Herzing Blog

Updated December 2024

Administrative assistants are an integral part of most companies. They assist with day-to-day operations, deal with the public, and support upper-level executives.

Without office assistants, organizations simply wouldn’t run smoothly. So it’s no surprise that office assistant jobs are in demand across Canada. We did a search for "administrative assistant" in the Government of Canada Job Bank and found more than 5,500 listings.

And administrative assistant is just one of many jobs available for people trained in the right office skills.

In this post, we’ll explore four different administrative assistant careers. We’ll break down each role, responsibilities, and the average salary for each position.

At the end of the post, we'll cover training requirements to become an admin assistant and links to learn more. Let's get started.

Updated December 2023

If you’re considering a career as an administrative assistant, you’re probably wondering what life’s really like on the job. Is the role right for you? What should you know up front before you invest in training?

Unfortunately, the information out there is sometimes unclear. What exactly does an administrative assistant do?

Basically, admin assistants help businesses run smoothly by providing clerical support, answering client requests, scheduling appointments, and organizing projects.

If that still sounds vague to you, it’s because many specifics of the job depend on the type of organization you choose to work for.

What does it all boil down to? Being a key member of the office support team. No business or organization could function without highly organized, skilled administrative staff.

Let’s look at some pros and cons of this position. By the end of this post, you’ll have a much better idea of what to expect.

Updated January 2024

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a fast-growing field in Canada. Long before COVID-19 pushed workplace safety into the spotlight, we have been striving to reduce work-related accidents, injuries, and deaths. 

This is what OHS is all about: protecting the physical and psychological wellness of people at work.

Each province has clearly defined occupational health and safety laws—regulations both business owners and employees must follow.Unfortunately, not all employers and workers understand or comply with these rules.

This is why skilled health and safety officers are in such high demand. These professionals ensure companies are following the law, and they provide training and strategies to improve workplace safety.

Considering a career in OHS? Here are the steps to become a certified occupational health and safety officer, plus helpful information on skills and careers.

Rebecca Hiebert raised three children on her own. For many years, being a mother was her full-time job. But over the last year or two, those priorities began to change.

Her children grew older and became more independent. Gradually, she found herself with some extra time. And she knew exactly what she wanted to do with it.

Rebecca had always wanted to study business administration. With great determination, she returned to school and earned not one, but two diplomas in business from Herzing College.

Updated December 2024

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a broad industry that focuses on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of people at work. 

This field includes all aspects of worker health, from workplace harassment to fire prevention and from ergonomics to emergency evacuation procedures. 

Updated December 2024

Every year, thousands of Canadians suffer injuries or lose their lives at work. Unsafe work environments are a major problem, not just in construction but across many sectors of our economy. 

The Canadian government wants to lower those numbers, as do business owners and the workers themselves. Even a single death at work has terrible consequences. The family suffers, workers lose faith in management, overall productivity slows down, and the entire community feels the loss. 

Skilled occupational health and safety specialists play a crucial role in minimizing the risk of accidents in the workplace. They are experts in spotting workplace hazards, delivering safety training, and creating emergency response plans that save lives when disaster strikes. 

OHS professionals are also enforcers of government health and safety regulations. They can get a business shut down if management isn't following the law.

There are many different career paths in the field of OHS. There are both generalist and specialist roles, and varying educational requirements.  

Updated December 2023

Administrative assistant sounds like a fairly straightforward job. Don’t assistants just answer phones, get coffee, and do filing? 

Not exactly. Maybe this job used to be simpler—before the internet, complex office software, and growing demands on business administrators.

But today, administrative assistants play an absolutely vital role in every successful company and organization. Filing and phones are part of the job description, but there’s a lot more to it. 

So why is this role so important, and what does an admin assistant really do? Let’s break down the 10 most common tasks and responsibilities. 

Take a look at what the position involves and see if office administration is the right career for you.

Agnes Perez graduated from Herzing's Accounting and Payroll program in 2019, and got her first full-time job in Canada working on the finance team at Venture Healthcare.

Agnes Perez's story is very similar to many other students at Herzing. She moved to Canada from the Philippines with a good education, but her credentials and work experience were not recognized by Canadian employers.

Back home, she was a successful optometrist with 12 years of professional experience. But Agnes quickly realized that if she wanted a successful career here in Winnipeg, she would have to go back to school and earn a Canadian diploma.

Michelle Riedner graduated from Herzing's Accounting and Payroll program in 2018, and now works as a Financial Officer for Electra Sign Ltd. in Winnipeg

Michelle Riedner had never even used a computer when she enrolled in the Accounting and Payroll program at Herzing College. She could barely work a mouse or keyboard, and had zero experience with Microsoft Office applications.

Now she's a successful Financial Officer. She uses Excel and QuickBooks on a daily basis, manages files, enters data, and handles a range of computerized accounting and office tasks.

William Rapisarda teaches the online Supply Chain Management program at Herzing, and is an Associate Category Manager with Cabela's Canada

We started offering a Supply Chain Management program at Herzing a couple of years ago, when we saw big demand in the field across Manitoba.

But the truth is, not many people are aware of how fast this industry is growing...or what supply chain management even is!

We got so many questions about the training, career path, and job options that we decided to bring in an expert to answer them.

Who better to ask than William Rapisarda? He teaches the Supply Chain Management program at Herzing and has been working in the field for almost 25 years.