7 jobs found for Office Manager

all about office manager jobs.

An office manager is part of the administrative team who organizes and oversees various functions in a department or company. In large companies, an office manager is in charge of a smaller unit and reports to senior executives. However, in small businesses, your job is to improve efficiency and performance or take up administrative duties.

what do office manager jobs entail?

As an office manager, you are the office coordinator. Your primary role is to build a good work environment for the employees and monitor operations in the office. You need to keep the office space functional by managing workflows and creating employee work schedules. You report to the chief executive officer and other senior managers since you are the go-between for management and junior staff.

what is a typical work schedule for office managers

As an office manager, you spend your time working on projects, attending meetings and performing other administrative duties. You work 40 hours a week in full-time positions, but sometimes you have to work evenings to meet clients. During important conferences and workshops, your work days include weekends. Part-time jobs are rare since you must be at the office full-time to guide employees and organize resources for projects. While travelling is minimal, sometimes you have to meet clients and attend meetings out of town if the company has multiple branches.

what are the pros of office manager jobs?

• Variety of roles each day: An office manager rarely does the same work every day. Sometimes, you attend meetings, write reports or complete paperwork, while other times, you recruit employees or order supplies. The top-level management trusts you to conduct the day-to-day operations. Hence, you have additional responsibility that makes your routine unique every day.
• Potential for better pay: As an office manager, your earnings depend on the responsibilities you undertake. Since you are in charge of all major decisions in an office, you will make more money than other office staff. The perks don't stop with salaries; an office manager enjoys better benefits and allowances like transport and medical insurance. You also get extra vacation time and bonuses or company discounts on various products.
• Additional experience for career growth: Getting a managerial position is a great way to build your career due to the experience you acquire on the job. You will also have numerous opportunities for career growth, like becoming a general manager or chief executive officer of a company. As a bonus, you don't have to work in one industry since your skills are helpful in various sectors.

what are the cons of office manager jobs?

• High expectations: As an office manager, the top-level management expects a lot from you and sets high goals that you should achieve. You can manage the expectations by setting achievable goals and organizing your resources towards achieving the goals. You also take responsibility for mistakes that affect productivity in the office.
• Tough decisions: When you are an office manager, making tough decisions is part of your job description. You fire employees, and during layoffs, you decide who goes and who remains. Some decisions make you unpopular with employees, and you need thick skin to choose what is good for the company.
• Long hours: As an office manager, your workload doubles up, and sometimes you have to work evenings and weekends to complete documentation or prepare schedules for the coming week. Fortunately, you can organize your work and create a timeline for each activity to ensure you don't work overtime.

what are common office manager interview questions?

Office manager interview questions depend on the hiring manager and the experience or skills they want. Some of the interview questions you are likely to encounter include:

• What personal strengths make you the perfect fit for the job? In this question, the hiring manager is interested in your soft skills to determine if you match with what they want. Showcase the skills relevant to the role and highlight your competencies for the job.
• How do you handle difficult clients? The interviewer wants to determine your reaction to uncomfortable situations. Your answer should reveal your calmness under pressure and conflict resolution skills.
• Which duties of an office manager do you enjoy the most and least? Your answer should illustrate your experience in handling various office roles. The tasks you do not enjoy should be presented as an area of weakness that you are improving.

office manager resume and cover letter requirements

Your office manager resume should contain information relevant to the job description of a potential employer, which includes:

• Personal information like name, date of birth, email and physical address
• Professional summary illustrating your passion and goals
• Work experience relevant to office management
• Educational qualifications
• Relevant skills and competencies
• Achievements and certifications
• Hobbies and interests pertinent to management

Aside from creating an impressive resume, you need an office manager cover letter to boost your chances. Your cover letter should have hard figures and action verbs with relevant keywords to highlight your skills and experience.

what is the job outlook for office managers?

Working as an office manager provides multiple opportunities for career growth due to the diverse job roles. For instance, office managers can specialize or run a single department to become the chief operations officer or human resource manager. Some office managers join top-level executives and become managing directors or chief executive officers.

As an office manager, you can shift from one industry to another as you build your career. Some managers move from the retail sector to manufacturing or finance for better job prospects. Office managers with years of experience can open a private practice or consultancy firm.

what are the different types of office manager jobs?

The types of office manager jobs depend on the industry and responsibilities. They include:

• Corporate office manager: A corporate office manager works in any company branch. A large multinational may have a branch manager that oversees operations in each subsidiary. A corporate office manager can also work at the headquarters to monitor the affairs of all branches and develop new approaches for human resources and marketing.
• Medical office manager: As an office manager in healthcare centres or hospitals, your job is to supervise all the medical assistants and assign duties to the staff. You need detailed knowledge of the health care regulations and medical procedures to recommend the best practices that improve efficiency in a facility. You also supervise the procurement of supplies and proper medical waste disposal to ensure the hospital adheres to legal requirements.
• Legal office manager: A legal office manager needs legal experience and understanding of the law procedures. Your job is to supervise legal representatives and provide human resources support like managing payroll, recruitment and dismissal of employees. You also handle the daily operations of a law firm, like meeting clients and assigning cases to the right employees.
• Retail office manager: As an office manager in retail, your job is to manage sales representatives by assigning tasks and monitoring individual performance. You also have to manage the inventory and ensure customers receive the best service from the employees. Office managers are also in charge of recruitment of personnel and managing the payroll of the retail store.
• Virtual office manager: As a virtual office manager, you can work remotely for one company or provide services to various companies. You provide managerial support to your client by handling the payroll, employee scheduling and recruitment functions.

discover our most recent office manager jobs

what is the average salary for an office manager?

