I’ve worked as an administrative assistant for 15 years and I’m looking to further my career. What certificates or degrees would you suggest that will update my skills and steer me in the right direction?
That’s like asking me what you should be when you grow up! Do you have a college degree? If not, I’d start there. The unemployment rate is three times higher for non-degree job-seekers than those with college degrees. Beyond that, your next step in education is directly related to what your interests are and where your skills lie.
But wait, there’s more! If you act now, you might be able to make a big stride toward your goal by leveraging your current job and experience as an administrative assistant. No doubt you’ve made many contacts across the organization where you work. Leverage those, and inquire about potential transfers into departments that interest you — even as an administrative assistant. It’s a great way to get a feel for what a career in that field is like. And you’ll have a sharper focus on what specifically you need to move up — from the people with whom you work and who will be in the best position to give your feedback. But first and foremost, what do you want to do with your life?
A Memorial Day message:
This weekend is commonly celebrated as the unofficial start of summer with friends and family enjoying barbecues, boating and beach going. So as you remember to avoid burning the burgers — and yourself, please don’t forget what this holiday is really about — honoring the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure we have the freedom to celebrate this weekend as we wish.
And as a special thank you, I make this offer to our vets who are currently out of work and looking for a job in the tri-state area: If you send your resume to my e-mail address below, I will gather a special ops force of highly-trained HR professionals, and we’ll provide complimentary review and feedback.
Gregory Giangrande is an executive human resources officer in the media industry. Email your career questions to gotogreg@nypost.com. And follow Greg on Twitter: @greggiangrande.