While contract administrator jobs have often been considered lower level jobs which were stepping stones to higher positions such as project management, in recent years contract administration has come into its own. There are many high paying contract administrator jobs in construction with incomes over $100,000. Employers therefore seek highly qualified employees to fill contract administration roles, even entry level positions. Effectively, they take advantage of educated and intelligent individuals who want to move into a contract administration career. The college graduate is given the opportunity to gain experience required for higher level contract administrator jobs and organizations get very motivated and able staff.
If you are aiming for well paying contract administrator jobs, you need to have completed a four year Bachelor's degree to an above average standard. It is also essential that you can identify a career path within the organization you are applying to. If the organization is too small, an assistant position may not be a career position leading to promotion. It may simply be an administrative position. The best way to find out if the assistant position leads to more responsible contract administrator jobs is to contact the company and ask them.
There tends to be a fair amount of competition for contract administrator jobs so it is important to give your application every chance of success. It is important to fully understand the contract administration role. One way you can do this is to read a few contract administrator job descriptions for positions you see advertised. You also need to have career goals for your future. Employers respect focused individuals and they want to hire people who genuinely want to work in the role. They are also impressed by applicants who have gone to the trouble to learn about their organization and can explain why they would like to work for them. If you prepare well for an interview you will be able to answer the questions they ask you, and do it well.
Probably the easiest and quickest way to find contract administrator jobs is by searching on online job sites. The larger sites usually have a lot of jobs advertised and you can search by category, location and salary. This way you can quickly locate suitable positions close to home or in locations you are prepared to work in. You can also request to be notified whenever any new jobs are added that fit your requirements and this information is sent to your email address.
Smaller jobs sites which specialize in contract administrator jobs and related fields are also good places to look for an assistant position. These employment sites focus on a narrow range of jobs and consequently attract some positions that don't get advertised on the larger job boards. Industry and professional associations can also be good sources of information about available positions. It can be helpful to join the appropriate organizations to avail yourself of professional opportunities which are only available to their members. Relevant memberships can also tip an employer in your favor when evaluating your application as they are evidence of commitment, interest and compliance with professional standards.
Specialist recruitment companies can also be a good source of contract administrator jobs in construction. They often advertise their positions, but they may not if they are working from a list of available applicants. It is wise to contact a number of these companies directly to find out if they currently have any suitable positions available.
If you are still in college and are aiming for a contract administration career, undertaking internships during vacations can give you valuable experience that will help you land an entry level position. You can also make valuable contacts during your work experience who can act as referees for you. You will be able to build a resume in which you can emphasize relevant experience as well as qualifications as a result of interning. However, it is important to choose the right internship opportunity. You won't get much experience from making coffee and running errands every day.
Your resume should be well laid out and free from errors. It is important that your first impression via your resume and application letter is professional. Your letter of application should specifically address the selection criteria for a particular job; you cannot use the same letter of application for different contract administrator jobs. By adequately preparing yourself to work in contract administration by maintaining high academic grades, gaining experience through internships, and ensuring your application is professional, you will significantly improve your chances of being offered an interview.
