How to progress from PA to Office Manager
Most office management professionals previously worked as assistants, junior administrators or receptionists before they moved into these roles so it's a natural route to take if you are interested in progressing in a different direction.
As of April ’23 there are over 6 million office managers on LinkedIn around the world. That’s a staggering number and we are so delighted to see this role becoming recognised and supported in ways we never have before. It’s a great profession with a huge remit and autonomy, and for those who nail the role, the prospects are vast. You can move into various senior roles such as COO, CFO, Head of HR, Building Manager, Head of Procurement, Global Office Manager / Head of Facilities and many more should you wish to, and the compensation on these can fetch £150k and upwards.
There are many individuals who will be employed straight into an office manager / assistant role, particularly where the smaller companies and start-up businesses are concerned, which allows for an immediate expansion on responsibilities, skills and growth. But what if you are at a mid-sized or large firm and want to progress to office manager? Here's some top tips on how you can influence your career and move into this sort of role.
If there is an existing office manager in place, one of the best ways to progress is to offer support, particularly where absence and projects are concerned. Volunteer to help out with an office move or procurement exercise, put your hand up for fire marshal and first aider roles and offer to help cover when there is planned or un-planned absence. If an obvious alternative is not already in place, identify a process that could be improved and offer to get it done.
If there is no-one currently in place and you see a gap, pro-actively (and subject to capacity) start to take the reins and improve the effectiveness of existing processes, highlight areas you believe can be worked on to your line manager and any applicable skills you have already that are transferable such as organisation, forward-thinking, communication etc.
Should you have the relationship to do it, have a direct conversation with your line manager and say “this is what I want to achieve, this is my ambition, vision, aspiration and I’d really love your help in getting me there. What can I do?” Also, strategically review your appraisals or performance plans to angle them more at office management roles and responsibilities. If nothing exists internally, try to get as much experience as you can where you are, if that’s possible and state on your CV that you are looking to move into more of an office management role in your next position.
To further support you, The Office Management Portal is a central resource for professionals in these roles full of advice, events you can attend, a Forum to connect with over 2,000 other Members around the world and download useful templates to support you further. You can join as a Member at any time for free www.theofficemanagementportal.com.