4 Tips to Leverage Employer‑Funded Training for Admins

Professional development is essential for admins at every stage of their careers, and many companies recognize the importance of investing in their employees’ skill advancement.  According to the 2025 ASAP State of the Profession Report, 68% of admins have access to employer-paid training.

If your company offers employer-funded training, don’t pass on the chance to upskill. Here are four actionable tips—tailored to each stage of your career—plus suggestions for utilizing ASAP digital training resources to help you move forward.

1. Entry Level: Build Communication Skills

Early-stage admins often juggle calendar management, email triage, and team coordination with minimal structure. Written and verbal communication are critical for staying ahead without burning out.

Leverage training to:

• Prevent misunderstanding and support progress and process with clear, concise communication

• Prove understanding and build trust with colleagues and supervisors

• Prepare for strategic roles by improving clarity and presence

Try this:

• Schedule 30 minutes to watch Unlocking the Art & Science of Effective Communication.

  • Apply one takeaway to your next internal email or meeting notes.

Strong communication helps you streamline operations, avoid costly errors, and quickly establish credibility with your team.

2. Early- to Mid-Level: Get a Project Management Certification

With a few years of experience under your belt, you're ready to manage larger projects and processes.

Invest in training to:

• Expand your scope of responsibility

• Increase your value to your employer

• Boost career mobility and earning potential

Try this:

• Download the Project Management for Admins syllabus and highlight one module that applies to your current workflow.

• Pitch the training to your manager: “This will help me run XYZ process more smoothly and reduce backlogs.”

Certification strengthens your leadership on cross-functional tasks and helps reduce oversight demands on your executive.

3. Mid-Career: Become More Strategic

At this level, you're expected to see beyond daily to-dos. Strategic thinking helps you anticipate needs and connect your role to broader business goals.

Use training funds to learn about:

• Automation tools and strategic tech

• Business planning and operations

• Change management and process improvement

Try this:

• Identify one task you could automate using Microsoft tools, and explore ASAP's Microsoft AI and Automation for Admins course.

• Start a journal to track “strategic wins” where your decisions align with business priorities.

Strategic training positions you to lead smarter workflows, support executive decisions, and drive meaningful change in your team or department.

4: Senior-Level: Lead High‑Impact Initiatives

Senior-level admins are increasingly seen as leaders and internal advisors. Now’s the time to sharpen your executive presence and influence.

Focus training on:

• Board and stakeholder coordination

• Executive-level communication

• High-stakes decision-making and initiative management

Try this:

• Watch Skills and Strategies for Effective Board Coordination, then draft a new meeting prep checklist for leadership. 

• Ask to observe a high-level strategy session or a cross-functional project. Document your learnings.

Mastering leadership and coordination skills enables you to drive initiatives, represent your team at the executive level, and shape organizational outcomes.

Align Training With Career Stage

If your employer has funds set aside for professional development, align those dollars with your career goals and your company’s needs.

Ask your manager: “Would you be open to supporting an annual professional membership to ASAP so that I can watch a one-hour webinar that helps me improve executive communication and productivity?”

ASAP offers webinars and courses that align with each stage of your admin journey. Explore your options and take the next step toward building a more strategic, influential, and rewarding career!