What Does an Office Manager Do?

The first step is completing your high school education and earning a diploma or equivalent. If you get the opportunity while you’re still in high school, try helping out in an office setting. You’ll learn about the office environment, which will be beneficial in the long run.

Next comes focused training. You’ll need to earn a certificate in office management or an associate degree in business administration, human resources management or information management. Be aware that some large employers look for candidates with a bachelor’s degree in similar topics.

Office manager programs will cover administrative software programs, payroll best practices, basic math and writing, human resources and file management.

Gaining experience is the key to success in this role because it’s proof of your skills. If you don’t have any leads on a job out of school, consider temp agency work. That can lead to a permanent position, but even if it doesn’t, it’s still worthwhile experience. 

Similarly, you can work in a parallel role in an industry that interests you but requires more experience. For example, you can gain insight into medical office management by taking a less prominent role, such as administrative assistant or bookkeeper.

Once you have experience, you may want to become more specialized or broaden your skills. For example, many good office managers are excellent at trouble-shooting, especially if there isn't an IT support specialist on staff.

There are plenty of opportunities to grow in this role. 

Office manager certification isn’t required, but it could distinguish you from the next candidate. 

Some options include Certified Records Manager from the Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM), Certified Administrative Professional from the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) or Information Governance Professional certification from the Association of Records Managers and Administrators, also called ARMA International.

Certifications require passing a test and renewal every few years. 

Earning a certificate will take a year or less. Earning an associate degree will take two years.  

Yes. Overall employment is expected to grow 7% from 2021 to 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That works out to almost 32,000 openings each year. 

Successful office administrators typically have these traits:  

• Organized
• Attention to detail
• Discretion
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills
• Flexibility
• Good listening and communication skills
• Positive attitude
• Good time-management skills
• Able to learn new computer software applications quickly

This career has a moderate impact from AI since scheduling and record-keeping can be automated. AI helps with workflow management, payroll, and communication tools. Human leadership and problem-solving remain essential.