Administrative support managers, supervisors, and staff provide are an integral part of a firm's operations that ensure its day to day operations run smoothly.
Administrative support personnel use various processes and technology to perform and coordinate the different administrative activities required by a particular business or office. They perform a wide-range of business administration and clerical tasks, including:
- General communications, internally and externally, via telephone, email, and mail service;
- Appointment, meeting, and travel planning and scheduling;
- Organization and maintenance of paper and electronic files;
- Use and maintenance of office equipment, including for telephones, fax machines, photocopiers;
- Coordination with office information technology (IT) specialists to ensure efficient operations of business IT hardware, software, and networks; and
- Assistance with research and project management, as required and directed by general management.
Depending on the size and organization of a company, administrative support managers, supervisors, and staff may all be located in one office location; in several locations locally, regionally, or nationally, or at different branches throughout the world.
Some selected occupations and careers in business Administrative Support include:
- Secretaries and administrative assistants,
- Supervisors of office and administrative support,
- Receptionists and information clerks, and
- Office clerks.
Administrative support managers, supervisors, and staff have different education and skill requirements based on their particular task assignments within a company. In general, a high school diploma and knowledge of basic office skills, including computer word processing, may qualify an individual for an entry-level position. Career advancement may require further specialized education and training, including attainment of appropriate industry-based certification or a postsecondary degree.
Collectively, the various occupations that makeup business administrative support combine to provide this industry subsector with one of the largest areas of employment opportunities in the entire U.S. economy. Every major U.S. industry sector is comprised of firms that have a business management requirement, and all but the smallest of these firms have a need for administrative support. Due to business growth and employee turnover, job opportunities can be expected to remain readily available.
Based on this broad potential for entry-level jobs as well as career development, business administrative support may well be worth serious consideration for your future.
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