Office Manager
Job Description:Office managers oversee the day-to-day running of an office or department.
Job Category:What you will do:
As part of your day-to-day duties you may:
- establish policies and procedures for staff
- develop quality control processes
- carry out staff appraisals and measure performance
- deal with disciplinary issues
- prepare reports and give presentations to the senior management team
- manage the office budget
- support staff career development
- attend conferences and training events
- deal with staff recruitment
Skills:
You’ll need:
- management, planning and leadership skills
- IT & administration skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
As well as:
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- the ability to organise your time and workload (organisational skills)
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
- excellent verbal communication skills
Entry Requirements:
To become an Office Manager, you’ll need a combination of relevant subjects and qualifications, as well as skills related to office management. Here’s a list of common subjects and qualifications you should consider:
- English Language: Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for an Office Manager, as you’ll be responsible for various forms of communication within the office.
- Mathematics: Basic mathematical skills are important for tasks like budgeting, financial management, and data analysis.
- Business Studies: If available, Business Studies can provide valuable insights into business operations and management principles.
- IT or Computer Science: Proficiency in computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheet software, and office management software, is crucial for modern office management.
- Accounting (Optional): If offered at your school, Accounting can provide a foundation for understanding financial statements and managing budgets.
- Foreign Languages (Optional): Depending on the nature of the office and its clientele, proficiency in a foreign language can be a valuable asset for communicating with international clients or colleagues.
Post School
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
You could do a degree in:
- business management
- human resource management
- public administration
Once you’ve completed your studies, you could apply for a trainee manager position, for example through a company’s graduate training scheme.
College
You could take a course at college that would give you some of the skills and knowledge to apply for assistant office manager jobs.
In the UK, for example, courses include:
- Diploma in Business Administration
- Level in Management and Administration
Apprenticeship
You can start by doing a business administrator higher apprenticeship.
This typically takes 18 months to complete as a mix of workplace learning and off-the-job study.
Work
You could work as an office assistant or supervisor in a company, then move on to become a manager through internal training and promotion.
Working Hours and Environment:
A typical week consists of 38-40 hours of work. You could be required to work between 8am and 6pm.
You could work in an office. You may need to wear smart business clothes.
Career Path & Progression:
You could take on more responsibility for managing projects, or provide cover for senior management duties.
With experience and more qualifications you could become a personal assistant or executive officer.
Other career options include moving into buying and procurement, financial management, business development and operations management.