Being organized, persistent, resourceful and detail-oriented sets you up for an office clerical role as our guide to administrative assistant jobs in Phoenix, Arizona explains.

What educational background do you need to land a job in Phoenix?

Finding good administrative assistant jobs in Phoenix, AZ, does not require a college degree. You can pursue these roles with a high school diploma or GED and a good mix of important capabilities.

You need good typing, communication, writing and customer service skills along with knowledge of common computer programs for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations. Some of these skills are self-taught. Others require independent study or coursework whether that is in high school, training programs or college classes.

You can certainly advance your career or improve your marketability for these jobs by taking college classes, acquiring an associate degree or completing an administrative skills program like those offered by Gateway Community College or Phoenix Community College. Both of these programs teach you major computer applications and technology skills, such as for spreadsheets and word processing.

Some administrative assistants have bachelor's degrees. Having a degree makes you eligible for higher-level positions like office manager or operations manager. If you wish to advance your career while working as an administrative assistant, a degree can help you pursue new opportunities in your current company or toward other employment. Likewise, having special skills, such as in being bilingual in Spanish, advances your career in Phoenix.

How can I land an administrative assistant job in Phoenix?

According to the Bureau of Labor Services, Phoenix employs over 461,000 administrative workers, including administrative assistants. This provides excellent potential for starting and developing your career in office administration or related fields.

To stand out from the crowd of administrative job applicants, ensure your resume features your best experience, attributes and skills. Since administrative assistance is a front-line customer service role in a typical office, being bilingual in Spanish place you ahead of other Phoenix candidates. Therefore, if you can speak Spanish or another language, you should highlight it. Be sure to draw attention to your other unique qualifications relative to the position.

In your cover letter, briefly mention your local background, education, volunteer efforts or connections to the Phoenix business community.

Interviewing for administrative assistant jobs in Phoenix, Arizona, is like interviewing in other cities throughout the US. You need to ensure you dress professionally for in-person interviews or video calls. For a phone interview, ensure you are in a quiet place and completely focused on the call.

Phoenix offers excellent networking opportunities to find openings in local companies and make connections with other businesspeople. An excellent example of this is NetworkNite's Phoenix Speed Networking. At Eventbrite, you can find other networking events. Meeting like-minded people at these networking events can also serve as a guide to administrative assistant jobs in Phoenix, AZ.

What are common jobs in this area?

Entry-level administrative assistant jobs in Phoenix, AZ, include administrative assistant, office assistant, office clerk, department coordinator and receptionist. Other roles are file clerk, customer service clerk, billing clerk and secretary.

Gaining experience in your role as an administrative assistant or advancing your education helps you qualify for mid-level administrative positions. These jobs include executive assistant, office manager, operations manager, personal assistant, medical secretary and legal secretary. Some of these positions require additional training or coursework in particular fields of specialization, such as medical terminology, legal procedures or bookkeeping.

Senior-level administrative positions in Phoenix typically move beyond the assistant level into the management of other employees, processes and budgets. With time spent working for one company and additional education, you can ultimately progress to departmental leadership, regional leadership or executive roles, such as vice president of administration or vice president of operations.

What are the biggest industries for this field in Phoenix?

With almost 103,000 employees filling administrative assistant jobs in Phoenix, AZ, the local job market and outlook are healthy. Administrative assistant jobs in Phoenix typically exist in corporate environments and large organizations, but small businesses sometimes offer one or more of these positions too.

Health care is a substantial industry in Phoenix with 88,300 employees. Retail, hospitality and construction environments follow health care as employment leaders. Education, finance, manufacturing and professional services follow close behind. In fact, more than 52,900 people work as administrative assistants or other administrative personnel in the Phoenix area.

What kind of shifts can I work in this field in Phoenix?

Most administrative assistants in Phoenix and elsewhere in the US work day shifts during their companies’ office hours. This usually means you work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. You will typically have a half hour to an hour for lunch and personal needs.

If you wish to work seasonally, for special projects or in temporary roles, these openings often exist. Temporary jobs offer great potential for earning income and showing local companies your capabilities. Due to the nature of administrative work and the need to fit into the company culture, many Phoenix companies hire exclusively on a temporary-to-permanent basis. You can also fill in for other admin assistants who are on medical leave or vacation. Doing well in a temporary position keeps your resume current, helps you build new skills and enables you to network to find the permanent job you want.

External resources

One of the top national publications for administrative professionals is Office Pro, a magazine published by the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). The IAAP also advocates and supports administrative professionals. Locally, you can stay on top of the Phoenix business climate through the Phoenix Business Journal.

The Office and Professional Employees International Union has more than 104,000 members and provides resources for office employees.

The top Phoenix schools for business education and degree programs include Arizona State University, Mesa Community College and Rio Salado College.