OFFICE ADMINISTRATION IN CANADA: CAREERS, ROLES, AND HOW TO GET STARTED

When you enter any office for official purposes, you may find many workers working on laptops/desktop screens. These are office administrators who use their skills and abilities to ensure smooth operations at the office and smooth communication.

Office administrators are the most essential personnel at the organization as they offer immense support to the employees working there. They perform all the clerical duties to ensure that all the functions of the organization work smoothly and without any hurdles incurred.

If you also wish to be a part of the team of heroes in any office, then knowing what office administrators do and how to become one can help you decide if this career path is the right one for you.

For you to be at ease, we have curated this blog post that includes all the essentials you need to know to become an office administrator. We have outlined:

• Canadian job market for Office Administrators
• The career pathways
• Role and responsibilities of an office administrator
• Job titles you can apply for
• Steps to become one
• Office administration courses
• Benefits of taking the course

So, without any further ado, let’s have a look at what office administrators actually are!

Who are Office Administrators?

Understanding “What is an office administrator?” can help you decide if this career path is right for you.

Office administration is basically the managerial tasks associated with an organization’s daily operations. These duties may include record-keeping, financial planning, billing, physical distribution, and logistics. While an office administrator is a professional who carries out these managerial responsibilities.

Thus, depending on the general operating structure of the firm and the complexity of operations, the office administrator’s role may require managing a wide range of duties or focusing on a few essential activities.

Canadian Job Market for Office Administrators

In various firms and organizations, office administration is known for its crucial contribution to day-to-day work for various reasons.

The first and foremost reason is that the roles and responsibilities of an office administrator are essential for seamless operations in the organization. The range of duties may vary from very basic clerical tasks to organizing an efficient work system and environment.

Companies are looking for individuals with specialized knowledge and certifications. The job positions are open for entry-level as well. Job prospects are higher in provinces such as Ontario.

Moreover, they are called the backbone of a business since the office administration staff contributes significantly towards making the workplace effective and productive and avoids any disturbances in the workflow.

For various such reasons, the demand for office administrators is very high. But what are the duties office administrators have to perform? Let’s get the answer to this most-asked question.

Roles and Responsibilities of Office Administrators

With the great demand for office administrators, we have mentioned some of the main roles and responsibilities that administrative officers perform:

Overall Functioning of the Firm:

The most crucial duty is to oversee and coordinate office administrative procedures and review, evaluate, and implement new procedures.

Effective Communication:

The office administration staff is responsible for effective communication and coordination with different departments within an organization.

Initial Point of Contact:

Additionally, the office administrators are the first persons to communicate with the visitors or business clients. Therefore, they are hired after careful consideration.

Mediate Work:

The function includes establishing work goals, delegating tasks to office support workers, and ensuring deadlines and processes are followed.  They may also be responsible for supervising records management technicians and other workers.

Legal Administration:

In order to process requests under government access to information and privacy laws, office administrators oversee policies and procedures pertaining to record release.

Coordination among Different Departments:

Moreover, the office administration team supervises and plans office services such as accommodations, relocations, equipment, supplies, forms, asset disposal, parking, maintenance, and security.

Financial Assistance:

Other responsibilities include assisting with the formulation of an operating budget and maintaining inventory and budgetary controls.

Data Entry Operations:

Last but not least, administrative officers assemble data and prepare periodic and special reports and manuals.

The list of tasks performed by office administrators is not just limited to this. They perform varied functions and behave like a heart pumping smooth functioning in the organization.

Career Pathways in Office Administration

As discussed in the above section, the gist of roles and responsibilities office administration staff serve to the organization, we have clubbed the job prospects with specific duties. This will make it easier for you to choose a career pathway that best suits your skills.

Here are a few career options individuals can opt for in-office administration:

1. Office Administrative Assistant: The assistant manages office operations, schedules, and correspondence.
2. Receptionist: This person handles front-desk duties, greets visitors, and manages phone calls.
3. Office Manager: The manager oversees office operations, supervises staff, and ensures efficiency.
4. Human Resources Assistant: The job is to assist with HR functions like employee records, recruitment, and training coordination.
5. Health Care Administration Officer: The individual works in clinics, hospitals, or healthcare facilities, managing patient records, scheduling, and insurance billing.
6. Administrative Support: Workers provide clerical and organizational support to teams or executives.
7. Accounting and Payroll Administrator: The administrator manages employee payroll, accounts payable/receivable, and financial records.
8. Executive Office Assistant: The person provides high-level administrative support to executives, including scheduling, correspondence, and travel arrangements.

These are just a few in the long list of career opportunities available to individuals who wish to work in office administration.

Finding a job is now made easy for you with the list of job titles you can search and apply for! Let’s move further to know more about it.

Job Titles You Can Apply For

With great knowledge and certification, you can get a good-paying job in office administration in Canada. There are various job opportunities and career pathways for you after completing your studies.

A few of them are:

1. Office Assistant
2. Receptionist
3. Secretary
4. Administrative Manager
5. Corporation Manager
6. Finance Officer
7. Education Manager
8. Government services Executive
9. Businesses Personnel in the Private or Public Sector
10. Administrative Officer
11. Administrative Services Coordinator
12. Office Manager
13. Office Services Coordinator
14. Planning Officer
15. Records Analyst

These are some of the well-paid organizational and managerial jobs for students after completing their studies.

