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Administrator skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Anna Frank,

Eileen Cyr Ed.D.

Some of the most important hard skills an administrator can possess include data entry, administering office procedures, powerpoint, and managing phone calls and email correspondence. It's important that administrators have a strong grasp on the technology that they will be using. They should also have a knowledge of powerpoint and a familiarity with office procedures.

When it comes to soft skills, administrators should, above all else, have excellent communication skills. Administrators are responsible for a great amount of communication between many different parties, so these skills are crucial.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical administrator skills. We ranked the top skills for administrators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.1% of administrator resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an administrator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 administrator skills for your resume and career

1. 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 administrators use customer service:

Developed solid customer relationships, resolving issues and answering questions promptly and thoroughly to ensure optimal customer service and support.
Proposed Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) solution that optimized customer service activities by availing on-screen display through telephony integration.

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 administrators use data entry:

Devised data entry criteria for relevant title documents preparatory to entry into TitleScan computerized title plant software system.
Provided additional help with various office related responsibilities when needed such as data entry or other computer projects.

3. Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting is the process of analyzing and fixing any kind of problem in a system or a machine. Troubleshooting is the detailed yet quick search in the system for the main source of an issue and solving it.

Here's how administrators use troubleshoot:

Helped troubleshoot issues related to PIA infrastructure * Supported all PeopleSoft infrastructure related activities/initiatives in the organization.
Coordinate support between administrators and end users to troubleshoot business objects administration issues.

4. 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 administrators use payroll:

Maintained HR and Payroll protocols including billing management and clinical operations; observed compliance with company rules and regulations.
Prepared financial analyses to determine feasibility of faculty recruitment and oversaw payroll activities for the Division.

5. Financial Reports

Here's how administrators use financial reports:

Create budget plan versus actual variance analysis and assists in preparing accurate monthly financial reports for upper management.
Conduct and administer fiscal operations, including preparing month end financial reports and yearly operational budgets.

6. Oversight

Having oversight of someone means to monitor a process or a situation. If someone has oversight of something, they are responsible for the completion of the project. Oversight is usually given to experts as they monitor their juniors or newbies as they go through a project.

Here's how administrators use oversight:

Coordinated all financial matters including budget development, purchasing, oversight of operations and the maintenance of appropriate accounting controls.
Contract management and monitoring oversight responsibility for 100+ medical specialty, hospital, assisted living and skilled nursing facility contracts.

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7. Linux

Linux is a Unix-like operating system. Just like Windows, Mac OS, and IOS, Linux is an operating system used by millions across the globe. Android itself is powered by the Linux operating system. Linux manages all the hardware resources that are associated with your computer. The software is famous because of the protection it grants from viruses, malware, and crashes. The Linux operating system is entirely free and is an open-source software meaning it can be altered by those equipped with the knowledge to code.

Here's how administrators use linux:

Installed and configured standalone 64bit-silent BPM-WebSphere Service Registry and Repository v8.0 successfully on Red Hat Linux.
Installed, configured and troubleshot 8 node supercomputer clusters using an experimental Rocks Linux distribution.

8. Human Resources

Human resources is a set of people in a business or a corporation that are designated to locate, interview, and recruit new employees into the company. They are also responsible to maintain the integrity of the employees and help them sort their problems out. They try to introduce and manage employee-benefit programs.

Here's how administrators use human resources:

Provided procurement of contractor support; general administrative services administration; facilities and property management; and human resources services.
Key responsibilities included payment procedures, inventory management, sales administration, bank reconciliation, and human resources.

9. PowerPoint

Here's how administrators use powerpoint:

Developed innovative PowerPoint presentation used by Dean of Academic and recruiter to market executive support programs to potential students.
Designed marketing tools including invitations, announcements, business proposals, and presentations using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

10. Patient Care

Patient care entails the diagnosis, recovery, and control of sickness as well as the maintenance of physical and emotional well-being through the use of healthcare providers' services. Patient care is described as services provided to patients by health practitioners or non-professionals under guidance.

