What You'll Do

  • Direct or coordinate the supportive services department of a business, agency, or organization.
  • Set goals and deadlines for the department.
  • Prepare and review operational reports and schedules to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
  • Analyze internal processes and recommend and implement procedural or policy changes to improve operations, such as supply changes or the disposal of records.
  • Acquire, distribute and store supplies.
  • Plan, administer, and control budgets for contracts, equipment, and supplies.
  • Hire and terminate clerical and administrative personnel.
  • Conduct classes to teach procedures to staff.
  • Communicate with and provide guidance for external vendors and service providers to ensure the organization, department, or work unit's business needs are met.
  • Develop operational standards and procedures for the work unit or department.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0/5
Active Listening 4.0/5
Time Management 4.0/5
Speaking 3.88/5
Writing 3.75/5
Critical Thinking 3.75/5
Coordination 3.75/5
Negotiation 3.62/5
Monitoring 3.38/5
Management of Personnel Resources 3.38/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.25/5
Service Orientation 3.25/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.

Common styles

Integrity, Dependability, Self-Control, Stress Tolerance, Attention to Detail

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Written Expression 3.88/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.62/5
Near Vision 3.62/5
Speech Recognition 3.62/5
Speech Clarity 3.62/5

Technologies & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Adobe PageMaker ADP Enterprise HR ADP Workforce Now Atlassian JIRA Autodesk AutoCAD Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge Database software Delphi Technology Email software FileMaker Pro Fund accounting software Google Docs Google Drive GroupMe Human resource management software HRMS IBM Notes IBM Power Systems software IBM SPSS Statistics Intuit QuickBooks

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Integrity (High importance: 4.73/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.69/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 4.53/5)
  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.44/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.34/5)

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How to Become One

This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Administration Director Administrative Coordinator Administrative Director Administrative Manager Administrative Officer Administrative Services Manager Administrator Business Administrator Business Coordinator Business Manager Business Office Director Business Office Manager Business Unit Manager Operations Administrator Records and Information Manager Records Management Director Service Director