Administrative Officers/Executive Assistants Workshop Course (Blended)
- IDADMB7001
- Weekdays only
- 8 Days
- Open to beginners
Develop essential skills and competencies to excel as an Administrative Officer or Executive Assistant in federal roles.
To be a key contributor in your organization, you need well-developed communication and professional skills.
Develop essential skills and competencies to excel as an Administrative Officer or Executive Assistant in federal roles.
Learn strategies to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and reduce stress while handling multiple responsibilities.
Learn practical strategies to manage your time effectively, prioritize tasks, and boost productivity in both professional and personal settings.
Master the strategies and tools needed to plan and lead engaging, productive virtual meetings using platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams; ideal for professionals seeking to enhance collaboration and meeting outcomes.
Boost your professional impact by developing structured self-management, time organization, and interpersonal effectiveness strategies.
Learn how to onboard staff effectively in federal settings by planning for success, setting expectations, and ensuring readiness through structured support systems.
Develop facilitation skills to lead productive, inclusive group sessions, problem-solving meetings, and learning events.
Enhance your listening and memory skills to improve productivity, confidence, and information retention.
Enhance your ability to write clear, purposeful correspondence suited for government audiences.
Enhance your proofreading skills with practical techniques, checklists, and exercises to ensure error-free documents.
This practical, interactive course helps job seekers craft a strong resume tailored to a specific job. Participants will learn how to highlight skills, job experience, and accomplishments that address a potential employer’s needs. Participants will also learn resume writing techniques that demonstrate their ability to help solve an employer’s problems from day one. Additionally, the course provides direction on preparing and delivering a confident “elevator speech” for the interview stage and handling common questions in both mock and real-life job interview scenarios. Participants will give and receive feedback to sharpen both writing and presentation skills, improving their ability to stand out in the selection process.
Develop your critical thinking skills to enhance your writing skills so that the reader can understand your intended message. Critically read information so you can analyze and understand the message of the writer.
Strengthen clarity, concision, and organization in your professional writing using Federal Plain Language principles and a repeatable process.
In the Advanced Writing class, you will take your writing to the next level by using case studies, group work, and longer written exercises to build on basic writing concepts and skills, including techniques for writing strong persuasive documents that connect logically, powerfully, and effectively with even resistant readers. You will also discuss and practice strategies for writing clear, concise technical documents for all levels of readers.
This dynamic, advanced-level writing course weaves together instruction designed to sharpen both your critical thinking and writing skills. Through interactive sessions, you will implement strategies to think critically when analyzing problems and use a structured process to craft innovative solutions. You will then apply those thinking skills to improve your writing by analyzing techniques for structuring effective persuasive arguments using strong logic with a reader-centric focus. By blending the study of critical thinking and writing, this course empowers you to be a more effective, successful communicator.
Learn how to craft clear, concise, and technically accurate documents—such as SOPs, Federal Register notices, or white papers—for government audiences.
Strengthen grammar, usage, and editorial confidence through mastery of punctuation, sentence structure, capitalization, verb forms, and pronoun agreement.
Enhance your ability to deliver concise, impactful briefings tailored to your audience and objectives.
Receive instruction from subject‑matter experts who bring proven government experience.
Courses that are regularly updated based on feedback and industry developments, ensuring versions are mapped to federal competencies.
The instructor was wonderful and so knowledgeable. The course materials were extremely relevant to what my job is. I feel like I can be better because of this class.
— 2025 student
Directly addressing the day-to-day challenges of federal employees.
Your trusted training partner, equipping public service professionals with the skills and knowledge to excel in their roles and drive meaningful impact.
Learn to deliver exceptional customer service by identifying customer needs, enhancing service quality, and resolving issues effectively.
Enhance workplace communication by identifying styles, interpreting feedback, and overcoming barriers to understanding.
Master the skills to transform conflicts into productive, win-win outcomes using proven constructive approaches.
Master the fundamental communication skills needed to get ahead. Much of your job success depends on your ability to communicate well, both in person and on paper. Discover how to analyze verbal and nonverbal communications, write clearly and concisely, organize and deliver an oral presentation, and break down communication barriers to work better with others.
Develop effective verbal and non‑verbal communication skills to improve workplace relationships and clarity.
Gain strategies for interacting effectively with challenging personalities using empathy, structure, and communication frameworks.
Build confidence in public speaking with expert coaching, audience analysis, and effective presentation techniques.
Strengthen customer service by mastering listening, empathy, and responsive communication with internal and external customers.
