How to Become an Office Administrator

An office administrator does workplace admin roles. Their job is similar to that of an administrative assistant; however, an office administrator’s duties typically are more advanced and involve management and business tasks.

An office administrator will perform both basic office tasks and some managerial duties. This means that their role will involve both the general administration of an office and managing other employees with admin-focused roles. 

The duties of an office administrator include: 

• Clerical tasks, including bookkeeping, answering phone calls, typing up notes, and sending emails. 
• Supporting other administrative staff with their work.
• Arranging travel for people throughout the company.
• Dealing with sensitive information, such as staff calendars.
• Greeting customers and clients in the office.
• Organising weekly payroll for staff.
• Acting as a point of contact for public enquiries.

An office administrator should have secondary qualifications, but some businesses also require a degree. This degree could be in any subject, but a business-related vocation is most relevant. If the candidate does not have a degree, an industry recognised college qualification may also be acceptable. 

Some candidates will find it most straightforward to apply through an apprenticeship programme. They will learn the ins and outs of becoming an office administrator on the job and will then be expected to work for the company for a certain amount of time. Apprenticeships are a great way to become an office administrator with no qualifications. 

Office administrators should also be very competent with spreadsheets, Word, and other computer software. Other office administrator skills are being experts at organisation and time management, as they will not only need to organise their own time but also that of other staff in the office. 

Most offices have an office administrator, so there is a lot of demand for this role. There is also the chance for career progression to become an office manager or administrative manager. Office administrators could also branch into fields like accountancy or HR.