The benefits of admin staff

The importance of admin and support staff in the office should not be overlooked

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Robert Half

Today’s office support staff are often tasked with supporting busy marketing and sales teams, managing customer service and any potential complaints and even overseeing social media accounts on some occasions. Without this foundation, things could quickly fall apart, making it impossible for the organisation to function as designed.

In smaller businesses, there may just be a couple of staff, with a broad administrative brief, while, in larger businesses, the office team could comprise a large group of employees, each with their own distinct role.

Support staff are, typically, bright and resourceful individuals, capable of taking on a broad range of tasks and delivering a high level of performance. Employers are increasingly recognising the potential of their office support staff by giving them a wider brief and increased responsibility.

What should you look for when hiring administrative staff?

Employers are usually looking for admin professionals with interpersonal skills and a real customer focus. Office support staff are taking on more external duties – speaking to clients in person or being the ‘face of the company’ over the ‘phone.

Those who are comfortable using Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint are always in strong demand; an understanding of social media is also seen as a positive attribute.

Many organisations are eager to boost their social media – on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram – and admin staff may be involved in this process. Depending on the duties assumed by the IT and marketing teams, support workers could find themselves monitoring social media feeds and responding to customer feedback via these channels.

In order to thrive, office support staff need to be effective multi-taskers, so preferred candidates will have excellent organisational and time management skills, flexibility and a positive attitude.

Employers also still recognise the value of solid secretarial skills. Strong executive and personal assistance capabilities remain paramount, with organisations looking for expertise in diary management, minute-taking, audio and copy typing, data entry and other related duties.

How much should admin staff earn?

Employers recognise the value of appointing skilled administrative professionals and incentivising them to stay with their organisation long-term. The salaries paid to office support staff is increasing – in order to secure the services and loyalty of admin members, many employers are offering more attractive remuneration packages.

In terms of senior support staff, professionals working as executive assistants, personal assistants and office managers can all expect to command higher salaries.