Education · 1 of 5

The path

Experience, not exams. You move up by being the person nobody worries about.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Business, computing and English classes. Typing speed genuinely matters and nobody will teach it to you later.

2. 2

   Optional certificate

   1 to 2 years

   A one-year community college office administration certificate covers software, business writing and records. Cheap, quick, and it gets your resume read.

3. 3

   First administrative job

   2 to 4 years

   Receptionist, office coordinator, team assistant. Learn the systems and the people, and take on things nobody asked you to.

4. 4

   Move to executive support

   Ongoing

   Supporting a director, then a vice president, then a chief executive. Each step is a pay jump and a jump in what people tell you.

5. 5

   Certification

   Optional

   The Certified Administrative Professional credential once you have the experience behind it.