I am in the process of putting together a paper for the final course in my BSM Degree program. The lack of career development for Administrative Assistants is the title of my paper and I am looking for ideas and/or comments that you can give me to help with my paper. If this paper turns out well, I will probably propose my recommendations to my company to see if they will implement changes to the current policies to allow better career plans for Admins.
Please provide me with any information that you can. You can reach me by replying to this thread or directly by e-mailing me at: maendeleo55@yahoo.com.
Thanks in advance for your help and I look forward to your comments.
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Good morning Yvonne,
I too would like to read your paper. I am also a CAP with IAAP. I agree that it can be difficult to change the culture of getting the decision makers to understand the critcal role their administrative professional plays in maintaining order and relieving them of the routine tasks that eat up so much of a day. That said it is the administrative professionals responsibility to sell themselves and the results of their professional development. I would strongly encourage participation in this forum as well as local chapter meetings and training offered through the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Also Madison Area Technical College now offered a degreed program AA for administrative professionals. They were very generous in offering me credits for the work I've already done on my professional development through IAAP and I am almost a third of the way through this degree which is then transferrable to an accelerated bachelor degree program. There are opportunities if you look. It also helps to know how the decision make receives and processes information and requests, i.e., are they analytical - give them the information and leave them alone to think about it; do they want just the facts?; do they want lots of details. I know from personal experience that it is sometimes the way 'I' have communicated requests that have prevented me from getting what I want. Putting it in a context that will show the employer the benefit of the investment will get you plenty. Good luck.
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Victoria Hahn on
7/30/2008 8:38:34 AM
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Yvonne, Could you forward a copy of your results to me as well. I am a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals and have my CAP; am currently working on my MCAS for Microsoft Office 2007 software. I agree that the admins at my company are expected to be professional and educated, however, the support is not on the same level as other professionals in the office (I work for an accounting firm). I have tried to elicite the support of other admins to change some minor aspects of our training options. But they are 'in a box' and refuse to 'break out' of the box (apathetic). With the demand for admins to take on more and more responsibilities, how do we get the training/education and support to remain competitive and on the cutting edge of business needs?
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Yolanda Thomas on
5/12/2008 9:51:53 AM
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I work in the federal government and understand your frustration. I have not seen a position yet where an administrative assistant / executive secretary rises above the pay grade of GS-10, or $51K. Before I became a civilian employee, I served in and retired from the U.S. Army as an administrative specialist or at the higher grades, office manager. Natural career progression for an aggressive administrative assistant would be office manager or administrative officer.
I invite your attention to the attached chart I created to help me do the same thing you are doing now. My actual pay in the Army was a little more than twice the ceiling in the chart after one added in the benefits and allowances.
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AEAP on
3/24/2008 10:13:12 AM
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Hi Yvonne - in answer to your question about courses such as project management - organization behaviour etc. The answer is yes. I have taken several project management courses such as Project Management for Administrative Professionals and Project Leadership, Management and Communication. Also Cisco paid for both my books and courses when I was going for the CPS/CAP through the International Association of Administrative Professional. They just paid for me to take Microsoft Project 2003 and will also be paying for Microsoft Project 2007. Employees at Cisco are encouraged to take courses - we have an extensive training program in house at Cisco - I thought I had sent you the Mission Statement for Cisco.
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Barbara Snyder on
3/14/2008 4:51:47 AM
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Thanks to all that replied.
My company offers tuition reimbursement as well but only $2,500 a year. At my current college, each class is $1,020 per year so my company will only pay for two classes and the rest of the year is on me. That is not enough.
Barbara, does your company allow for your Admins to take classes such as management training, organizational development, customer services, diversity, project management.... or anything like this. If not, that is exactly what I am talking about. Our training is based on classes that focuses on Administrative duties (word processing, data entry, customer service, database training) and nothing else. Most of us work for more than one boss (I currently support 5 people but it use to be 7). Managing people, project management, organizational classes, diversity, conflict management, time management, managing stress, team building or working in teams are just a few of the classes that we can use to help with our positions. We deal with internal and external personnel every day so we should be allowed to have these classes to help make us better Admins or to help us move up to management if that is what we want to do.
So, can you please let me know what classes or training you are offering at Cisco and what other career options are available to your Admins or where they want their careers to go.
I appreciate all of your help. I will use as much of your comments as possible in my final project which I hope will gain more respect and career options.
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Yvonne Jackson on
3/13/2008 3:02:55 PM
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I would like to read your paper too to see what direction you can give the rest of us. Believe it or not, my employer offers a tuition assistance program for all employees EXCEPT administrative assistants. We are the only ones not allowed to participate as they feel we have no where to advance!
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Anonymous on
3/13/2008 1:18:05 PM
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Yvonne,
I would be interested in reading your paper as well. I started at my company as a temp, became permanent as the Receptionist, was promoted to Administrative Assistant, and have been the Executive Assistant, Business Development since July 2005. This June, I will receive my Bachelors in Business Administration, and there doesn't seem to be a clear path for where I will go next. Well, or any path at all! There has to be something more in the administrative field! Thanks!
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Katharine Glenn on
3/13/2008 1:16:20 PM
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Hi Yvonne - I have the exact opposite experience. For the past nine years I have worked at Cisco and have been encouraged along the way to better my self both personally and professionally. Here is Cisco's Mission Statement with regards to Admins, Executive Admins etc.
Mission Statement
Building a Professional Administrative team that exemplifies Cisco's culture while promoting professional excellence through the exchange of information, education, mentoring and teamwork in Cisco's dynamic environment.
As a result, Cisco has put into place a talent development program that was developed speficially for and by Cisco admins to help recruit, develop and retain admin talent.
In order to do this Cisco is attempting to build an administrative community that fosters:
Knowledge and learning
Teamwork and collaboration
Shared success and celebration
Provide career development plans
There are numerous in house courses for admins as well, admins are encouraged to take courses outside as well. In the past year I have taken over half dozen courses, recertified as a CPS/CAP.
Should you wish to discuss how the Cisco plan works, you can contact me
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Barbara Snyder on
3/12/2008 10:09:47 AM
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Yvonne, I agree with Rose’s comments. In the organization I work for, there is not a Professional/Career Development plan for Administrative Professionals. I have taken responsibility for my own development through continuing education classes/seminars. I am currently working as a Senior Executive Assistant, but have taught on the collegiate level. Rose, please share with us your program when it is finalized. I believe the Admins in the company I work for must come together collectively to bring about change. Yvonne, I would be interested in reading your paper as well.
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Anonymous on
3/12/2008 9:38:01 AM
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Yvonne,
I, too, have noticed an appalling lack of Professional/Career Development for Admins. I am in the process of setting up a program for my department.
One thing I have noticed is that some (maybe most) Admins do not see themselves as Professionals. I think we need to change the mindset of Admins before any Professional/Career Development programs will be effective. Also, Admins need to build up their self-esteem and take responsibility for their own development. This could be Training courses and/or a more formal education (i.e., college).
I am currently working as an Executive Assistant, but I have a Master's Degree in Education and was formerly a high school and college English instructor. I would be very interested in reading your paper when you are finished.
Thank you.
Rose
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Anonymous on
3/12/2008 7:20:43 AM
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