Business Administration &
Customer Service Career Development
Learn more about how to develop your career path in business administration and customer service. On this page you’ll find plenty of resources about career options, courses, development opportunities and more. Don’t forget, your tutor is always available to support you when it comes to any questions you may have about your career journey.
Roles and Levels
Every person will follow a different path in their career, even if they ultimately end up in the same job role! Choosing your career path can help you to achieve your goals and gain the experience you need to apply for the job you aspire to.
Below you will find information about the common pathways within this sector, and the skills usually required within those roles.
Customer Service
Entry-Level Customer Service Roles
Typical Job Titles:
Customer Service Operative,
Customer Service Assistant,
Receptionist, Client Services, Account Holders, Customer Care
Qualifications Required:
In-house training
Customer Service Team Leaders & Specialists
Typical Job Titles:
Customer Specialist, Customer Experience Leader, Customer Service Team Leader, Customer Service Supervisor
Qualifications Required:
In-house training, Customer Service Level 2/3, Team Leader Level 3, 1-3 years experience
Customer Service Management
Typical Job Titles:
Business
Development Lead, Accounts Manager, Customer Experience Manager, Customer Operations/Relations/Success Manager
Qualifications Required:
In-house training, management qualifications such as Departmental Manager Level 5 or CMI, Generally 5 years+ experience.
Administration Career Paths
Entry-Level Administration Roles
Typical Job Titles:
Administration Assistant, Office Assistant
Qualifications Required:
In-house training
Specialist & Management Administration Roles
Typical Job Titles:
Office Manager, Admin Coordinator, Executive Assistant, Cheif Admin Officer
Qualifications Required:
In-house training, management qualifications such as Departmental Manager Level 5 or CMI, Bookkeeping Qualifications, Generally 5 years+ experience.
Financial Career Paths
Entry-Level Financial Roles
Typical Job Titles:
Pay Roll Assistant, Invoice/Finance Clerk, Accounts Junior, Billing Specialist.
Qualifications Required:
In-house training, software-specific experience (Sage, Quickbooks etc.), Knowledge of Tax Processes.
Advanced Financial Roles
Typical Job Titles:
Bookkeeper, Financial Analyst, Senior Bookkeeper.
Qualifications Required:
In-house training, software-specific experience (Sage, Quickbooks etc.), Level 2/3 Business Administration, Knowledge of Tax Processes, AAC, ATA, CIMA.
Management Finance Roles
Typical Job Titles:
Financial Controller, Management Accountant, Financial Manager, Bookkeeping Manager, Head of Payroll.
Qualifications Required:
In-house training, software-specific experience (Sage, Quickbooks etc.), Level 2/3 Business Administration, Knowledge of Tax Processes, AAC, ATA, CIMA.
Sales / Business Development Career Paths
Entry-Level Sales Roles
Typical Job Titles:
Junior Sales Executive, Sales Representative, Aftersales/Sales Advisor, Sales Consultant.
Qualifications Required:
In-house training.
Advanced Sales Roles
Typical Job Titles:
Account Manager, Sales Manager, Account Executive, Area Manager.
Qualifications Required:
In-house training, Level 2/3 Business Administration.
Management Finance Roles
Typical Job Titles:
Business Development Manager, Head of Accounts, Chief Sales Officer, Regional Manager.
Qualifications Required:
In-house training, Level 2/3 Business Administration, Management Qualifications (e.g. Operations Manager Level 5).
Skills Required in Business Administration & Customer Service
The career path you choose will determine the kinds of roles you will take and in turn, the kinds of responsibilities that will be specific to your job. Below, we have made an assessment of the specific skills you may need when taking on these roles, so you can determine whether you need to develop within these skills before entering a certain career path.
Customer Service Operative
Customer Service Operatives are the first port of call when customers interact with businesses. They will often answer queries, resolve issues or assist in account management.
Hard Skills Required
Product Knowledge
IT Skills
Strategic Approach
Data Analysis
Written Communication
Verbal Communication
Maths Skills
Conflict Resolution
Impact on Business
Customer Expectations
Working With Stakeholders
Financial
Dealing With Complaints
Soft Skills Required
Delagation
Time Management
Leadership
Management
Emotional Intelligence
Calm Under Pressure
Confidence
Problem Solving
Organisation
Planning
Sales
Dealing With Objections
Customer Service Leader
Customer Service Leaders are often responsible for a team of staff. They need to inspire and motivate, guide their teams through tricky issues and work out the logistics of rolling out customer service projects. They may also need to help strategize towards the greater goals of the company.
Hard Skills Required
Product Knowledge
IT Skills
Strategic Approach
Data Analysis
Written Communication
Verbal Communication
Maths Skills
Conflict Resolution
Impact on Business
Customer Expectations
Working With Stakeholders
Financial
Dealing With Complaints
Soft Skills Required
Delagation
Time Management
Leadership
Management
Emotional Intelligence
Calm Under Pressure
Confidence
Problem Solving
Organisation
Planning
Sales
Dealing With Objections
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistants can be responsible for a large and diverse number of tasks within a business. They may assist with preparing documents, keeping records, bookkeeping, planning diaries or managing meetings to ensure goals are obtained efficiently.
Hard Skills Required
Sector Knowledge
IT Skills
Strategic Approach
Data Analysis
Written Communication
Verbal Communication
Maths Skills
Conflict Resolution
Impact on Business
Customer Expectations
Working With Stakeholders
Financial
Producing Documents
Soft Skills Required
Delagation
Time Management
Leadership
Management
Emotional Intelligence
Calm Under Pressure
Confidence
Problem Solving
Organisation
Planning
Procurement
Diary Management
Analytical
Administrative Leader
Administrative Leaders will often work with senior managers within the company to ensure company processes, systems and administration tasks are efficient and cost effective. They are often responsible for large amounts of data and need to be very organised with a keen eye for detail.
Hard Skills Required
Sector Knowledge
IT Skills
Strategic Approach
Data Analysis
Written Communication
Verbal Communication
Maths Skills
Conflict Resolution
Impact on Business
Customer Expectations
Working With Stakeholders
Financial
Producing Documents
Soft Skills Required
Delagation
Time Management
Leadership
Management
Emotional Intelligence
Calm Under Pressure
Confidence
Problem Solving
Organisation
Planning
Procurement
Diary Management
Analytical
Administration & Customer Service Courses
Whether you choose a career path in customer service, finance, sales or admin, it’s important to constantly develop and advance your skills with continuous learning. Courses can be long-term, or they can be completed over the space of an afternoon! Either way, they’ll help you to learn something that will allow you to excel in your current role, or give you a competitive edge when applying for new roles.
Here are a few courses you can take, that we personally recommend for your professional development:
Careers Advice
Remember, when you study with NTG Training, your tutor will always be happy to answer any specific questions you may have about the next steps in your career. However, if you’d like to view our favourite online resources for careers advice, you can find them here.
National Career's Service: Administration Assistant
National Career's Service: Office Manager
National Career's Service: Customer Service Assistant
National Career's Service: Customer Services Manager
Develop Your Career in Business Administration or Customer Service with an Apprenticeship
Your employer can enroll you on to an apprenticeship course. Apprenticeships help you to gain a qualification while you are working.
