1. administrative assistant
By taking on key organizational priorities, administrative assistants have a critical role to play in driving business value. How so? By taking over tasks like coordinating, scheduling, organizing and planning, they enable business leaders to focus more of their energy on the things they do best — shaping and driving business outcomes.
about this job2. customer service representative
Customer service reps have never been more critical: The fact that the volume of "difficult" calls more than doubled during the height of the pandemic, for example, is a case in point. Ultimately, however things shake out in the year ahead, expect opportunities for these people-centered professionals to continue to grow.
about this job3. call center representative
Call center reps have a key role to play in today's business environment, effectively closing the loop between organizational outputs — products and services — and the customers who use them. Done right, the position requires expert knowledge of the offering, together with patience and strong interpersonal skills. Individuals who fit the bill will continue to see their stock rise in the year ahead.
about this job4. collections specialist
From account management to ledger reconciliation, regulatory compliance and more, collections specialists are focal points of action in office settings. No less critically, they're serving a crucial revenue function — and when they celebrate wins or drive successful outcomes, it usually translates to measurable value on the bottom line.
about this job5. office manager
Despite the sweeping disruption wrought by COVID-19 in 2020, the role of office managers never really slipped away. In fact, there were more than 75,000 job postings for these savvy office professionals in the past 12 months alone — and that number is only expected to grow in the year ahead, especially in fields like healthcare, finance and insurance. As office managers assess their career plans for 2021, the forecast continues to look promising.
about this jobbest office and administrative skills for 2021
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call center
Call center reps are high-octane professionals whose work is essential to the companies — not to mention the customers — they serve. So if you're ready to take your customer service career to the next level, consider pursuing one of many certifications available to call center professionals.
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customer billing
Think billing is a skill set that will make a difference for you this year? In that case, certification in this area would be a smart move. A quick Google search for billing certification should show you the full range of options available. Just be aware that many of these certifications and training courses are organized according to specialty fields: medical billing, financial account billing and so on. Choose the one that's closest to the career path you have in mind.
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customer service
Some people are naturals when it comes to customer service — but even if that sounds like you, remember that there's always loads more to learn. One of several certifications might catapult you to a higher-paying job with little to no up front cost. Pursuing one of these certifications could be the catalyst you need to improve your customer service skills — and your career prospects.
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data entry
Even as automation is speeding up formerly manual data-entry processes at offices across the country, highly complex or unusual data still often needs to be entered by hand. That suggests continued growth in this field is going to continue for the foreseeable future — and certification could really make your candidacy shine. That's good news because, in most other areas, the barriers to entry for today's data-entry roles tend to be fairly low: a high school diploma or GED will usually do the trick. Certification could be a key differentiator.
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microsoft office
Familiarity with Microsoft Office is simply a fact of life for most office professionals today. You can't escape it. And when it comes to certification, there are plenty of options to choose from, so why not make getting certified your goal for 2021?
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written communications
The ability to communicate clearly and concisely in written form is an especially prized skill set among administrative assistants, executive assistants and other highly paid professionals within the office and administration space. So if you're looking to level up, take a look around: Business writing classes abound. Just be careful to consider your options, and reflect on which of them most align with your career goals, before you decide to commit. Again, taking a moment to review what's currently being offered on Udemy, our learning partner, is a safe bet.
other key office and administrative skills
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communication
So much of what determines success in office settings boils down to your ability to communicate with wide-ranging stakeholders, from vendors to coworkers, business heads and more. Think you're adept at communicating with these disparate groups? Communication is surely in your wheelhouse if that's the case.
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detail oriented
If you're supporting business strategy in an office setting, no detail is too small or fine-grained — nothing gets overlooked. Among other things, then, being detail oriented means being diligent, zeroing in on the particulars and always reading the fine print.
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problem solving
Quick thinkers who are agile on their feet, top office and administration employees recognize that problem solving is one of the key traits they bring to the table — and they make sure that fact is highlighted on their resumes, too.
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time management
If your hands and mind can move faster than those on the clock's face, all without missing a beat, time management must be your forte. It's a good quality to call out on your resume, too, as it suggests some of the value you would bring to a potential employer. Don't omit it!
