Office work is the process of recording, storing, and distributing the information needed to operate a business. The managers of the business use this information to make administrative decisions.
Millions of people in industrialized countries are employed as office workers. They include administrative assistants, computer technicians, and accountants. Office workers do not include people involved in such activities as buying, selling, or management.
An office may receive information by telecommunications, by mail, or by computer. An office worker must have skill in language and arithmetic to handle business information properly. Almost all office jobs require at least a high school education. Many employers prefer to hire people who have taken courses beyond the high school level. A person can receive advanced training at a community college, junior college, or business or vocational school. This training may include instruction in operating computers, calculators, copying machines, and other office equipment.
An office requires a staff of managers to plan and direct work. As a business grows, so does the amount of information that must be handled by its office workers. The managers coordinate the activities of these employees so that accurate records can be kept concerning correspondence, inventory, payroll, sales, and taxes.
