Becoming the administrator of your company is not something you can do overnight. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and time to become the head honcho of your business.
But if you are determined to become the boss, there are some things you need to do in order to get there.
1) Make sure that you have all the necessary requirements for this job. You may be required to have a specific educational background or simply be an expert in a particular field.
2) Get ready for an interview with the board of directors of your company. This will help them decide if they would like to hire you for this position or not.
3) If everything goes well during this meeting, then you will be offered a job as an administrator! Congratulations! Now all that’s left is to get started on your new career as an administrator at [company name].
How To Become The Administrator
What does an administrator do?
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
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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.
