Entry-level positions for aspiring Chief Administrative Officers
Chandra, a Chief Administrative Officer, suggests entry-level positions like Administrative Assistant or data analyst roles as good starting points, emphasizing the value of "starting from the bottom and growing with an organization." The interviewee highlights the advantages of joining a smaller, growing ministry, allowing for varied experiences and career trajectory shifts, mentioning opportunities in human resources or operations as potential pathways.
Administrative Assistant, Data Analysis, Human Resources, Operations Management, Entry-Level Positions
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Chandra Williams
Chief Administrative Officer
Christ-Centered Ministries
El Camino then did UCLA Executive Education program - 2021
UCLA Executive Education- Business Management Cert
Business Management & Admin
Faith-Based Services
Operations and Project Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Start at the bottom and grow within an organization.
2. Consider entry-level positions like Administrative Assistant or Data Analyst to gain experience.
3. Smaller organizations offer more opportunities for growth and skill development compared to larger, established ones.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
I definitely think it's important to start from the bottom and grow with an organization. So, I would say, don't be afraid to take that Administrative Assistant job. Don't be afraid to take on different kinds of organizational work.
It could even be data analysis if you're good with data and enjoy working in spreadsheets and capturing data. I think that's really important too. Anything that puts you on the corporate side of the business is valuable.
There are so many roles you can start from and grow into. We started as such a small organization. If we saw a good skill or a person with good things to contribute, we'd bring them in. Later, we would find them a different role or see other areas they could fill in better.
I always think it's cool to start with a younger company because you get to grow and experience so much more than in an older, established organization. There are definitely pros and cons to both.
You could even start in human resources and learn that angle. Then, you could shift around and learn more, perhaps in operations or as an operations manager. So many different things can lead you into a new dimension of the business.