Office Administrator

Become An Office Administrator

Are you a professional multitasker? Does your brain run in two different directions while your hands run in five? Do you enjoy helping people and keeping things running smoothly? If you are organized, efficient and a professional people-person, you might consider a career as an office administrator.

Office Administrator in a Nutshell

Office administrators are the brain, heart and guts of an efficiently run office. While duties may vary, here some typical responsibilities of an office admin:

• training and orienting new staff members
• operating and troubleshooting new office technologies
• storing or filing important documents
• managing electronic files
• disseminating office memos and policies
• coordinating client meetings

In addition, office administrators may answer phones, take messages, plan office parties and retreats, conduct internet research, manage projects and handle office mail. They are, quite simply, white collar jacks-of-all-trades.

Education Requirements for Office Administrators

Due to the increasing technological orientation of most offices, employers usually seek candidates who have a solid background in software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets and database management.

Many business schools, community colleges, and vocational and technical institutes offer 1- and 2-year programs in office administration. However, bachelor's degrees in fields such as business management, and professional certifications - which can be acquired through the International Association of Administrative Professionals - are becoming increasingly important as businesses continue to expand into the global market.

Day in the Life of an Office Administrator

Office administrators generally spend their traditional 40-hour workweek overseeing and organizing the office environment in schools, hospitals, corporations, government agencies, or legal and medical offices. While you are likely to sit at a desk for much of your day, you will also be at the center of activity around the office.

Job Growth for Office Administrators

Employment opportunities for office administrators are projected to grow more slowly than the national average. This is due in part to advancing technologies that increase office productivity and allow employees time to execute a wider variety of tasks, thereby staunching the need for new hires.

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