Office Manager Resume Examples

Creating an impressive office manager resume can be a daunting task. You juggle many responsibilities, but capturing that on paper isn’t easy. You might wonder how to showcase your multitasking skills or highlight your leadership abilities effectively. Plus, matching your diverse skills with what employers are looking for can feel overwhelming. Striking the right balance between professionalism and personality is tricky. This guide is your key to overcoming those challenges and crafting a resume that stands out.

Choosing the right resume template can make all the difference. First impressions matter, and a well-organized, clean format instantly sets a professional tone. It makes your skills and experience easy to read and shows attention to detail — a crucial quality for any office manager. Investing time in selecting the perfect template ensures your resume isn’t just another document but a powerful tool that speaks volumes about your capabilities.

Explore our resource of over 700 resume examples to help you create a standout resume!

What to focus on when writing your office manager resume

An office manager resume should clearly convey your ability to oversee administrative functions, manage office operations, and support staff to ensure a smooth work environment. Emphasize skills in organization, communication, and problem-solving, as well as a track record of improving office procedures and efficiency.

To enhance your resume's impact, consider including:

• Specific achievements like cost savings or process improvements.
• Proficiency in office management software.
• Examples of team leadership and staff coordination.

By highlighting these elements, recruiters will see your potential to significantly benefit their organization.

Must have information on your office manager resume

When crafting your office manager resume, there are essential sections that you should include to make a strong impression.

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Skills
• Education
• Certifications

In addition to these must-have sections, consider adding Sections for awards, professional affiliations, or volunteering to further highlight your qualifications. These additional elements can help set you apart from other candidates.

Which resume format to choose

For an office manager resume, the best format is the reverse-chronological one as it highlights your experience and career progression. Use modern fonts like Rubik and Montserrat instead of outdated ones like Arial and Times New Roman for a fresh, professional look. Always save your resume as a PDF to keep the formatting intact. Margins should be 1 inch on all sides to ensure readability and prevent clutter. Clear section headings, like "Experience" and "Skills," are critical for ATS as they help parse your information correctly.

Your office manager resume should have the following sections:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Skills
• Education
• Certifications
• Achievements
• References

Resume Mentor's free resume builder takes care of all these details for you, making the process seamless.

How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

When crafting your resume's experience section as an office manager, you want to focus on structure and clarity. Start with your most recent job and work backward, keeping it in reverse chronological order. Aim to go back around 10-15 years, unless you have highly relevant earlier experience. Include job titles such as Office Manager, Administrative Manager, and similar roles. Tailor each bullet point to highlight achievements that fit the job you're applying for. Use strong action words like "led," "managed," "improved," and "implemented."

Ensure every bullet point focuses on achievements using numbers whenever possible to quantify your success. This shows the impact you had rather than just listing your tasks. Avoid overly formal language and aim for clear, simple words that anyone can understand.

Now, let's see two examples. The first will be a poorly written experience section, followed by a much more effective one:

This experience section is poorly written because it lists duties, not achievements. It has vague descriptions without quantifiable successes. There’s a lack of action-oriented words and no mention of any impact or improvements made in those roles.

Now, here's an improved version.

This example focuses on achievements and quantifies your successes. The action words like "boosted," "reduced," and "implemented" show clear, impactful actions. The described outcomes demonstrate how you made a real difference in each role, making this a superior example.

Office manager resume experience examples

Ready to organize your resume with dazzling office manager experience? Well, you're in the "write" place! Let's get down to business, showcasing your amazing skills and experience in a way that will make recruiters say, "Office manager material!"

Achievement-focused

Highlight specific achievements that showcase your excellence in your field. Mention awards, recognitions, or significant milestones that reflect your value.

Skills-focused

Showcase the range of skills you possess, emphasizing those most relevant to an office manager role, such as multitasking, communication, and organizational skills.

Responsibility-focused

Detail the responsibilities you were entrusted with, illustrating your reliability and capacity for managing various tasks simultaneously.

Project-focused

Describe specific projects you have led or contributed to, showing your ability to manage and execute initiatives successfully.

Result-focused

Focus on the outcomes of your efforts, noting measurable successes and their impact on the overall organization.

Industry-specific focus

Tailor your experience to highlight your knowledge or expertise within a specific industry, showing relevance to the field.

Problem-Solving focused

Showcase your ability to tackle and resolve workplace challenges, emphasizing critical thinking and solution-focused approaches.

Innovation-focused

Emphasize your ability to bring innovative ideas to life, driving improvement and modernization within the office environment.

Leadership-focused

Illuminate your leadership abilities, showcasing how you have directed teams and inspired others to achieve their best.

Customer-focused

Highlight your dedication to customer service and your ability to enhance client satisfaction and relationships.

Growth-focused

Illustrate how your actions have contributed to the growth and development of your company or department.

Efficiency-focused

Detail how you have improved operational efficiency, reducing wasted time and resources within your office environment.

Technology-focused

Show your aptitude for incorporating and managing office technologies to streamline operations and enhance productivity.

Collaboration-focused

Explain how you have fostered collaboration and teamwork within the office to achieve common goals and improve workplace morale.

Training and Development focused

Highlight your efforts in training and developing staff, ensuring they possess the skills and knowledge for their roles.

Write your office manager resume summary section

Writing the summary section for your office manager resume is about clearly presenting your value to potential employers. Focus on your skills, experience, and accomplishments that make you stand out. Describe yourself using powerful words that highlight your efficiency, organizational skills, and leadership qualities.

