communicator
Communication is a huge part of an administrative professional’s job. This person will likely be the first point of contact many people have with your company, so choose someone who sends a warm and welcoming vibe. Having both verbal and written communication skills is a must because they’ll be responding to emails, answering the phone, and welcoming visitors into your reception area.
Cool Under Pressure
Working as an administrative assistant can be very stressful. These professionals are often pulled in many directions at once — i.e., answering phones, while tending to clients in your waiting area — so you need someone who can take it in stride. The last thing you want is someone losing their cool with a client because they can’t take the heat.
Tech Savvy
These days, technology is a huge part of an administrative assistant’s job. From using the Microsoft Office suite — i.e., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint — to payroll software, these professionals need to quickly adapt to new programs. An inability to learn their way around software systems can harm the entire company.
Industry Insights
Administrative assistants have their hands in many aspects of the company, so they need to know the industry. Having at least a general understanding of key terms and industry trends is a must because it allows them to work better. After all, no one can be fully effective in their job if they don’t understand what their employer does.
Money Minded
Having their hands in multiple parts of the company gives administrative professionals a unique perspective. Since they’re able to see firsthand how all the pieces fit together, they can help your business become more efficient. Having someone with an eagle eye in this role can allow the company to save serious money. This might involve choosing vendors with more competitive prices or streamlining operations to eliminate unnecessary expenditures.
Need help finding top administrative talent? Malone Workforce Solutions wants to help you find the perfect fit for your team. Get in touch today to start your search!