Ask the Experts: Making the Jump to Management

Question:

I’m considering a career change. When I graduated from high school 20 years ago, I thought that I’d have learned everything I would need to know for my career by the time that I was thirty. I’m now forty and securely employed at a relatively low level with my company. I want to move into management but don’t know how to make that jump. What are some of the obstacles I’ll face and how do I best get around them?

First Answer:

Probably the biggest obstacle you face is the lack of a college degree. In today’s job market, education plays an important factor. Twenty years ago
experience used to carry a lot of weight. Employers are looking for well
educated people which equates to a college degree.

As the Director of a Career Center, I see many adults who come back to school to document skills
they may have already gained in the work place and to earn “that piece of
paper” that will give them advanced job opportunities. Check in your area
to see what types of programs are available for the adult who is working a
full time job to continue their education and get a college degree. Many
colleges have developed specialized programs for the working adult that
makes getting that degree a reality. Check with your employer to see if
your company offers any type of tuition reimbursement benefits for
employees who continue their education.

If you are interested in advancing with the company you are currently in, beginning checking with your supervisor, human resources, etc. to see what
qualifications are demanded for the next level.

— Linda Wyatt, Career Center Director, Kansas City Kansas Community College

Second Answer:

You’ve made a great step in overcoming the first obstacle — no longer denying to yourself what you want to do.

An excellent first step is to take a personality, skills, and knowledge assessment. This will help you understand who you are as far as how you deal with others and situations, whether you’re an outgoing people person or someone who likes to deal with tasks, projects and reports, whether you’re a cool cucumber under stressful or emergency situations or if you’re better at following the tried and true and improving on facts. The assessment will also show you how much you presently know in relation to management skills and therefore what you still need to know. This last one will help you be better able to handle construction criticism and direction.

One of the biggest obstacles for any person wanting to get themselves promoted is credibility. Show you’re good at living up to your word. Make certain you follow through on all of the details of a project — especially the fine points. Express your good independent and creative judgment. Demonstrate your ability to plan and budget so that you realize a net profit from your efforts. Exhibit amenability to learning ways and concepts. Listen attentively and show you’ve understood. Be professional; don’t demean yourself.

Another obstacle may be some form of advanced training or education. Never fear, there are ways to gain additional education and credentials through online or evening classes.

Armed with your self knowledge, it’s time to start networking. Approach your supervisor. Approach trusted friends and colleagues who have moved into management positions. Let them know that you’re keenly interested in moving into management yourself. Tell them you’d like to be part of working on the planning and follow-through of projects that will help you gain the additional skills necessary to be a good manager. Have one in mind that you’d like to do. Be certain to get feedback where possible. Use it to improve.

Once that project’s successfully completed (and make certain your successes are documented in your job file and on your resume), ask to be included in another project with a little more responsibility.

May all your Entrances be through the doors of success!

— Yvonne LaRose, career and professional development coach, Career and Executive Recruiting Advice

Third Answer:

Your biggest obstacle is yourself! If you’ve been working this long, you’ve likely got some good insight in your industry and field and have
a good idea of where your interests lie. You just need to believe in
yourself–you are capable of moving up and being successful–and take
action to get there. In order to do so, there are a number of
questions you’ll want to consider:

Can your current manager/supervisor help?

If you have regular performance reviews, make sure your career path ever a part of those discussions. If not, you want to begin a dialogue with
your immediate supervisor to determine what your options are. Your
interest in moving up and continued development and progression should
be noted in your reviews. You can also use review time as a chance to
set development goals. In your current position determine if there are
management tasks you can assist with to demonstrate your abilities. Ask
your supervisor for stretch roles and take them on with energy and
excitement. It is the easiest way to demonstrate you’re ready for your
next challenege.

Have you made yourself known?

Do some career research and have some lunch conversations or coffee meetings with colleagues across your company. Make it clear you’re not
looking for a job, but rather just doing some career research. Ask
advice on how to move up and best practices from their experiences.
Don’t spend these conversations talking about you. Instead, have a good
list of questions such as: what do you like most about your management
role? What actions and development activities were key to your growth?
What advice would you give someone who is looking to grow into that type
of role?

Have you done any long-term planning?

Moving into management is admirable, but make sure it is where you want to go. Don’t just make a move to make one. Spend some time ensuring
that your skills, abilities and behaviors will enable you to be a
success in management, and, that it is truly where you want to go.
Itching to leve your current role doesn’t men the only move is up in
your current organization. Be confident that it is what you really want.

— Susan Strayer, Assistant Director, Career Services, School of Professional Studies in Business and Education at the Johns Hopkins University and founder and President of University and Career Decisions

Originally posted by alwin