Keeping the daily operations of a company running smoothly is the priority of an office assistant. These important people can be found in virtually every kind of business, from government offices to schools. The bulk of their responsibility is administrative, though occasionally they act as supervisors.
An office assistant often has to deal directly with the public, greeting customers or answering questions. A good personality helps, as well as people skills and a willingness to do many different tasks to ensure a quality performance on the job. This position also requires extensive document preparation and organisation.
When the head manager is out of the office, the assistant usually runs the show. They may deal with employee meetings or solve problems that arise. A high school diploma is usually all that is required to enter this field, though a Bachelors in a related area helps. Computer skills are very important for this job. Salaries for an office assistant in most companies average at C
$ 23,000 per year.