London, UK (PRWEB)
March 18, 2009 -- Hays, specialist recruiter, has announced that
although the market for senior office managers has slowed during the
last quarter, opportunities still exist for suitably qualified
applicants, particularly in the professional and public services
sectors.
Competition for office manager jobs (http://www.hays.com/officesupport/OfficeManager/
) may have intensified in the current marketplace as the number of
applicants per role has increased. "Market conditions are dictating
salary levels and job volumes at present but demand still exists for
the most highly skilled and experienced office managers," said Geoff
Collings, Regional Director at Hays Office Support.
Applicants need to be flexible, in terms of salary, location and
industry sector. Employers are looking at their costs carefully but
jobseekers can improve their chances of securing a role by looking
outside their immediate industry sector. Geoff continued, "It is
definitely worth considering smaller and medium sized enterprises,
which may still be growing."
Senior office managers with the broadest range of skills are best
positioned to succeed in the current market, as employers can benefit
from the commercial experience that they can bring. "Those candidates
who can demonstrate quantifiable examples of the value they bring to a
business are sought after. Examples include procurement, tenders and
contract negotiations, which can help save costs, drive efficiencies
and impact profitability," explained Geoff.
As firms look to restructure and merge roles, there is a requirement
for individuals who have experience across a range of areas and office
managers can fit the bill perfectly. Facilities management, procurement
and contract management, secretarial management and first line IT
support can all fall under the remit of the senior office manager.
Versatility is a major plus but employers are also looking for first
class people management skills, people that can stay calm under
pressure and are natural problem solvers. "Office managers need to
think on their feet and be approachable, have excellent prioritisation
skills and liaise with internal and external stakeholders alike," Geoff
emphasised.
While recruitment activity for senior office managers has slowed across
the UK, there are some excellent opportunities for the right
jobseekers. Continuing professional development and enhancing skills by
taking on a range of responsibilities are important factors in the
current climate. "We would urge all applicants to update their CVs and
make sure they list all their relevant experience, as employers are
being more selective in their hiring," concluded Geoff.
(Read the original release on PRWeb.)
Tags: recruitment, global statistics, management, uk
Categories: News