Job Description
A company’s Office Manager is expected to ensure the workplace runs smoothly by organising all administrative duties. The actual day-to-day tasks depend on the size of the company but no matter where you work, you can expect to be the first port of call for staff where issues can range from the mundane to the serious. Read on to learn more about the careers enjoyed by Office Managers.
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What Will I Be Doing?
First and foremost, you must always be filled with energy and ready for anything because you are the ‘go-to’ person in the office. Your daily duties will include the following:
- Keeping the company’s filing system in order.
- Creating and implementing new administration systems.
- Use of a variety of office software such as spreadsheet, emails and databases.
- Ensuring the office stationery supply is sufficient & creating the layout of the office.
- Attending training & conferences.
- Delivering presentations & delivering reports to executives.
- Making sure the office is adequately staffed at all times.
- Organising and chairing staff meetings.
It is a role that offers tremendous variety and an ability to multitask will certainly come in handy.
Is There Anything Else?
This is an office based role with typical 9-5 weekday hours. If you work in a smaller organisation you will probably need to share an office with other admin staff; Office Managers in larger companies will have their own office and are charged with overseeing a body of staff. They may work in an open plan office or in a number of small rooms in a large office block.
It is normal for Office Managers to travel to conferences and meetings. You may also be asked to visit other branch offices which could require an overnight stay.
Office Manager Career Path
In order to have the best chance of reaching the post of Office Manager, you will need a Bachelor’s Degree in one of the following areas:
- Management
- Public Administration
- Human Resource Management
- Computing & Information Technology
- Business Administration/Business Management
However, you can make your way up the ladder if you have a Degree in any subject.
If you don’t have a Degree you can still become an Office Manager if you have the relevant work experience and skills. Indeed, an increasing number of Irish companies are looking for candidates with a substantial amount of office experience and value this over a college degree alone.
If you are a graduate without experience, look for openings in the field through recruitment agencies; junior administration posts are a good place to start.
Most employers offer basic training which is provided in-house by larger companies; smaller organisations tend to rely on national & regional training institutions. This training usually covers:
- Stress & time management.
- Recruitment & selection.
- Education on diversity and equality legislation.
- IT software training
- Staff management
Once you have become an Office Manager, there are a number of career options at your fingertips. You can look for more Senior Management responsibilities or be placed in charge of a larger branch. The goal for Office Managers is to eventually become part of Senior Management while becoming Head of Department is one of the top posts you can aim for.
Office Manager Salary
The salary you can command will vary depending on the industry you choose, your qualifications and your experience. The Office & Secretarial sector is one of the best in Ireland right now in terms of job opportunities and there is high demand for qualified Office Managers; especially in the Financial, Legal & Professional Services industries.
A number of companies are looking for temporary Office Managers; this is an excellent way to gain valuable experience. The downside is the relatively low pay which is set at €14,000-€18,000 per annum. If you are hired as an Office Manager on a permanent basis, you can expect to command an annual salary of at least €28,000 but this can rise to €45,000 with 3+ years’ experience.
What Are The Good Points?
If you like being the leader then you will absolutely love being an Office Manager! It is a role with a huge amount of responsibility but being in charge of an entire office and the accompanying staff will undoubtedly give you a huge confidence boost; it also looks great on your CV.
The role is incredibly varied so there is no danger of boredom and a host of different industries are regularly seeking Office Managers including:
- Educational Establishments
- Hospitals
- Local & Central Government Organisations
- Law Firms
- Companies in Retail, Wholesale & Distribution
- Public Utilities
- Leisure Companies
- Security Services
- And Much More!
What Are The Bad Points?
It can be a very stressful job because when something goes wrong; the buck stops with you. Office Managers are expected to be the first person in and the last one out every day. Although the hours are reasonable, there is little flexibility so achieving a work/life balance might be hard for some.
Additionally, you may be asked to spend nights or even whole weekends away from your family because of travel commitments.
Trying to convince senior management to invest in the office for much-needed supplies can also be a royal pain.
Is Office Manager The Role The Right One For Me?
In order to have a realistic chance of becoming an Office Manager, you need to display the following skills & abilities:
- Top notch organisation and time management.
- Excellent IT knowledge.
- The ability to use your initiative.
- The capacity to adapt to ever-changing workloads and responsibilities.
- High quality project management, leadership and problem solving skills.
- Well developed written and oral communication skills.
It is also a good idea to seek out additional projects such as managing a group of volunteers as a means of gaining valuable experience in leading a team.
If liked the information provided in this Office Manager job description from the duties to salary to career progression, then you’re onto a good start.
Office Manager Jobs
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