Focos de atención
Administrative Manager, Office Administrator, Office Coordinator, Office Supervisor, Executive Assistant, Operations Manager, Office Director
No matter what their mission is, all organizations are complicated and require the timely completion of a million different “behind-the-scenes” tasks. Most organizations have at least one dedicated administrative person who handles these functions—an Office Manager!
Office Managers help to ensure office functions are carried out smoothly and efficiently. They may perform administrative or budgetary duties, or manage human resources issues and facilities-related operations. Generally, they coordinate with numerous departments and often serve as a sort of centralized hub for many processes and projects!
Their role requires them to wear many hats, but effective Office Managers get things done and play a big role in shaping workplace culture and climate. Their ability to foresee and prevent issues, adapt to changes, and organize workflows impacts organizational success far more than they might get credit for!
- Keeping organizational tasks on track
- Working with a wide range of different departments
- Contributing to better workplace environments
Horario de trabajo
- Office Managers work full-time jobs, typically indoors during normal business hours.
Tareas típicas
- Manage and coordinate general and organizational administrative tasks
- Draft, send, receive, and reply to office correspondence, as necessary
- Process incoming and outgoing mail and deliveries
- Manage/route incoming calls or assist the receptionist with call handling
- Keep track of supply inventories; reorder/restock when needed
- Use databases to input and retrieve data and run reports
- Oversee IT procurement processes
- Create physical and digital records management file systems; ensure proper safeguarding of sensitive information
- Help with calendaring, travel and lodging arrangements, filing reimbursement for expenses, etc.
- Manage office budgets; track and forecast expenses; verify credit card purchases and reconcile monthly billing statements
- Reserve and prepare rooms for meetings. Ensure equipment is tested and ready to use (such as speakerphones, microphones, laptops, projectors, presentation pointers, and other IT or audiovisual equipment)
- Assist with planning organizational events, including ordering sufficient catering, or sending out parking permits and providing directions to external attendees, etc.
- Establish contracts with vendors and service providers; review invoices for accuracy
- Oversee facility maintenance work and groundskeeping; ensure workplace safety policies are distributed and adhered to
- Implement office physical safety and security procedures, such as fire and emergency response plans
Responsabilidades adicionales
- Write and revise general and specific office policies and processes
- Assist with recruiting, interviewing, and hiring new staff
- Supervise applicable staff; provide training and feedback
- Establish schedules; approve paid time off; resolve interpersonal disputes
- Listen to employee concerns and assist with finding resolutions
- Assist employees with workers' compensation claims, as required
Habilidades blandas
- Precisión
- Adaptable
- Atención al detalle
- Habilidades de comunicación
- Confidencialidad
- Servicio de atención al cliente
- Orientado al detalle
- Independiente
- Iniciativa
- Leadership and supervisory skills
- Metódico
- Multitarea
- Supervisión
- Organizado
- Paciencia
- Resolución de problemas
- Fiable
- Programación
- Buen juicio y toma de decisiones
- Gestión del tiempo
Habilidades técnicas
- Budgeting and financial tracking
- Facilities management principles
- General fire safety and emergency response
- Gestión de recursos humanos
- Inventory control
- IT procurement
- Knowledge of office management procedures
- Proficiency in office software and equipment (i.e., computers, printer/scanner/copiers, multi-line phones, audiovisual equipment, presentation equipment)
- Records management
- Construction and engineering firms
- Convention centers
- Empresas
- Instituciones educativas
- Instituciones financieras
- Agencias gubernamentales
- Hoteles
- Despachos de abogados
- Media and publishing companies
- Instalaciones médicas
- Sin ánimo de lucro
- Empresas privadas
- Agencias inmobiliarias
- Recreational facilities
- Organizaciones religiosas
- Instituciones de investigación
- Retail stores
- Small businesses and startups
- Transportation and utilities companies
Picture an efficiently running office, from timely emails to well-coordinated meetings. At its core is an Office Manager, the linchpin who juggles multiple roles ranging from administration to IT! And while the job certainly can come with a lot of stress, it doesn’t always come with an equal amount of recognition.
Office Managers are expected to guide processes and tasks, manage diverse teams, and hold things together…often without anyone realizing how vital their role is!
They have to stay flexible and ready to tackle new challenges without much preparation time. When things don’t go according to plan, it might be up to the Office Manager to work late or come in on the weekend to get a process or project back on track!
In the evolving world of office management, keeping up to date is vital! Remote work management is a major trend, with large parts of the American labor force now working from home. Office Managers have adapted in order to oversee remote teams and ensure workers keep up with tasks while staying motivated.
AI and other automation tools are revolutionizing the way countless tasks are handled, keeping Office Managers busy as they learn, implement, and train others on these new methods of doing things.
Meanwhile, in every industry there’s an increased emphasis on sustainable practices, so Office Managers are trying to help organizations stay as paperless as possible. These are just a few of the trends impacting this dynamic career field!
Office Managers tend to be highly organized individuals capable of multitasking and staying focused. They may develop these skills from an early age, perhaps through school activities or due to being given responsibilities and chores at home. They usually have great leadership and management skills, which can develop through extracurricular activities such as playing team sports, for example!
- Office Managers must usually have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. A degree is not necessary for all positions, but one might be helpful to stand out from the competition!
