The office manager is essentially the backbone of the day-to-day operations of your workplace; therefore, determining which candidate to hire can be even more difficult than other hiring decisions because the consequences can be so widespread. Make an informed and objective decision by using these tips to hire your next outstanding office manager: 

Determine Necessary Traits 

Eliminate as much guesswork as possible by clearly defining and prioritizing the most necessary traits you're looking for in your ideal office manager (which may vary depending on industry, work environment, culture, etc.). Narrowing down the most crucial traits will help you objectively evaluate candidates to ensure they meet your needs. 

Write an Appealing Job Description

Hiring an outstanding office manager is only possible if you have a pool of excellent options. To attract top talent and deter unqualified candidates, use your job description strategically. Be direct about the tasks to ensure candidates understand the role. Include information about what makes the company different from others and why they should want to work for you. 

Ask the Right Questions

The ability to give outstanding interview responses doesn't necessarily indicate success once hired. Avoid interview questions that are based on hypothetical scenarios. Having candidates discuss "what they would do if..." makes it likely they'll only tell you what they think you want to hear. Past behavior is the best indicator of future behavior, so instead, ask behavioral questions. Have candidates describe past instances of how they have handled similar scenarios to those they would face as an office manager. 

Assess for Cultural Fit

Technical skills and years of experience in a relevant work history aren't necessarily enough on their own to make a top office manager candidate an outstanding choice for you. How well employees work out often heavily relies on cultural fit. Even if they go above and beyond performing job duties, issues and mutual dissatisfaction may arise if their traits and values clash with those of your workplace. Be sure to ask about their preferences in day-to-day work environment scenarios to assess for cultural fit. 

So much of your organization’s success relies on your hiring choices. Turn to the recruiting experts at QPS Employment Group to find the best candidates, so you feel confident you have the right employees for your team. Unlike other staffing agencies, QPS utilizes an informed and thorough hiring process built upon more than 30 years of experience. We offer temporary, temp-to-hire, direct hire, and executive placements and rigorously screen and evaluate candidates to ensure they fit your unique needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you find your next outstanding candidates.