{"id":50,"date":"2010-07-22T13:01:54","date_gmt":"2010-07-22T13:01:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monsterindia.com\/career-advice\/career-admins-can-keep-up-their-skills-through-certification-and-continuing-education-50\/"},"modified":"2023-10-09T16:52:41","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T11:22:41","slug":"career-admins-can-keep-up-their-skills-through-certification-and-continuing-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.founditgulf.com\/career-advice\/career-admins-can-keep-up-their-skills-through-certification-and-continuing-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Career Admins Can Keep Up Their Skills Through Certification and Continuing Education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Keeping up with certifications and training in the administrative field can pay off for career admins. Just ask Karen Kohn. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kohn, a 35-year veteran of the same company, has earned both the Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) credentials. She says certification helped get her promoted from secretary to her current position, supervisor of administrative services. \u201cWhen the opportunity arose for this position, my executive specifically referenced the leadership training [I] received through IAAP (the International Association of Administrative Professionals) as a factor in my promotion,\u201d she says. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In today\u2019s corporate world with ever-changing technology and business needs, it\u2019s important for longtime administrative\/support workers to demonstrate they can compete. For some career admins, like Kohn, certifications and continuing education are proof that they cannot only do the job, but that they are committed to the work and excel in it. These career admins find continued education validates the work they do. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs our jobs have expanded, so has the need for our education on so many issues our employers face,\u201d Kohn says. \u201cWhile education is a critical component in everyone\u2019s proverbial toolbox, certification is the mark of excellence for a specific profession.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certification\u2019s Benefits<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Laurie Boehm, CPS, CAP, is an executive secretary at Walt Disney World, where she has worked the past 29 years. She says her administrative certifications and training verify her expertise and give her confidence. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe [my certifications have] helped me achieve my current role,\u201d Boehm says. \u201cI was actually supporting my boss in a temporary capacity while she searched for a new assistant. It was a very stressful position to be in, but I kept everything very positive with her and everyone around me. We talked about the position just one time, and I told her I was very interested in the role. And I got the promotion.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boehm also believes the fact she pursues certification and training is a powerful testament to her becoming a leader. \u201cIt shows that I am serious about my profession and that I am willing to do what it takes to excel in it,\u201d she says. Boehm also serves as Florida division president for IAAP and has served on the IAAP board for four years. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kristi Rotvold, CPS, CAP, who has been an admin since 1986 and currently works as an executive vice president administrative coordinator, also sees the benefits of certification. \u201cIt helps provide a confidence in myself and my abilities when I am marketing myself to others,\u201d Rotvold says. \u201cI\u2019ve also always had the support of my employer in both my belonging to IAAP and throughout the certification process.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studying for the certification exam isn\u2019t the end of training for CAPs and CPSs like Rotvold. Every five years, they need to complete 90 hours of education, experience and leadership through IAAP chapter meetings, conferences and courses to maintain their designations. \u201cBy continually learning and attending seminars, I expand my knowledge and keep up with trends of what is happening that will affect our profession,\u201d Rotvold says.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Promote Your Certifications and Continuing Education<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As for Kohn, she originally pursued certification for her own satisfaction. \u201cEach year, I watched (IAAP) members being recognized for this achievement,\u201d she says. \u201cI decided I wanted those coveted initials after my own name. In the time since attaining both certifications, I have come to realize what an invaluable investment it has been, both for me and my employer.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kohn always keeps her resume updated with her most recent training and skills. \u201cI ensured my online resume included my volunteer activities with IAAP,\u201d Kohn says. \u201cI believe those extra training opportunities — over and above what I had available through my regular work responsibilities — were a definite marketing plus on my resume.\u201d Kohn also serves on a local college\u2019s Office Administration Advisory Board. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, Kohn keeps her supervisors up-to-date on her training activities, such as conferences, workshops, seminars and webinars, not only through IAAP but professional training companies like Fred Pryor Seminars and CareerTrack. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rotvold uses her certification in the job search process by highlighting the areas tested on for certification, such as organizational planning and office systems and administration. \u201cPeople are generally surprised that there is a four-part test for administrative professionals and the depth of the questions and testing that is completed,\u201d she says. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certified Admins\u2019 Advice for You<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Are you thinking about pursuing your own certification and continuing education in the administrative support field? These three administrative professionals certainly think it would be worth your while. \u201cLearn everything you can,\u201d says Boehm. \u201cBe willing to do what it takes to get the job done.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kohn advises admins to commit to their careers \u201cand then have a plan in place to move yourself forward. Key elements to include in your plan: education, certification, training and, of course, networking.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rotvold tells other admins to always be learning and growing. \u201cBy just sitting still, you may miss out on the best opportunities,\u201d she says. \u201cExplore options and then give your answer, especially when it comes to taking on new items in your role at work.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Keeping up with certifications and training in the administrative field can pay off for career admins. Just ask Karen Kohn. Kohn, a 35-year veteran of the same company, has earned both the Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) credentials. She says certification helped get her promoted from secretary to her current position, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[152],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-50","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-skill-development"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.founditgulf.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.founditgulf.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.founditgulf.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.founditgulf.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.founditgulf.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.founditgulf.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21413,"href":"https:\/\/www.founditgulf.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50\/revisions\/21413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.founditgulf.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.founditgulf.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.founditgulf.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}