5 Fun Facts about Administrative Duties

Every business needs administrative assistants to keep operations running optimally. Many organizations are turning to ASO companies to handle important duties such as HR, payroll, scheduling and more. Let's take a look at five fun facts about administrative duties around the world.

Industries

Every industry and field can benefit greatly from the work of administrative experts. Perhaps some of the most common areas for administrators include schools, hospitals, medical centers, law firms and government offices. An ASO company focuses solely on administrative services, and are making a change in many of these fields that rely so heavily on organized, efficient administrators.

Work

Although some administrative assistants have part-time hours, the majority work in a full-time capacity. There are various prerequisites and experience necessary for certain roles. While ASO companies will provide professionals with years of experience, many small offices hire high school graduates with knowledge of computer software applications for entry-level roles. Many secretaries catch on to their job duties quite quickly, within a few weeks, although legal and medical assistants may need more preparation as they become familiar with industry-specific vocabulary. Executive assistants and secretaries have often worked their way up from entry-level positions, gaining several years of eye-opening experience.

Multi-Tasking

If you're ever wondering how to describe an administrative assistant, just remember the term "multi-tasker." Anyone who succeeds in office administration work must be a master of handling multiple duties and tasks at once. The best administrative assistants can easily and efficiently accomplish many things, from entering data and answering phone calls to filing documents and sorting mail. A recent study showed that 64 percent of administrative assistants keep office calendars, while 55 percent organize meetings and special events.

Special Day

Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5 percent decline in administrative jobs from 2016 to 2026, these hard workers are widely celebrated and cherished. There is even an unofficial holiday, called Administrative Professionals' Day, geared toward honoring the important work of receptionists, secretaries, assistants and administrative professionals. In the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong and Malaysia, it is celebrated on the Wednesday of the last full week of April every year, while New Zealanders honor administrators on the third Wednesday of April. The Netherlands choose to celebrate on the third Thursday in April, while Australians pay their respects on the first Friday of May.

Pay

There are millions of people working in administrative roles throughout the world. In fact, in 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that there were 3,900,400 administrative assistants and secretaries in America. Their average hourly pay was $18.21, while their average yearly salary was $37,870. Some may work for ASO companies that specialize in all things administration and allow businesses to outsource their administrative needs.