How To Write an Office Manager Resume
As an office manager, you have to wear a lot of hats, and you’ve probably done interviews or made some hiring decisions of your own. This means you already know the time and thought that goes into ensuring someone is a good fit for the organization. Now that you’re on the other side of the interview table, use these tips and examples to write an office manager resume that helps you land your next job.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your qualifications
Hiring managers often receive a lot of applications, so you need to set yourself apart from the competition quickly, and the profile summary lets you do just that. This section goes at the top of your resume, where you can lay out your experience and qualifications. Look for keywords or skills the hiring manager lists as musts, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office or a strong understanding of HIPAA laws. Leadership experience, conflict resolution, and organizational skills are also good to highlight here.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Experienced office manager with over a decade of experience in employee and office management roles. Experience managing administrative teams, buying and maintaining equipment, keeping offices organized, and following safe employment practices according to OSHA regulations.
Entry-Level Profile Example
New graduate passionate about administrative duties. More than one year of experience working as an administrative assistant and four years of hands-on people and facility management. Complex problem-solving skills, high levels of attention to detail, and analytical skills.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
When crafting the professional experience section of your resume, you want to represent your past duties and responsibilities accurately, but remember that you’re writing for a target audience: the hiring manager. As you’re writing your job bullets, try to work in keywords from the job description, such as how you used a particular software or were able to handle client complaints. When possible, including numbers, such as the number of clients in the office, can help hiring managers get a better sense of your experience.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Administrative Manager
ABC Small Corp, Miami, FL | January 2011-Present
- Oversee administrative assistant staff, including participating in the hiring process
- Manage payroll, including timecard processing and providing biweekly paychecks to staff members
- Organize supply orders, including keeping inventory and researching cost management strategies
- Send corporate communications, including executive memos and changes to corporate policies
- Process incoming and outgoing mail for all staff members
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Administrative Assistant
DEF Small Office, Miami, FL | December 2018-Present
- Serve as main point of contact for office challenges, including property repairs, equipment malfunctions, supply ordering, and janitorial requirements
- Answer phones and greet guests upon arrival to the facility
- Compile information from executive leadership into memos and presentations to be distributed to the rest of the company
3. Include relevant education and certifications
When applying for an office manager job, it’s important to include any relevant education or certifications you’ve completed that position you as a strong candidate. Some openings will require a bachelor’s degree as a minimum, while others may be more concerned about your years of experience. Being a Certified Office Manager is a definite plus, but other software certifications and even SEO and CRM certifications can show that you have additional skills that can help you succeed after you’re hired.
Certifications
Template:
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
- Certified Office Manager, National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers, 2019
Education
Template:
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
Example:
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- University of Miami, Miami, FL – December 2009
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
The key skills and proficiencies section of your resume should be a simple bulleted list that gives a hiring manager an idea of what you can bring to the position. You can include both technical and professional skills, sometimes referred to as soft skills, in this list. If possible, it’s a good idea to skim the job description and pull relevant must-haves and keywords into this list. If you’re not sure what to include, try these commonly sought-after skills.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Bookkeeping knowledge | Budget tracking |
| Confidentiality | Conflict resolution |
| Contract management | Customer service |
| Data entry | Documentation management |
| Equipment knowledge | Event planning |
| Policy adherence | Quality control |
| Report generation | Resource allocation |
| Supply management | Vendor management |
How To Pick the Best Office Manager Resume Template
Organizing information and preparing professional documentation are key skills for office managers, and creating your resume gives you a chance to show a hiring manager how you excel at both. But this doesn’t mean you have to start from scratch. Use an office manager resume template to speed up the process and make it easier to tailor each resume you send out. Choose a simple template that can be skimmed in just a few seconds and is organized in a way that highlights your best qualifications.
Office Manager Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Bob Jones
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Address Rd, Anywhere, USA
Profile
New graduate passionate about administrative duties. More than one year of experience working in an administrative assistant capacity and four years of hands-on people and facility management. Complex problem-solving skills, high levels of attention to detail and analytical skills.
