Office Administrator

Want to run the daily operations of an office? Why not consider being an Office Administrator? If you’re organised and good at multitasking, this is the perfect career for you!

Job Responsibilities

Communication is key in an office. An Office Administrator maintains that communication, not only between the company and its clients, but also between employers and staff.  

Setting rules and regulations are how businesses are successful. And as an Office Administrator, it is your duty to ensure that these duties are completed effectively.

Meetings are important, as that’s where important aspects of the company is discussed. By arranging the meeting and everything it entails, you ensure that the meeting proceeds in a successful manner. The same goes for the events planned by you.

If something in the office breaks, work and daily duties are left incomplete. So it is your responsibility to call repairmen to have it fixed. Also, it is your duty to ensure that there is an abundance of office supplies so that everyone can complete their work. 

Getting new staff can be stressful, as there is a lot of training involved. So along with the HR manager, you ensure that all new staff are trained properly and that their paperwork is sorted out.

What to Study

Office Administration: Certified Office Manager ICB DIploma

The ICB Diploma: Office Administration (Certified Office Manager) course, teach you how to keep an office running smoothly. You’ll be able to help in just about any department.
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Office Administration: ICB Higher Certificate

The ICB Office Administration Courses will teach you how to keep an office running smoothly. By learning about all the elements that contribute to a properly functioning office.
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Junior Office Administration: ICB National Certificate

The ICB National Certificate: Office Administration (Junior Office Admin) course teaches you how to keep the wheels of an office turning at all times.
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How can I Become an Office Administrator? 

Always wanted to be an office administrator? Below are ways you can use to reach your goal of becoming one. 

Choose What Kind of Office Administrator you Want to be 

You can become an administrator in almost any field, such as healthcare, education and IT. Once you decide on what field you want to work in, you will need to develop the necessary skills required in that industry. If you want to be a healthcare administrator, you need to know how the healthcare system works. 

Get Qualified 

Most employees only need a matric certificate to employ you. But it helps to take extra courses or get a qualification after high school. Skills Academy offers accredited ICB Office Administration courses through distance learning. Learn more about the ICB here.

Gain Experience 

The most common way to gain work experience is to apply for internships in the field that you want to work in. This gives you the chance to explore the career field. You will be getting exposure and expanding your skills. Many internships can also lead to a permanent posts, but even if it doesn’t, you still gain valuable skills. This can help you get a promotion in the future.

Benefits of Being an Office Administrator 

Not sure if being an office administrator is the job for you? Take a look at some of the benefits listed below. 

  • Countless job opportunities in most fields 
  • Good salary 
  • You will be in demand 
  • The work is exciting 
  • Room for growth 

How Much Does an Administrator Make? 

The average salary for an administrator in South Africa is R 10 367 per month. The more experience you have, the higher your salary will be. A senior administrator will earn more than a junior one, as shown below. 

Junior Administrator –  R 8 680 p/m 

Senior Administrator –  R 18 604  p/m

Where can an Office Administrator Work? 

The best thing about this job is the variety of opportunities available. Any of the following places will need to make use of your services: 

  • Academic institutions, such as universities 
  • Medical companies 
  • Financial and Legal services 
  • Charities and local authorities 
  • Property and insurance 

Kickstart your career as an Office Administrator with Skills Academy

What Skills Does an Office Administrator Need? 

Office administrators should have a wide range of skills to be successful in their job. The key skills needed includes some of the following: 

Communication 

As an administrator, you need to have excellent communication and active listening skills. This is important as you will be working with different types of people on projects and other tasks. Good communication helps make sure that the work gets done the right way.

Organisation 

You should be able to perform tasks for more than one staff member or department within a company. This skill is key for duties such as keeping track of deadlines and managing company events. 

Attention to Detail 

A big part of your job involves completing tasks that need a lot of attention to detail. These tasks include making travel arrangements, proofreading documents and emails, and entering data. 

Flexibility 

As an administrator, you need to be able to adapt and rearrange your day to offer help where it is needed the most. This may include postponing one task to complete one that has a nearer deadline. 

Computer Skills 

Most of your time will be spent working on a computer. Due to this, it’s important to have knowledge on computer programmes and software. Some duties include data capturing, answering emails and typing up reports. 

Types of Administrators 

Every company needs some form of organisation. This means an administrator can pick which sector they want to work in. Below is a list of different administrator jobs that are available. 

Admin Office Support – This is an entry-level role. Your duties can include dealing with queries, arranging meetings and taking minutes. 

Business Admin – In this role, you lead, control and organise a company’s activities. Other duties include managing income and approving office budgets. 

Personal Assistant – The most important duty you have is managing the diary of an executive. Also taking calls and messages and relaying it back to you boss. 

Senior Administrator – This position means you are at the top of the admin food chain. You can work with senior staff to plan meetings and build relationships with clients. 

Author: Thiana Pretorius

Last updated: May 07, 2020