The field of office management is highly competitive. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2026, the employment of office manager positions will have increased by 10%. And due to the growing need for office managers across the hospitality and financial institutions, universities, and especially corporates, hundreds of applicants apply for these vacancies. That means job searching for this position won’t be easy and you need to prepare an impressive and strong job application tool to stand out from the competition.
No idea what exactly hiring managers want to see in your resume to be considered for the position? Worry no more! This article will give you some fundamental knowledge about an office manager as well as tips on how to write an office manager resume that will get you job interviews. Read on!
What is an Office Manager?
An office manager is responsible for facilitating the efficient functioning of an office through a variety of administrative, clerical, financial, and managerial tasks. Their duties typically include allocating physical resources such as office space and supplies, scheduling internal events, overseeing operational staff such as accountants, technicians, and administrative personnel, and other details necessary to run an office in any industry or field.
Additionally, the office manager typically reports to a member of the upper management, such as the vice president or the director of operations. On the other hand, in smaller companies, an office manager may report directly to the chief operating officer (COO) or the chief executive officer (CEO).
What are the Duties of an Office Manager?
Apart from ensuring the smooth operations of the office and helping the improvement of company procedures and day-to-day processes; office managers could also work in a number of duties including the following:
- Assume full accountability in overseeing, coaching, and delegating tasks to office personnel in order to maximize productivity.
- Ensure adequate stock levels of all office supplies and equipment.
- Prepare detailed reports, letters, and new contracts, along with other management-level reports and presentations.
- Work closely with the HR Department in maintaining and updating workplace policies as needed.
- Make sure that every item is invoiced and paid promptly.
- Negotiate office lease terms, contracts, and prices with service providers and vendors.
- Address any staff questions about office management issues.
- Communicate with providers for the cleaning, catering, and security services of the facility.
- Plan internal or external events including gatherings, parties, and conferences as needed.
How Do You Become an Office Manager?
1. Obtain at least a GED or a higher degree.
In most cases, a high school diploma or a GED is required for work as office manager, so make sure to enroll in a GED course. And if you want to increase your chances of being considered, a business administration associate or bachelor’s degree will make you stand out.
2. Get experience in an office setting.
Many office managers begin as administrative or office assistants. To increase your chances of getting hired as an office manager, try to gain experience in ordering supplies, helping another office administrator, providing customer service, maintaining facilities, or leading a team. These abilities are transferable and applicable to the function of an office manager.
3. Acquire relevant skills.
Apart from having an educational degree, having relevant skills on your resume helps your job application stand out. Enroll in courses or certifications related to several short-term management, personality development, finance, or leadership to develop and further enhance your organizational, managerial, and leadership skills.
What to Include in Your Office Manager Resume
Office managers are the glue that holds a business together. They streamline office operations, help employees stay organized, and increase workplace productivity. And if you are applying for an office management job, these skills should be demonstrated to the hiring manager. But how do you showcase these skills to recruiters? In order to best present your abilities to hiring managers, your resume should include the following sections listed below:
Contact Information
Start your office manager resume by including the complete contact information, such as your name, mailing address, phone number, and email. You may also include a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website if you have one.
Specific Target Job Position
Known also as the career tag. This information is usually seen right after your contact details where you state your target post. This lets employers know what job position you’re applying for.
Qualifications Profile
A qualifications profile or also referred to by many as a resume summary is a section that can help you get the interest of recruiters. This is also the most read section of your resume. Thus, it’s important to highlight what you can bring to the table as an office manager in this section.
Expert Tip:
Avoid using resume objective when writing your summary. Instead, use compelling titles and headlines to attract the hiring manager’s attention.
Areas of Expertise
This section, also known as core competencies, is frequently used by hiring managers to gain a quick overview of your skills and abilities. Hence, stress the most relevant and important skills you have, while making sure that the job posting and your skills are in sync with each other.