Build structured negotiation skills to reach mutually beneficial outcomes in complex, high-stakes interactions.
Join us for a beginner Excel workshop where you'll learn the essentials of Microsoft Excel, including calculations, basic functions, graphs, formatting, and printing. This comprehensive course is perfect for those with limited experience looking to expand their proficiency.
Learn intermediate Excel functions like VLOOKUP and SUMIFS, and how to summarize data with Pivot Tables, Sort & Filter databases, and split and join text. Gain the skills needed to utilize complex Excel functions and prepare for more advanced training.
Learn advanced Excel functions, macros, and data analysis to improve efficiency and manage complex data in any job setting. This advanced course is ideal for Excel power-users.
Become proficient in Microsoft Excel and go from beginner to pro with this hands-on bootcamp. Learn functions, Pivot Tables, macros, and time-saving techniques to conquer all the key skills needed to excel in Excel.
In this hands-on course, learn how to automate repetitive tasks in Microsoft Excel using VBA programming. Develop macros, custom commands, and new worksheet functions to streamline your Excel workflow and increase productivity.
Learn to clean, organize, and reshape data quickly with Power Query, a powerful tool built into Excel and Power BI. This hands-on course will teach you how to streamline your data preparation process for analysis and reporting.
This course is designed to inspire, equip, and empower women to step confidently into leadership roles in the federal government. Throughout this journey, we explore the unique strengths, perspectives, and contributions women bring to leadership roles. Each module is thoughtfully crafted to address key aspects of leadership development and provide you with the tools, insights, and confidence to make a meaningful impact.
This dynamic course is designed to empower women leaders by addressing key challenges and fostering essential skills for personal and professional growth. Participants will explore common confidence issues faced by women in leadership roles and develop actionable strategies to overcome imposter syndrome.
Participants will explore key negotiation techniques tailored to overcome challenges and leverage strengths unique to women in advocacy roles. The class focuses on building skills in influence and persuasion while fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.
This course equips professional women with the tools and strategies to enhance their visibility and influence in the workplace. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, participants will learn how to network effectively, build meaningful mentoring relationships, and create strong support systems to foster career growth and resilience.
Since 1921, Graduate School USA has partnered with over 125 federal agencies and trained more than one million federal employees. Led by instructors with deep, real-world knowledge of federal regulations, policies, and practices, our private group programs are practical, mission-driven, and tailored to your agency’s objectives. We offer expertise across key federal domains—including human resources, financial management, acquisition and contracting, leadership, and more—to deliver training where and how your team needs it.
Complete this form and we’ll get back to you within 1 business hour.
Our alumni consistently commend the expertise of our instructors and the real-world relevance of our programs. Their feedback highlights how Graduate School USA training has advanced their skills, supported their agencies’ missions, and fostered long-term professional growth.
The course was good.
Christina H.
Instructor is very personable, understanding, and engaging that made the class very intellectually stimulating. Overall would recommend the course.
Jason M.
If you had asked me before taking this class whether it would boost my confidence, I would have said no. But after just three days, I was able to facilitate a meeting with confidence. The shift was surprising and empowering.
Sharon Smith
This has been the best course i have taken. Coach Don is an excellent instructor.
Moira D.
Ms. Carla was extremely knowledgeable and professional. She provided consistent instruction and feedback in a manner that was clear and corrective, but mindful and supportive for the supervisors with various levels of experience. Course was long but valuable. I enjoyed the discussions and activities with others from various agencies and with varied levels of experience. My organization often sends new superiors to this course and I'm happy to say that I will recommend that we continue with this course.
Afrika H.
The Administrative Officer/Executive Assistant training offered by Graduate School USA is a must for all people in this field! Excellent opportunity to learn more about what your roles and responsibilities are.
Jerry Neal
Highly recommended.
Robert Kebre
Trina Petty was outstanding and provided very knowledgeable information. I would highly recommend this course for those needing knowledge in position management.
Esteban M.
Very positive experience and took away a lot of great information.
Robin S.
Bernice was great, she was very engaging despite the small class size (2 people). I learned a lot from Bernice and the course materials.
Allison S.
Stefan was patient and very engaging in his style. I particularly liked the relatable content and the examples to apply the tools. Overall, this was a surprisingly engaging and fulfilling experience.
Cantrist H.
Mr. Sanders was very knowledgeable and engaging. The class was filled with interesting information which is useful in my everyday job.
Felecia R.
The Decision Making and Problem Solving two day course was informative with live interactions with other professionals. I would certainly sign up for additional courses as I continue to professionally develop myself as a leader. Thank you.
