5 Administration Roles You Can Explore in Ireland

Working in Administration can be a rewarding career and can open the doors to working in a variety of environments, across many different industries. 

But what are some of the most common admin roles, and how can you become qualified in them?

As an Office Manager, it’s your job to ensure that an office runs efficiently and you’re responsible for day-to-day administration tasks. 

In practice, this looks like keeping record of any bills, mails, and ordering office supplies, as well as organising company-wide events, or communicating office-related news to employees. 

Office Managers need to be highly organised, as they are essential to the smooth running of office operations. 

To become an Office Manager, being qualified in Maths and English at Leaving Certificate level is vital, and will likely be an entry requirement for most Office Manager roles.

This is because you’ll be communicating official company information, potentially to those outside the business, and you’ll also be required to use basic maths skills when ordering office supplies, or managing small budgets. Some knowledge of Microsoft Office suite programs, such as Word and Excel can be helpful as well. 

Taking an office Administration course online can be the best way to get the skills you need to move into an Office Manager role, as well as demonstrate to employers that you have the necessary skills and knowledge needed to excel in the role. Looking at a course such as an Administration Pathway – Business course can give you the skills you need to progress in this area in just 400 hours of tuition. Although Administration courses from any country can be considered, taking an Administration course in Ireland can be helpful if you’re keen to work within Ireland.

Personal Assistants work with senior members of staff, CEOs or directors, and are in charge of managing schedules and passing on important information for the person they are assisting. 

Personal Assistants can work in any field, as they typically perform administrative tasks, rather than tasks that require a deeper understanding of the industry they are in. However, if you are keen to move into or gain experience in a particular industry, working as a PA for a relevant company can give you excellent insight into how to move into roles within that industry long-term. 

Those working in this role are expected to be highly organised, and extremely adaptable. Often working with some of the most senior employees of a business, it’s vital that they manage their time effectively, as they can risk the reputation of the person they are assisting if they make significant mistakes.

Being qualified in Maths and English at Leaving Certificate level is essential for Personal Assistants, and being proficient in Microsoft Office suite programs, such as Word and Excel can be helpful as well. 

Being a Personal Assistant is a classic administrative role, so taking a short course in Administration will give you the skills and knowledge you need to move into this role. Typically considered an entry-level role, you can become qualified as a Personal Assistant quickly, however there can be opportunities to work for larger companies or clients, opening doors to wage growth and new career opportunities.

Working as a HR Administrator can be an excellent choice for those who enjoy working with other people, and are highly organised. 

Day-to-day, HR Administrators keep employee records up to date, manage employee contracts, manage payroll and manage HR-related processes, such as grievances, maternity cover and annual leave. 

HR Administrators are highly valued members of an organisation, and are used across every industry and company. 

For those wanting to begin a career in this area, being qualified in Maths and English at Leaving Certificate level, as well as knowledge of Microsoft Office suite programs, such as Word and Excel is important. 

Courses in Administration can give you the skill set you need to start in this role, and you can also look at taking on HR courses, or courses in Payroll and Xero in order to bolster your skills set.

Receptionists are the face of a business, being the first point of contact for those external to the company. With this in mind, Receptionists generally have a welcoming and confident attitude, and high levels of organisation, being aware who’s in and out of the office at any one time. 

Day-to-day, Receptionists manage the communications of a business. They answer calls, relay important information, and are in charge of external communications, via email and other communication tools. 

Receptionists need to be highly organised and need to exude confidence and excellent customer service skills. Receptionists that work for large, well-known companies can be expected to offer visitors to the business a premium service, and are expected to make visitors feel welcome and comfortable upon their arrival

For those wanting to begin a career in this area, being qualified in Maths and English at Leaving Certificate level, as well as knowledge of Microsoft Office suite programs, such as Word and Excel is important. 

The level of responsibility that a Receptionist can vary, however a course in Administration can set a learner up with the main skills they’ll need to succeed in this role. Taking on a Certificate in Reception and Office Support can prepare you for your first receptionist role in as little as ten weeks or an Administration Pathway course can be an option for those looking for a more in-depth skill set.

Courses in HR courses, Payroll and Xero can be useful for Receptionists who are keen to grow into new roles beyond a Receptionist role, but courses in these areas are best for those who already have experience working as a Receptionist full-time. 

A Medical Secretary, also known as a Medical Receptionist, has a similar role to that of a receptionist in any business. However, there are a few key differences that make this role slightly different. 

Medical Secretaries organise medical reports and documentation, and keep patient information and data safe. At times, a Medical Secretary can be expected to personally assist Consultants and other medical staff in an Administrative capacity. 

Those working in this field need to be highly organised, and be able to work under pressure. Furthermore, having a knowledge of key medical terminology is important, especially when referring to different types of medical departments. 

Becoming qualified as a Medical Secretary will require you to have a qualification in Maths and English at Leaving Certificate level, as well as knowledge of Microsoft Office suite programs, such as Word and Excel.

Specialist Medical Reception courses can give you the administrative skills you need, along with the medical knowledge you’ll need to perform your role day-to-day.

Having knowledge in this area will allow you to work in roles in the HSE in Ireland or to work in a private hospital or medical facility.