Chicago Administrative Jobs Overview
Most businesses, organizations, and government offices rely on administrative professionals to ensure that operations go smoothly. As an administrative employee, you’ll likely handle clerical tasks, take phone calls, schedule meetings, keep track of company invoices, create memos and reports, and do basic bookkeeping. If this sounds like something you’d excel at, you can look for administrative jobs on Monster.
To work as an administrative professional, you’ll need excellent communication, decision-making, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Plus, it helps to possess computer skills and the ability to operate standard office equipment such as a fax machine, printer, or copier.
The day-to-day duties of an administrative employee typically include:
- answering or transferring phone calls and taking messages.
- updating calendars and scheduling appointments.
- setting up staff meetings.
- handling incoming mail and faxes.
- preparing invoices, memos, and reports.
- updating and maintaining databases.
- editing documents.
- bookkeeping.
Administrative employees can work for private businesses, corporations, financial institutions, schools, hospitals, municipalities, and government agencies. As an administrative professional, you can expect to work a fixed, full-time schedule or during business hours.
You can expand your search for administrative jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Chicago, Illinois
If you're going to Chicago to experience "da Bears," deep-dish pizza, and windy streets, native Chicagoans say "fogetta 'bout it!" While these have made Chicago famous, you'll find many locals eating thin-crust, tavern-style pie. Plus, the city isn't on any list of the windiest cities in the U.S.—a local newspaper named it "The Windy City" after the Chicago elite's propensity toward boastfulness and self-promotion. And while the Chicago jobs list (hit jobs, that is) includes notorious mobsters from Chicago like Al Capone, John Dillinger, and Baby Face Nelson, linguists are noticing that the "Chicago accent" is disappearing.
However, there's a reason Condé Nast Traveler has named Chicago the "best big city in the U.S." Chicago is home to top universities, including Northwestern University, Wheaton College, and Valparaiso. And if you're looking for Chicago jobs, you can relocate to any one of the city's unique neighborhoods, such as North Center with its cozy Irish pubs and breweries or Uptown, the lively entertainment district. For those who want to live further out from the city, you can also find jobs in popular suburbs including Cicero, Oak Park, and Evanston.
Update Your Chicago Administrative Resume
Your resume is the first step to proving your value to potential employers. Before you hit that “apply” button, make sure yours is updated with newly acquired skills and experience and written to perfection. Your final resume should be easy to ready, clear, concise, and error-free. Need more help? Check out Monster’s resume samples for midlevel administrative assistants and entry-level admins.
Many employers spend countless hours sorting through resumes. Sending a cover letter is a great way to get your resume noticed. A good cover letter should sell your skills and show potential employers that you’re a viable candidate. See our administrative assistant cover letter sample to learn how to write and format your cover letter.
How Much Do Administrative Jobs Pay in Chicago, Illinois?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in administrative jobs in Chicago, Illinois, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median administrative assistant pay in Chicago is $16.75 per hour, which is 5% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next Chicago Administrative Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in administrative? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those administrative jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Chicago, how to nail your job interview, and more.