- A strong mix of relevant work experience and academic credits may be the best bet to qualify for an Office Manager job
- Some workers may complete an Office Administration & Technology certificate program, or take business administration and IT classes at a community college
- Depending on which industry the office is in, relevant bachelor’s degree majors may include business or public administration, health services administration, human resources management, hospitality management, education, paralegal studies, or information management systems
- Common college-level classes may include:
- Contabilidad
- Business writing
- Change management
- Resolución de conflictos
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion topics
- Customer service essentials
- Ciberseguridad
- Effective communication skills for managers
- Human resource management essentials
- Leadership fundamentals
- Planificación de eventos
- Emergency Preparedness
- Organizational dynamics
- Personal development
- Project management basics
- Records management
- Supplier and vendor relationship management
- Team building
- Optional certifications such as:
- ARMA - Information Governance Professional
- Institute of Certified Records Managers - Certified Records Manager
- International Facility Management Association - Facilities Management Professional and the Certified Facility Manager
- Look for a program that offers enough specialized courses related to soil and soil conservation
- Considere el coste de la matrícula, los descuentos y las oportunidades de becas locales (además de la ayuda federal)
- Piensa en tu horario y flexibilidad, cuando decidas si te inscribes en un programa presencial, online o híbrido
- Check out the academic and work backgrounds of faculty members. Review their current research and writings, and see awards they may have received or accomplishments they are known for
- Take a look at graduation rates, job placement statistics, and what alumni are up to
- In high school, stock up on English, speech, communications, accounting and finance, and computer classes
- Participate in extracurricular activities where you can gain experience with project management and build teamwork and leadership skills
- Look for office-related internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer projects while in college. Any experience you can get will be useful later
- Request an informational interview with a working Office Manager in your local area
- If you don’t want to go for a full bachelor’s degree, consider taking community college classes
- You could also knock out some online courses from Udemy, Skillshare, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, or other sites
- Look for office-related topics such as accounting, writing, change management, conflict resolution, DEI, customer service, cybersecurity, human resource management, leadership, event planning, emergency preparedness, project management, records management, vendor relationships, etc.
- Elabora un currículum vitae de trabajo para hacer un seguimiento de tus logros laborales y académicos.
- Join professional organizations to learn, share, make friends, and grow your network (see our list of Resources > Websites)
- Keep track of the names and contact info of people who can serve as job references later
- You’ll need to gain experience in an office environment before landing a manager-level job. Consider applying for roles as a receptionist, administrative assistant, paralegal, data entry clerk, file clerk, procurement assistant, or human resources manager
- Check out job portals like Indeed.com, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Monster, CareerBuilder, SimplyHired, ZipRecruiter, and USAJOBS
- Take note of important keywords in job postings. Work them into your resume and cover letters
- Jobscan offers a list of top Office Manager resume skills to add, such as:
- Attention to detail
- Bookkeeping
- Budgeting
- Calendaring
- Comunicación
- Conflict resolution
- Inventory management
- Invoicing
- Planning
- Records management
- Vendor management
- Check out Office Manager resume examples and search online for sample interview questions
- Tell everyone in your professional network that you’re looking for work
- Consider relocating to where there are more job openings
- Ask your college professors, former supervisors, and/or coworkers if they’re willing to serve as personal references. Don’t give out their personal contact information without prior permission
- Do mock interviews with your school’s career center or with your friends, so you’ll feel prepared and more relaxed during real interviews
- Vístase adecuadamente para las entrevistas y demuestre su entusiasmo y conocimiento del sector.
- Learn as much as you can about the potential employer before going to an interview
- Demonstrate independence, integrity, and leadership
- Collaborate with other departments to exchange information and ideas
- Focus on mastering your primary and ancillary duties. Once you’ve got things running smoothly and efficiently, volunteer for a challenging project or task that might be outside your regular duties
- Always look for areas where improvements can be made in current workflows
- Develop your proficiency in software programs you use
- Stay familiar with applicable organizational policies and offer suggestions for revisions as needed
- Maintain a professional and inclusive work environment for all
- Be prepared for emergencies and ensure colleagues are trained on crisis response best practices
- Let your supervisor know you want to take on additional responsibilities and are willing to undergo additional training, as needed
- Always keep track of your accomplishments and contributions!
- Ask if there are particular specialized skills or systems you could learn that could benefit the organization
- Let them know you are willing to do the training—especially if the employer can cover the cost of tuition!
- Engage with professional organizations like the Institute of Certified Records Managers or the International Facility Management Association
- Note, once you’re working as an Office Manager, your employer may not have a path for advancement beyond that position if it is a small organization. You might be able to get a raise, but to “move up” you may have to apply for a job at a larger organization!
Páginas web
- American Society of Administrative Professionals
- ARMA
- Association of Executive and Administrative Professionals
- Institute of Certified Records Managers
- International Association of Administrative Professionals
- Asociación Internacional de Facility Management
Libros
- The First-Time Manager, by Jim McCormick
- The New Executive Assistant: Exceptional executive office management, by Jonathan McIlroy
- The Office Rockstar Playbook: How I Leveled Up as an Executive Assistant and Helped My CEO Build a Multibillion-Dollar Company, by Debbie Gross
Office Managers are jacks of all trades, juggling a wide range of duties. At very large organizations, there may be separate individuals who specialize in each of these roles, versus one person doing it all. If you’re interested in more of a specialized career, consider the below options!
- Accountant
- Director de Compensación y Beneficios
- Contract Specialist
- Estimación de costes
- Executive Assistant
- Facilities Manager
- Director de Recursos Humanos
- Especialista en relaciones laborales
- Analista de gestión
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner
- Paralegal
- Administrador de Educación Postsecundaria
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager
- Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agent
- Records Manager
- Training and Development Specialist