what is an office manager?
As an office manager, you have a knack for organisation, working with staff and clients alike. You see yourself as a service provider and aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and get involved. With your enthusiasm and organisational talent, you ensure smooth operations in the office. Your specific tasks depend on the size of the company you work for. In smaller businesses, you’re a jack-of-all-trades. You handle purchasing, mail, and reception duties. Additionally, you organise meetings, events, and business trips. You keep everything under control and support the management team wherever possible. In larger companies, you often focus on a particular team. For example, you might act as the link between the Marketing Manager and the marketing team or between the Sales Director and the sales team. You take care of all administrative tasks and work closely with other departments such as Finance or HR. Becoming an office manager isn’t something you’re born with, but something you develop into. Typically, you start out as an assistant or administrative clerk. Over time, you acquire additional skills in time management and team leadership. This way, you can meet your responsibilities as an office manager. If the profession of office manager appeals to you, read on to find out what makes you successful in this role.
office manager jobsworking as an office manager.
Your tasks as an office manager are diverse. They depend on the size of the company. However, you are always responsible for office management and effective communication. Find out more about your responsibilities as an office manager. Then read on here.
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your area of responsibility
The extensive responsibilities of an office manager include:
- Organisation: Your main task as office manager is to organise the day. You plan staffing and activities in a way that everything runs smoothly. This involves delegating tasks to employees and reviewing the work results. If things don’t go as planned, you step in to make corrections. The goal of your role is to support your boss as best as possible.
- Motivation and development: As an office manager, you lead and support your team members. If someone is struggling with a task, you organise further training or coaching. When a team member excels, you recognise and appreciate their efforts. You motivate your team to perform at their best.
- Communication: In your role as office manager, you communicate daily. You inform your team about upcoming tasks. You share work results with your boss. Colleagues are kept in the loop about important decisions made by management. Customers get in touch to raise their concerns. Business partners need to speak directly with the CEO, who isn’t always in the office. You take care of everything and steer it in the right direction.
- First point of contact: For all matters within the company, you are the first person to approach. When a digital meeting is scheduled, you prepare it together with IT specialists. If business trips need approval, you also handle the travel arrangements. In case of conflicts between teams, you work with those involved to find a solution.
- Adhere to regulations: Even for offices, there are laws, standards, rules, and ordinances. Their main purpose is to protect the employees. A health-promoting environment keeps them productive and healthy. As office manager, you ensure that all regulations are followed. This helps maintain smooth operations and minimizes downtime.
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who are your colleagues?
In your role as office manager, you work closely with colleagues from all departments. You mainly collaborate with sales and accounting teams in trading companies. HR specialists are among your closest allies in large corporations. You also have regular exchanges with marketing managers. Essentially, all administrative staff are your contacts. If you work in a manufacturing company, you'll interact with technicians and machine operators. In software firms, you form a tight-knit team with IT experts.
types of office managers.
Office managers work across all industries and various types of companies. Your core responsibilities are quite similar, whether in small businesses or large corporations. The details may differ depending on the sector. Here’s a selection:
- Front office manager: In the hospitality industry, as a front office manager, you're responsible for the reception. This includes taking reservations and looking after guests. You make sure everyone feels comfortable and wants to come back. To do this, you create suitable shift schedules so that enough staff are available. If there are any complaints, you find a satisfactory solution. Your boss is happy with you when the hotel or ship is running at optimal capacity.
- Office manager real estate trust: You independently organise all office areas such as reception, office supplies, mail, and telephone. You provide administrative and organisational support to the management and real estate agents. You handle correspondence with property owners and tenants, coordinate and monitor appointments. Additionally, you plan and organise condominium owners’ meetings.
- Office manager in healthcare: In hospitals or clinics, you are the first point of contact for patients, insurance companies, and suppliers. You schedule appointments according to priority. You triage injured patients based on the severity of their injuries. You enter patient data into the company's software. In addition, you handle general secretarial duties. Things can often be hectic in clinics and practices, but you remain calm and enjoy interacting with people.
salary as office manager.
