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Administrative support staff skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.,

Anne McConnell Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical administrative support staff skills. We ranked the top skills for administrative support staff based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 19.5% of administrative support staff resumes contained excellent interpersonal as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an administrative support staff needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 administrative support staff skills for your resume and career

1. Excellent Interpersonal

Here's how administrative support staff use excellent interpersonal:

Maintain excellent interpersonal relationships with all Babcock Center staff.

2. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how administrative support staff use data entry:

Provided temporary office services to area business, including reception, general office duties and data entry
Job Title- Provider Relations Phone and Administrative Support Representative with data entry.

3. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how administrative support staff use customer service:

Interpreted human resources policies and procedures to upper management to include performance as a customer service representative.
Manage bar operations and administration including scheduling, reports, inventory and customer service.

4. Word Processing

Here's how administrative support staff use word processing:

Perform administrative duties utilizing manual and automated information systems, Marine Corps standard word processing, and database software packages.
Drafted correspondences and performed word processing functions; created electronic and manual file plans ensuring compliance with government regulations and protocol.

5. Scheduling Appointments

Scheduling appointments is the practice of finding a free slot with the person(s) you want to meet. The process of scheduling appointments involves finding mutually free time, negotiating follow-ups, sending reminders, and creating new appointments. Scheduling appointments is important to ensure that the timings of consecutive meetings do not clash with each other.

Here's how administrative support staff use scheduling appointments:

Provide support to clinicians by; scheduling appointments, scanning & uploading documents to client charts and translating for med providers.
Performed receptionist duties including answering the phone, scheduling appointments, and managing office traffic flow.

6. Personnel Data

Here's how administrative support staff use personnel data:

Supervised one Personnel Specialist and ensured changes, inquiries, and requests were completed through the military personnel data system.
Verified and updated information for military personnel in the military personnel data system (MilPDS) records.

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7. Front Desk

Here's how administrative support staff use front desk:

Generate front desk reports for the following day, to include doctor's schedules.
Organized and typed new information reference cards for the front desk.

8. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how administrative support staff use payroll:

Produced copies of faculty contracts and distributed to 6 schools, human resources, academic affairs, and payroll.
Audited inspection payroll; Wrote & sent official accident reports; Budgeted for job site office supplies.

9. Administrative Functions

Administrative Functions all revolve around planning and managing business operations. Administrators engage in the planning and execution of different business objectives, implementing workplace policies, and organizing resources efficiently. Every action that is a step towards the business's goals is covered by Administrative Functions.

Here's how administrative support staff use administrative functions:

Manage administrative functions within department to include assisting HR Manager in administration processes.
Established office filing plan; significantly enhanced unit administrative functions and personnel actions.

10. Office Equipment

Here's how administrative support staff use office equipment:

Provided administrative and technical support, maintaining full responsibility of all office equipment.
Operate basic office equipment; operate manual and electrical mailing equipment.

11. Logistics

Logistics is a complete organization and implementation of a problem. Logistics are often considered in a complex business operation, as some works need detailed plannings. Logistics are also used in military action.

Here's how administrative support staff use logistics:

Assisted with coordination and facilitation of meeting logistics for all classes and meetings held for international management education and consulting firm.
Coordinated ground logistics for 400+ CWID participants including security clearance issues, mail, classroom instruction and meals.

12. Travel Arrangements

Here's how administrative support staff use travel arrangements:

Distributed inter-office correspondence and scheduled travel arrangements for CEO and Corporate VIPs.
Coordinated travel arrangements, create and maintained databases for departmental.

13. Performance Reports

Here's how administrative support staff use performance reports:

Managed unit's enlisted and officer performance reports and awards/decorations programs.
Conducted proper coordination of performance reports, awards and decorations.

14. Office Operations

Here's how administrative support staff use office operations:

Implemented a new and effective filing system, which improved the general office operations by 90%.
Directed incoming communications and oversaw office operations

15. Personnel Actions

A personnel action means any action taken which affects compensation, appointment, promotion, transfer, assignment, reassignment, reinstatement, evaluation of performance, layoff, dismissal, discipline, commendations, or any other action that affects the status of employment, etc. For example organizational reassignment, hiring an employee, or an employee leaving the company, are represented by separate personnel actions.

Here's how administrative support staff use personnel actions:

Established, maintained and monitored internal administrative procedures to ensure the successful completion of Quality Force programs and unit personnel actions.
Provided administrative oversight and management of personnel actions as they are processed.

