Careers in administration are in high demand all over the world. Companies in both the private sector and the public sector are always looking to hire administrators to organise and manage files, events, meetings, appointments and much more.
Administration careers are popular due to the wide variety of specialisms you could choose. There are loads of opportunities for highly skilled administrators and you can choose a field that you find the most interesting. Love the arts? An arts administrator role could be a good one for you. Or if you’re more interested in accounting, a bookkeeping administrator could be the perfect prospect. Read on to discover what those opportunities are and how to get into the field.
- Why work in administration?
- What careers are available in administration?
- What skills are needed to work in administration?
- What degrees help with a career in administration?
Why work in administration?
There are many fields
There are administrators working in almost every field. If you have a background in health, transportation, or communications you may think that administration is out of the question. However, there are administrative needs in many sectors. An administration role can also be a good foot into the door of a new industry and will allow you to build experience.
A changing daily routine
If you’re the type of person who easily gets bored of your routine, there are many aspects of administration that might appeal. The ever-changing routine of an administrator means you will be working on a variety of different tasks. It’s unlikely that you will ever get bored!
Room for career progression
Administrative professionals with organisational and leadership skills can move into high-level or managerial positions within their careers. Whether that’s an upward move to a Senior Executive Assistant, Facilities Manager or Senior Data Entry Specialist, there are lots of upward mobility opportunities within administration.
What careers are available in administration?
There are a vast number of opportunities in the administration sector. A few of the most common routes are:
Personal assistant
Otherwise known as a PA or executive assistant, personal assistants work to deal with inquiries from their line managers. They do a wide variety of jobs that include making travel arrangements, greeting and looking after visitors and booking meetings.
Auditor
Auditors examine organisations’ financial procedures and records to ensure they are accurate, efficient and compliant.
Civil Service administrative officer
Working for the public sector, a Civil Service administrative officer works within government departments. They help to carry out plans and assist with the running of services for the public.
Office managers
Sometimes known as an office administrator, an office manager is responsible for maintaining the office services. This can include organising office procedures, signing people in and out of the building, dealing with phone correspondence, designing filing systems, reviewing supplies and meeting and greeting visitors.
Receptionist
Similar to an office manager, a receptionist interacts directly with customers, clients, guests and anyone else who visits the business. They usually also perform other administrative duties, such as filling in and appropriately filing paperwork, answering phone calls and emails, handling post and giving general information.
Accounting clerk
An administrative professional role, accounting clerks manage the financial records for organisations and provide support to auditors. Accounting clerks also handle the company invoices, chase payments, pay suppliers and support with the paying of employees. Accounting clerks, much like all administrative professionals, must ensure a high level of accuracy throughout their work.
University departmental administrator
The duties of a university departmental administrator include being the main point of contact for both staff and students, arranging meetings, looking after course transfers, and planning trips and excursions. Department administrators within universities look after faculty finances, financial planning and monitoring.
Some businesses have administrators working within their departments. This job role is a great option to climb the ladder in a new sector, performing administration tasks to assist the wider teams.
Other department specific administration roles:
• Marketing administrator
• IT administrator
• Property administrator
• HR administrator
• Customer support administrator
• E-commerce/sales administrator
What skills are needed to work in administration?
Although administration jobs vary in companies and departments, there are a few common skills that are key to a successful career in administration.
Strong organisational skills
Organisational skills are key to managing the large number of tasks and the tight deadlines that admin professionals often face. Multitasking also plays a large part in administration jobs.
Customer service skills
In some administration roles, customer service is a big part of the job. Whether it’s greeting potential clients as an office manager or welcoming guests to a hotel as a receptionist, having a welcoming smile and good phone skills will make the job easier.
Attention to detail
Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy are crucial for administrators. Administrators are relied upon to correctly record details, file paperwork and keep the smooth running of a business.
Computer skills
Administrators spend the majority of the day on a computer, whether it’s using specific software or typing out emails, having a basic knowledge of computers and being adaptable to specific software will be advantageous for administrators.
Skills such as leadership, teamwork and time management would benefit someone looking to go into an administration role too. If you’re looking to build skills and experience to join a different team, an administration role can be a good way to gain that knowledge. If you are interested in a particular role, we would suggest finding job adverts for that role and looking at the job description and person specification. Identify the skills and experience you already have, or where you need to improve to meet the essential criteria for the role. Read our guide to the top skills that employers want to see on your CV.
What degrees help with a career in administration?
There are a variety of entry routes into a career in administration. The following are common entry requirements. For specific requirements always check the person specification on job vacancies.
Most entry-level administration jobs allow you to apply with 5 GCSEs at grades A-C. A-Levels or equivalent would start you at a higher administrative grade.
A degree or equivalent would set you in good stead as it demonstrates a number of skills that are desirable to employers when looking for administrative candidates.
Take a look at the Unitemps job search portal to see if we have any roles available that would give you key experience and set you on the pathway to a career in administration, or get more career advice by reading our other articles.
Last updated on 4 June 2024
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