Here are the soft and hard skills that appear most frequently on recent office manager job postings. These are the most sought-after skills by recruiters and hiring managers. So, try to include them on your resume where possible.
Hard Skills
- Office administration
- Workflow management
- Record and document preparation
- Administrative support
- Employee performance assessment
- Customer service
- Relationship building
- Process improvement
- Project management
- Events planning
Soft Skills
- Written and oral communication
- Decision making
- Problem solving and conflict resolution
- Leadership and teamwork
- Time management
Professional Experience
This section is one of the crucial areas that hiring managers carefully review in a resume, so you must take advantage of this. List your duties starting with your most recent job down to your first. Include the names of the companies, their locations, your job titles, and the dates you worked there.
And for hiring managers to quickly review your employment history and won’t miss any crucial information, use bullet points to describe the job descriptions, noteworthy contributions, and successes. It’s also a good idea to display actual results and numbers to increase your chances of getting hired.
Education
Another aspect that recruiters consider when making hiring decisions is academic background. Therefore, you should include the professional degree you have earned, especially if it is pertinent to the career you are seeking. The hiring manager will be interested if you include any honors, awards, and other leadership activities you participated in during your education.
Professional Development
This section plays a critical role in impressing hiring managers. List all training courses, seminars, and workshops you’ve taken, as well as any licenses and certifications you’ve earned in the industry. This can significantly strengthen your application.
Optional Sections for Your Office Manager Resume
Your professional affiliations, pertinent extracurricular activities, technical expertise, and completed projects are all good additions to your resume. So, if you have any, mention them on your office manager resume to give the recruiters more information that can convince them to hire you.
How to Write Your Office Manager Resume
Now that you are aware of the key components of an effective resume, it is time to learn how to create your own office manager resume. Produce a top-notch resume by following the writing guidelines and resume trends we’ve highlighted below.
1. Choose the right format for your office manager resume
If you have extensive office management experience, a chronological format is likely the best choice for you. Otherwise, you may consider using other resume formats, including a functional, targeted, and combination resume format. And regardless of which format you select, make sure that it includes all of the necessary information about your qualifications and experience in order to get that interview.
Expert Tip:
Use professional resume layouts and font styles to make your resume more appealing to hiring managers. Doing so would make it easier for resume-scanning software to assess your resume, which may improve your chances of passing the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
2. Show your impact on your resume summary.
Since you only have six seconds to grab the hiring manager’s attention, put off your best bait on your profile section. Show off the accomplishments that make you the best candidate for the job.
3. Highlight your relevant skills.
Since you’re aiming for a management role, you must highlight your leadership skills. Be sure to show that not only are you skilled at office duties, but you also possess the skills to lead. You may also want to include industry-specific keywords and a mix of hard and soft skills to demonstrate your capacity to carry out a range of duties.
4. Quantify your accomplishments using solid results and including numbers.
When listing your accomplishments, use strong action verbs and add figures instead of just plain words and information. That way, recruiters can get a sense of the value you can bring to their organization.
5. Proofread your document.
Read your office manager resume several times before submitting it. This makes it easier for you to check, identify, and fix issues like grammatical and punctuation errors. Note that keeping your CV error-free can improve your chances of landing job interviews.
Office Manager Resume Example
Below is a sample resume for an office manager to help you get an idea of what a good office manager resume should look like.
Note: For more ideas, browse our management resume examples.
Equip Yourself with A Well-Organized Office Manager Resume with our Expert!
Office managers go about organizing day-to-day office work, similarly, their resumes need to be in organized fashion as well. However, resume writing is not an easy task, which explains why the majority of office managers struggle to present their qualifications on paper.
But worry no more; with the aid of an expert resume writer, creating an impactful resume is now easy. With their expertise and knowledge in the field, they will not only provide you with a top-notch resume writing service but also help you quickly land your dream job.
Get in touch with us right away and let’s work together to snag your job search!