Venus Coaxum
The instructor did an amazing job presenting the materials and making the course come to life with examples and knowledge.
Nathan F.
Very engaging.
Michelle C.
Mr. Criscuolo was very pleasant and knowledgeable instructor in the course. I enjoyed being in the class over the two day time period. He made the class very engaging and fun to be in. I would attend another class Mr. Criscuolo teaches in future.
LoGin W.
I enjoyed the class. The instructor was very good. Great material!
Crystal R.
An essential course for leaders who want to bring emotional intelligence into real-world action. This course will help me lead with greater empathy, focus, and purpose.
Krishawn Graham
I have a better understanding of the win win concept, and the importance of my listening skills.
Sherie Coleman
Great class- content and presentation were valuable. I think Alan was very interesting and provided examples that kept the class motivated to continue. This class provided the foundation I needed to fill in the instructional gaps I have in ER.
Caron H.
The instructor did an outstanding job. Great job by instructor to keep the class engaged.
Leonard W.
Enjoyed the engagement and the case study was interesting.
Kathleen L.
Impressive instructor! Appreciated learning through his shared experiences. The activities were worthwhile. Great class. Changed my outlook on the AO role. Gave direction on further education.
Tabitha W.
It was nice to have the prospective of someone with such immense experience and pride in the position. It gave me a sense that the work I do is valuable.
Michele P.
Very engaging. Very helpful content. Easy to follow. Will use in my day to day activities at work.
Christine W.
Great class. Dit Talley was an exceptionally knowledgeable and professional instructor. His years of experience helped me understand the content better. He is a great asset to the university and I will look for other courses by him. Content was just right and provides helpful information and resources. Great experience overall.
Evelyn Botchway
The course was outstanding! Stefan made it very engaging and relevant to problem solving and decision making at my agency. Looking forward to sharing the information with my team.
RuthAnn Howard
Awesome training! It was a GREAT experience. We had a great instructor. The small groups gave us an opportunity to apply what we learned.
Simeon Williams
The instructor was prepared and really engaging. This class will give you technical terminology and methods to document your decisions for processes that you do daily.
Vanessa Carr
Instructor was very prepared, quick to pivot with additional relevant material.
Joseph M.
One of the best classes I've taken in a very long time. Kept me engaged the entire time and didn't want to miss any part of it.
Katie Hayden
Everything went well, very interactive and professors were well prepared.
Nha Truc Duong
Instructor was knowledgeable and experienced in the field. She was able to use her real world examples from her career to guide us through. The timing of this class was perfect as the government restructures who and how we work. Great class, great instructor, and I am glad I was able to take this class!
Maliah Morgan
Loved Trina- she's passionate about teaching this class, kept everyone engaged, and kept us on our toes!
Anne J.
The instructor had very personal delivery and was very knowledgeable!
Letitia W.
This was an excellent course. I learned a lot.
Milica M.
Very informative!
Natalie Ho
Frank kept it interesting and informative. Appreciate his knowledge and background.
Barry L.
Very informative and will use these tips when I return back to the office.
Dianne P.
I thought this course was a great introduction to leadership. It is hard to find a leadership course for non-supervisors, and I thought this did a perfect job to help those seeking leadership roles in the future. I liked the mix of content, including taking individual questionnaires to make the course more specific to each person. I also felt like it was engaging. I appreciated the use of videos, hands on activities, questionnaires, and break out rooms to fill the day. I felt connected to the class throughout the two day course. Debby was very engaging throughout the course, and I liked her pace. I felt like she was very knowledgeable and had a lot of information to share. She definitely forced me to think about myself and my leadership style.
Amanda L.
Awesome instructor who is enthusiastic about teaching.
Ty L.
Grover did an excellent job in presenting the class content and exercises into the line of work we do. I found the class content to be informative and useful. The course was highly satisfying and I would recommend taking another course that Grover is an instructor for.
Oanh P.
The instructor was thorough. I liked the term "mirroring" it is something we do, but did not have a word for.
Nicholas Schenck
Very detail oriented.
Lakshmi Angara
Debby was an inspirational instructor who made the class very interesting which is sometimes hard to do with this material. I appreciated her valuable insight! I enjoyed the class and the engagement with classmates.
Beth A.
Frank is knowledgeable, engaging and personable. I give the class five stars for what it is, a great class for new writers.
Nicole B.
Debbie was an amazing instructor and provided many helpful real world examples to illustrate her points. It was an immensely enjoyable experience and the interactions with members from other agencies added a great layer to the the training.
