by John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

For administrative assistants, these are the worst of times -- and yet they are times full of opportunity.

Thousands of admins have lost their jobs in the current recession, and many who hoped to enter the profession have been discouraged by the scarcity of openings. At the same time, managers working under ever-greater pressure have been offloading meaty projects to America's 3.9 million administrative assistants and secretaries, giving them valuable experience that's often transferable to higher-level positions.

Aspiring Project Managers and Techies

More than ever, information technology is a double-edged letter opener for admins. On the one hand, advancing PC technologies are continuing to cannibalize the tasks that traditionally belonged to administrative assistants. In an age when even lawyers do much of their own word-processing, admins must cede many basic functions to their bosses.

But on the other hand, as many low-level tasks drop away, "admin jobs are becoming more interesting and broader," says Bill Coleman, senior vice president of compensation at Salary.com in Wellesley, Massachusetts. "There's a lot more of a focus on being a project manager."

Admins are also often called on to delve much more deeply into PC technologies than they were 10 years ago. Whether they're creating databases, tracking complex sets of tasks with Microsoft Project, becoming wizards with Windows XP or even programming in JavaScript, savvy admins are preparing themselves for a potential leap into higher-level professional positions. If the economy improves, ambitious workers who add formal training and certification to their substantial hands-on experience should be able to take such a leap.

Where Salaries Stand

Salaries for administrative assistants were relatively stagnant through the economic slowdown. "Some administrative jobs have actually taken pay cuts, but nothing dramatic on average," says Coleman.

Median pay for administrative assistants in the United States is $35,365, according to March 2002 data from Salary.com. Admins in New York City earn $40,847; Seattle pays a median of $38,265; while in Waco, Texas, $32,182 is the midpoint.

There are substantial differences in pay among administrative assistants and secretaries near the extremes of the scale. In 2000, the lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $20,350; the highest 10 percent was $46,250, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook

Virtual Future

The emerging profession of virtual assistant (VA) is an alternative for admins in the coming decade. Unlike telecommuting admins, VAs are independent contractors, not employees. Some VAs offer a broad range of services, from word-processing to bookkeeping to event planning. These jacks-of-all-trades, who typically work from home, appeal to very small businesses that can't afford to hire a full-time admin.

But the high end of the VA profession may lie in specialized niches. Folks with deep talent in presentations, travel planning or office database management may find that they can net significantly more in one of these specialties than they did as all-purpose employees.

Austin Business Journal - December 1, 2000 by Mie-Yun Lee

It's 8 p.m. You've just updated your accounting ledger and put the final touches on tomorrow's big client presentation. But you're still stuck behind your desk licking envelopes for the invitations to your client meet-and-greet holiday party while simultaneously holding a conversation with your travel agent.

If you can relate, you're due for a personal assistant. Sure, you say, you'll hire one right after you get that personal trainer and personal chef. But thanks to a rapidly growing service field known as virtual assisting, you can get nearly all the same services provided by an in-house personal assistant at a fraction of the cost.

The first big distinction between a regular in-house personal assistant and a virtual personal assistant, or VA, is that a VA completes your office tasks from his or her own office. The VA does this by using typical communication methods such as the telephone, fax machine and, of course, the Internet.

VAs can take your calls, prepare documents, manage databases, handle sales and Internet marketing projects, manage your mail flow, book your travel arrangements and keep your schedule. The only thing a VA couldn't handle, given the distance, is paper filing and getting your coffee.

With a little creative collaboration, like having your calls automatically forwarded to your VA's office, or establishing a P.O. box at their location, your VA can be based hundreds of miles from your office. I've even come across VAs who offer such specialized services as designing and updating your Web site and creating PowerPoint presentations.

The second distinction is that a VA isn't a temp or full-time employee. A virtual assistant is a contractor. You won't need to provide any office space, purchase any equipment or offer any benefits.

Fees can range from $15 to $40 an hour, depending on geographic location. A VA based in Los Angeles, for example, likely will charge a higher hourly fee than one in a more remote region of the country. Some might offer a discounted rate if you agree to use a minimum amount of hours each week.

Although it usually doesn't matter where a VA is located, it can in some cases. If your VA will be scheduling your local off-site appointments, for example, you'll want one who lives in your area and knows how long it takes to drive from point A to point B.

One way to find an experienced VA is through AssistU (http://www.assistu.com) or the International Virtual Assistant Association (http://www.ivaa.org).

And above all, take your time to get to know a VA's personality before you hire him or her. The best VAs often are the ones who take an interest in your particular business and take great pride in watching it grow. MIE-YUN LEE is editorial director of BuyerZone.