Office administrators are vital to the inner workings of any business. They manage and supervise all of the actions and activities that are involved in running an operational company. Office administrators are essentially jacks-of-all-trades, as they are often responsible for everything from data entry, correspondence and client communication to organizational support and party planning. Office administrators are often the exterior face of an office, greeting clients, employees and visitors and helping to direct them as needed.
As all organizations need timely and effective office and administrative support to operate efficiently, office administrators are employed in virtually every sector of the economy, working in positions as varied as teller supervisor, customer services manager or shipping-and-receiving supervisor.
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Office administrators plan, develop, implement and supervise the general administrative and office services of a department, division, regional or branch office. They are also called office managers and coordinators.
As an office administrator, you oversee and coordinate office procedures. You establish work priorities, delegate work to support staff and ensure that deadlines are met, and that procedures are followed. You also review, evaluate and implement new or improved procedures. As well, you may research and prepare reports, manuals and correspondence.
An important part of your job is to estimate how much space, equipment and supplies the office will need. You prepare the operating budgets and make sure that the office stays within its limits.
You also evaluate the work performance of the staff that reports to you. You assess the need for training and recommend or provide training programs. You participate in employee selection panels or select staff as required. You may also administer other services such as parking, maintenance and security.
Office administrators are normally paid an annual salary.
Necessary Skills
Because office administrators usually work with other office staff, they should be cooperative and able to work as part of a team. Employers prefer individuals who are able to perform a variety of tasks and satisfy the needs of the many departments within a company. Additionally, office administrations should have good communication skills, be detail-oriented, and be ready and willing to adapt to new situations. As more and more companies become technologically dependent, it is also crucial that office administrators are competent with office computer systems and possibly even the industry's software.
Career Options for Office Administrators
Experienced and well-trained office administrators have a variety of career options available to them in almost ever field of business, as well as in many legal and medical jobs. The career landscape can be quite competitive, and while the increased competition can make finding work more difficult, it does mean that salaries climb in response. Office administration positions range from general office managers to more specific roles such as:
* Accounting Assistant
* Bookkeeper
* Business Executive Assistant
* Customer Service Representative
* Health Claims Administrator
* Legal Secretary
* Loan Officer
* Medical Office Manager
* Law Office Manager
* Payroll Accountant
* Word Processor
While obviously the work itself will vary depending on your company’s industry, it is likely that regardless of field, your job responsibilities will include staffing, maintaining records, word processing, transcription and database management.
