Important Administrative Skills That Employers Value (2024)

Job candidates with strongadministrative skillsare in high demand for jobs in virtually every industry.

People with these skills help maintain a smoothly run office while supporting the efforts of their supervisors and stakeholders alike. Without them, a company can quicklyturn chaotic, hindering productivity and resulting in unhappy employees. Individuals in administrative positions must be able to handle many moving parts and challenging situations at once.

If you're looking to open yourself up for raises and promotions, it's wise to develop extraordinary administrative skills.

What Are Administrative Skills?

Administrative skills are those related to running a business or keeping an office organized, and are needed for a variety of jobs, ranging from office assistants to secretaries to office managers.

People with administrative skills offer the support that enables companies to succeed at their core mission, whether it's serving clients or selling widgets. Technical skills, such as an ability to use programs such as Microsoft Office, are important in administrative jobs. But so too aresoft skills, such as communication and organizational abilities.

Types of Administrative Skills

Take a look at the following list of theimportantadministrative skillsthat most employers seek in candidates. It also includes sublists of related administrative skills.

Communication

Verbal Communication

Communicationis acritical administrativesoft skill. Administrative employees often have to interact with employers, staff, and clients, either in person or on the phone. It is important that they speak clearly and loudly, maintaining a positive tone.

Listening

Being a good communicator also means being a goodlistener. You need to listen carefully to managers, other employees, and clients’ questions and concerns.

Written Communication

Written communication skills are also extremely important. Most administrative positions involve a lot of writing. Administrative employees are often asked to write a variety of documents, including memos for their employers, copy for the company website, or email messages for staff or clients. They must be able to write clearly, accurately, and professionally.

Other communication tasks and skills include:

• Answering Telephones
• Business Correspondence
• Calling Clients
• Client Relations
• Communication
• Correspondence
• Customer Service
• Directing Clients
• Editing
• Email
• Filing
• Greeting Clients
• Greeting Employees
• Greeting Visitors
• Interpersonal
• Listening
• Oral Communication
• Presentation
• Public Relations
• Public Speaking
• Receptionist
• Stenography
• Teamwork
• Writing
• Written Communication

Technology

Administrative employees have to operate a variety of technological tools, ranging fromthe Microsoft Office Suite to WordPress to online scheduling programs. They also have to use, and often maintain, office equipment such as faxes, scanners, and printers.

Here is a list of other tech knowledge or skills required for administrative employees:

• Computer
• Desktop Publishing
• Document Management
• Faxing
• Internet
• Maintaining Office Records
• Microsoft Office
• Office Equipment
• Ordering Office Supplies
• Order Processing
• Outlook
• QuickBooks
• Record Keeping
• Research
• Running Office Machines
• Software
• Spreadsheets
• Time & Billing
• Transcription
• Typing
• Typing from Dictation
• Videoconference Preparation
• Voicemail
• Word Processing

Organization

Administrative jobs of all kinds require strongorganizational skills to juggle many tasks. Administrative support staff have to manage various calendars, schedule appointments, and keep the office running efficiently.

Here are organizational skills needed for administrative jobs:

• Accuracy
• Appointment Setting
• Attention to Detail
• Billing
• Bookkeeping
• Calendar & Docketing
• Clerical
• Efficiency
• Filing
• Inventory
• Legal Familiarity
• Multi-Tasking
• Office Administration
• Office Management
• Sorting and Delivering Mail
• Time Management
• Travel Arrangements

Planning

Another important administrative skill is being able to plan and schedule things in advance. This might mean managing someone’s appointments, creating a plan for when employees are sick, or developing office procedural systems. An administrator needs to be able to plan ahead and prepare for any potential office issues.

Here are other planning-related skills administrative jobs require:

• Analytical
• Communicating
• Evaluating
• Event Coordination
• Goal Setting
• Implementing Actions
• Making Appointments
• Meeting Planning
• Monitoring Actions
• Organized
• Predicting
• Prioritizing

Problem-Solving

Problem-solvingandcritical thinking skills are important for any administrative position. Administrators are often the go-to person that staff and clients seek out for help with questions or problems. They must be able to hear a variety of problems and solve them using critical thinking.

Here are the problem-solving and critical thinking skills needed:

• Assertive
• Client Relations
• Collaborative
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Employee Relations
• Goal-Oriented
• Implementing
• Issue Resolution
• Mediation
• Office Coordination
• Research
• Supervising
• Team Working
• Training
• Troubleshooting

More Administrative Skills

Here are additional administrative skills for resumes, cover letters, job applications, and interviews. Required skills will vary based on the job for which you're applying, so also review our list ofskills listed by jobandtype of skill.

• Dynamic
• Equipment Handling
• Filing
• Flexibility
• Maintain Focus
• Organizational
• Patient
• Pleasant
• Professionalism
• Resourcefulness
• Self-Motivation
• Strategic Planning
• Take Initiative
• Written Communication

Review Resume and Cover Letter Samples

Review examples of a resume and cover letter for an administrative position.

• Administrative Assistant Cover Letter
• Administrative Assistant Resume