What is an Administrative Executive?
An administrative executive is important to the overall function and well-being of a company, business, or organization. These type of employees exist in a number of industries and for a variety of different types of companies and business, including law and accounting firms, marketing firms, and customer service organizations.
While administrative duties and job responsibilities are likely to vary between employers, administrative executives generally provide high level administrative support for the office and top executives of the company, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They perform roles closer to those in management positions and handle more complex responsibilities than secretaries and receptionists.
Common job responsibilities of an administrative executive include arranging conference calls and meetings, preparing and submitting reports, reviewing and submitting proposals, discussing projects, preparing agendas, conducting research, and working with other employees in the business.
How to Become an Administrative Executive
Job qualifications for those who are interested in pursuing a career as an administrative executive can vary. According to the Bureau, more companies are requiring that candidates interested in administrative executive positions possess a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, most companies prefer that the degree be in a field related to the nature of the business they will be conducting.
Since they often work directly with top executives in the company, and may work with clients and other top level executives, they must posses strong communication skills, tact, and demeanor. Administrative executives should be proficient in spelling, grammar, and oral communication and have an eye for detail, work well under pressure, be neat, and be organized. It is important that administrative executives have strong time management skills, can work independently, and can prevail in management or leadership positions. In addition, some companies prefer that administrative executives have a couple of years of experience.
Administrative Executive Career Outlook & Salary
Employment projections for administrative executives is expected to grow about as fast as the average occupation, according to the Bureau. Industries that continue to grow quickly, such as healthcare, technical, and construction, will be some of the industries with the best job prospects. Overall, the occupation is estimated to see a growth of about 13% in the next several years, adding more than 200,000 jobs in the field.
Job opportunities will most likely be best for those candidates that have experience and extensive knowledge of the job they are interested in pursuing. The median annual wages of administrative executives was $40,030 in 2008, the most recent information provided by the Bureau. In addition, the middle 50% of those made between $32,140 and $50,280 annually, with the highest 10% of administrative executives earning more than $62,000 annually.
