Office Administration Career Advice

Working in office administration opens up opportunities to work in businesses in many industry sectors. As most companies have an administration element, you can work in companies of various sizes. Organisations need many support staff to handle office tasks so that you will find many roles varying from junior positions to office management.

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How to Work in the Office Administration sector

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to get a job in Office Administration

Should you wish to work in Office Administration you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Office Administration Job

  • 2 or more GCSEs including English and maths

Core Office Administration Skills

You should possess excellent organisational skills and have excellent attention to detail. The many aspects of the business will have paperwork that flows through the office, so you need to good at handling many different things and dealing with people of all levels.

If you are interested in a role that will make the most of your organisational skills, office administration is the career path to choose.

Key Responsibilities for an Office Administration Job

  • Greeting visitors to the office and directing them to relevant personnel
  • Answering phone calls
  • Responding to emails
  • Preparing documents including presentations and memos
  • Managing and scheduling appointments
  • Handling conference room schedule
  • Carrying out bookkeeping tasks such as invoicing and accounts receivable
  • Maintaining office filing systems
  • Purchasing office supplies
  • Overseeing office facilities and equipment

What to expect in an Office Administration Job

Office administration careers can start at a junior level, or you can join a graduate program. Your working environment will be office-based, and you may need to work alone or with other people to complete tasks. The responsibilities and workload will vary depending on the size of the office. The job can be varied, or you may have a set routine, so you will need to be efficient and adaptable.

Recommended Office Administration Jobs

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How to get Office Administration Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Office Administration job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Office Administration application. If you have not held an Office Administration position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Office Administration role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Office Administration CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Office Administration application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Office Administration in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Office Administration 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Office Administration and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Office Administration experience.

How to get Office Administration Experience

What does it take to be an Office Administration? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Office Administration jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Office Administration through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Office Administration Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Office Administration part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Office Administration or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Office Administration freelance work

If you have impressive Office Administration qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.