Career Advice for an Office Manager

Working as an Office Manager, you will oversee the general operations of office duties, ensure business objectives are met, motivate the team, and present reports to senior management.

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How to Become an Office Manager

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become an Office Manager

Should you wish to work as an Office Manager you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Office Manager

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
  • Four GCSEs.
  • Two A Levels.
  • Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration.
  • T Level in Management and Administration.
  • A Degree in Business Management, Public Administration, or Human Resource Management.

Key Responsibilities for an Office Manager

  • Overseeing the general operations of the office.
  • Coordinating meetings, appointments, and staff schedules.
  • Greeting visitors, partners, and customers, in person or over the phone.
  • Hiring, training, and coaching office staff.
  • Delegating tasks and assignments to ensure productivity is maximised.
  • Purchasing office equipment and supplies.
  • Creating and presenting reports to senior executives.

What to expect as an Office Manager

When you become an Office Manager, you will work in an office and may be required to wear smart business dress. To find success as an Office Manager, you will need excellent leadership, administration, communication, reasoning, and computer skills.

Recommended Office Manager Jobs

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How to get Office Manager Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Office Manager job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Office Manager application. If you have not held an Office Manager position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Office Manager role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Office Manager CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Office Manager application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Office Manager in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Office Manager 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Office Manager and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Office Manager experience.

How to get Office Manager Experience

What does it take to be an Office Manager? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Office Manager jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Office Manager through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Office Manager Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Office Manager part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Office Manager or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Office Manager freelance work

If you have impressive Office Manager qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.