What is a department assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Anne McConnell Ph.D.

A department assistant is an individual who provides administrative support to a specific department within an organization. They perform various tasks such as scheduling appointments, answering phone calls and emails, organizing files, preparing reports, and coordinating meetings and events. They need to have excellent communication skills, be detail-oriented, and possess proficiency in using office software and equipment. Overall, a department assistant's duties vary depending on the needs of their department.

What general advice would you give to a department assistant?

Anne McConnell Ph.D.

Professor, West Virginia State University

I would say it's important to be very attentive to the way you communicate with your employers, managers, and co-workers. Even sending an e-mail can be an opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism and communication skills. Some people think that no one knows how to write anymore, or how to communicate in a professional way. I don't think that's true. But we don't always think about how our writing can be a tool to communicate our competence and seriousness. If you know how to write and communicate professionally-which college grads do-then make sure to demonstrate that in the workplace.

ScoreDepartment AssistantUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $40,698

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.0

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.82%

Black or African American 9.23%

Hispanic or Latino 16.15%

Unknown 3.87%

White 66.20%

Gender

female 66.04%

male 33.96%

Age - 52

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52

Stress level

6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.4

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a department assistant?

Pros

Opportunity to gain experience and learn new skills
Job stability and security
Opportunities for overtime pay or bonuses
Access to company resources and benefits
Chance to develop organizational and time-management skills

Cons

Low pay or lack of benefits compared to other positions within the company
Lack of autonomy and decision-making power
High stress levels due to multiple demands from various parties
Limited opportunities for growth or career advancement outside of the department
Potential for conflict or tension with coworkers or supervisors

Key steps to become a department assistant

Explore department assistant education requirements

Most common department assistant degrees

Bachelor's

59.9 %

Associate

17.5 %

High School Diploma

9.8 %

Start to develop specific department assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	14.84%
Customer Service	14.68%
Data Entry	7.72%
Word Processing	6.40%
Purchase Orders	5.31%

Complete relevant department assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New department assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a department assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real department assistant resumes.

Gain additional department assistant certifications

Department assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific department assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for department assistants include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research department assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage and develop the daily clinical schedule for the in-patient rehabilitation staff taking into consideration Medicare guidelines and staffing ratios.
Team player/adaptable HIPPA compliant, CPR certify.
Maintain and process Kronos time and attendance records for department employees.
Perform CPR and assist in critical care room with traumas and arrests.

Prepare your department assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your department assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a department assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable department assistant resume templates

Build a professional department assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your department assistant resume.