7 REASONS WHY AN ADMIN ROLE IS GREAT FOR GRADUATES
When most people are looking to start their careers – especially post-university – they want to go straight into the job of their dreams… or at least something remotely similar.
This means they spend months interviewing and looking for a job that suits their career needs, only to face rejection after rejection due to lack of experience.
If this is you, I can imagine you’re thinking, "But I have a great degree! Surely I am experienced enough to do the positions I’m applying for?" And you may very well be, but you also might not be – especially if you've never worked in a corporate environment before. You may know how to do the job theoretically, but an employer also wants to be confident that you’re equipped to handle all the practical (and sometimes stressful) parts of the working world.
But of course, it's understandable. Understandably, you feel like you’re going backwards after putting all that hard work into securing a more ‘glamourous’ position. Now you’re worried if you’ll ever get to reach your goals, but sometimes in order to get to where you want to be, you have to start small and work your way up.
And in fact, doing so will equip you with skills and opportunities that will help you to excel massively. One avenue to do so is to simply start in an administration or receptionist type of role.
Here are 7 reasons why an admin role is great for graduates.
1. IT INTRODUCES YOU TO AN OFFICE ENVIRONMENT
An admin role provides a firsthand experience of the corporate world in a far less daunting way than starting higher up. It will help you transition from an academic setting to a professional environment by showing you all things:
Office dynamics
Protocols
Culture
Progression
So when you do progress, you’ve already laid a solid foundation so you can focus on excelling at your job.
2. YOU CAN GET USED TO A WORKING SCHEDULE
This might sound like an unnecessary point, but for most graduates, going from flexible university schedules to 9-5 schedules Monday to Friday is a challenge.
If you take on a position like an administrator, you have room to adjust to life looking very different than before without the added pressure that senior positions hold.
YOU’LL LEARN HOW TO PROFESSIONALLY COMMUNICATE
In an admin-type role (call handler, receptionist, office clerk), you’ll likely interact with a range of professionals, from colleagues to senior executives to clients. You’ll learn to communicate in an efficient and timely manner, as well as learn about each person’s role in the company.
This exposure is incredible for confidence and competence in verbal and written communication, something that will always be essential
3. YOU’LL PROBABLY LEARN COMMON SOFTWARE
By working in an admin role, you’re bound to use a range of software and tools that are common in corporate settings. Whether that’s:
Excel
CRM systems
Project management tools
You’ll be well clued up by the time you move positions.
4. YOU’LL HAVE TIME TO LEARN HOW TO MANAGE WORKLOAD
If you want to be successful in any role, organising your day is number one.
Balancing multiple tasks and responsibilities is the very thing you’re guaranteed to learn as well as:
Prioritising tasks
Managing deadlines
Adapting to changing priorities
5. YOU’LL EXPLORE OTHER CAREER PATHS
Not everyone stays in the same career for life, or even pursue the career they had in mind when they entered university. And the great thing about working in different organisations is that you get the feel for different industries, as well as learn about different people’s positions in the company and whether it would be something you’d like to pursue.
And even if you don’t completely change your career trajectory, you may discover a similar position that you never knew you’d be interested in.
6. IT’S GREAT FOR NETWORKING
In an administration role, you’re naturally going to be communicating with professionals across various levels and departments.
And as a graduate, you can use those connections to
Expand your professional network
Seek mentorship
Get introduced to career opportunities (within and outside the company)
Learn about other people’s roles
7. GAIN TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS
It may feel like working in administration is sort of a waste of time. You’re doing back-to-back repetitive work and you might feel as though you’ll only start learning things once you leave that job. But roles like administrators, receptionists, office clerks and call handlers provide people with skills for life.
These skills will be vital in any job or industry you go to in the future. For instance:
Communication
Problem-solving
Time management
Organisation
Attention to detail
Interpersonal skills
… and so much more. These skills can’t be taught, but only learned through experience – giving you the ability to excel in diverse career paths.
- Written by Jess Addenbrooke
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