Key Skills
- Business software, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat
- Customer service skills
- Data entry
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration
University of Florida Tallahassee, FL, August 2014 – December 2018
Professional Experience
Administrative Assistant, DEF Small Office, Miami, FL
December 2018 – Present
- Serve as main point of contact for office challenges, including property repairs, equipment malfunctions, supply ordering and janitorial requirements
- Answer phones and greet guests upon arrival to the facility
- Compile information from executive leadership into memos and presentations to be distributed to the rest of the company
Head Lifeguard, AAA Community Pool, Miami, FL
May 2014 – August 2018
- Managed the lifeguarding staff at both the indoor and outdoor pools throughout the year
- Set schedules and drafted rotations to ensure proper coverage throughout the busy season, keeping both employees and pool patrons safe and happy
- Managed chemical levels and consistent testing practices to maintain a safe swimming environment in both the indoor and outdoor pools
Brittany Jones
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Address Rd, Anywhere, USA
Profile
Eager new graduate with management, administrative and organizational skills. Significant background in customer service, including giving tours, working reception, answering phones and planning events.
Key Skills
- Adobe Acrobat
- Customer service
- Microsoft Office
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration
University of Florida Tallahassee, FL, August 2014 – May 2018
Professional Experience
Administrative Assistant, DEF Corp, Miami, FL
June 2018 – Present
- Serve as the main office receptionist, including answering phones, replying to general email inquiries and greeting customers upon arrival
- Lead facility tours for visitors and school groups lasting one hour, answering questions and providing extensive company information from memory
- Provide support to executive teams, including scheduling meetings, organizing company travel, planning corporate events, managing conference room reservations and processing food orders
Admissions Tour Guide, College Admissions Office, Tallahassee, FL
August 2015 – May 2018
- Led campus tours to individual families and groups for a one-hour time period, providing substantial campus information and answering questions about programming and student life
- Worked at the reception desk in admissions, fielding student inquiries, updating admissions records and greeting visitors
- Wrote thank you cards to all visiting students to acknowledge their presence on campus and provide contact information for future questions or concerns
Betty Smith
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Address Rd, Anywhere, USA
Profile
Experienced office manager with over a decade of experience working in employee and office management roles. Significant practice in running an administrative team, pricing and procuring equipment, and ensuring office spaces run smoothly and in adherence with OSHA safe employment practices.
Professional Experience
Administrative Manager, ABC Small Corp, Miami, FL
January 2011 – Present
- Oversee administrative assistant staff, including participating in the hiring process
- Manage payroll, including time card processing and providing biweekly paychecks to staff members
- Organize supply orders, including keeping inventory and researching cost management strategies
- Send corporate communications, including executive memos and changes to corporate policies
- Process incoming and outgoing mail for all staff members
Office Manager, QRS Manufacturing, Miami, FL
January 2009 – December 2010
- Ensured facility was complying with OSHA standards, including managing safety procedures and posting all required notices
- Managed time cards for payroll purposes, including ensuring correct time reporting
- Oversaw equipment ordering, including heavy machinery for the warehouse as well as standard office supplies
- Served as a resource for warehouse and factory staff, including organizing maintenance requests, answering company questions and providing corporate memos as necessary
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration
University of Miami Miami, FL, August 2005 – December 2009
Key Skills
- Adobe Acrobat
- Equipment ordering
- Facility management
- Maintenance management
- Microsoft Office
- OSHA experience
- QuickBooks
Frequently Asked Questions: Office Manager Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for office manager resumes?+
Each bullet that lists a job duty or responsibility should start with a verb, but not just any verb. To bring your resume up a level and ensure a hiring manager views you as a strong candidate, use engaging action verbs to highlight how you’ve succeeded in previous positions. We know it can be difficult to think of a new word for every bullet, so we’ve put together a list of common action verbs for office manager resumes below that you can use to help you fill in the gaps.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Collaborated |
| Communicated | Coordinated |
| Delegated | Developed |
| Evaluated | Executed |
| Implemented | Improved |
| Maintained | Planned |
| Prepared | Prioritized |
| Resolved | Streamlined |
| Supported | Trained |
How do you align your resume with a job description?+
Whether you’ll see more open positions or face a more competitive candidate pool in your job search will depend somewhat on the office’s industry, but overall, office managers are expected to have average job growth, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Take a little extra time before sending out a resume to align it with the job description by using the same keywords and matching as many of the qualifications and must-haves as possible.
What is the best office manager resume format?+
Which resume format you choose can make a difference in whether you move on to the next stage of the hiring process. If you have years of experience as an office manager, a reverse chronological resume is a good option because it puts emphasis on your work history. Those trying to move into a new position with other leadership experience or applying for entry-level positions may be better served by a combination or functional resume.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
When you finish your resume, the next step is to write a strong cover letter. A cover letter should be short, usually just half a page or so, and should expand on your resume. You can give more context to a career highlight or explain how you can help solve a problem for the organization. If you need some help getting started, we’ve created some office manager cover letter examples you can use as a model for your own.
