Admin Careers for Entry-Level Candidates: A Smart First Step

I, like many graduates before and after me, had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do when I finished university. Unlike my friends who did more ‘practical’ university courses, I was a Humanities grad – a 2:1 BA in Sociology with Criminology holder, with absolute no idea what I wanted to do, bar thinking that HR and recruitment ‘seemed interesting’. After some (ultimately unsuccessful) attempts to get into both of these areas immediately after graduating, I turned my attention to local administrative roles, choosing instead to build my admin experience and try London again in a couple of years. Thankfully, the first agency in London I registered with 2 years later offered me my dream job, and here I still am – 7 years into my recruitment career!

At VWA, many of our roles are administrative – that is, they support the functioning of a business or organisation to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Just like my first post-uni role, administrative roles help to build highly transferrable skills such as organisational skills, time management, IT literacy and professional communication and can serve as a springboard into your chosen field or sector.

But what if I told you that administration itself is a career in its own right – offering pathways to responsibility, leadership and huge professional growth?

While every opportunity is unique, here are just a few examples of administrative careers, and where they could lead you…

Personal Assistant / Executive Assistant

Entry-level opportunities: Administrator, Office Assistant, Receptionist (with additional administrative duties)

For many people, the words ‘Personal Assistant’ may immediately bring to mind the media representation of PA roles (Devil Wears Prada is always the obvious one) – someone who fetches tea, takes calls and ultimately bears the brunt of the ego of the individual they are supporting. But did you know it’s a lucrative career in its own right, and can lead you to senior leadership within the corporate world?

After gaining administrative experience, PA careers can start as Team Assistants – booking diary appointments, complex international travel arrangements and events for a various members of a team – before moving into Executive level support. This may involve supporting just one individual – such as CEO – or a handful of other senior-level individuals.

Many such individual EA roles – or ‘1:1’ roles – are highly strategic positions, which involve acting as a sounding board for new ideas and timelines, and require someone with meticulous organisational skills who can stay one step ahead of a highly complex and ever-changing diary. You may find yourself speaking on the individual’s behalf, deputising in important meetings, and even spearheading new projects and initiatives.

These roles can then lead into Chief of Staff positions – leadership-level roles – with oversight of an entire team or department and a huge amount of responsibility for the running of the business.

Operations

Entry-level opportunities: Facilities or Workplace Assistant / Coordinator, Receptionist, Office Assistant / Administrator, Operations Coordinator

Operations is a broad term within a company organisation that essentially refers to the inner workings of the business to keep it functioning day to day. That can include everything from the day-to-day running of the physical office – ensuring lights, heating and water are all operating as they should – to keeping office supplies stocked and ensuring cleaning standards are met throughout the building.

Operational and office administration can lead to Office Management, where you may be responsible for day-to-day upkeep of the office while also providing administrative support to the wider business. Depending on the size of the company, you may also find yourself with a broader remit including HR, recruitment and project management.

If the physical side of operations is what you enjoy, Facilities Management could be the option for you. Facilities Managers ensure the functions of the office are operating to standard, and are on hand to manage the response to any emergencies that may occur (leaks, fires and broken air conditioning, for example). Facilities and Office Managers may also have oversight of large-scale office projects, such as office moves and renovations. These can be £multi-million projects, and require a keen eye for detail, a savvy approach to budgets and excellent tracking skills.

Both Office and Facilities Management can lead to senior Operations positions, such as Operations Manager, Operations Director, or even COO (Chief Operating Officer).

Client Services

Entry-Level opportunities – Customer Service, Receptionists, Client Services Administrator

If building rapport and relationships comes naturally to you, finding a role with a client or customer-facing element may be a natural fit. Roles like Receptionists are an excellent way to build this experience in a corporate setting, and can be a natural next step for anyone with previous experience of 5* customer service, such as high-end hospitality, cabin crew or hotel reception work.

In industries such as Financial Services, companies look for individuals with previous experience of providing excellent service to High Net Worth and corporate clientele to manage relationships with investors and clients in a Client Services or Investor Relations capacity. These require tactful , proactive and emotionally intelligent relationship building and a highly tailored approach.

Future opportunities could include Client Service or Relationship Management roles, including ‘Head Of’ roles.

Human Resources

Entry-level opportunities – HR Administrator, Recruitment

HR is notoriously one of the hardest job roles to break into – not only is it incredibly competitive, it’s also virtually impossible to secure a HR role without prior HR experience.

Many people state their interest in HR coming from being a ‘people person’ – but HR is much more than building relationships and championing Learning and Development. It can require handling the trickiest of workplace situations, such as complex Employee Relations queries and dismissals, and can be an isolated role within the company structure. However, it can also be incredibly rewarding, allow for plenty of creativity when it comes to implementing new initiatives, and also lead to leadership-level opportunities in future.

To gain access to a career in HR, sometimes it’s best to think outside of the box and explore administrative roles that will get you exposure to individual elements of HR – such as recruitment or HR systems administration – or to explore parallel pathways that are related, such as agency recruitment or Talent Acquisition.

How We Can Help

At VWA, we understand that taking the first step after graduation can feel daunting – but you do not need to take that step alone. With decades of experience placing graduates into administrative, business support and HR roles across a wide range of industries, we know how to match ambition with opportunity. Whether you are looking to build essential skills, explore different sectors, or carve out a long-term career in administration or human resources, our team can guide you through the process and connect you with roles that will help you realise your potential.

If you’re seeking your first London-based opportunity after graduating, get in touch with the team today to discuss your search and our current active vacancies. You never know where they might lead you!