Office Administrators

Office managers should have knowledge of business and management principles necessary to plan, allocate resources, show leadership, enable production, and coordinate people and resources. They should have command of the English language, including spelling, grammar, and rules of composition, and mathematics, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, and statistics. They should feel comfortable with computers and be familiar with economic and accounting principles and practices, as well as the financial markets, banking, and the analysis of financial data. In addition to basic listening and speaking skills, office managers should be socially aware in interpreting and reacting to others, and possess skills in reasoning and logic in considering and solving problems. Office managers who are adept in communicating with others either in writing, e-mail, or in person and who have developed cooperative working relationships with others are the most effective in this job.

Offices can be hectic places. Deadlines on major projects can create tension, especially if some workers are sick or overburdened. Office administrators must constantly juggle the demands of their superiors with the capabilities of their subordinates. Thus, they need an even temperament and the ability to work well with others. Additional important attributes include organizational ability, attention to detail, dependability, and trustworthiness. Since many offices promote administrators from clerical work positions within their organization, relevant work experience is also helpful.