Administration is a formidable task, and without you any organization would come to a
screeching halt. Therefore, your resume needs to communicate that you are up to the
challenge. In addition to competency in your area of specialization, you need to
demonstrate coping skills. Maturity, flexibility, tact, and problem-solving ability are key
qualifications.

The Many Facets of Administration
The range of duties in administration is so vast that it can be difficult to integrate all of
your responsibilities, skills, and credentials so that your resume is still well-organized and
concise. Three easy methods discussed below are demonstrated in the resume samples in
this chapter.

The first technique is to begin your resume with a Summary of Qualifications section. It
identifies and condenses the major points about your career and capabilities which you want to communicate to a prospective employer. For example, you might include the
number of years in an industry, secretarial skills, accounting knowledge, and supervisory
ability. This section allows the reader to quickly scan a synopsis of your entire career.
The second technique is to include a Special Skills section. It lists technical pro-ficiencies
related to computer usage, office equipment, foreign languages, and other special areas.
This technique eliminates the need for you to repeat the same skills in each job description.

The third technique is to group your job duties under specific functions such as Office
Management, Personnel Management, and Sales Support. This technique not only
organizes your experience, but highlights your strengths at the same time.
In addition to aiding you in producing a more organized resume, these techniques will
facilitate your thinking about your career and help you realize how proficient you really
are. They’re a tremendous morale booster!

Consider A Specific Objective
If you can pinpoint the exact new position you’re seeking, e.g. “Executive Secretary in a
Fortune 500 company,” or “Office Manager in a general law firm,” it is beneficial to state
your goal at the top of your resume. Your Objective will connote that your career is
purposely headed in a certain direction, and it also allows a recruiter or prospective
employer to easily pre-qualify you for a position they are seeking to fill.
If, however, you are qualified for, or interested in, several different kinds of positions,
then using an Alternative to an Objective, such as one found in Chapter 3, is recommended.

Some of these Alternatives can also be found in the resume samples in this
chapter.

Is Your Career Upwardly Mobile?
Administration is a catch-all phrase used to describe a variety of personnel ranging from
filing clerks to executive directors. As can be seen by scanning the resumes in this chapter, administration is still heavily female-oriented. For many reasons, some professionals consider the term administration a stigma. Consequently, many administrators are seeking to move from administration into management, an area which they perceive commands more respect.

Administration is indeed a stepping-stone to supervisory and management roles. If your
career is upwardly mobile, your resume should stress any current management responsibilities,
including instances when you temporarily assumed your manager’s role.
Remember to list any training, coursework, or degrees related to management which you
have completed or are currently pursuing. These added credentials demonstrate that you
are preparing for more decision-making authority, more challenge, and more financial
reward.