In the Office Of The Future 2020, office administrators will be in great demand if they can combine a sophisticated skill set encompassing technology, human resources and business processes, coupled with entrepreneurial flare. These are the findings revealed by OfficeTeam, the administrative recruitment specialists who carried out research into how the working world could change by 2020.
New technology will transform the workplace and with this transformation, the role of administrative professionals will continue to evolve. Following the changes in the role that began within the last 20 years as secretaries turned into administrative professionals, careers within this field will become increasingly complex and specialised. The research reveals that many positions will require sophisticated skill sets and experience in specific areas such as technology, human resources and business processes.
Key trends that administrative professionals can expect:
*Entrepreneurial approach - Administrative professionals will take an increasingly entrepreneurial approach to their jobs and careers. Those most successful will possess knowledge of business management principles, technical aptitude, sophisticated interpersonal skills (or emotional intelligence) and an almost intuitive understanding of the needs of an organisation. As more functions become automated, the importance of using interpersonal skills to anticipate needs, respond to concerns and provide a human touch that computers lack will be paramount.
*New skill sets and responsibilities - To advance their careers, administrative professionals will pursue business-focused training that emphasises negotiation, delegation, budgeting, supervision and planning skills. Other useful knowledge areas include library science, for organising and storing text and data used by groups; desktop publishing, for the creation of newsletters, presentation materials and other corporate documents; and electronic communications, an emerging field concerned with ensuring the security and integrity of electronically transmitted information.
*Specialised roles - The administrative professional will be a specialist rather than a generalist, with job descriptions focusing on the technical and managerial aspects of day-to-day business operations.
*Demonstrated experience - Administrative professionals will need to demonstrate to potential employers concrete evidence of specialised skills and abilities, such as technical expertise and industry experience.
Sam Lumb, UK regional manager for OfficeTeam commented: The emerging role of the office administrator will make a big difference to how business will perform in 2020. If we take the impact the internet has had over the past 10 years and apply it to the future then it makes sense that PAís who embrace new technology and show entrepreneurial flare will reap massive rewards in their jobs and careers. This, in turn, will benefit their employers.
New Administrative Roles
Given the multi-faceted roles administrative professionals will play in the next decade, the current job title, administrative assistant, may not be sufficient to convey the scope and depth of their skills and expertise. As a result, new titles that reflect greater specialisation will emerge. By 2020, administrative personnel will likely fulfil many of the functions identified below:
*Resource Co-ordinator - Virtual offices that employ numerous contract workers will rely heavily on individuals adept at bringing together the right human resources for a given project - much like film producers assembling a cast, camera crew and production team.
*Workflow Controller - This individual will serve as mission control for an organisation. Whereas the resource coordinator will assemble project teams, the workflow controller will ensure these professionals have the support and resources required to do their jobs. This position also will facilitate interaction among teams and co-ordinate the transfer and use of company resources such as computers, communications equipment and other technological tools. In smaller organisations, the same person may perform workflow control and resource coordination.
*Knowledge Manager - In the more fluid and project-based office of the future, this central figure will serve as a repository of institutional information, history and best practices. The knowledge manager will ensure continuity and consistency, and help new employees and project professionals adapt to the organisationís culture. In addition, the knowledge manager will perform a function similar to that of a librarian, assisting people in locating the documents or data necessary to perform their jobs.
*Telecommuting Liaison - As the number of off-site workers increases,companies will designate a telecommuter liaison to connect remote workers with each other and management. In some instances, individuals in this position will work with senior management to develop telecommuting policies, including helping to determine which positions are suited for off-site work. Day-to-day responsibilities will include
managing telecommuting schedules and providing technical support and updates to telecommuters regarding changes in operational procedures and company policies.
*Virtual-Meetings Organiser - This person will help employees schedule conferences and set up the necessary equipment. The virtual-meetings organiser will be technically proficient and trained in the use of cameras, projection systems, electronic whiteboards, meeting software, audio equipment and related tools.
The complete results of the research is available at
The changing role Of the office administrator in the office of the Future 2020
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