IT skills yes, AI applications no?

Whether scheduling, orders or processes – almost everything in office management runs digitally. At their future workplace, the sought-after specialists work with standard software programs, but in some cases also with department- and industry-specific IT systems. 

Most frequently, office administrators must be able to handle Microsoft Office applications; in this context many employers specifically highlight Excel and Word. In addition, solutions for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) repeatedly appear as a requirement in the job descriptions. This central company software connects all business processes – from finance, warehousing and sales through procurement to production. Besides the general mention of ERP systems, requirement profiles occasionally also include systems from specific manufacturers, e.g. SAP or Sage. Handling financial, accounting and law-firm software is particularly relevant for those whose area of activity is accounting or the HR department. Experience with Datev is especially sought after.  

AI can provide support in everyday office work or take over routine tasks entirely. According to a survey by the ifo Institute, more than every second company already uses artificial intelligence in business processes (54.5 %). They use AI particularly often in administration, in data analysis, but also for correspondence and information research. Tasks, in other words, that office specialists often carry out. Interestingly, however, only a single job advertisement lists AI user skills as a requirement. One reason for this discrepancy could be that more and more standard programs incorporate certain AI functions that run along more or less automatically, and that employers therefore perhaps see no reason to address them specifically. Desired language skills

Some of the sought-after office administrators have international contacts at their future workplace – at least the request for English skills suggests as much. A good one in ten specialists should be able to express themselves very well in this foreign language both in writing and orally (11.1 %). In further job advertisements, companies generally ask for „English skills“ (7.4 %). 

In professions involving a lot of communication, it is almost a given that employees have command of the German language. Nevertheless, many employers explicitly attach importance to future employees having a very good command of German (37.7 %).