Question:

Two years ago, I graduated with a BA in business and took a job with an IT company working on a technical help desk while taking classes for my MBA. When I graduate next month, I want to move into a leadership or executive role but the only managerial experience that I have is as an assistant manager at a retail store. How should I obtain the experience that I'll need to become a manager?

First Answer:

With graduation only a month away, realistically it will be difficult to obtain any related management experience before you graduate. You will want to develop a resume that will let you combine the technical experience you have, the education you obtain and the general management experience you have had in the retail area. Management skills are transferrable -- it takes the same skills to be a good manager in IT as it does in retail + each take a knowledge of that special area. On your resume generalize your management skills -- try defining them without using retail terms.

One of the things you might want to consider is looking for a lower-middle managers position with room for advancement. Getting some basic management experience in the IT field (even if it is in a position lower than what you would like to start at) will be very valuable and pay off for you in the long run.

-- Linda Wyatt, Career Center, Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Second Answer:

First of all, don't sell yourself and your experience, short. If you don't believe in your abilities and have the confidence to broadcast your value to prospective employers, how can you expect them to believe you're the one they should hire?

Your people skills, more than your technical skills, will help you move ahead. Job seekers who demonstrate superior people skills are more likely to get hired over competitors who have superior technical skills, but poor interpersonal abilities. Once on the job, employees who know how to deal with other are much more likely to be promoted up the ranks into management. Not everyone is a natural born leader. You can learn management techniques in your MBA classes, but respect is something that you will quickly find you must earn. Those with good technical skills may get promoted, but if they can't manage a staff, they will surely fail as Managers.

When you graduate, you'll have an MBA which is always a good start for a management position, but two years of experience right out of college may not be enough to land that "leadership role" right away. What you've learned on the job and in school will certainly help you make good decisions and move up the career ladder. Meanwhile, get the experience you need by applying for positions where you will have close access to the "decision makers" in the organization, even if you are just in a supporting role. Watch, look, listen, learn.

-- Alison Blackman Dunham, life & career expert, columnist, personal public relations consultant, half of THE ADVICE SISTERS®, and the author of the ASK ALISON career advice column.

Third Answer:

My first thought is to ask whether you have discussed your career goals with your current manager. If you haven't then set up an appointment asap to advise them of your impending graduation and to find out how you can work togehter to prepare you for taking on more responsibility. Afterall, you seem to recognize that a degree alone may not prepare you to automatically be qualified for a managerial role. However you have a few very strong elements in your favor: you are already known to your manager, you have proven loyalty and you show ambition. The first place you should go to seek the next step up is with your current employer. If this does not work out, then you need to build upon your staff experience as preparation for taking on a larger, supervisorary role. The logical choice would be to submit your credentials to a direct competitor.

For the future, do not wait until right before graduation to let your boss know that you are going to school and preparing for more responsibility. You ould be better off requesting a periodic performance review and bringing up both your academic achievements and career goals. This would involve your management in planning out both your career path and planning for the impact any change might have on the overall organizational structure.

Congratulations on obtaining your degree and best of luck on reaching your new objective of securing a managerial position.

-- Debra Feldman, founder of JobWhiz, creator of the JOBWHIZQUIZ, and specialist in cyber savvy strategic job search consultations.

Fourth Answer:

It will probably take more than just one month to develop the experience your employer will be looking for, so you'll need to start as soon as possible. Even though your current role may not offer any direct managerial experience, try to seek out additional opportunities. Volunteer to take the lead on any extra projects in your office, even if it means extra time. Even though they may not be direct reports, managing co-workers on a project team can teach you valuable lessons as well as increase your exposure to management.

As you begin to accrue these items, don't assume others are keeping tabs on your accomplishments. Your manager in particular has too many issues competing for his or her attention to constantly monitor your efforts and their outcomes. The task of tracking -- and trumpeting -- your achievements falls to you. A carefully documented record of impressive accomplishments will be useful during your campaign for a promotion. It will be tangible evidence of your contributions.

As you begin the transition into a leadership position, you'll need to understand the bigger picture. You can't assume a management role unless you know your company's business objectives. Learn everything you can, not only about its products and services, but also about long-term goals. Try to understand the concerns and priorities of the decision-makers. When you show your managers that you understand this, you'll be displaying the kind of business acumen that companies look for in management candidate.

-- Katherine Spencer Lee, RHI Consulting.

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