Office Admins conduct numerous tasks within the office space, however, one of their most important roles is answering phone calls and responding to emails to keep the business running smoothly. Administrators provide office support to organizations which is vital for the day-to-day operation of the business. Office administrators are also in charge of business projects and as well as managing interns or the junior staff of a firm.

The success of an organization heavily depends on the efficiency and effectiveness of its administration. The administration is in charge of ensuring other employees work to their maximum capacity. They take care of all the activities that happen in the office from the physical environment like cleanliness, organization, and office arrangements.

There are various administration jobs available such as receptionists, secretaries, and administrative assistants. Let’s briefly examine each one by one

Most popular Admin (Administration) jobs

Receptionists

Receptionists are the gatekeepers of an organization. They oversee the welcoming of visitors and offer them help or assistance in anything they want. They are also responsible for responding to phone calls, attending to customer queries, and providing excellent customer service.

Typically, receptionists possess matric qualification or other certificates. They are usually trained on the job and can develop their careers to become administrative coordinators or assistants.

Personal assistant/ secretary

A secretary oversees the completion of general clerical tasks usually on behalf of another person or individual in a firm. This job requires people with lots of energy and strong organizational skills. The daily life of a personal assistant involves, scheduling meetings, responding to phone calls, and calendar coordination.

Administrative Assistants

Administrative assistants provide support to managers, and general staff by conducting office tasks to ensure the smooth running of an organization. Capable administrative assistants have excellent organizational skills, management, multitasking, and time-conscious skills that will get tasks completed and help firms achieve set goals.

Other administration jobs

• Administrative Assistant
• Administrative Coordinator
• Administrative Director
• Administrative Manager
• Administrative Services Manager
• Administrative Services Officer
• Administrative Specialist
• Administrative Support Manager
• Administrative Support Supervisor
• Administrator
• Assistant Director
• Executive Assistant
• Executive Services Administrator
• Human Resources Administrator
• Legal Secretary
• Medical Secretary
• Program Administrator
• Program Manager
• Secretary
• Senior Administrative Coordinator
• Senior Administrative Services Officer
• Senior Executive Assistant
• Senior Special Events Coordinator
• Senior Support Assistant
• Senior Support Specialist
• Special Events Coordinator
• Special Programs Coordinator

What to expect

Although though some businesses may require educational credentials, experience is typically needed for the position  Statistics show that women typically hold these roles. The task involves supporting other employees and attending to their needs, which can eventually become tiresome and irritating. Every industry can employ you, which multiplies the number of job prospects.

Career progression

After receiving the necessary training and experience, an administrative worker may advance to a more senior position with significantly greater responsibilities. With experience, an administrative assistant may advance to office manager.

Basic skills and requirements

• High school diploma or certificate
• Ability to multitask
• Interpersonal skills
• Punctuality/time conscious
• Use office software such as, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint etc.
• Ability to type fast
• Organizational skills

Benefits of working in administration

Broad Scope of Responsibilities

Working as an administrative employee you get to perform a variety of tasks which eliminates boredom from performing repetitive tasks. An administrator can oversee two or more different employees who have different jobs, resulting in performing a wide range of tasks.

Building Relationships

Working in administration will leave you open to building lasting relationships with numerous powerful people. Your social network will increase which you can use to your advantage to better your life and advance your career.

Career advancements

An administration job will open you up to more job opportunities. You will gain vast experience in many fields  thus increasing your chances of career advancements are.