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06
Michele Busch

It’s really COOL to be an administrative professional because you can work for any industry of your choice! Seriously, think about this. Administrative professionals are essential at every company. This gives us countless possibilities to pursue a career in many diverse industries.


What industries interest you? Are you working for an industry that you are passionate about? Do you believe in your company and what they stand for? Are you an administrative professional for a large bank, for a construction company, for a news station, for a large retail chain?


Depending on the company, your internal duties may change slightly but an administrative professional’s core skills and technique stay the same. That is the really COOL thing; you can pursue whatever professional industry you choose and take your experience with you where ever your career may lead.


Administrative professionals must have certain essential skills to be successful in this business and in any industry.  You can check out those essential skills on Joan’s blog It’s COOL to be an administrative professional.


Have a great rest of the week,
Michele Busch
Administrative Assistant

  

Comments

Olga Zarabotkina
# OlyaZ
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 7:16 AM
I absolutely agree, Michele. Dedicated administrative professionals have freedom of choice – work for a preferable industry. Once I`ve made a decision to work for a large, well-known IT company and now I understand that I was not mistaken. Great experience, knowledge and skills enhancement, computer and Internet literacy…this list of my benefits can be continued. My duties & responsibilities are various and numerous, doing a lot, I`m really happy to contribute to my company`s successful growth. Remembering Dale Carnegie`s profound quote: “Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get”, I realize that it`s so wonderful when a person once can say this quote directly to himself/herself and feel satisfaction from taking his/her position exactly at this company, having no regret in what he/she is doing. I`ve found harmony for myself - achieving and accomplishing many things at my company, I highly appreciate and feel grateful for what I attain and where I am.
RSAT Admin
# honeybee
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 7:18 AM
I am an Admin Prof within the prison setting. A little different than most, but I love my job. Not real happy with the setting because you don't get to interact or meet new people, but my profession was a great choice. I work with a large substance abuse/mental illness organization & they are a super great company to work for. You can check us out at www.spectrumhealthsystems.org. Thanks for the super great blog :)
Jerri Letcavits
# jletcavits
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 8:49 AM
Hi Michele,

Loved your article! I couldn't agree more with your comments! Being an administrative professional and having the ability to share our talents in literally ANY industry is totally COOL! And though each industry may have its own unique skill set requirements, the fundamental skills needed to be an administrative professional are always the same.

Have a fantastic day!
Jerri Letcavits
Anne Sloney
# sloney
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 9:33 AM
This is the very reason that I switched from working strictly in accounting to being an administrative professional. You contain those core skills but can have endless opportunities as to the industries that you are exposed to.
clarkdl2
# clarkdl2
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 9:40 AM
So true! I am an administrative professional in the field of Higher Education and although I don't have direct interaction with students, I find it is personally fulfilling and rewarding to have a hand in helping the university to better serve those in its charge. It is a tremendous motivator to feel that I am helping to impact and shape the future.
Gwen
# Gwen
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 9:51 AM
I agree wholeheartedly with Michele! Every organization needs a COOL administrative professional! I have a passion for healthcare, and that is where most of my years as an Administrative Professional have been. I worked for a short time at a law firm, and found it was not where my passion and strength was. I had no problem finding another position because COOL administrative professional skills are a must everywhere. I love what I do, and every day brings something new. I may not be directly contributing to saving lives in a healthcare setting, but what I do provides great value to healthcare providers and patients from the back door. I love being able to use the skills I've always been passionate about every day!
hjacobs
# hjacobs
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 9:51 AM
I would love to change industries but due to family and the economy, I feel I need to stay where I am for the time being.
Deb
# dbragg
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 10:00 AM
Michele Busch is spot on (to a certain degree). Admin professionals are in nearly every industry, which can potentially lead to countless opportunities; but those opportunities are more accessible to professionals in metropolitan areas. Because of personal dynamics I hadn't even considered what type of industry I'd like to work for, or pursue for that matter. I'm just thankful for what I have.

