Job Spotlight

How to become an Administrator

Administrators, also known as administrative officers, provide behind-the-scenes essential support to teams or individuals in a variety of environments. Your responsibilities can vary depending on the specific field or industry, but you could be overseeing office operations, coordinating schedules, handling paperwork, and facilitating communication between teams.

If you’re an excellent communicator, comfortable around technology, and are great at planning, multi-tasking, and problem solving, then you could make a great Administrator.

If you have these skills, you could make a great Administrator

Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Great at listening
High level of technical knowledge
Organised and methodical
Flexible and adaptable
A great problem solver and critical thinker
Self-motivated and can work independently
Excellent attention to detail

What tasks can I expect to do?

A ‘typical’ administrative role doesn’t really exist. Companies often recruit professionals to fill specific gaps within their unique corporate structure, so what’s required varies between employers. Nonetheless, here are some typical tasks you might find yourself doing:

Answering phone calls, emails, and letters
Ordering and tracking general supplies
Managing schedules, events, and travel
Typing minutes, records, reports, and other correspondence
Creating spreadsheets and presentations
Filing and organising documents, both physical and digital
Greeting and directing clients or customers
Managing basic finances and invoices
Creating and scheduling social media content

Where do Administrators work?

Administrators usually do most of their work indoors during normal business hours. Again, this might vary depending on your specific role and the industry you work in. Administrators can work in nearly every single industry – including (but not limited to) education, manufacturing, STEM, health, tourism, business, arts, and agriculture.

What kind of lifestyle can I expect as an Administrator?

Part-time and casual roles are common for Administrators, giving you some flexibility in your work. The rise of remote communication tools (such as Zoom) and the effects of the pandemic have seen an explosion in remote work opportunities as well.

Most Administrators can expect to earn an average salary throughout their career.

Expect a job that involves wearing multiple hats – you’ll often be juggling various tasks simultaneously. This variety can keep your work engaging, but also requires effective time management skills.

How to become an Administrator

There are no formal qualifications required to work an Administrator. However, specific employers may prefer that you have a certain level of qualification or experience, particularly if you’re applying for more senior positions.

Step 1 – Finish Year 12 with a focus on English and Maths. Business and IT subjects can also be beneficial.

Step 2 – Find work experience in an office environment to find out what the work is really like, or volunteer to get some experience and build your knowledge and skills.

Step 3 – Consider taking a relevant vocational qualification to refine your skills and enhance your employability. There are also lots of micro-credentials and short courses to consider. If you are really keen or want to apply for more senior positions right away, you could consider completing a Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, or administration.

Step 4 – Working as an Administrator is a career in itself, but it could also be a pathway into other roles too. Once you’ve begun working in Admin, you’ll learn more about the industry and roles you might like to pursue. You can then upskill and leverage your networking contacts to move up the ladder.

Find out more:

Similar Careers to Administrator

Find out more about alternative careers.