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What skills help Administrative Support Staff find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on administrative support staff resumes?

Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.

Department Chair and Associate Professor of English, Dixie State University

Writing skills have always been valued by employers, but anything that shows an ability to write, produce, or communicate in digital spaces will stand out. While employers are becoming increasingly comfortable having employees work and collaborate digitally (from home or elsewhere), they may still be reluctant to train employees how to do that. They want to see evidence that applicants will know how to use technology and stay productive without extensive training and without a supervisor having to stand behind them. That isn't to say training won't take place, but employers want to use their valuable time and resources training employees on their own systems, policies, and procedures; they don't want to have to show new-hires how to use Zoom, how to format a memo, how to write an email, or how to co-edit a document using OneDrive.

What administrative support staff skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Anne McConnell Ph.D.

Professor, West Virginia State University

I would encourage someone taking a gap year to branch out, seeking work experiences and employment situations that expose them to new skills and allow them to interact with a diverse set of people. Sometimes we find ourselves in a bubble-communicating with the same people, who tend to share the same ideas-and a gap year provides the opportunity to extend beyond that. Employers value employees who have open, flexible minds, and seeking out experiences that demonstrate that openness can be helpful.

What type of skills will young administrative support staffs need?

Angela Robbins Ph.D.

Associate Professor of History, Meredith College

History majors are in high demand in government, business, and non-profits because of the knowledge and skills they gain in the classroom. History majors, in particular, are especially good at contextualizing-that is, explaining how an event or discussion fits within the big picture. This includes how things that are going on today-such as the Capitol riot on January 6-connects to the Constitution, the balance of powers, the way democracy works, and related issues such as the implications of propaganda and misinformation. This goes well beyond merely expressing an opinion or debating two sides of an issue. Students of history do their research and practice skills of analysis, collecting and scrutinizing evidence rather than taking something at face value or only relying on a single source. We take sources apart to evaluate the credentials of their creators and search for bias. We examine sources from various creators so we take into account multiple experiences and points of view. Then we synthesize-or bring the sources together-in order to communicate what it all means. These skills are desired by employers and translate well into many careers and work environments. Seeking good evidence to answer questions and solve problems, whether that's in the classroom today or working with clients later, is a skill that employers highly value.

Students are practicing other skills that are necessary to success in the workplace, whether that will be in person or online. Time management, seeing a project through from start to finish, hosting and contributing to meetings, working on a team-whether it's two people or ten-and creating appropriate types of presentations to communicate ideas are all things our students can tell their employers they will come in with so they can hit the ground running. In addition, our majors develop self-awareness, empathy, and an appreciation of diverse opinions and approaches to problems through investigation of the life experiences of historical figures and their classroom discussions with classmates. Certainly, every employer wants you to learn the specifics within their sector, but these skills are fairly universal and will benefit majors as they move from the classroom to career.

What technical skills for an administrative support staff stand out to employers?

Christi Patton Luks

Professor (NTT) and Associate Chair for Academic Affairs, Missouri University of Science & Technology

I've always felt that the most important thing we teach our students is problem-solving skills. The students who can readily relate the theory to their practical experience to develop new solutions are the most valuable. Engineering students that are active on design teams or took advantage of internships and co-ops are in great position for this.

What soft skills should all administrative support staffs possess?

Brandy Bailey

Career Coach, Ohio University - Lancaster Campus

Soft skills may vary depending on the employer, industry, and personal opinions. My biggest ones are communication skills, adaptability, self-awareness, teamwork, problem-solving, intercultural competency, creativity or innovation, and time management.

Do you want to know more?

List of administrative support staff skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an administrative support staff resume and required skills for an administrative support staff to have include:

Excellent Interpersonal
Data Entry
Customer Service
Word Processing
Scheduling Appointments
Personnel Data
Front Desk
Payroll
Administrative Functions
Office Equipment
Logistics
Travel Arrangements

Performance Reports
Office Operations
Personnel Actions
PowerPoint
Administrative Tasks
Telephone Calls
SharePoint
Expense Reports
Computer System
HR
HIPAA
Personnel Programs

Administrative Processes
Direct Support
Multi-Line Phone System
Client Charts
DOD
Defense Travel System
Personnel Support
DTS
Investigation Reports
Fax Machines
Drug Demand
Travel Card

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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