How to advance to a better administrative job

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How to advance to a better administrative job

Posted on September 11, 2013
related tags: Career

Employees in administrative jobs often feel that they do not have ample opportunity to move up within a company, but a smart assistant or administrative worker does have some options for improving his or her job. Methods for advancement into a better position might require an individual to leave his or her company, and while this might be a difficult step, it's vital to consider this option when evaluating administrative job options.

One of the issues in administration work is that employers feel the worker is so valuable that a promotion would be difficult to obtain. Pay raises might be offered for a time, but eventually a worker might find it difficult to be recognized for a new job.

The following steps may enhance an administrative worker's chances for promotion or finding a better job.

1. Improve your resume and cover letter

A resume might be the only item an applicant has to represent his or her experience to a new employer. Whether an individual seeks a better job inside or outside his company, it's vital to ensure the resume looks terrific. Getting a good idea of sample resumes offers valuable information on what to include on this important document. A couple good sites for resume advice and examples are Careeronestop.org and Monster.com. Your cover letter is also incredibly important and should be customized for each particular job you apply to, a good site to checkout for cover letter advice is Coverletter.us

2. Network within the company

An administrative assistant may naturally interact with many people within the company, and it's a good idea to improve those connections by networking. Knowing the support staffs in other departments and the managers in each area of the company is a terrific way to get early information on a new position within the company.

3. Network outside the company

An administrative worker will interact with other companies where advancement to a better position might be possible. Keeping a strong network of contacts at other companies offers a great way to know early about a new job opening, and to gather recommendations within that company for a new position.

4. Expand outside the role

Being "poached" by another company or another executive within the company might not please a person's current employer, but it is a way to locate another job. Helping with projects around the department or across the company illustrates that an administrative worker has value and is a good target for promotion or different work.

5. Consider different job titles

When actively seeking different employment, the different job titles considered might not be exactly the same as what an individual currently has. Researching alternative job titles helps to identify options for a better job. An "administrative assistant" might be a "project manager" at another company.

6. Negotiate a better salary

If an administrative worker is particularly comfortable in his or her current company, negotiating a better salary might be the easiest way into change. Agreeing to accept additional responsibilities may be the easiest way into a better salary and into a different type of employment.

Although administrative jobs are often seen as employment where someone will never move up or around the company, there are options for advancement. Such opportunities require a proactive approach to the search process.  

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