The popular job platforms show a wide range of gross salaries for office managers. The reason for this is the many factors that influence your salary. For example, your education and work experience play a significant role. Larger companies tend to pay more than smaller businesses. The industry also has an impact on your pay. As an average starting salary, you can expect around CHF 60,000. That breaks down to roughly CHF 5,000 per month. Some companies offer additional benefits, such as a 13th salary. Attractive employment conditions are also meant to convince you to join a particular role. Find out more here about your gross salary as an office manager.
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how much do I earn as an office manager in a permanent position?
As an office manager, your gross salary ranges between 60,000 and 100,000 CHF per year. That amounts to roughly 5,000 to 8,300 CHF per month. Some companies also pay you a 13th month salary. The role of office manager is well suited for part-time work. In that case, your pay is proportional to your hours. If you hold a position of trust with significant responsibility, higher salaries are definitely possible. Larger companies often require office managers to have certified further training, and they compensate you accordingly. Your experience also helps increase your salary. The region you work in has an impact as well — in major cities like Zurich, you typically earn more than in rural areas.
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in which industry do I earn the most as an office manager?
The wide range of salaries is also reflected across different industries. Major financial service providers or leading technology companies in the ICT sector pay excellent wages. Salaries in the pharmaceutical industry are also quite competitive. In smaller companies, you tend to earn less, but you might have more responsibility and a broader scope of tasks. In the hospitality industry, you won't get rich as an office manager, but you often work in beautiful locations with a high quality of life. Hotels and cruise ships leverage their perks, with accommodation and meals often included. Always consider the overall package and not just the base salary offered.
training and further education as an office manager.
An office manager is not an apprenticeship profession. Typically, you start your career as an assistant or administrative clerk. A solid foundation is built with a three-year commercial basic education and several years of professional experience. Various educational institutions offer part-time further training. For example, check out the two-day seminar offered by ZfU in Zurich.
The KBZ in Zug offers diploma courses tailored to your starting level. In the seminars, you'll learn everything you need for professional office management. Plus, you'll stay up-to-date in your job. Technologies are constantly evolving to make your work easier. You're passionate about this, aiming to become more effective.
positions as office manager.
Office managers are in demand across all industries. You’ll find a variety of roles in the hospitality sector, finance, ICT companies, and retail. Food producers and the healthcare sector also offer interesting job opportunities. Exciting career prospects are opening up everywhere. Are you looking for a position with growth potential? Take a look at our office manager listings on this page. See
job openings for career changers as office manager.
As an office manager, you continue your professional development. With a commercial basic education, work experience, and ambition, you have a solid foundation. Even career changers have good chances if they are willing to develop further. Commitment, leadership skills, and assertiveness can compensate for some missing qualifications. If you still need to acquire core competencies, you can do so through part-time courses. If you're passionate about becoming an office manager, you’ll find the right job through Randstad.
career opportunities and development potential as an office manager.
Your job as an office manager is a great stepping stone for a career. You stand out with your organisational talent and gain leadership experience. Several paths are open to you. For example, you could deepen your expertise in quality management or HR. In small and medium-sized companies, you might take on team leadership within a department. Perhaps you're interested in a management career? In that case, pursuing further studies is a good idea. As a certified business administrator, you position yourself for middle management roles. Higher vocational schools and universities of applied sciences offer a diverse range of programmes. Want to develop further as an office manager? Check out our tests and tips.
competencies as an office manager.
Office managers primarily impress with their organisational skills and enthusiasm. Other important abilities include:
- Communication skills: In your role as office manager, you communicate all day long. You take orders and make sure you understand them correctly. You inform employees about their tasks. You motivate them to complete their work efficiently and conscientiously. You share management’s decisions with colleagues. Throughout, you remain always courteous and respectful.
- Reliability: No matter what tasks you receive from your boss, you complete them conscientiously. Whether you're organising meetings, managing projects, or preparing documents, you can be counted on. You finish your work within the set timeframe. In doing so, you and your team achieve excellent results that impress your boss.
- Team spirit: As an office manager, you're not a lone wolf. Only as a team can you successfully achieve company goals. You delegate tasks to your colleagues and trust that they will carry them out with motivation. Your colleagues won't stab you in the back because you treat them with appreciation. Through your team spirit, you turn projects into reality successfully.
benefits of working as an office manager at randstad.