Michele has taught me a valuable lesson of not just settling for what is available to me currently, but to look into areas that I may be passionate about. Now, about getting my foot in the door...
Gina
# gdjustic
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 10:05 AM
Yes, I am one of those who has been in this profession for many years. I have had a couple different job titles, but the work has been primarily the same with different special skills learned at each job. The learning and volunteering for different duties/special skill is an enhancement to the core skill set I have. My company uses a Matrix to rate Administrative Staff on the knowledge of different applications and specialized dutes for the company. This is motivating and it allows for even further choices within this organization. I agree with Michelle, there are alot of choices in our COOL Administrative Profession.
Tina Humphrey
# TinaH
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 10:23 AM
I agree. I have worked as in hospitality, non-profits, and now healthcare. While the soundings have changed the core components of the job are still the same. Being an administrative professional is cool!
Doreen
# dsunseri
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 10:41 AM
I couldn't agree with you more on this subject. A very funny thing happened to me. 15 years ago, I was working as an assistant in a very small town in Australia. It was a computer Solutions / Tandy (Radio Shack) store. I ran pretty much the whole place, and my boss was the computer tech. I was also studying Business Administration at the time. I thought wow, how cool it would be to work in a big huge corporation with Senior Executives like IBM or Microsoft. Never in a million years did i ever think that was going to happen to me. BUT it did! I do live in USA now, and I work for a huge computer, global business and software company, and support senior executives here. I have a beautiful office, with amazing scenery, wonderful intelligent people around me all day, I communicate with the highest level of people in this company and I contribute to the entire global administrative team worldwide. I love my job and I did it!! I followed my dreams and my heart and perused what I never imagined could be done and I'm proud of where my experiences have brought me today.
Sallie De Silva
# Sallie
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 11:41 AM
Being in the admin field is the "coolest" to me because the roles are unlimited... I am in everything and love the diversity! Thanks for the article!
Helen Benson
# HRBenson
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 12:17 PM
Absolutely right, Michele! As administrative professionals we can work in any industry, any country for that matter, as we bring flexibility, adaptability, knowledge, and the strength to support, especially when you have a boss and work culture that encourages growth. Thanks! helen
Kathy
# stliaap
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 2:26 PM
Michele, you are so right! I happen to be in the Financial Services industry, but have worked in education, manufacturing and several service industries. It just goes to show you how well our skills translate to other area.

Thanks,
Kathy Sorrell CPS/CAP
Christine
# Csmith8
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 3:15 PM
Michele, I could not agree with you more. Over my 27 years of experience I have had the pleasure of working in several different industries from manufacturing, to insurance, to Consumer Goods just to name a few. The skills I have learned through each industry have been invaluable to me and definitely have helped me understand what industry I prefer to work within.
Beth_Harris
# Aerial
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 4:12 PM
Absolutely! We are everywhere! And the skills are very applicable in whatever job you find yourself. As I begin the process of transitioning to a management position, the skills and habits I worked on through my years in a support role are continuing to serve as the backbone of my processes.

And I have a feeling that if I ever find myself with an assistant - I will appreciate them all the more for it!
Tracy
# trgarcia07
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 6:40 PM
Michele is right on. Being in the administrative field for 15+ years, I have worked in health care, manufacturing, real estate, technology, and government industries. I have taken away a vast range of knowledge from each job that I can use in the next one which makes me more valuable to that new employer. It has also helped with my technical skills: what I didn't have the opportunity to learn in one industry I learned in the other, which I now store in my knowledge base "bag of tricks"!
Tracy
# TracyHerb
Thursday, April 07, 2011 3:17 PM
We really do have so many options in front of us and each industry brings different talents to the table and gives us the opportunity to learn a lot from each of them. I've been in several industries and in different support roles. Each has given me another notch on my belt of experiences and successes. Can it be much more cool than that!
Patti
# pspeer
Thursday, April 07, 2011 3:57 PM
I have certainly found my niche. I love working at the Chamber, meeting the members, helping with events and connecting with the community leaders. I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing except maybe owning a bar on a Caribbean island!!!
StaciG
# StaciG
Thursday, April 07, 2011 4:21 PM
I love it when you find not only an industry you can believe in but then they add more to your job and you find out that you are very successful and adept in that area. Ie; meeting, and event planning
JOAN
# JMHERW
Thursday, April 07, 2011 6:52 PM
Yes, any you can work in any field. I have worked in insurance, garment district, retail, radio show, finance, banking, and airfreight. All doing the one thing I do best "an administrative professional".
shaubold
# shaubold
Friday, April 08, 2011 9:32 AM
Michele, I couldn't agree more. I currently work in the commercial real estate industry, but the COOLest part about my job is I am EA to our President who has 5 different divisions within our firm - brokerage, property management, insurance, development and investment advisory services. Although the industry title has a broad brush name to it, I am so fortunate to touch each of these divisions in some way, and each division is actually an industry itself when you really look at it. How COOL is it that I work for a firm that translates my talents to 5 industries under one roof?!!
Jasmine M Freeman
# jfreeman
Friday, April 08, 2011 11:05 AM
Look at all these great comments - all proving that yes, Michele, we come from every industry out there. I love that about this profession.
BB
# B Bridwell
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 11:11 AM
I have been fortunate enough to work in several different industries and I can tell you it is key to be passionate about the industry in which you are working. Soak up all you can from the Executives by which you are surrounded. Do some research about the industry and you will find that you can be of much more value!! How COOL is that?
astaremp
# ahopkins
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 12:03 PM
I couldn't agree more! I am an administrative professional with a large physician practice. My main responsibility is being the 'go-to gal' for the physicians; from creating their work schedules, to assisting with hospital credentialing and obtaining answers to their questions. I deal with many different industries and am regularly in contact with some of the best Admin Pros out there! I consider us the 'hub' that keeps the wheels turning. Our multifaceted capabilites, intricate web of contacts (network, network, network), and the wonderfully positive, can-do attitudes of the admins I encounter verify for me that I love what I do. We Rock - which is pretty darn cool!

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