Administrative Professional and College Degree

EXPERT Q&A FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS

QUESTION: How important is a college degree these days to attaining a position and making a career in the administrative support profession? Please elaborate on why it is or isn’t important.

ANSWER (by Diane Domeyer, executive director of Office Team):

Many employers – but not all – do require a college degree for administrative jobs. An associate’s or bachelor’s degree often is viewed as a sign of an individual’s commitment to education and ability to follow through with goals. It also is seen as confirmation that a candidate has solid analytical and communication skills, since these are necessary to earn a degree.

However, many administrative professionals can be quite successful without a degree. The key is demonstrating a sincere interest in continually learning. If you do not have a college degree, use your job search materials and interview responses to highlight any workshops, online training or seminars you’ve completed and professional certifications you’ve earned (such as the certified administrative professional or certified professional secretary designations).

In some cases, a strong work history also can offset the lack of a degree. Be sure your cover letter and resume focus on your accomplishments and bottom line contributions to previous employers. For instance, rather than just noting you helped to select a new database application for a previous employer, you’d want to point out that the application enhanced employee efficiency so much so that you received a special award.

If you have the desire and commitment to pursue a college degree, many options are available to help you. In addition to traditional associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs through universities and colleges, many technical schools now offer specialized degrees in such areas as medical administration and administrative office technology. Be sure to talk to your manager about your plans. Companies often support efforts by their employees to pursue higher education by offering tuition reimbursement or flexible scheduling, so you want to make sure you’re aware of any available resources.

Keep in mind, too, that a college degree alone will not always give you an advantage. You must constantly strive to enhance your skill set and add value to your employers to stay marketable, regardless of whether or not you possess a degree.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Diane Domeyer is executive director of OfficeTeam, the nation’s leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled administrative and office support professionals. OfficeTeam has more than 300 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com.