Samuel N.
Debby Deichman is a fantastic instructor who is knowledgeable and keeps the students engaged. The content was very interesting and appropriate for the course. One of the best courses I have taken with GSUSA.
Carole M.
Debby did a great job explaining! Class content were on point and clear. This lesson will surely take me a long way in current job role.
Steve Anthony
Deborah and her class on leadership highlight the importance of understanding not only the responsibilities that come with leading but also the qualities that inspire others to follow. As a supervisor, Deborah brings real-world experience into the discussions, allowing her class to explore leadership from both a theoretical and practical perspective. She emphasizes that true leadership goes beyond titles and authority—it is about building trust, communicating effectively, and guiding a team toward shared goals. In her sessions, she encourages students to reflect on their own leadership styles, strengths, and areas for growth, fostering an environment where collaboration and self-awareness are key. The class often engages in case studies, group exercises, and scenario-based discussions to practice decision-making, conflict resolution, and political savvy in the workplace. Deborah also challenges her students to think critically about ethical leadership, reminding them that credibility and integrity are the foundation of influence. By combining structured lessons with interactive dialogue, she ensures her students leave with a deeper understanding of how leadership is not just about managing people, but about inspiring them, empowering them, and setting a vision that others believe in and want to achieve.
Alexis B.
The course was very informative and collaborative. Thank you!
Carla Bissonnette
Debby was very nice, knowledgeable and respectful. The course had great material and was very user friendly.
Tara G.
The instructor made the experience engaging and retained the materials presented. The flow of the curriculum was well laid out. Well done!
Juli P.
Very detailed class. The instructor had good explanations.
Kiyoko O.
GREAT interactions with my peers, would definitely tell others to take this class.
Naomi Adams
I found the two-day course very valuable. It gave me a structured way to approach problem solving and decision making, and I feel more confident in addressing challenges such as groupthink in team settings. I also appreciated the focus on ethics, which helped me think about how to apply ethical considerations when making or supporting decisions. Overall the course gave me practical tools I can apply directly in my work.
LaShonda Bracey
This class was transformative in developing my critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Dr. Sarah Lee’s expertise, coupled with practical exercises and real-world case studies, made the learning experience both engaging and impactful. I now feel more confident in analyzing complex problems and presenting clear, actionable solutions. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enhance their decision-making and communication abilities.
Vincent Swann
Great experience.
Emma D.
I needed this class very much! It is clear that Betsy knows her stuff, and I hope she accepts it as a compliment when I say that I never had butterfly eyes (fluttering eyes due to sleepiness) during the 3 days of this class. I will definitely take what I learned in this class and share it w/ my teammates.
Isabella G.
It was great with helpful insights and it helped me to identify ways to support my agency's missions and become more effective with specific assignments. Thank you! This was a great class.
Lacoya S.
Betsy was very kind and funny. You can tell she's a well seasoned auditor with lots of valuable experience.
Kristen S.
High marks for the course and the instructor.
Kristina H.
Enjoyed the course overall. Appreciated the smaller class size and more personal setting.
Kevin C.
Instructor was very personable and because of the small class size kept it at our pace.
Edward K.
This was probably the best soft skill training I have received. This training helped me become more comfortable when briefing by focusing on the techniques and core principles that were discussed.
Dan McMahon
Great class!
Srini Somayajula
I enjoyed this class a lot, and will take a lot of the knowledge with me. Clear and easy to follow content with both the PP and manual. It was good breaking up the course with videos, exercises, and lectures.
Ryan M.
Excellent teaching style, highly recommended.
Rabia Rafiq
The materials will be a great reference going forward. Instructor was personable and very adaptive to the classes requirements. I would recommend this course to teamates.
Al J.
Great course. Clear materials.
Emma Delehanty
Frank Pope is very engaging and makes the course fun with his comments and jokes. He was great about identifying the experience level of the students so we didn't spend too much time on more basic material. He was impartial, calling on everyone to participate and allowing for a variety of comments and discussions. Great instructor, fun group, easy-to-follow and thorough material.
Suzanne M.
The class content provided information, worksheets, and learning opportunities for all students new to writing. Mr. Frank Polk displayed his professionalism and love for this course material. He was engaging, humorous, and learned. He is an obvious subject matter expert on this subject. Thank you!
Angela M.
Our Communication & Professional Skills Training are rated 4.8 stars
Great class- content and presentation were valuable. I think Alan was very interesting and provided examples that kept the class motivated to continue. This class provided the foundation I needed to fill in the instructional gaps I have in ER.
