How do I become an administrative assistant with no experience?

Step 1: Graduate from high school. About 16% of administrative assistants only have a high school diploma or General Education Degree (GED) or equivalent. It is unnecessary to have a college degree, but a little training from a technical school or community college can give you the extra edge to appeal to a potential employer.

Step 2: Take courses, training, or vocational programs that will provide you with training. Some of an administrative assistant's most important skill sets are office administration, customer service, scheduling, Microsoft Office, and data entry.

Step 3:Train for the specifics of your industry. It is helpful to educate yourself on the practices and terminology which may be used in that industry. For example, medical industry professionals and legal secretaries need to know the terminology and codes based on the field of work.

Step 4: Learn some information technology (IT). Become familiar with Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Excel, Documents, Powerpoint).

Step 5: Prepare to learn on the job. Much of the training you will need will happen in the office after you start. Be prepared for a learning curve the first couple of months after starting your new job as an administrative assistant. Each office is different and will have particular styles, needs, and expectations.

• Have patience and be open to instruction and corrections.

• Ask questions and follow up by asking if your work is meeting expectations.

• Ask what you can do to improve your work.

• Set a check-in meeting with your boss for a few months after your start date to assess your training on the job and track your improvement.