There are many good reasons to work at Randstad as an office manager:
✓ exciting jobs with well-known companies
✓ a reliable contact person whenever you need one, personal advice really matters
✓ attractive employment conditions and good social benefits
✓ continuing education courses and personal development opportunities
✓ clear information in the myRandstad app
✓ do you have a fixed-term contract? Often, there’s the possibility of securing a permanent position afterwards. Many popular companies also recruit their staff directly through Randstad.
your professional development budget as an office manager at randstad.
If you work as an office manager for Randstad, you have access to further training courses. As part of the TempTraining program from swissstaffing, you can attend training sessions. You will get the course fees reimbursed later, provided you pass the course exam. Your Randstad consultant is there to support you if you have any questions. This way, you can acquire additional language skills or job-specific knowledge, all during your working hours as an office manager.
application tips for office managers at randstad.
Have you found your dream job as an office manager? It’s not just qualifications and certificates that determine the success of your applications. Carefully prepared, error-free, and personalized documents will definitely support you in your job search. Here are a few useful tips to improve your chances:
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1. find a position as office manager
Search through the Randstad job offers. If you don’t find a position that’s a perfect fit, you’re still welcome to get in touch with us personally without any obligation or to create a Randstad profile.
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2. applying as office manager
The job ad continues right away: apply online, give us a call, or send us an email.
Make sure your documents are complete:
✓ CV with photo
✓ work references & diplomasYou don't have a CV yet or only an outdated version? Create a new layout using a free online template.
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3. preparing for the job interview as an office manager
A good preparation will help you stay calm during the interview as an office manager. Here are some tips for your job interview.
frequently asked questions.
Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the office manager profession.
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what does an office manager do?
As an office manager, you have a passion for organisation, clients, and staff. You see yourself as a service provider and enjoy rolling up your sleeves yourself. Thanks to your organisational talent, you ensure a smooth office day-to-day. You organise, support, and lighten the workload. Curious? Find out more about your tasks as an office manager here.
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how much do I earn as an office manager?
Your gross salary as an office manager ranges between 60,000 and 100,000 CHF per year. That breaks down to roughly 5,000 to 8,300 CHF per month. Several factors such as education, role, and work experience can increase your salary. Some companies attract you with attractive employment conditions. Read more here about how much you can earn as an office manager.
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is being an office manager a good profession?
If you enjoy working with people and aren’t afraid of responsibility, then being an Office Manager is the right profession for you. Service isn’t just a buzzword for you, but a genuine conviction. You support your supervisors and complete your tasks reliably. You set the pace, and your team follows your lead. An interesting, varied job with good career prospects will reward you for it. Want to know what to expect as an office manager? Keep reading right here.
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is an office manager role difficult?
In your role as office manager, things can get pretty hectic at times. Your boss expects you to keep everything under control. You’re happy to take on responsibility and stay calm even in the busiest moments. Since you love organising and communicating, you really enjoy this profession. If you want to find out what makes the office manager role so appealing, just have a look at this page.
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do you need experience to become an office manager?
An office manager is not an apprenticeship profession. You complete a commercial basic education and gain experience. If you enjoy taking on challenging tasks, you can develop into an office manager. Leading a team also requires learning and practice. Therefore, career changers with experience also have good chances. Through Randstad, you can find positions for experienced professionals and career changers. Are you wondering if you're suited to become an office manager? Read more here about what makes you a good office manager.
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what requirements do I need to meet to become an office manager?
You have a good foundation with a commercial apprenticeship or a Bachelor's degree. Work experience as an assistant or in project management increases your chances for a position in office management. Ambitious career changers are also in demand by companies, especially if they bring important skills with them. These include organisational talent, team spirit, and reliability. Discover our job offers for office managers here.
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how do I apply for a vacant position as an office manager?
We make applying for the office manager position easy for you with Randstad. First, create a Randstad profile and browse our job portal for open positions. Found an interesting offer? Then send us your application letter along with your CV and certificates right away. Need help with your application? Check out our application tips, and you'll be able to put together a compelling application.