If you had asked me before taking this class whether it would boost my confidence, I would have said no. But after just three days, I was able to facilitate a meeting with confidence. The shift was surprising and empowering.
This has been the best course i have taken. Coach Don is an excellent instructor.
Instructor was knowledgeable and experienced in the field. She was able to use her real world examples from her career to guide us through. The timing of this class was perfect as the government restructures who and how we work. Great class, great instructor, and I am glad I was able to take this class!
One of the best classes I've taken in a very long time. Kept me engaged the entire time and didn't want to miss any part of it.
Loved Trina- she's passionate about teaching this class, kept everyone engaged, and kept us on our toes!
Very positive experience and took away a lot of great information.
Trina Petty was outstanding and provided very knowledgeable information. I would highly recommend this course for those needing knowledge in position management.
The instructor had very personal delivery and was very knowledgeable!
Everything went well, very interactive and professors were well prepared.
Bernice was great, she was very engaging despite the small class size (2 people). I learned a lot from Bernice and the course materials.
Instructor is very personable, understanding, and engaging that made the class very intellectually stimulating. Overall would recommend the course.
It was nice to have the prospective of someone with such immense experience and pride in the position. It gave me a sense that the work I do is valuable.
Impressive instructor! Appreciated learning through his shared experiences. The activities were worthwhile. Great class. Changed my outlook on the AO role. Gave direction on further education.
Awesome training! It was a GREAT experience. We had a great instructor. The small groups gave us an opportunity to apply what we learned.
The instructor did an outstanding job. Great job by instructor to keep the class engaged.
Very engaging. Very helpful content. Easy to follow. Will use in my day to day activities at work.
I found the two-day course very valuable. It gave me a structured way to approach problem solving and decision making, and I feel more confident in addressing challenges such as groupthink in team settings. I also appreciated the focus on ethics, which helped me think about how to apply ethical considerations when making or supporting decisions. Overall the course gave me practical tools I can apply directly in my work.
Great class. Dit Talley was an exceptionally knowledgeable and professional instructor. His years of experience helped me understand the content better. He is a great asset to the university and I will look for other courses by him. Content was just right and provides helpful information and resources. Great experience overall.
The course was outstanding! Stefan made it very engaging and relevant to problem solving and decision making at my agency. Looking forward to sharing the information with my team.
Highly recommended.
Mr. Sanders was very knowledgeable and engaging. The class was filled with interesting information which is useful in my everyday job.
The course was good.
The Decision Making and Problem Solving two day course was informative with live interactions with other professionals. I would certainly sign up for additional courses as I continue to professionally develop myself as a leader. Thank you.
Stefan was patient and very engaging in his style. I particularly liked the relatable content and the examples to apply the tools. Overall, this was a surprisingly engaging and fulfilling experience.
Showing 25 of 72 reviews
Attend courses in-person in Washington, DC or live online. Engage with expert instructors, ask questions, and get feedback on your exercises and projects.
At Graduate School USA, you’ll learn in small groups and receive personalized attention.
Get face-to-face interaction with an instructor and other students when you learn at our DC campus. Courses are hands-on with a computer and software provided.
Get the same interactivity and access to the instructor as in-person students. There are no extra fees and we’ll work with you to ensure your remote setup is perfect.
All times are listed in Eastern Time unless otherwise specified.
September 2025 | |||
---|---|---|---|
September 3–4
Wednesday to Thursday
9–5pm
|
$1,049
2 Days
Washington, DC or Live Online
|
Learn to collect, document, and analyze audit evidence to meet Government Auditing Standards and support audit findings. |
|
September 3–4
Wednesday to Thursday
9–4:30pm
|
$1,049
2 Days
Washington, DC or Live Online
|
Learn to deliver exceptional customer service by identifying customer needs, enhancing service quality, and resolving issues effectively. |
|
September 3–4
Wednesday to Thursday
9–4:30pm
|
$1,049
2 Days
Washington, DC or Live Online
|
Develop effective decision-making and problem-solving skills to address challenges and make impactful choices. |
|
September 4
Thursday
9–4:30pm
|
$649
1 Day
Washington, DC or Live Online
|
Learn strategies to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and reduce stress while handling multiple responsibilities. |
|
September 8–12
Monday to Friday
8:30–4pm
|
$1,849
5 Days
Washington, DC or Live Online
|
Build foundational supervisory skills aligned with OPM’s Federal Supervisory Training Framework, focusing on leadership, communication, and conflict management. |
|
Showing 5 of 196 courses