What does an administrative support do?
Administrative support specialists provide different types of governmental assistance. They carry out varied clerical duties in almost all industries. Most of these duties revolve around supervising and distributing information within an organization. This typically includes taking memos, answering phone calls, and managing, storing, and organizing files. They are also responsible for receiving and sending correspondence and greeting customers and clients. Some administrative support may be required to have vast professional knowledge as their duties are more specialized than the others.
Administrative support responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real administrative support resumes:
- Manage company finances using QuickBooks software, including monitoring the operating budget and collecting on unpaid invoices.
- Interview veterans to determine issues/concerns and recommend services.
- Mail VA benefits correspondence to veterans and various organizations.
- Prepare payroll packages for distribution and delivery, including collating and packing of documents.
- Research and maintain reference library with ADAPCP in support of prevention and rehabilitation efforts.
- Develop SharePoint training of project personal and create operating procedures, training documents and briefings.
- Experience working with the dynamics and relationships unique to substance abuse and with alcoholism rehabilitation principles.
- Compose and proof final presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint for monthly updates which are provided to high-level officials.
- Provide professional service in payroll, bookkeeping, office management, property management, administrative support, and computer database work
- Handle operational memos and classify documents, maintain conference room and present weekly PowerPoint presentations pertaining to operational and command objectives.
- Process inbound and outbound mail using USPS, FedEx and other mail services.
- Maintain department attendance via PeopleSoft system.
- Monitor leave records for assign district personnel using PeopleSoft program software.
- Serve administrative subpoenas on businesses to obtain data for case information.
Administrative support skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Administrative Supports are proficient in Customer Service, Administrative Tasks, and Data Entry. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Writing skills, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Administrative Supports that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 18%
Nurtured culturally appropriate interactions and connections with team, customer-owners, and the community with an emphasis on exceptional customer service.
- Administrative Tasks, 8%
Assist with operational administrative tasks including processing supply orders, submitting work orders and maintaining phone and associate information lists.
- Data Entry, 6%
Executed data entry; managed requisition database for computer hardware and software tracking, ensuring adequate inventory throughout the organization.
- Payroll, 6%
Supervised four office personnel which included submitting performance evaluations to management, payroll and coaching.
- Phone Calls, 6%
Receive and directs all incoming patient telephone calls to the appropriate individual for further assistance including generating a telephone consult.
- Patients, 5%
Registered new patients and updated existing patient's demographics by collecting patient detailed patient's information including personal and financial information.
Most administrative supports use their skills in "customer service," "administrative tasks," and "data entry" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential administrative support responsibilities here:
Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for an administrative support to carry out their responsibilities is interpersonal skills. This skill is important for the role because "secretaries and administrative assistants interact with clients, customers, or staff." Additionally, an administrative support resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "excelled at interpersonal communication as a result of answering and transferring phone calls, and responding to customer inquiries via e-mail. "
Writing skills. Many administrative support duties rely on writing skills. "secretaries and administrative assistants write memos and emails when communicating with managers, employees, and customers," so an administrative support will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways administrative support responsibilities rely on writing skills: "provide technical writing and designated sharepoint functions in support of afs-400 requirements for faa orders, and branch communication. "
Organizational skills. administrative supports are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to administrative support responsibilities, because "secretaries and administrative assistants keep files, folders, and schedules in order so that an office runs efficiently." An administrative support resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "maintained team distribution lists and members, sharepoint site accesses and organizational charts. "
The three companies that hire the most administrative supports are:
- Les Schwab Tire Centers427 administrative supports jobs
- Nationwide Children's Hospital74 administrative supports jobs
- Realogy
43 administrative supports jobs
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Compare different administrative supports
Administrative support vs. Support associate
The primary role of sales support associates is to help sales staff and customers during the sales process. A sales support associate also performs other tasks that include maintaining positive customer relations, responding to customers' requests for quotes, information, and specifications, and, initiating contact with prospective customers. They are also responsible for coordinating proposals, sales literature production, and presentations. Requirements for this position include a high school diploma or general education development, administrative and communication skills, and organizational skills.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between administrative supports and support associate. For instance, administrative support responsibilities require skills such as "payroll," "human resources," "administrative functions," and "database management." Whereas a support associate is skilled in "sales floor," "pos," "cleanliness," and "stockroom organization." This is part of what separates the two careers.
On average, support associates reach similar levels of education than administrative supports. Support associates are 1.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Administrative support vs. Support clerk
A support clerk is primarily in charge of performing administrative support tasks in an office, making the daily workflow easier. Their responsibilities typically include preparing and processing documentation, answering and forwarding calls, handling correspondence, disseminating and organizing files, and running errands as needed. They may also update databases, maintaining records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a support clerk, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating to ensure efficient and smooth workplace operations.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that administrative support responsibilities requires skills like "administrative tasks," "payroll," "phone calls," and "excellent organizational." But a support clerk might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "medical terminology," "patient care," "financial transactions," and "credit card."
Support clerks may earn a lower salary than administrative supports, but support clerks earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $35,567. On the other hand, administrative supports receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,623.support clerks earn similar levels of education than administrative supports in general. They're 3.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Administrative support vs. Support
A support employee is responsible for assisting the business operations and responding to customers' inquiries and concerns regarding its goods and services. Support logs all customers' interaction and escalates potential complaints to the appropriate department. They also help with implementing strategic procedures to improve operations and reach maximum productivity. A support employee must have excellent communication and customer service skills, ensuring clients' satisfaction with the services and maintain good feedback to boost the company's brand, attract more clients, and increase revenues.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an administrative support is likely to be skilled in "administrative tasks," "phone calls," "excellent organizational," and "human resources," while a typical support is skilled in "cash management," "customer satisfaction," "hr," and "ladders."
Supports earn the highest salary when working in the professional industry, where they receive an average salary of $50,563. Comparatively, administrative supports have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $40,623.supports typically earn similar educational levels compared to administrative supports. Specifically, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Administrative support vs. Executive administrator
An executive administrator is responsible for assisting the senior management staff in planning strategies and analyzing business decisions to achieve the company's goals and objectives. Executive administrators schedule meetings and handle appointments, as well as helping with the implementation of training and programs for the employees to reach their maximum operational potential and increase productivity to meet projects' demands and ensure the highest customer satisfaction. They must have exceptional time-management and organizational skills, especially on performing administrative and clerical duties as needed, as well as excellent communication skills to respond to clients' inquiries, concerns, and requests.
Types of administrative support
Updated January 8, 2025
