We surveyed 39,623 administrative assistants to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical administrative assistant. Here are the results.

How much intelligence is required as an administrative assistant?

Low

High

Working as an administrative assistant typically doesn’t require the use of high levels of intelligence in daily tasks.

Can I learn to become an administrative assistant?

Intrinsic Talent

Acquired Talent

A career as an administrative assistant typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.

Is it easy to get a job as an administrative assistant?

Easy

Hard

It’s typically not very difficult to find a job as an administrative assistant. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for administrative assistants.

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Do administrative assistants work full-time or part-time?

72% of administrative assistants work in full-time roles while 28% work part-time.

Is being an administrative assistant stressful?

Low

High

Administrative assistants tend not to find their jobs stressful, which likely contributes positively to career satisfaction.

Is being organized important as an administrative assistant?

Low

High

Organization is considered a very important trait for administrative assistants, and is critical to success in the field.

How competitive is the workplace for administrative assistants?

Low

High

Competition at work is not common for administrative assistants.

Does being an administrative assistant require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?

Low

High

Administrative assistants will have to sometimes face time pressure on the job.

Are administrative assistants allowed to express themselves creatively?

Low

High

Administrative assistants rarely get a chance to express themselves creatively.

Do administrative assistants have control over the direction of their work?

Low

High

Administrative assistants tend to have a set and inflexible work schedule that they are unable to deviate from too much.

Is being an administrative assistant physically demanding?

Low

High

Work as an administrative assistants is rarely physically demanding, making it a suitable option for those unable to perform physically strenuous tasks.

Are administrative assistants exposed to a wide variety of work?

Low

High

While sometimes repetitive, administrative assistants tend to have opportunities for variety in their work.

Does being an administrative assistant require attention to detail?

Low

High

Attention to detail is a vital skill for administrative assistants, as small mistakes can make or break one's ability to succeed in the career.

Does being a good administrative assistant require compassion and empathy?

Low

High

Being compassionate and empathetic is considered helpful to those looking to pursue careers as administrative assistants.