Administrative workers play an integral role in the success of any business because these workers are in charge of a lot of the logistics associated with running a company. Administrative assistants usually support other staff members, including executives, while professionals like office administrators may take on a broader role with more responsibility. Although there are different kinds of administrative professionals, all take care of organizational tasks and many also answer phones, arrange meetings, handle travel arrangements and make life easier for other workers in your organization.
Administrative workers need certain skills to succeed, and your company should think carefully about qualification requirements when recruiting administrative professionals. Obviously, whoever is hired should have hard skills like the ability to use (or learn to use) the software and phone system in your organization. In addition to these hard skills, it is also a good idea to be on the lookout for a candidate with important soft skills, including:
- A positive attitude: Administrative professionals can influence the mood of a whole office as they interact with other workers. You want someone who is excited about the job, motivated to succeed and likely to inspire others to take a more positive view of the work they are doing.
- Active listening skills: Far too many people simply wait for their turn to talk or half-listen with their mind elsewhere when someone is speaking to them. Administrative professionals need to support other office members and may also need to interact with customers. An admin needs to have strong listening skills to know how to meet the needs of other staff members and clients.
- Adaptability: Rapid changes can occur in schedules, and emergencies may need to be addressed by administrative professionals. You need someone who can go with the flow, not a person who is unable to cope with change.
- Teamwork skills: Administrative professionals may need to work closely with other staff members to accomplish essential support tasks. Admins should be team players who can pull their weight and work well with others.
These are just a few of the many soft skills to be on the lookout for when hiring administrative professionals for your business. High Profile helps companies in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) find qualified administrative professionals who have both the soft and hard skills necessary for success. To find out how a staffing company can assist job seekers in finding a good administrative job, give us a call at 972-991-7900 or contact us online today.