Here's how you might start. Think of the summary section as a brief but impactful introduction. You want to spark interest right away. This means being clear, specific, and brief. Highlight your top skills, key experiences, and significant achievements.

There is a key difference between a resume summary, objective, profile, and summary of qualifications. A resume summary provides a snapshot of your experience and skills. A resume objective states your career goals. A resume profile offers a more extended look at your experience and achievements. A summary of qualifications is a bulleted list of your key skills and experiences.

Now, here are two examples of resume summaries for the role of an office manager. Compare them and see what works and what doesn't.

The first summary example doesn't work well. It lacks specific details about your skills and experience. Phrases like "many years" and "various tasks" are too vague. It also doesn't explain how you can add value to the employer. Avoid using generic terms and keep the focus on achievements and specific abilities.

The second example is effective. It includes specific numbers to show your achievements, such as reducing costs by 20%. It clearly lists your key skills like handling administrative tasks and coordinating teams. This summary helps potential employers quickly see the value you offer. Use specific examples and metrics to make your summary stand out.

Listing your office manager skills on your resume

When writing your skills section for an office manager resume, you can either create a standalone section or weave your skills into other sections like experience and summary. Your strengths and soft skills should showcase your personal qualities, such as leadership and communication. Hard skills are the specific, teachable abilities or knowledge needed to perform your job duties effectively, such as proficiency in certain software or project management techniques.

Skills and strengths are crucial as they serve as resume keywords, helping your resume get noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and hiring managers. Including industry-specific keywords can increase the chances of your resume being selected for further review.

The foregoing skills section is strong because it lists relevant abilities that are crucial for an office manager role. It is concise, easy to read, and covers a broad range of required skills, from project management to customer service. Using clear and specific terms helps your resume get past screening software and grabs the attention of employers looking for specific expertise.

Best hard skills to feature on your office manager resume

Office managers need hard skills that demonstrate their ability to handle specific tasks required for the job. These skills should communicate your technical proficiency and capacity to oversee daily office operations effectively.

Best soft skills to feature on your office manager resume

Office managers should have soft skills that show their interpersonal abilities and adaptability in various situations. These skills illustrate your capacity to communicate effectively and manage a team.

How to include your education on your resume

An education section is an important part of your resume, especially when applying for an office manager position. This section should be tailored to the job you are applying for, meaning that any irrelevant education should not be included.

To list your degree, include the title of the degree, the name of the institution, its location, and the dates attended. If your GPA is impressive, mention it; otherwise, it's best to omit it. Highlight any cum laude honors directly following your degree title to showcase your academic achievement.

Here’s an example of a poorly written education section:

This education section is poorly written because it includes an irrelevant degree and a low GPA that does not align with the office manager role.

A well-written education section example:

This example is good because it lists a relevant degree, mentions the cum laude honor, and includes an impressive GPA, which all align well with the office manager role. This focused education section ensures that the candidate's academic background enhances their suitability for the job.

How to include office manager certificates on your resume

Including a certificates section in your office manager resume is important because it showcases your continued learning and specialized skills. List the name of the certificate to clearly inform employers what you have achieved. Include the date you received the certificate to indicate how current your qualifications are. Add the issuing organization to show the credibility of the certificate. Certificates can also be included in the header for quick visibility. For example, if you have a PMP certification, you could write "John Doe, PMP, Office Manager."

This example is good because it lists certificates relevant to an office manager role, which are well-recognized and show expertise. By including "Certified Office Manager (COM)" and "Project Management Professional (PMP)", it highlights skills important for managing office tasks and leading projects. The issuing organizations, such as IAAP and PMI, are credible and respected, adding value to these certificates. This format is clean and easy to read, which helps to make a strong impression on potential employers.

Extra sections to include in your office manager resume

Crafting a standout resume as an office manager requires more than just listing your job duties and achievements. Including sections that showcase your full range of skills and experiences can make you a more attractive candidate.

• Language section — Highlight proficiency in multiple languages to show your ability to communicate with diverse teams and clientele.
• Hobbies and interests section — Display your personality and indicate that you have well-rounded, diverse interests, which can help you connect with colleagues.
• Volunteer work section — Demonstrate your commitment to the community and your ability to take initiative outside of work obligations.
• Books section — Mentioning books you’ve read related to your industry or self-improvement can reflect your dedication to personal growth and staying informed.

Adding these sections to your resume can offer a more complete picture of who you are as a candidate. They humanize you, showing that you are more than just your job titles and work history. This can make you more memorable to hiring managers and help you stand out in a competitive job market.

Pair your office manager resume with a cover letter

A cover letter is a brief document that accompanies your resume when applying for a job. It introduces you to the employer, highlights key aspects of your background, and explains why you are a perfect fit for the position. A well-crafted cover letter can not only grab the hiring manager's attention but also provide context that your resume alone might not convey.

For an office manager position, your cover letter should focus on your organizational skills, attention to detail, and experience with administrative tasks. It should also highlight your ability to manage a team, handle scheduling, and oversee office operations. Mention specific achievements, such as successful project management or improvements in office efficiency, to demonstrate your competency.

Use Resume Mentor's cover letter builder to craft a professional and polished cover letter with ease. The builder simplifies the process, ensuring your content is well-organized and impactful. Plus, exporting your cover letter as a PDF helps protect both your content and formatting, making sure it looks great when read by potential employers. Start your cover letter today and give your application the extra edge it needs!