1. administrative assistant
By taking on key organizational priorities, admin assistants have a critical role to play in driving business value. How so? Administrative assistants carry out duties like coordinating, scheduling, organizing and planning, enabling leaders to focus more of their energy on the things they do best — shaping and directing business outcomes.
about this job2. customer service representative
Customer service reps have never been more crucial: The fact that customer satisfaction has been declining for a few years is a case in point. A stellar user experience fosters brand loyalty, gives companies a competitive edge and accelerates growth. Expect remote customer service jobs in particular to continue to increase.
about this job3. call center representative
Call center reps have an essential role to play in today's business environment, effectively closing the loop between organizational outputs — products and services — and the customers who use them. Done right, the position requires expert knowledge of the offering, together with patience and strong interpersonal skills. Individuals who fit the bill can enjoy a rewarding, fast-paced career.
about this job4. collections specialist
From account management to ledger reconciliation, regulatory compliance and more, collections specialists, also known as collections agents, are focal points of action in office settings. No less critically, they're serving a vital revenue function — and when they celebrate wins or drive successful outcomes, it usually translates to measurable value on the bottom line.
about this job5. office manager
With many companies now offering a hybrid work model, the role of office manager has never been more important. Running a flexible workplace requires savvy office professionals, and their numbers are only expected to grow, rising 7 percent in the decade up to 2031. This increase will be especially noticeable in fields like healthcare, finance and insurance.
about this job6. virtual assistant
If you have admin experience, but prefer the flexibility of remote work, virtual assistants continue to be in high demand. Valued by businesses for their ability to take on tasks from answering the phone to data entry, these organized individuals can choose to work from home or even as a digital nomad. Being a virtual assistant can also be a good — and lucrative — side hustle.
about this jobessential office and administrative skills
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call center
Call center reps are high-octane professionals whose work is essential to the companies — not to mention the customers — they serve. So if you're ready to take your customer service career to the next level, consider pursuing one of many certifications available to call center professionals.
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customer billing
Think billing is a skill set that will make a difference for you this year? In that case, certification in this area would be a smart move. A quick Google search for billing certification should show you the full range of options available. Just be aware that many of these certifications and training courses are organized according to specialty fields: medical billing, financial account billing and so on. Choose the one that's closest to the career path you have in mind.
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customer service
Some people are naturals when it comes to customer service — but even if that sounds like you, remember that there's always loads more to learn. One of several certifications might catapult you to a higher-paying job with little to no upfront cost. Pursuing one of these certifications could be the catalyst you need to improve your customer service skills — and your career prospects.
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data entry
Even as automation is speeding up formerly manual data-entry processes at offices across the country, highly complex or unusual data still often needs to be entered by hand. That suggests continued growth in this field is going to carry on for the foreseeable future — and certification could really make your candidacy shine. That's good news because, in most other areas, the barriers to entry for today's data-entry roles tend to be fairly low: a high school diploma or GED will usually do the trick. Certification could be a key differentiator.
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microsoft 365
Familiarity with Microsoft 365 is simply a fact of life for most office professionals today. You can't escape it. And when it comes to certification, there are plenty of options to choose from, so why not make getting certified your goal for this year?
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google workspace
Cloud-based suite Google Workspace continues to boom (exceeding 3 billion users worldwide) and is the productivity tool of choice for numerous U.S. companies. Sign up for online certification to make sure you stay at the top of your game.
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written communications
While AI can assist with complex communication, the ability to write clearly and concisely remains a prized skill among administrative assistants, executive assistants and other highly paid office professionals. So if you're looking to level up, take a look around: Business writing classes abound. Just be careful to consider your options, and reflect on which of them most align with your career goals, before you decide to commit. Taking a moment to review what's currently being offered on Udemy, our learning partner, is a safe bet.
other key office and administrative skills
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communication
So much of what determines success in office settings boils down to your ability to communicate with wide-ranging stakeholders, from vendors to co-workers, business heads and more. Think you're adept at communicating with these disparate groups? Communication is surely in your wheelhouse if that's the case.
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detail oriented
If you're supporting business strategy in an office setting, no detail is too small or fine-grained — nothing gets overlooked. Among other things, then, being detail oriented means being diligent, zeroing in on the particulars and always reading the fine print.
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problem solving
Quick thinkers who are agile on their feet, top office and administration employees recognize that problem solving is one of the key traits they bring to the table — and they make sure that fact is highlighted on their resumes, too.
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time management
If your hands and mind can move faster than those on the clock's face, all without missing a beat, time management must be your forte. It's a good quality to call out on your resume, too, as it suggests some of the value you would bring to a potential employer. Don't omit it!
