Administrative Assistant's Update - sample

5 Administrative Assistant's UPDATE Employer 'must-haves' when hiring admins By Staff What are employers looking for when hiring an administrative assistant? Worldwide staffing firm Robert Half identifies five "must-haves" in a recent website post: "Insider" knowledge about your industry. Whatever industry your employer is in, you need to know the terminology, trends and technology that are the currency in which the firm operates. That knowledge will enhance your value to your current employer and also make you much more employable should you seek to move to another employer in the same industry. Terminology. Knowing the language of the business sector you're in en - ables you to understand and be a part of workplace conversations dealing with mission and strategy. Trends. Being knowledgeable about them feeds insights into how trends might affect the company. Technology. "Employers prefer ad- ministrative professionals who are not only tech-savvy but also well versed in the company's most-used technol- ogy," says Robert Half. "They look for individuals who proactively update their skills through training so they can exploit these tools." MS Office expertise plus social media and tech skills. "Knowing how to run virtual meetings, organize newsletters and create PowerPoint presentations," says Robert Half, "puts you a cut above the rest." So can social media skills that you can apply to the organization's or your boss's needs. The ability to use accounting, pay - roll and HR applications is also a plus in the eyes of many managers and executives. Effective written and verbal tal- ents. As a point of contact for clients or as a go-to person internally, you need the ability "to communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively both verbally and in writing." "Artful articulation," says Robert Half, "helps you get job results." Perceptive about saving money. "Proposing cost-cutting solutions to those within the company is a good way to make yourself indispensable to the organization." Being on the front lines in day-to- day operations puts admins in a posi- tion to observe and study how office expenses are handled. Adept at displaying grace under pressure. Here your emotional intel- ligence (EQ) is especially valuable. "Stretching your skills beyond your job description to tackle the unex- pected shows you're well positioned to handle the complexities of today's workplace." 2-page resume can be a player in your job hunt By Staff Contrary to conventional wisdom, a two-page resume could actually increase your chances of being hired. A recent study by ResumeGo found recruiters prefer two-page resumes, writes Jared Lindzon in Fast Company. However, there needs to be relevant substance in that extra page, not just an airing out of content that could have been succinctly presented in one page. If you highlight early in your resume points em - ployers are looking for, your chances of getting to a second round are higher. Those points would likely include school attended, degree earned, what one has been doing most recently, how long they've been there and are they employed now, says Amanda Au- gustine, a career advice expert at TopResume. "The top of the first page of your resume has to be a snapshot of everything you really need a recruiter or hiring manager to see and know about you," she says. "You have to get them interested enough to continue reading to page two." After a few years in the workforce, Augustine says, a candidate should move education to the bottom of the resume and feature career highlights/profes - sional summary and recent certifications at the top. Once the resume has passed the ini- tial round, it is going to get a closer look, and that's where the well-constructed two-page resume (don't go far beyond the 600-word "sweet spot, however) can present informa - tion to attract the recruiter's attention. Credit: bsd (Shutterstock)

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