Job Search Tips for Office Managers

At the helm of any successful office is a self-assured, efficient office manager. If you’ve ever worked as an office manager, you know the importance of multitasking and time management. An office manager in today’s market provides strategic value far beyond their administrative role.

Companies increasingly look to office managers to find ways to cut costs, increase profits, streamline office procedures, and increase employee productivity. Employment for these roles is expected to grow by 6% through 2029, a faster-than-average rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In a post-COVID-19 world, improving efficiency and cutting costs is likely to be an important part of an office manager’s ever-evolving role.

As you’re looking for office manager jobs, consider the following job search tips to help move your application to the front of the pack.

1. Spotlight Hard and Soft Skills in Your Resume

Running an office effectively requires a blend of hard and soft skills. In your resume, make sure to highlight both your technical aptitude — such as the software programs you know — as well as your interpersonal and communication skills. Make sure to include soft skills such as your decision-making capabilities, organizational aptitude, leadership skills, and project management ability.

You’ll also want to demonstrate some of your more technical, hard skills, such as your proficiency in Excel, bookkeeping programs, or project management software. If the job asks for specific skills, such as PowerPoint or QuickBooks, mention those in your resume or in your description of past job roles.

2. Anticipate Interview Questions

Office managers keep an office running smoothly, remaining calm under pressure even while juggling a variety of competing demands. Prospective employers will want to know how you’ve handled challenging situations at past positions, particularly any scenarios that highlight your professionalism, organizational ability, and promise as an office leader.

Expect to field interview questions about your organizational and multitasking abilities. You may be asked about your “weaknesses” in past office manager positions. Be prepared to candidly discuss any missteps, the lessons you have learned, and how you plan to avoid issues in the future. Lastly, be prepared to talk about your specific knowledge of office software.

3. Demonstrate Value During the Interview

Come prepared with numerous concrete examples of your successes as an office manager or in a prior administrative role. Focus on your ability to solve problems, such as those involving employees or vendors. You may also be asked to provide examples of problems you have solved in other office environments or even situations where you have saved a company time, money, or headaches. This is the time to share tips and tricks that help you manage your workload and stay organized.

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4. Target Your Job Search

While “office manager” is a common name for this role, some companies use different terms to describe the person who coordinates an efficient office operation. It’s important to search for other similar titles, such as Office Administrator, Administrative Service Manager, and Operations Specialist.

If you lack experience as an office manager, think about looking into other administrative jobs, which might allow you to move upward in the company once you have gained enough experience.

Ready to find your next opportunity as an office manager? Get started on iHireAdmin.com.