Business Administration Degrees
The nature of managerial jobs varies as significantly as the range of administrative services required by organizations. For example, business administrators who work as contract administrators supervise the preparation, analysis, negotiation, and review of contracts related to the purchase or sale of equipment, materials, supplies, products, or services. In addition, some business administrators acquire, distribute, and store supplies, while others dispose of excess property or manage the disposal of unclaimed property.
Business administrators who work as facility managers plan, design, and manage buildings, grounds, equipment, and supplies, in addition to people. This task requires integrating the principles of business administration, information technology, architecture, engineering, and behavioral science. Although the specific tasks assigned to facility managers vary substantially depending on the organization, the duties fall into several categories, relating to operations and maintenance, real estate, project planning and management, leadership and communication, finance, quality assessment, facility function, technology integration, and management of human and environmental factors. Tasks within these broad categories may include space and workplace planning, budgeting, purchase and sale of real estate, lease management, renovations, or architectural planning and design.
Education and experience requirements for these managers vary widely, depending on the size and complexity of the organization. In many organizations, administrative services managers normally are hired from outside and each position has formal education and experience requirements. Some administrative services managers have advanced degrees. Specific requirements vary by job responsibility.
For first-line administrative services managers of secretarial, mailroom, and related support activities, many employers hire people who have an associate degree in business or management.
For managers of audiovisual, graphics, and other technical activities, post secondary technical school training is preferred. Managers of complex services, such as contract administration, need at least a bachelors degree in business, human resources, or finance.
Facility managers have an undergraduate or graduate degree in engineering, architecture, construction management, business administration, or facility management. Most have a background in real estate, construction, or interior design, in addition to managerial experience.
In addition persons interested in becoming administrative services managers should have good leadership and communication skills and be able to establish effective working relationships with many different people, ranging from managers, supervisors, and professionals, to clerks and blue-collar workers. They should be analytical, detail-oriented, flexible, and decisive. They must be able to coordinate several activities at once, quickly analyze and resolve specific problems, and cope with deadlines.
Business Administrators held about 247,000 jobs in 2006. About 65 percent worked in service-providing industries, including Federal, State, and local government; health care; finance and insurance; professional, scientific, and technical services; administrative and support services; and educational services, public and private. Most of the remaining managers worked in wholesale and retail trade, in management of companies and enterprises, or in manufacturing. The number of jobs is projected to grow as fast as average for all occupations.
Business Administrators held about 247,000 jobs in 2006. About 65 percent worked in service-providing industries, including Federal, State, and local government; health care; finance and insurance; professional, scientific, and technical services; administrative and support services; and educational services, public and private. Most of the remaining managers worked in wholesale and retail trade, in management of companies and enterprises, or in manufacturing. The number of jobs is projected to grow as fast as average for all occupations.
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