Office administration advances to executive level

The office environment in today’s working world is not the same as before. Not only is technology changing the landscape, but it is changing it quickly and creating higher demands for workers. In addition, the work load is more diverse, employees are expected to be flexible, and office work hours do not fit the tradition “9-5” time-frame. Being an office assistant requires a lot of skill that other business professionals may not have acquired. Office administration is more than typing letters, sending mail, and making appointments. It is about using effective communication skills through various forms of correspondence, efficiently mailing items using different platforms, and coordinating between internal and external clients to schedule the time and venues for meetings. It is also about more responsibilities mentioned and it only gets better as an executive level office administrator.

Office support in the executive level calls for administrative assistants and similar roles, supporting top management and executives. Since these professionals aid high-level employees who have plenty of workload, they too are kept busy managing their executive’s affairs. As easy as it may seem, this role requires a quality education to provide the business skills required to work in a professional environment as well as the technical skills to manage various technological systems. A diploma from office administrator schools will suffice for this role, but Centennial College can provide a post-secondary education with the right academic training and experience suited for today’s office professional.

Centennial’s Office Administration – Executive (2606) program is a two-year Ontario College Diploma program based on Progress Campus, where students learn the techniques and processes of day-to-day office operations. The program offers a broad view of a career in office administration and focuses on in-depth training for professionals who will work with company executives. The main areas where graduates will work in are in legal, medical, and executive departments. Here are the top program highlights:

• The program builds on the foundation of communication, time management, client service, and supervisory skills on each course undertaken, so students will enter their workplace with competence to complete tasks independently.
  
  
• Many administrative and receptionist positions require accounting knowledge. Students will learn financial procedures and computerized bookkeeping. Students will become proficient in using several formulas in a spreadsheet program and will gain experience using Quick Books.
  
  
• The function and integration of word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software will be studied. Microsoft Office Suite is used to practice the programs. Students will also practice how to type with speed and accuracy.
  
  
• A fourth semester field placement provides hands-on training for two days per week at an external site. Students will display their knowledge and skills to employers, which helps them secure jobs prior to graduation and improve their employ-ability.
  
  
• Students are ready to enter the professional world, but have the option to apply their college credits with affiliated universities for a degree.
  
  

The skills and techniques gained in the Office Administration – Executive program are valued by employers across Canada. Centennial College students graduate with an Ontario College diploma in good standing, a typing speed with minimum 40 words per minute, and a relevant office experience. Graduates can obtain jobs such as Executive Assistants, Corporate Secretaries, and Administrative Officers in various areas including public administration, healthcare, education, finance, and manufacturing.