Having known the demands, roles and responsibilities, and career prospects of office administration, let us now walk through the process of becoming one.

How to Become an Office Administrator

Finding jobs in office administration is a simple process but with all the skills and knowledge required. The 4-step approach is all you need to become a successful administrator. The process includes:

Step 1: Understand the Job Description

To choose any career path, you first need to understand the demands the job wants you to fulfill. There are a number of job opportunities from which you can select. Understand the job description to decide which career path you want to take.

The choice can also be made if you want to work in a small company or a big firm. The job description will help you choose the job position that aligns best with your interests and talents.

Step 2: Know the Responsibilities and Skills Required

Once you have chosen the position you want to work for, assure it by knowing the responsibilities you will have to undertake. For your ease, we have already mentioned some of them in the earlier sections.

Along with the responsibilities, you must have all the skills to stand out in the crowd to show your dedication and talent. Some of the common skills required to work in office administration are listed below:

• Planning and scheduling skills
• MS Office skills
• Time-management skills
• Leadership skills
• Oral and Verbal communication skills

Step 3: Enroll in Office Administration Courses

Getting certified in office administration can improve your employability and increase your earning potential. You can take a diploma course in office administration to enhance your skills.

While certification may not be mandatory, taking a voluntary certification can help you become a more desirable candidate.

Step 4: Prepare Your Resume and Apply for Jobs

With all the polished skills and the diploma certificate, you can make your resume exceptional. Highlight the office administrator courses’ details and the skills to grab the attention of the employers.

Once you have updated your resume, start applying for jobs in your region. Apply for the jobs that match your skill set and accomplish your goal.

With this strategy, you are all set to get your dream job. But you might be wondering where you can complete office administration courses. Don’t worry, we have a solution for this too! In the next sections of this blog, we have mentioned all the details of the course.

Office Administration Courses

Office administration is a big and ever-growing stream, which facilitates graduated students to pursue further career opportunities easily. Office administration courses assist students in gaining knowledge and developing skills.

BITTS International Career College is one among many that provides you with a high level of administrative skills in office management. BITTS College is one of the prestigious career colleges, providing a diploma course in Office Administration.

BITTS International Career College acquires graduates with a vast area of knowledge and skills to succeed in today’s office administrative environment, polishing communication and human relations techniques.

Course Description

The Office Administration Diploma at BITTS International Career College is a 6-month program designed for domestic students who want to develop essential administrative skills for today’s workplaces.

This office administration course covers:

• Advanced Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access)
• Business Communication and Customer Service Skills
• Administrative procedures and Professional skills
• Accounting & Financial Assistance for Office Settings
• Human Resource Administration & Workplace Ethics

Why Choose an Office Administration Course

An office administration course in Canada opens many doors for individuals. The benefits of taking this course with BITTS International Career College are discussed below.

Kickstart your Career: Office administration is a fast-growing field with increasing demand.When it comes to entering the workforce, you must have the required skills to differentiate yourself from the huge crowd of people also applying for that job. With Office Administration Courses, you are all set to shine bright.

Flexibility: The college offers part-time and full-time classes for students. Students can also take classes on the weekends. The flexible timetable for the classes makes it easier for students to cooperate with the course as well as follow other commitments.

Broad Skill Set: Office Administration training provides technical and transferable skills necessary for success within the industry like negotiating and approving contracts/agreements.

Experienced Instructors: Both domestic and international students are trained by industry-experienced instructors in a conducive environment that meets international standards and manages all general office activities.

Final Thoughts

Office administration is very important in the facilitation of smooth operations in any organization. Office administrators are the backbone of businesses, providing essential support to employees and contributing to overall efficiency.

By acquiring the right skills and certifications—such as an Office Administration Diploma—you can position yourself for success in this dynamic field. At BITTS International Career College, you can gain hands-on experience and industry-relevant training that will set you apart in the job market.

Ready to start your career in office administration? Enroll today and take the first step toward a rewarding profession in Canada! Contact BITTS International Career College at +1 (866) 399-2055 or email admissions@bitts.college for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is there a demand for office administrators in Canada?

Yes, there is a high demand for office administrators in Canada. There are many chances to get a job in many industries or firms. One who has a graduate-level diploma can get a job opportunity in Canada swimmingly.

2. What is the salary of an office administrator in Canada?

Office administrator in Canada is one of the high demanded job streams. It offers an average wage rate of $20-$30 per hour (depending upon the company).

3. What is the qualification required to apply for an office administration job?

To become an office administrator, you just need an Ontario High School Diploma or equivalent.

4. How do I gain skills to be an office administrator?

To gain all the knowledge and skills to be an office administrator, enroll in the BITTS International Career College course. You can take in-person classes which are held at the Mississauga campus.

Why should you choose BITTS International Career College?

BITTS International Career College imparts quality education towards achieving immense success in career courses chosen by students. The course curriculums are created by industry specialists after understanding job market trends. The College has various learning modes, such as on-campus and online, which provide the students with flexibility for learning.