Here's how administrators use patient care:

Managed Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing units with both licensed and certified Nursing personnel responsible for direct patient care delivery.
Established office policies concerning daily operations including cash management, supply ordering, contact lens dispensing and patient care delivery.

11. 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 administrators use administrative functions:

Established policies and procedures for all agency administrative functions and ensure that all are followed appropriately according to law.
Promoted to oversee legal and administrative functions for corporate Political Action Committee including relationship between company and national vendor.

12. Windows Server

Here's how administrators use windows server:

Created several virtual machines on the ESX server and installed different guest operating systems like Windows Server 2008, Windows XP.
Manage all Windows servers, workstations, PBX and related systems providing full-scale computer and information services to all departments.

13. Bed Facility

Here's how administrators use bed facility:

Managed acquisition transition and daily operations of an 80 bed facility in accordance with state and federal regulations.
Organized, directed and monitored all operations of a new 180-bed facility including staff supervision.

14. SQL Server

Here's how administrators use sql server:

Constructed sophisticated SQL Server Reporting Services reports.
Utilized tools such as SQL Server Management Studio 2008R2 to maintain user groups and queues in in-house and off-the-shelf software systems.

15. Unix

UNIX is a computer operating system that was first created in the 1960s and has been constantly updated since then. The operating system refers to the set of programs that enable a machine to function. It is a multi-user, multi-tasking device that works on computers, laptops, and servers. UNIX systems also have a graphical user interface (GUI), similar to Microsoft Windows, that makes it simple to use.

Here's how administrators use unix:

Developed Unix based script to integrate with Java Based Utility to run Backup of deactivated documents continuously.
Installed agents for databases on UNIX platforms and configured retention policy for optimal data recovery.

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What skills help Administrators find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on administrator resumes?

Dr. Anna Frank

Exercise Science, DePaul University

First, a degree from a highly respected university. Our graduates have been highly sought after. Experience working with a variety of individuals in a variety of settings is significant. Future professionals must then be committed to social justice, how are explicit in supporting the health and recreational needs of ALL individuals, not just those who can purchase a Peloton.

What administrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Eileen Cyr Ed.D.

Professor, Springfield College

The pandemic, the polarization of the election, and the Black Lives Matter movement have reinforced today's educators' need to understand how to create a safe learning environment and build a school community. I would encourage students in a gap year to educate themselves on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Family and Community Engagement (FACE). This can be accomplished via independent research, participation in MOOCs, and service projects.

What type of skills will young administrators need?

Veronica Cochran

CEO, International Association of Administrative Professionals

Those entering the administrative profession in the upcoming years will find it beneficial to understand what it means to be a strategic partner to their direct manager/supervisor, department, and organization at-large. As strategic partners, their role will extend beyond being a support person. It will involve strategically aligning oneself to fulfilling the organization's mission and vision while achieving business outcomes and success. The following skills will optimize both professional and organizational effectiveness:

1. Time management and organization
2. High EQ and interpersonal communication
3. Leadership effectiveness and accountability
4. Relationship management - (high inclusion capacity and high collaboration)
5. Problem-solving and innovation
6. Strategic planning and adaptability

Do you want to know more?

List of administrator skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an administrator resume and required skills for an administrator to have include:

Customer Service
Data Entry
Troubleshoot
Payroll
Financial Reports
Oversight
Linux
Human Resources
PowerPoint
Patient Care
Administrative Functions
Windows Server
Bed Facility
SQL Server
Unix
SCCM
SharePoint

Administrative Tasks
Office Equipment
Background Checks
Federal Regulations
Financial Management
Medicaid
QA
CMS
HIPAA
HTML
VMware
LDAP
Jenkins
Bitbucket
Travel Arrangements
Regulatory Compliance
DNS

State Regulations
XML
Expense Reports
Mobile Device Management
Financial Statements
Inventory Control
Troubleshooting Assistance
Various Management
PeopleSoft
SNF
Amazon Web Services
Office Operations
Healthcare Administration
IIS
A/R

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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