Office Manager Duties
Office manager duties include computer skills, time management skills, human resource and supervisory roles. Your role might also depend on where you work. If you work in a hotel or in a medical office, you will need related skills. Often job postings ask for office manager/account payable clerk or payroll clerk. In any of these cases, your duties might include greeting customers, resolving problems, maintaining office equipment, planning events, processing payroll, ordering supplies, or making collection phone calls.
Be careful when looking at jobs that ask for “Office Manager” but include duties related to other specialties. If you accept a job like this, you might be paid for less than you are worth and at the same time might be doing several jobs instead of one. If you are qualified to be an accountant, you should apply to an accounting position and be paid accordingly. If you are an Administrative Assistant, or a Human Resource Manager, then you should apply to those job titles. On the other hand, if you do possess these skills, but cannot find a job in your profession, then an office manager job might be just what you need.
One general skill that office managers need is computer skills. Office manager duties are most often associated with Microsoft applications. In addition to already having some software knowledge, you must be willing to update your skills, through adult learning opportunities.
Good time management is another general duty often required for employment in an office. Many office managers have large lists of tasks. These lists will likely not only include your own to do items, but they may also include monitoring the tasks of all other office staff. To effectively do this, you must have a good sense of prioritizing and supervising yourself and others. When applying for an office management position, you may be asked about your ability to meet deadlines.
In addition to time management duties, you must often possess management skills in general. As previously stated, the functions performed by office managers will likely vary. In a large office setting, you may be responsible for managing other office personnel. This requires management skills such as leadership and communication.
Another hat the officer manager might wear is one of Human Resource employee. It may be your duty to hire new employees and arrange to train them. You might need to set up work schedules or explain benefits.
Being prepared for many types of office manager duties will make you highly employable. Make sure that your education includes accounting, business, and computer courses.
