Top 7 business administration skills you need to make employers notice you

Where can a career in business administration take you?

If you’re looking to follow a career that can offer you plenty of challenges, growth and variety, then a career in business admin could be a great choice.

Read on to discover what the most in-demand skills are for Business Administrators, the different roles available in this area, and what kind of qualifications will make your business admin resume stand out.

Beginning a career in business administration could lead to exciting new job prospects.

What does business administration involve?

Essentially, business administration is about managing the smooth running of a business. Pretty vague, right? But when you take a closer look at the actual role of a Business Administrator, things become a little clearer.

A Business Administrator will be expected to support the business’s goals by co-ordinating resources and performing business and administrative tasks. In a way, they’re a bit of an office all-rounder.

Depending on the level of experience and seniority of the Administrator, and the type and size of the business, a Business Administrator may need to carry out a wide and varied amount of tasks.

In their day-to-day, a Business Administrator’s responsibilities can include:

• keeping well organised files and detailed records of business activities
• acting as an assistant to the executive team
• assisting in project management
• collecting, inputting and organising data
• preparing presentations and communications for the business
• managing stock control and order supplies
• liaising and co-ordinate with different departments
• providing general support and managing activities related to the business, like setting up meetings and sorting documents
• establishing organisational goals, policies and procedures
• negotiating or approving contracts and agreements.

What does a Business Administrator’s work environment look like?

One of the best things about working in business administration is that you can work in just about any industry.

Both large and small businesses need good Business Administrators in some capacity to ensure the smooth running of the business. And if you study a course in business administration and go on to follow a career in this area, you may not always be working under the specific title of ‘Business Administrator’. And because Administrators work across different sectors – from legal to healthcare to finance and everything in between – it opens up the field for those who work in business admin.

Here are some of the job titles that fall under the business admin umbrella:

• Administrative Assistant
• Receptionist
• Accounts Supervisor
• Executive Personal Assistant
• Office Administrator
• Office Manager
• Project Assistant
• Legal Administrator
• Legal Secretary
• Accounts Payable/Receivable Clerk.

What are the top skills you need in business administration to get noticed by employers?

These are the top 7 skills you need to be a successful Business Administrator.

1. Strong communication skills

The role of an Administrator is mostly human-centric. On any given day you could be liaising between different departments, meeting with clients or communicating updates to management. Dealing with so many people on a daily basis means that you need to have sharp communication skills in order to relay information correctly and to avoid miscommunications and double handling. This covers both verbal and written communications as well as your listening skills.

2. Interpersonal skills

Again, because you’re interacting frequently with others, you need to also have exceptional interpersonal skills. Interpersonal skills cover areas like emotional intelligence, teamwork and conflict-resolutions skills.

3. Time management and organisational skills

Businesses don’t run themselves. That’s why you need a Business Administrator. And Administrators need to have excellent time management and organisational skills. As a Business Admin, you’ll be scheduling meetings, booking conferences, communicating between different parties and also making sure that all the necessary documentation is finalised on time. It’s important that deadlines are managed and met, and that you’re able to stick to your commitments.

Business Administrators work in many different industries and environments.

4. Technology savvy

Do you know how to get the most out of the MS Office suite? Are you a spreadsheet wiz? Do you know which are the best collaboration and team management apps out there? If not, then it’s time to brush up if you want to succeed as a Business Administrator. Administrators use different kinds of technology throughout their day, most noticeably the Office suite. You’ll be running reports, creating spreadsheets, building templates and creating presentations. The company you work for may also have its own in-house software, so you’ll be expected to learn how to use that. This will be much easier if you’ve already become familiar with the various programs, software and apps commonly used in business administration.

5. Database management

This goes hand in hand with your ability to work with technology. Different companies will have different databases that they use, but it will be important that you’re able to collate, manage and organise important data.

6. The ability to work solo

While Business Administrators interact with a lot of different people in their line of work, they’re often the ones who are providing support to others, rather than the other way around. This means that you’ll need to be self-sufficient, resourceful, motivated and able to work autonomously. This line of work is perfect for self-starters who are good at taking initiative and enjoy working independently.

7. Attention to detail

Sometimes, you’ll need to perform detail-orientated tasks that take a great deal of concentration – like data entry. While this work can sometimes be repetitive, it’s important that you maintain a keen eye for detail to avoid mistakes. An obvious spelling error in a report, or an extra zero added to a budget analysis, could make you and the company look bad.

Do I need a qualification do work in business administration?

The good news is that you don’t need to fork out hundreds of thousands of dollars for an MBA – a qualification is not a prerequisite to becoming a Business Administrator. That said, the right course can help teach you relevant, in-demand skills employers are on the lookout for. And your resume will certainly stand out when you have a nationally recognised qualification under your belt.

Hard-working and career-orientated Business Administrators will always be striving to expand their skillset and learn something new. Professional development in business admin is highly valued by employers, as Administrators have such a varied workload. The more skills you possess, the more driven you are to learn new things, the more valuable you become and the more likely you are to receive a promotion.

OC offers two business administration courses online.

• BSB40515 Certificate IV in Business Administration (with finance electives)
• BSB40515 Certificate IV in Business Administration

Enrol in an online course with OC today and unlock your potential.