Job change can get very frustrating, as there's so much to think about.
...and straight-forward information can be tough to locate. With thousands of career hopeful's under our belts, we realised we should put together a starting guide for those that are still searching to find their ideal path.
Learn more by left-clicking on the button titles...
Admin Work Is Vital To Business...Well organised administrative workers are an asset to any company or government sector. Their duties vary hugely, depending on the size and structure of the team they're working with.
You could be thinking of entering the industry for the first time and want to see what courses are available. You could have taken time out to have children, and now want to get back in.
Or it could be that you need an administration course to strengthen your abilities. You'll discover a full range of retraining courses when you start to surf around the internet.
The ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) has always been a great place to start. As we've already mentioned, administration covers a very wide range of skills.
Excellent keyboard skills and knowledge of various user programs will be vital. So you will need to know how to work with spreadsheets and do word processing, along with emailing and online research as a minimum.
Should you need to up-grade your user-skills, you'll find lots of training companies on the web. It can get a little long-winded, but it's worth taking your time to do some training course comparisons.
Companies often feature on this page, so why not start here? A quick tip - Press Ctrl and D at the same time and you can bookmark this or any other webpage for easy reference.
As well as computer-based skills, an entry level admin clerk will need to learn how to handle office communications, where good organisation is key. Beginner training can be undertaken in telephone skills, minute taking, speed-reading, business writing, filing systems and stock-taking etc.
As your experience builds, why not develop your skills further? Any training you do that adds value to the department you're working in will be seen as a plus. When everyone has demands on your time, it's easy to get stressed. Time management courses can be extremely useful for the overstretched administrator. You may be asked to compile written work for another person. If that person holds a senior position your writing skills must reflect that - so be prepared to retrain periodically in this area.
Senior administrators in the business world today need to bring a multitude of skills to the table. Naturally you'll have got the foundations under your belt, but top jobs ask for much more than that. The generous salaries paid to top level administrators reflect the diversity of competencies they're able to offer.
"A person who aims at nothing is sure to hit it." - Anon.
Look upon continuous education as a complement to your increasing experience at work. The following training areas are just a few examples to consider:
Find out which methods can avoid pressure build-up and how to stay out of the danger zone! Learn how to help yourself and others to adopt set procedures that will ease pressure build-ups.
Learn the techniques for focusing-in on the task in hand. Find out the most efficient ways to organise any administrative project and see it through to completion. Furnish yourself with tools for prioritising and delegating work, and for assessing when not to accept certain assignments.
Addressing Negative ThinkingUnderstand the power of good listening skills and positive telephone procedures. Discover proven methods for turning a disgruntled colleague or client into a happy and trusting promoter of your business. Study collaboration and teamwork.
Adopt a powerful understanding of how to communicate well and be understood first time. Listen well - learn the skills. Learn how to create an impact with your audience. Adopt a better style of written communication.
You may find yourself drawn to becoming a specialist as your experience builds. There are a whole host of specialities to consider - for example - Change Management, Integrated Office Systems, Project Management and Business Law.
Doing the research costs nothing, and you may just find exactly what you're looking for! All sectors of industry need good administrators. Are you going to be an indispensible asset in one of those sectors? The opportunities are waiting for you. Show what you're made of by grasping them now!