5 Things to Know Before Starting an Administration Career

Administration experts are in high demand all over the world, with over a million people now employed in public administration roles. Companies in the public and private sectors need administrators to organise and manage client files, payroll records, CPD events, staff details, meetings and appointments. 

Administration staff also take on a range of other tasks depending on the company’s needs, such as monitoring stock, answering calls and managing emails. There are a variety of careers in administration from assistants and PAs to secretaries and bookkeeping assistants, and all administrators play an essential role in the success of businesses. If you are interested in a career in administration, however, make sure to note the five things listed below before diving into an administration career.

A career in administration requires a lot of essential skills including organisation, time management and team-working. Since you will be responsible for managing daily activities as well as updating and managing highly important documents, having excellent organisational skills is necessary. 

Your employers will rely on you to keep client and staff files safe, as well as communicate effectively so that clients, staff and customers are all kept up to date. As well as soft skills you can practise in your daily life, being proficient in IT and having excellent written English will also be of benefit to you in many administrative roles. 

In short, before embarking on your career in administration, make sure you have developed these skills and are ready to be part of a team taking on the management and organisational tasks you’ll be required to do daily. 

The life of an administrator isn’t just about managing daily tasks however, and you could be asked to take on new tasks when needed. Being flexible and adaptable makes for a good administrator, whether you are needed to take notes during meetings, order supplies, book rooms or arrange a special event for clients. 

Don’t worry too much about having to know how to do tasks outside of your role, but you should be willing to learn new skills on the job and be able to work within your administrative team to keep everything running smoothly. Small tasks such as cleaning or making drinks might also be asked of you and being willing to undertake these tasks to help the team is a sign of a great administrator.

Most employers don’t require all administrative team members to have a specific degree or experience in a similar role. However, if you do have any relevant experience such as in customer service, then there are a variety of transferable skills you should highlight in your CV. Communication skills, time management and the ability to keep calm under pressure are all required for great customer service workers and excellent administrators. 

If you do have a degree, this is also preferable especially for more senior roles such as in administration management. If you have a particular sector or company you wish to work for, then make sure you look into the experience and qualifications they look for in prospective employees. If you don’t have any relevant qualifications or experience, then don’t worry, you can build up your knowledge through online courses such as those available here at CoursesOnline. Some of the courses you can undertake to kick-start your administration career include:

There are a variety of other relevant courses which are not directly related to administration but may be useful depending on the sector you wish to work in. For example, you can learn about the health and social care industry, computing or business. As well as helping you to expand your knowledge of the industry, undertaking an online course is a great way to demonstrate your excellent IT skills.

A career in administration can be diverse and interesting, which is why it’s wise to explore all the possibilities before embarking on your administrative career. As well as a job as a personal assistant, there are jobs such as head administrator and administrative assistants in the public and private sector. From hospitals to schools, you can take on the duties of a receptionist, bookkeeper, bid writer or an HR administrator in an environment which suits you. You can find a list of the most popular administration jobs on Prospects, and see which roles would cater to your skills and interests the most.

Before you consider your dream career, make sure you are aware of the practical elements such as pay and working hours. In the UK, the average salary for an administrator is £23,000 however this can vary greatly depending on which sector you are working in. When you are starting out, you can expect to earn around £19,000, and some head administration roles can see you earning up to £45,000. Administrators are of course required in companies around the world, so if you are looking to work internationally then make sure you are aware of the average salary for administrators in that country. 

With regards to working hours, these can also vary greatly depending on the working hours of the business you are employed in. Most administrators will be working during opening hours in order to help clients or customers as well as fellow staff members. This means that you will typically be working 9-5 Monday to Friday, usually full time, so about 35-40 hours per week. 

With such a great need for admin staff in businesses, there are also opportunities for part-time work, temporary roles and flexible working hours. This can also be where team-work comes in, as there are often chances for job shares and part-time work with others in your team.

Now that you know (pretty much) everything there is to know about administration careers, why not get started by browsing our range of online administration courses, including personal assistant courses and admin courses?