Become an Office Manager

Courtesy of Harrison College

Office ManagerOffice Managers are the backbone of a well-run office. Office Managers are often referred to as Administrative Professionals.  Many people assume that office management mainly consists of typing correspondence, but most Office Managers today take on many more responsibilities than just correspondence.

How to Earn Your Office Management Degree 

An associate's degree in administration or business management from a school such as Harrison College can prepare you to enter office management as a competent employee. With employers now placing “technology and computer literacy” high on their list of desirable employee skills, it's a good idea to be trained on all the latest office technology.

Important Traits

  • Very organized, good at creating and implementing policies and procedures
  • Good interpersonal skills; comfortable talking to people all day
  • Leadership qualities
  • Excellent communication skills, written and oral
  • Strong technical skills; proficient on computers, standard office software such as Word®, Excel® and PowerPoint®, and the Internet

Work Environments

As an Office Manager, there are many types of work environments in which you could possibly work. Every organization -- from the small business with a handful of employees to large corporations with thousands of employees -- requires an Office Manager.

You could seek work in the public sector at a government office, school system or nonprofit organization, or in the private sector at a small local office or an office within a large corporation. You will most likely report directly to the “big boss” or a department director. You may eventually have other people reporting to you.

Typical Day

Every day is different, and the tasks you perform will rely on what’s needed on any given day, but may include:

  • Plan and organize meetings
  • Handle recordkeeping
  • Perform basic bookkeeping
  • Create presentations
  • Keep office organized; monitor and order office supplies
  • Manage relationships with outside vendors
  • Plan and organize special events
  • Handle correspondence

Typical Attire

Depending on the type of office in which you work, typically the dress code is professional or business casual. Professional dress means dress suits or slacks, button-down shirts and ties for men, dresses, suits, or blouses and slacks for women. Business casual usually means cotton slacks and sweaters or polo / golf shirts for men, and skirts or khakis with sweaters or casual knit tops for women.

Schedule

As an Office Manager, the hours are usually standard business hours. Business hours are approximately 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. There are exceptions; for example, some offices may require Saturday hours or some evening hours, but those situations are less common than the standard 8-5 / 5-day workweek.

Money

The pay will certainly vary according to the location of the job, the size of the organization, and your level of education and experience. In many areas of Indiana, the entry-level pay is somewhere between $22,000 – 26,000, or approximately $12+ / hour. Many organizations provide benefits, such as vacation time, health insurance and retirement accounts.

The Future for Office Managers

The future for Office Managers is very strong. Our successful graduates are placed into positions as quickly as possible, because the positions are open and available. The long-term forecast for Office Managers is positive, with more growth expected across the U.S.

This article courtesy of Harrison College. For more information on Harrison College degree programs in business, click here.