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What should I look for in a job as an office administrator?
Give me tips on what I should know and look for before entering a job
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5 answers
Updated
O’s Answer
Always look for a teaching and/or learning opportunity you want to make sure there is room for advancement in any department leading to an exucitive position or at the least a iron clad recomendation that will get you well on the way to working for that fortune 500 company
Updated
Martha’s Answer
You will spend a lot of time at your job so the people and what you are doing is important to consider.
I suggest you answer four questions honestly before you start looking for any job:
- what do you love to do? (do you love talking to people? researching things? reading? creating things? working in a group or alone?)
- what do you hate doing? (working to timelines? group projects? answering phones? trying to convince people of things?)
- what are you really good at? (motivating a group? completing individual tasks? finding the best ice cream in the city?)
- what are you terrible at? (getting up early? keeping to a schedule? small talk?)
Use your answers for guidance when evaluating an opportunity (who and what sort of people will I be working with? do my responsibilities match my strengths?):
Love It + Good at it? Strive for that job!
Love it and Bad at it? Make this a hobby or side gig!
Hate it and good at it? This is a back-up plan!
Hate it and bad at it? Well - you know you don't want to do that.
If you are looking for office administration, consider the tasks you will be asked to do (phone calls, schedules, packages, coffee, etc) and who you'll be doing them for (1 person? a team? are you in an office or remote? what is the business and do you align to the product/service/philosophy) to determine whether or not you think it's a fit for you.
Best of luck!!
I suggest you answer four questions honestly before you start looking for any job:
- what do you love to do? (do you love talking to people? researching things? reading? creating things? working in a group or alone?)
- what do you hate doing? (working to timelines? group projects? answering phones? trying to convince people of things?)
- what are you really good at? (motivating a group? completing individual tasks? finding the best ice cream in the city?)
- what are you terrible at? (getting up early? keeping to a schedule? small talk?)
Use your answers for guidance when evaluating an opportunity (who and what sort of people will I be working with? do my responsibilities match my strengths?):
Love It + Good at it? Strive for that job!
Love it and Bad at it? Make this a hobby or side gig!
Hate it and good at it? This is a back-up plan!
Hate it and bad at it? Well - you know you don't want to do that.
If you are looking for office administration, consider the tasks you will be asked to do (phone calls, schedules, packages, coffee, etc) and who you'll be doing them for (1 person? a team? are you in an office or remote? what is the business and do you align to the product/service/philosophy) to determine whether or not you think it's a fit for you.
Best of luck!!
Thanks for your encouragement!
kimberly
Updated
Kelli’s Answer
Great question! It's important to read through the job description and make sure that most tasks are of interest to you. I'd also research the company. What are their core values? What do current and previous employees say about the company? There's no perfect company but finding one that treats employees well makes a huge difference.
When interviewing, ask your potential manager what their management style is and what challenges they see this role or their team facing in the first 90 days. The role may be a great fit for you but the company/manager may not and it's good to find out as soon as possible. In my experience, a manager can make or break your experience at a company.
Ask about the company's culture as well. Look out for "work hard/play hard" responses and companies that say they are like family. While this can be good at times, many times it's a red flag that boundaries are crossed often by management and burnout will occur.
If you have interest in growing specific skills that could lead towards advancement, make sure to ask about potential growth of the role during your interview. For example, you may want to develop project management skills. Make sure the company is open to your growth within the company.
Good luck!
When interviewing, ask your potential manager what their management style is and what challenges they see this role or their team facing in the first 90 days. The role may be a great fit for you but the company/manager may not and it's good to find out as soon as possible. In my experience, a manager can make or break your experience at a company.
Ask about the company's culture as well. Look out for "work hard/play hard" responses and companies that say they are like family. While this can be good at times, many times it's a red flag that boundaries are crossed often by management and burnout will occur.
If you have interest in growing specific skills that could lead towards advancement, make sure to ask about potential growth of the role during your interview. For example, you may want to develop project management skills. Make sure the company is open to your growth within the company.
Good luck!
Updated
Samantha’s Answer
Office administrators are often known as the go to people in an office who are expected to have the answers to most questions. When searching for office administrator roles. I would make sure to learn a lot about the company you’d like to work at by reading through their website. Understand the company’s mission, vision, and goals and why this company stands out at compared to other competitors in the salve. It’s important to understand what the company does well before interviewing.
Once you have started your job, I would try to learn as much as possible from your coworkers. Ask lots of questions and read everything you can. People will remember you if you pick up information very quickly and know more about the company than is necessarily required for your role. When people start coming to you with their general company questions, you’ll know you’ve established your personal brand as someone who tends to have the answers to most questions.
It’s also extremely important to be well organized as an office administrator. Always file things away neatly (either electronically or physically), keep your email inbox well sorted, and make sure that you create a system for yourself that allows you to immediately know where the document need will be. The best office administrators are well organized and efficient.
Best of luck in your job search!
Once you have started your job, I would try to learn as much as possible from your coworkers. Ask lots of questions and read everything you can. People will remember you if you pick up information very quickly and know more about the company than is necessarily required for your role. When people start coming to you with their general company questions, you’ll know you’ve established your personal brand as someone who tends to have the answers to most questions.
It’s also extremely important to be well organized as an office administrator. Always file things away neatly (either electronically or physically), keep your email inbox well sorted, and make sure that you create a system for yourself that allows you to immediately know where the document need will be. The best office administrators are well organized and efficient.
Best of luck in your job search!
Updated
Adrian’s Answer
Be sure to check your working hours, as administrative roles can sometimes have unexpected schedules. Additionally, keep an eye out for opportunities to grow and essential training that can help improve your technical abilities.