Admin assistant
Admin assistants write letters, emails and reports, maintain data records and filing systems and provide support for meetings.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
In this role you could:
- handle enquiries on the phone, by email and on social media
- type up letters, reports and other business documents
- update and maintain computer records
- follow data protection guidelines when handling information
- keep track of stock, order office supplies and send out invoices
- set up meetings and take notes during them
- make travel arrangements for staff
We've identified this as a potential green job
For an admin assistant to be a green job, you could:
- set up a virtual meeting to avoid unnecessary travel
- order office supplies made from recycled materials
- recycle or donate used electronic equipment and devices
Find out more about green careers
Working environment
You could work in an office or remotely.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could progress from admin assistant to supervisor or office manager. You could also move into other departments, like payroll, accounting or IT.
With further training, you could:
- specialise in legal, financial or medical administration
- work in information management
- become a personal or executive assistant
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- administration skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- to be flexible and open to change
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to work on your own
- customer service skills
- the ability to organise your time and workload
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job.
Courses include:
- business and administration
- International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) Certificate in IT User Skills (previously ECDL)
- word processing
- T Level in Management and Administration
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
More Information
You could apply to do a Business Administrator Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
This takes between 1 and 2 years to complete and combines on-the-job training with study.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More Information
You might be able to start as an admin assistant on a temporary contract through a recruitment agency. This can often lead into a permanent job.
Qualifications or experience in office work will be helpful. Employers will give you training on the job, covering their data entry systems.
You could volunteer with a charity in an office based role to get some experience and skills that are useful for administration work.
You can find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT.
You can apply directly to become an admin assistant.
Employers may look for GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent qualifications, including English and maths. Word processing and spreadsheet skills will be useful, along with good customer service skills.
Career tips
Time management and the ability to prioritise tasks is really important in administration. This could be tested at interview. For example, you might be given some tasks to complete and asked to arrange them in order of importance.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.