Job Family: Administration, Business and Office Work

Every organisation, large or small, needs effective administration. People working in this sector provide the support an organisation needs to meet its objectives.

Roles in this career family range from managers, who undertake future planning and are responsible for the running of the organisation, through to assistant-level staff, who undertake routine office duties. Some jobs involve dealing with people outside the organisation, such as customers, representatives of other businesses or members of the public. This could be through the telephone, by email or face-to-face.

Most employees in this area of work are office-based. Many job roles in this career family involve spending all or part of the time sitting at a desk, using a computer and a telephone. In some roles, attending meetings forms a regular part of the work - to make decisions or to report on the progress of a project, for example. Other roles may involve travelling to different venues for meetings, site visits or conferences.

Work environments vary from large, modern, purpose-built, open-plan offices to small rooms. Full-time staff usually work around 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Part-time work and job-sharing positions are often available.

There are opportunities in every employment sector, including national and local government, finance, manufacturing, health, leisure, media, transport and the utilities. Employers can range from multinational corporations, with thousands of staff, to small companies with just a few employees.

It is estimated that over four million people are employed in administration, business and office work. About half a million people are employed by the Civil Service alone, in around 170 government departments and agencies.

There are opportunities all over the UK, particularly in towns and cities.

Teamwork, communication, organisational and problem-solving skills are all important, and customer service skills are required in many job roles. Supervisors and managers also need leadership and decision-making skills. ICT skills are almost always required in this sector. Some positions require specialist skills and qualifications.

Entry is possible at all levels. While some jobs are open to people with few formal qualifications as long as they can demonstrate the required standard of literacy and numeracy, other roles require a degree or postgraduate qualifications for entry. A wide range of courses is available in business-related subjects at schools and colleges; a Diploma in business, administration and finance could provide a starting point.

New entrants receive on-the-job training and may attend in-house and external courses. Some employers offer Apprenticeships. Employees may have the opportunity to study for additional qualifications, from work-related qualifications, such as NVQs, to a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Promotion usually involves taking on extra responsibilities and managing people, projects and resources. Opportunities for continuing professional development may be available.

Why not have a look at other career family articles as they may hold information on related jobs.

March 2010