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Current trends in the administrative industry

Technology is emerging as a significant factor in the administrative hiring process. Employers prefer candidates with advanced technical skills in office management apps such as Hootsuite, WhenIsGood, Calendly, TripIt, Zoho and Dropbox. And word processing, calendaring, spreadsheets, and email proficiency are the most sought after.

Specific industries are employing administrative workers that are doing better than most. Those in the health care industry, for example, are projected to witness job and wage growth while U.S. Postal Service ones are not. The difference is that employment in the health care sector, which includes billing and insurance tasks, will piggy-back on what is likely to be the fastest-growing industry five years from now.

What about administrative management jobs? About 85% of workers say that administrative tasks are becoming excessively complex, leading some companies to hire professionals with advanced technology and management degrees to help administrators create systems to resolve conflicts better, manage relationships, and train other administrative staff on the latest equipment and tools.

Recruiters looking for people in the administrative field today favor candidates with college experience and who take skill-boosting online or in-person training workshops or certificate courses.

5 top soft skills needed for administrative jobs

Administrative professionals play a critical role in the smooth running of any business. From dealing with clients outside their organization to resolving disputes within the workplace, their actions determine a business’s success by giving their bosses more time to make deals, understand complex problems, and think about future sales expansions instead of just barely holding on. So, if you’re looking to fill an administrative position, you must have the right skill set that compels employers to hire you.

Below are five indispensable soft skills for people working in an administrative service capacity:

• Verbal and written communication

  Every administrative professional must have exceptional command over their written and oral communication abilities. Recruiters look for candidates who can be the face and voice of the business during client meetings, communications and even possible disputes.

• Logical planning and time management

  You have to know how to plan your workday and your bosses’ time strategically. Prioritize tasks based on relevance to get them done as quickly as possible using tech, direct messaging and many other available tools.

• An eye for detail

  Administrative workers often have to manage sensitive client and customer communications and operations to be detail-oriented. They need to identify any typos, grammatical errors, possible shipping issues, email attachments, computer issues, and even health care contracts.

• Problem-solving

  Sudden schedule changes may create challenges for different departments in an office. As a competent administrative professional, you must be flexible, think creatively, and respond instantly to such situations. If you already hold these qualities, make sure to include them in your resume.

• Curiosity

  An ideal administrative candidate is someone who keeps themselves aware of industry trends, reads religiously, and quickly builds relationships. And you don’t have to be “naturally curious.” According to Creative Director Nadine Clay, you can develop curiosity as an adult, including embracing uncertainty, filling information gaps, and focusing on other people.

Educational requirements for administrative jobs

Entry-level administrative positions require candidates to have a high-school diploma. But if you’re looking for jobs that offer a higher salary, you must have at least some college education from a vocational school or community college.

Good technical knowledge is a must for administrative assistant positions. You must know to use a wide range of office software, including email, word processing and spreadsheets.

While administrative professionals can find a place in almost every industry, some fields demand specialized knowledge (think of medical and legal fields). Educational platforms like Alison and Oxford Home Study Centre offer certifications in distinctive backgrounds that will help boost your career. Some universities and colleges have single-course certifications to increase specific skill sets in management and administration.