In Canada, an office manager earns an average salary of $47,961 per year, translating to $24.60 per hour. Entry-level office managers earn $41,920 annually, while experienced office managers make up to $67,328 per year. Apart from the base salary, an office manager receives numerous benefits and allowances. For instance, you will have medical insurance, house and transport allowance. Some companies offer paid vacation time and bonuses at the end of the year. The take-home salary often varies depending on the company size and your responsibilities. Multinationals pay better salaries than smaller companies due to the job's complexity. When you take up more responsibilities in a company, you are likely to earn more and receive additional benefits.

average office manager salaries in canada

• annual: $47,961
• monthly: $3,996.74
• weekly: $922
• hourly: $24.60

Top paying areas for office managers in Canada include: Northwest Territories, Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba.

discover our most recent office manager jobs

what are the duties and responsibilities of office managers?

While the roles of an office manager are unique to each organization, some of the main functions include:

• Recruitment of employees: As an office manager, it is your responsibility to recruit and select the office staff. Every time there is a vacancy in the company, you liaise with the human resource team and participate in the recruitment process. That means you determine the number of workers and the qualifications or experience candidates need to fill the vacancies. You also post the job advertisements, receive applications, interview and select the right employees.
• Leadership: Your main job is to ensure office operations run smoothly. That gives you control over the work done on the premises. You collaborate with team leaders to set goals and provide the resources needed to achieve the goals. It is also crucial for managers to motivate employees to improve performance.
• Training and development: As the office manager, you decide the best time to train employees and organize workshops for career development. You need to ensure that recruits receive orientation training and a refresher course on the company's policies. It is also crucial to plan training programs for existing employees to boost their skills and performance.
• Coordinating activities and resources: Office managers are the link between top management and the staff. Hence, it is your job to coordinate various activities to ensure they align with a company's long-term goals and strategic plan. You should also create a budget and ensure the economical use of resources.
• Measuring performance: As an office manager, you need to devise ways to measure each employee's output and productivity levels. That means you develop key performance indicators and a reward scheme for motivating top performers in the company. Sometimes, you promote or demote employees based on performance.
• Disciplining workers: Your work is to implement rules and regulations in a company. That means you should listen to the grievances of the office staff. When disciplining staff, avoid personal bias.

where do office managers typically work?

Office managers oversee the operations of a company or an office. They work in different sectors, including:

• Manufacturing and production
• Retail sector
• Finance and insurance
• Hospitals and healthcare institutions
• Consultancy companies
• Law firms

discover our most recent office manager jobs

what skills and competencies do office managers need?

As an office manager, you are involved in various aspects of office operations. You need a wide range of skills, including:

• Organizational skills: Office managers juggle numerous tasks and coordinate multiple aspects of the workplace. Without organizational skills, you won't accomplish all the tasks. When you organize your tasks, you can delegate some work to various personnel as you deal with urgent managerial duties. Organizational skills also help you schedule employees and develop a routine for office operations.
• Excellent communication skills: As an office manager, you work with employees and top managers. Strong written and verbal communication skills are necessary for job success. Your communication abilities help you relay employees' grievances to top management and receive feedback on ways to handle problems in the organization. You also have to write reports and client files, and writing skills will come in handy.
• Analytical skills: When you manage office operations, you need to evaluate the current systems and improve the overall efficiency. Your analytical skills help you assess the current processes and identify gaps that slow down operations. You can also ensure the existing system meets the company's needs and is ideal for your workers.
• Leadership skills: As an office manager, your job isn't just to give instructions to employees. You lead workers and motivate them to improve performance. Leadership skills help you manage a team and guide them towards company goals.
• Financial acumen: Most office managers are in charge of budgeting and payroll management. You need financial acumen to create an operational budget and review the income from sales. Budgeting skills help you analyze the revenue and expenditures and predict the financial needs of an organization. Financial acumen also assists in developing the best strategies for reducing costs.

what training and certifications do office managers need?

Most office managers start as administrative support staff and improve their qualifications and skills to rise to managerial positions. You can pursue a university degree in business management or business administration to gain the relevant skills. While a bachelor's degree isn't compulsory, you need it to strengthen your career prospects and increase your chances of employment. Some companies prefer a certificate qualification in administrative functions to showcase your skills. Experience in a managerial position also helps you hone your skills and increases your competitiveness.

discover our most recent office manager jobs