Did Boomers Kill the Entry Level Admin Job?

That’s a joke, mostly.

I came across an interesting job posting today for a “Junior Executive Assistant” position. There is an old adage by lawyers, "There are no part-time hours, only part-time pay." The implication is, that no matter how many hours you're getting paid for, the work is much more than that. I don't believe there are entry-level roles these days in the same vein, there are only jobs that expect you to be seasoned and experienced enough to handle any task they give you, but for junior-level pay.

Initially, entry-level or junior admin roles used to be a popular starting point for many job seekers. However, due to the constant evolution of the job market and the rise of technology, these roles have become increasingly rare in recent years. In fact, it seems that entry-level admin roles across many different industries, from healthcare to finance to technology, have been disappearing at an alarming rate. This is a trend that is more systemic than specific to one particular generation.

There are several reasons why this trend is occurring. Firstly, the rise of automation and other technological advancements has had a significant impact on the types of jobs available. Many tasks that were once done by administrative assistants can now be automated or handled by software. This has led to a reduction in the need for human workers in these roles and a shift in focus to more specialized tasks that require higher levels of skill and training.

Another reason is the changing expectations of employers. As the job market has become more competitive, employers have increasingly been looking for candidates with more experience and higher levels of education. This has made it more difficult for entry-level candidates to secure positions, as they are often competing against more experienced job seekers for the same roles. Now we have people exiting university and being offered the same entry-level role an 18-year-old would have been offered in the past straight out of high school.

Where does the admin field go from here?

We elevate. We keep up with the changing technology that is available and focus on how we can utilize it, making us the next generation of office leaders. As the needs of society change, it's normal that a job is going to change with it. What the admins of previous generations did to build the industry, is ours to now use a foundation to change the way things are done going forward. What does the role look like to you? What do you find useful?