Administrative Assistant Certification
Why Should You Seek After Higher Education?
Have you settled for less than your dreams? Perhaps you gave up on education, not sure it was worth your time. Maybe you took the first job that came along so that you could make ends meet. Now is the time to take action. Start making the steps toward higher education and earning an administrative assistant certification.
Why change careers?
Perhaps you feel that additional education is out of your reach for financial reasons. But consider this: according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the average salary for adults working full-time with less than a high school diploma is $444 per week, or $23,088 annually. The average high school grad earns $626 weekly, or $32,552 annually. An associate’s degree raises that average to $767 per week, or $39,884 annually, and an employee with a bachelor’s degree earns an average of $1,038 per week, or $53,976 per year. (See www.bls.gov.) Further education continues to raise the average salary.
So what does this mean for you? As you earn more education, your opportunities for employment greatly increase. You become competitive in fields that you might not currently be able to pursue. You will be able to expect - and earn - a higher paycheck since you have an increased skill set. And since more doors will be opened to you, you will have a greater likelihood of finding a job that gives you personal fulfillment. One of these jobs may be related to becoming an administrative assistant.
Administrative assistant certification programs are designed to give you practical skills that will help you in the workplace. When you complete the program, you will become a marketable candidate, knowledgeable in the details that make an assistant invaluable. You will have training in areas ranging from technology, to bookkeeping, to human relations, and much more. Depending on the program you choose, you might even have the opportunity to specialize in a specific area of administrative assistance that you find interesting, such as event planning.
How to Make an Administrative Assistant Certification Program Work for You
If you are considering administrative assistant certification, now is the time to look at your options. Do you have a nearby community college that offers administrative assistant certification programs? Are you willing to move to another city that provides the opportunities you’re seeking? Or perhaps you’re interested in the flexibility of online courses. Start an internet search and see what is available to you. Many programs exist, from an Administrative Assistants Certificate to a Bachelor’s (or even Master’s) degree in Business Administration. Look around to determine what program of study suits your needs, desires, and skill level. Then reach out to the schools that offer that program. Find out how much money you’ll need in order to complete it, and if there are scholarships available that you might qualify for. Reach out to the school’s financial aid office for help with grants and student loans. They want you to succeed - they will help you work up a doable financial plan.
You might feel like you will not be able to afford food, rent, and school at the same time. But grants and student loans can take care of school expenses and assist with living expenses, and you can work part-time (or even full-time) to meet your other financial obligations. It might call for sacrifices in the short term, but the long-term payoffs will outweigh the temporary struggles. Look where you are now: perhaps unemployed, perhaps employed in a job without much fulfillment or potential. Then dare to imagine yourself in the future, working in a corporate environment, a capable and valued member of a team. This can become your reality. Pursue an administrative assistant certification, and start making your dreams come true.
