Office administration is an
essential skill to learn for the workplace. The office administrator is a vital
part of the office team, keeping supplies and schedules alike organized and
supporting the entire team on their projects. If you’re thinking about
enrolling in an office administration program, here are a few of the components
you should expect to find in any program.
1. Business Lectures and Professional
Conduct
To properly prepare you for
the workplace, schools will teach you the basics of business theory and
professionalism. The most important part of your course is support skills. You
need to be able to support your colleagues in whatever they’re doing to help
the company as a whole achieve its goals. The key to this is dealing with
people who are working on different jobs.
Other skills you should
expect to learn include computer software skills and communication skills in
writing, telephone etiquette, and face-to-face conversation.
Every course differs
slightly. Program lengths will vary, but as a general rule, they usually range
between 6-14 months of full-time, uninterrupted study. This shorter time frame
helps students get out of school faster to begin applying their skills in the
real world.
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2. Relevant Skills for the Workplace
Office administration
programs focus strongly on skills training, including a variety of software
programs. As outcome-oriented programs, students are also prepared to take
certain certification exams, such as for accounting software and spreadsheets.
Support skills like communication and professionalism are reinforced throughout
the program.
A good course will show you
exactly what you can expect to experience on the job. They’ll teach you how to
apply your newfound skills to a real office environment. This makes the
transition from the classroom to the workplace smooth and fast for new
graduates.
3. Certification and Degrees
An office administration degree or relevant certification will never
guarantee you a job, but having them is a great way to show a potential
employer you have the skills to take the challenges of office administration.
In general, employers view certification favorably when filling positions
because it objectively demonstrates that applicants possess the skills that
they are claiming to have.
4. Professional, Indutry-Experienced
Instructors
You want to be trained by the
very best. The people teaching you shouldn’t just be teachers who have learned
how to teach a course. They should have some real world experience in their
field. Students in these programs will benefit from the experience of business
professionals who will help guide their pupils. They can also serve as mentors
while students hunt for jobs and encounter problems in their new line of work.
About the Author:
Michelle Patterson is an office administrator
from Tennessee and a holder of an office administration degree. She went to MTI
College and she believes the right training has a
direct influence on your ability to get a job and flourish in your new
profession as an office administrator. Other topics that she writes on include alternative energy,
healthy living, home design, career advancement, finance, travel, SEO marketing
and website content.
