Becoming an administrator is a great way to expand your career and grow as a professional. This can be a rewarding, challenging, and exciting experience. If you want to become an administrator, there are four steps that you will need to take:

1. First, decide on the field that you want to work in. Do you want to work in education? Do you want to work in healthcare? Do you want to work in business? These are all great fields for administrators, but make sure that it’s one that interests you enough for it to be worth putting in the time and effort required for this type of job.
2. Second, find out what requirements there are for becoming an administrator in this field. In some cases, there may be no specific requirements; however, if there are then make sure that they are met before applying for the position. This can help ensure that only qualified candidates get hired and also helps ensure safety within their workplace environment by ensuring proper training is provided prior hiring decisions being made based solely upon experience level alone instead of also considering educational background as well as previous experience level (if applicable).

Are you looking to become an administrator?

The first thing you should do is to decide what kind of administrator you want to be. There are many different types of administrators, each with their own focus and responsibilities.

You can choose between being an information technology (IT) administrator, a database administrator (DBA), or a network administrator. Each of these roles requires you to manage specific types of computer systems and networks.

For example, if you choose to be an IT administrator, then your job will be to manage software and hardware on the network. You would also have responsibility for implementing security measures and ensuring that everything runs smoothly on the network as well as keeping track of any changes made by other users so that they can be reverted if necessary.

If instead you choose to become a database administrator (DBA), then your responsibilities would include managing data stored in databases such as Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle DBMSs (data base management systems). This means ensuring that all queries are run efficiently, adding new tables when needed (such as when new customers join), etcetera.

Finally, if you decide that being a network administrator is right for you then this means ensuring that all computers on the network have access.

How To Become An Administrator

An administrator maintains daily operations within a company. The exact nature of these duties varies based on the industry in which they work, but typically involves tasks such as organizing schedules, bookkeeping, facilitating communication between departments and maintaining workplace functions. Other roles of administrators are:

• Keeping track of ongoing projects and creating measurable performance indicators
• Analyzing the costs and personnel needs for each of the company’s projects
• Creating and updating the customer information database
• Making sure the working environment complies with internal company policies and regulations
• Maintaining a good working relationship with the company’s customers

Average salary

Most administrators are full-time salaried employees. As they can work in a variety of industries and locations, salaries for administrators vary. Factors such as education, experience and company type and size can affect an administrator’s pay. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the salary link.

• Common salary in the U.S.: $66,226 per year
• Some salaries range from $14,000 to $154,000 per year.

Administrator requirements

Administrators often have a combination of education, training and skills. Some administrators earn relevant certifications to gain more knowledge in certain skills and increase their earning potential.

Education

Most employers prefer to hire administrators with a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a field relevant to their industry. A degree in business administration shows a candidate has a basic knowledge of a variety of professional skills and abilities. There are some bachelor’s degrees that prepare graduates for an administrator or operational role for a specific industry, such as a degree in healthcare administration. 

Some administrators can gain employment with a high school diploma and three-to-five years of administrative experience.

Training

Training that an administrator receives is often on the job. An administrator will learn more about specific software or computer programs a company uses and any policies or procedures they must follow. Since the responsibilities of an administrator can vary, they will receive specific instruction on basic duties, such as bookkeeping, project administration or scheduling. 

Certifications

While there are no required certifications for administrator positions, you can earn one to gain more knowledge and advance your career. There are two certifications you can consider:

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)

A MOS shows an advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. There are two levels of MOS certifications — Associate and Expert. To earn an Associate-level MOS, you must pass an online exam. For an Expert-level certification, you must hold a current Associate-level MOS and pass the Expert online exam. 

Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)

Offered by the International Association of Administrative Professionals, a CAP shows that you can perform various administrative functions often completed by administrators. To earn a CAP, you must pass an exam that tests you on organizational communication, business documentation and writing, technology and information, record keeping, event and project management and business functions. You must take the exam at an IAAP-approved testing center. 

Skills

Administrators need a specific set of skills and qualities to succeed in their roles, including: 

Communication

Because they interact with a variety of people, an administrator needs to have excellent communication skills. They also require excellent writing skills, as they will communicate often via email.

Industry knowledge

An administrator should have extensive knowledge of the industry the company operates in. They should also understand industry policies and regulations.

Computer skills

Many organizations use computer software and networks for communication and day-to-day operations. An administrator needs to be familiar with the software and programs that the business uses regularly. 

Attention to detail

Given the importance of the role in maintaining workplace operations, administrators need to focus on small details. This will help them identify processes and procedures that they can improve, increasing overall efficiency.

Critical thinking

Administrators often help many departments work on different projects and processes. They should be able to form logical conclusions from all available information.

Teamwork

A large part of an administrator’s role is coordinating others, so teamwork skills are important. Administrators often work with multiple departments and should be able to collaborate with different team members who have unique working styles. 

Time management

Administrators often manage schedules and timelines for projects and manage their own time. To meet all deadlines and complete scheduling requests, administrators should have excellent time-management skills. Using scheduling and project management software can assist an administrator in time-management duties. 

Administrator work environment

Administrators typically work in professional settings with the following characteristics:

• An office environment that involves sitting at a desk for extended periods of time
• Using computers, printers, fax machines and other common office equipment
• Constant communication with all the organization’s departments and management
• Extensive customer interaction and communication
• Normal business hours with occasional overtime

Administrators can find employment in a variety of industries, including: 

• Private businesses and corporations
• State institutions
• Educational facilities
• Non-profit organizations
• Scientific and research institutions

How to become an administrator

Here are the steps that you can take to become an administrator: 

1. Choose a specific industry.

The role of an administrator is industry-specific. You should find a field that interests you to stay stimulated in your work. Finding a company that offers professional growth opportunities can help you expand your career path. 

2. Complete your education.

At a minimum, earn a high school diploma or equivalent. Having a high school diploma helps you gain entry-level positions that will help you to gain relevant experience. Getting a bachelor’s degree can expand the jobs available to you. For mid- and upper-level positions, you’ll need to have additional experience and a bachelor’s degree. 

3. Improve your soft skills. 

Soft skills such as communication, teamwork and critical thinking are all important for an administrator. Practice these skills as much as you can to improve them. When creating your resume, list your relevant abilities in the skills section to show employers you can perform successfully in the role. 

4. Gain experience.

If you’re seeking an administration job in a specific industry, gain experience by working entry-level jobs. For some positions, you will need some experience before applying to an administrator role. Focus on industries and work environments that suit you. You can get a job as a receptionist, administrative assistant or customer service representative to gain experience and improve the soft skills needed for a career as an administrator. 

5. Advance your career.

With a healthy combination of education and experience, you should be able to find a position that interests you. It may be in an industry you’re familiar with or not.

Administrator job description example

We are looking for an office administrator to oversee the day-to-day operations of our real estate company. The office administrator will keep track of all ongoing projects, monitoring the office schedule, maintaining a good relationship with customers and partners and supervising front office employees. Additional responsibilities include facilitating communication between employees and management and swiftly handling any customer complaints or objections. The successful candidate will be able to evolve and grow within the organization.