Online Office Assistant Degrees, Certificates, Diplomas from Top Colleges and Universities

Online Degrees in Office Assistant

Listed below are colleges and universities that offer online degrees or certificates in Office Assistant and a detailed list of the programs that are offered.

Your Many-Faceted Role

The role of Office Assistant is diverse and requires a combination of skills. Your responsibilities may also change on a daily basis depending on the needs of the organization. Before deciding whether this is the career for you, ask the following questions:

Would you like to work in an office environment? Keep in mind that the culture of a company can vary from very conservative (most financial institutions) to fairly causal (creative-type firms).
Do you like working with people and helping customers solve problems?
Are you a team-player able to accept constructive criticism?
Do you possess excellent organizational ability and time management skills?
Can you multitask and prioritize tasks?
Can you be discreet with confidential information (especially if you work within a medical setting)?
Do you enjoy working with computers and office equipment?
Are you detail-oriented with the ability to find grammatical, spelling, and numerical mistakes?

If you answered 'yes' to most of the above questions, a career as an Office Assistant may be a great choice!

Specific duties will vary depending on type of firm you join. For example, an office assistant working in a doctor's office may shelve patient medications; an assistant working in a financial firm may set up new accounts; an assistant working for a furniture company may arrange delivery of merchandise.

Responsibilities will also vary depending on level of experience. Entry-level office assistants may be limited to photocopying, answering telephones, data entry, and filing. Those with more experience will be provided with additional responsibilities, such as addressing customer complaints, creating spreadsheets, helping with presentations, proofreading documents, coordinate travel arrangements for management staff, help prepare financial reports, and track inventory.

Because you will be exposed to so many duties and departments, the position of office assistant provides a wonderful learning opportunity for recent college grads. Employment opportunities are available in a variety of settings to include private business, government agencies, professional offices (doctor, dentist, attorney), as well as the nonprofit sector.

Most office assistants work in comfortable office environments. Those with full-time jobs usually work a 40 hour workweek: however, there may be the opportunity for significant overtime during busy periods. There are also opportunities for part time work, especially within doctor offices, and many office assistants work on a temporary basis. This type of a position is a great way to get your foot in the door at a company you would like to learn more about. Many assistants are able to move up within a company because they learn critical skills needed within the firm by assisting others in higher careers.

Career Advancement

Office assistants who show strong business abilities, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and strong multi-tasking ability may be eligible for career advancement. Promotional opportunities are available to become an Office/Administrative Manager in which you will supervise the work of lower-level office assistants, or an administrative assistant handling diverse office responsibilities for one or a few managers within the firm. Many mid and larger size firms also offer tuition reimbursement programs allowing you to pursue additional study to advance your career into other areas, perhaps even entry into the firm's management training program!

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Career Outlook for Office Assistants

According to the 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook handbook published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Office Assistants held about 3.5 million jobs as of 2008, with the majority employed by small businesses.

According to the BLS, growth of office assistants is expected to be 12% from 2008-2018, a rate that is about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment prospects will be affected by advances in technology which will expand automation of many tasks (e.g. inventory control and payroll processing). This situation will result in greater demand for office assistants because they are generalists, able to perform a wide variety of tasks rather than focus on one specific function.

Employment prospects will be best for office assistants with knowledge of computer software programs and office equipment including computers, fax machines, scanners and telephone systems. People with strong communication abilities and organizational skills will also have an advantage.

Economic factors also play a part in job prospects. For example, healthcare firms will continue to expand while those in the manufacturing sector can be expected to continue slow growth with a consequent lower number of job opportunities.

Salary Forecast for Office Assistants

As per Salary.com (April 2011) the salary range of entry level Office Assistants is $28,681 - $46,880, with a median national average of $35,736. Keep in mind that these numbers are national averages. Several factors come into play with regard to the salary you will receive. Such factors to include:

Size of firm: Larger firms tend to offer higher salaries than do smaller ones.
Location: It is also likely you will earn a greater salary in a large metropolitan area than in a small town. This is primarily due to the higher cost of living in large cities
Years of experience; You should be able to earn a higher salary once you gain some experience in the field. In many cases, you will also be provided with an initial increase once your probationary period (usually 3 months) has passed. Salary increases will also arise from promotions and additional education to increase knowledge and skill-set.
Overtime: In most cases, office assistants are non-exempt employees and eligible to receive overtime pay, usually paid at time-and-a-half.Depending on how much overtime you contribute, this could add a substantial amount to your base pay.
Bonuses: Many larger-size firms also award year-end bonuses to their employees that can add a few hundred dollars to your pocket!

Education and Skills Required to be an Office Assistant

Most employers will require a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. However, an associate's degree in business will provide you with a competitive edge in obtaining entry-level employment. This degree may be obtained at community colleges or vocational schools. Those who seek to work in a medical setting may also pursue a degree in medical or dental office assisting.

Computer skills and knowledge of software programs are also important, as well as proficiency in using diverse office equipment.

Additional qualifications

Because the position of office assistant requires much interaction with other staff and customers, prospective entrants to the field should have excellent interpersonal skills and be team players. You should also be detail-oriented, with the ability to prioritize diverse tasks in order to meet the daily work requirements of different departments.