What Skills Should an Office Assistant Have?

Office assistant jobs are incredibly in-demand in Toronto and the GTA so, having the skills necessary for this kind of role could help you to stand out from the crowd. At the heart of the business, an office assistant is expected to have a plethora of skills that allow them to be able to support the smooth running of the office.

Office assistants need to have lots of common and easy-to-build skills and knowing what these are skills is important. With an office assistant program, you can find the areas where you may need to improve and what necessary skills you need to develop.

We have summarized a few of the key skills needed by office assistants below.

Communication

Communication is an essential skill for any office assistant, and by communication, we mean both verbal and written skills.

Good verbal communication skills allow for easy collaboration and will help you to effectively communicate with co-workers, management, and clients. You will be expected to take phone calls, speak with clients, and note down messages – all of which will benefit from good verbal communication.

Written communication, like verbal communication, can support the way you interact with clients. From drafting emails to mail correspondence, to taking detailed notes in meetings, your written communication skills need to be at a good level for a role as an office assistant.

You may be able to develop both written and verbal communication skills in an office assistant program.

Organization

An office assistant is likely to be expected to complete more than one task at once and so organization is key. You will likely be in charge of schedules and be expected to organize billing, filing, and data. Having good organizational skills will benefit you when it comes to these kinds of tasks, and it benefits the company!

Time Management

Time management goes hand-in-hand with good organization. Having to complete lots of tasks each day, all with competing deadlines requires you to be able to manage your time effectively. It would benefit you if you were able to plan out your days ahead of time to effectively execute all of your duties in a timely manner.

An office assistant course (GTA-based) can help you to build this kind of skill if you’re worried you may lack organizational abilities.

Technology Skills

Technology can be of great use to an office assistant and knowing how to use different computer software and programs will help you to stand out from the crowd.

An office assistant will be expected to be able to use lots of different programs, usually relating to spreadsheets and databases, and while the software can vary between companies, good proficiency on a PC is a must for all office assistants.

You can even use technology to help yourself through organizational and time management platforms that help you stay focused. This kind of proficiency can be achieved on a variety of office assistant program options.

Problem-solving

An office assistant is likely to have to solve problems daily. This could include sorting out travel or accommodation for management, scheduling meetings, or just responding to issues within the office to support the smooth running of the business. Being able to think on your feet and solve issues quickly will really benefit you in this role.

Problem-solving is a skill you can build on an office assistant course (GTA locations available).

Resourcefulness

Resourcefulness is similar to problem-solving and requires you to be able to be flexible with your time and your work. An office assistant’s job can vary day-to-day, and you may find that you have to step into different kinds of roles some days. You need to be resourceful enough to take on these new roles easily.

Resourcefulness will also come in handy when it comes to multi-tasking, helping to support flexible working and a constantly changing set of duties.

The kinds of tasks you will generally be asked to do will be detailed for you on any office assistant course (GTA or other locations) that you take too.

Attention to Detail

In your role as an office assistant, you will need to ensure you’re focused on details. Whether it’s writing meeting minutes or entering important data into spreadsheets, managers will want an assistant they can rely on to be accurate and precise.

Office Assistant Programs in Toronto and Mississauga

Office assistants need a varied skillset to be able to keep up with their changing day-to-day duties. These skills are easily buildable and can be improved through an office assistant program. If you feel you already have some of these skills and would like to further develop them, Citi College offers an office assistant course (GTA-based) that you can enroll in. Our admissions counselors will work through your eligibility for the course and help you to kickstart your career as an office assistant.