So, what's it all about?
Administration and human resources (HR) are critical parts of any business or organisation. Administrators make sure that the office is running smoothly and efficiently, while HR ensures that the office is staffed with the right employees and deals with any staff issues. Without these roles, businesses would erupt into chaos and productivity levels would plummet.
Almost a fifth of the national workforce are administrators of some sort. Their job is to make sure systems and processes run as smoothly as possible, whether they’re overseeing billion-pound transactions or ordering stationary for the office. Administrators are some of the most important people in companies and organisations, because they have the broadest overview of what’s going on in the office. They do a bit of everything: deal with internal and external correspondence; type up letters, agendas and reports; send emails and faxes; answer phone calls; provide basic IT support…It’s no wonder that many upper level staff members rely on the assistance of administrators to do their jobs.
Just as important are human resources, whose role is to make sure an employer has the right people doing the right jobs. They work with management in recruiting and training new staff, as well as dealing with personal issues and disciplinary matters – they’re responsible for seeing everyone is pulling their weight, rather than spending half the day on YouTube or taking every Monday off sick.
But they also make sure the needs of the employees are met and their rights are respected. This covers everything from holiday entitlements and making adjustments for people with disabilities to dealing with stress or bullying. It’s a role where your people skills are every bit as important as your organisational ones.
Employers are crying out for trained administrators, and there are a number of jobs at entry level. Also, the skills used in this area are highly transferable to other areas of business. Show a flair for organisation, efficiency and communication, and you could soon find yourself promoted to a more responsible position – maybe as a team leader, junior manager or personal assistant. Before you know it, you’ll be running the place.
What qualities do I need?
- be able to work to tight deadlines
- be able to manage several tasks at once
- have good communication skills
- possess a good command of written English
- have basic numeracy skills
- work well as part of a team
- have good typing skills
- be computer literate
- have a good telephone manner
- be organised and methodical
- be reliable and presentable
- work quickly and remain calm under pressure
These are the Apprenticeships currently available in this sector. For more information and for details of the Apprenticeship framework, contact the Sector Skills Council listed after each.
Business and administration
Contact www.cfa.uk.com
Advice and Guidance
Contact www.ento.co.uk
Direct training and support
Contact www.ento.co.uk
Learning and development
Contact www.ento.co.uk
Management
Contact www.management-standards.org.uk
Occupational health and safety practice
Contact: www.ento.co.uk
Team-leading
Contact www.management-standards.org.uk
Click here for a list of employers offering Apprenticeships in this sector.
Office space
Browse these websites to find the companies and organisations offering administrative roles in your area:
This UK-wide recruitment agency specialises in administration, secretarial and personal assistant roles.
www.officerecruit.com
This clever website compiles administrative opportunities posted by employers and recruitment companies across the UK – so you can search them all with just a few clicks.
Major employers
HM Revenue & Customs
www.hmrc.gov.uk/jobs/admin-details.htm
HMRC employs around 95,000 people in 290 offices throughout the country. Administration is one of their key employment areas – you could be creating invoices, arranging meetings or producing statistical data. Visit their site for a list of current vacancies.
Local Government
www.lgcareers.com
There are 468 local councils in the UK, each with an administration department. Head here for more information on what local government is, and what jobs are available.
Royal Mail
www.royalmail.com
As well as being a major employer in the business and administration industry, they also run their own Apprenticeship programme.
Procter & Gamble
www.pgcareers.com
Procter & Gamble produce dozens of household brands and are a major international corporation. Their job site lists all administrative vacancies.