Do you have career goals of becoming an effective leader in a management role? Do you think you have the kind of skills and knowledge needed to help implement effective measures and lead a company to success? While you may have all the confidence in the world about what you bring to the table, the fact is that you need to be able to convince a potential employer of those same things. Not only that, but you need to have the kind of traits, experience, knowledge, and skills that companies are looking for in managers and senior-level executives.
Today’s list is very different than that of 20, even 10 years ago, and understanding what it is they are looking for will help you to craft an effective resume and also ensure you have got everything needed. If not, then it’s important to fill in those gaps so you can be a strong contender.
Do You Have a Masters Degree?
One of the first things that employers will scan your resume for is your educational background, designations, and certifications. Having a masters is almost a given if you want to be looking into a career in business management, but if you want to stand out even more then it’s wise to take your education a step further.
The MSC Innovation and Management program from Aston University is a great example of taking the typical masters to the next level. This program is specifically meant for people who have the goal of becoming a manager. The curriculum focuses on problem-solving, real-world scenarios and techniques, processes, services, and so much more. These are the kinds of skills that can help you to stand out from other applicants and show you’re ready to hit the ground running as soon as you get the job.
Excellent Interpersonal Skills
Besides just having the educational backing, employers are also looking for candidates that have strong interpersonal skills. Being a manager is about leading a team, which means you need to be able to interact with them in positive and effective ways. You need to be able to get your message and direction across in a clear and concise manner, and you also need to be able to listen to concerns and input from your team.
It’s a fine balance to achieve between leading and listening, and that is why interpersonal skills are so important.
Be an Approachable Manager
Long gone are the days were the big boss or manager would lead with fear and a steel grip. Most businesses have come to learn this isn’t an effective way to manage and operate a company and can result in losing fabulous employees thanks to the negative work environment. Today’s managers are ones that are approachable, lead by example, encourage employees to come and talk to them, and don’t instill fear in the workplace. Gaining the respect of employees will be much more effective than just creating fear in the workplace.
The Ability to Motivate People
Another aspect that isn’t always discussed is a person’s ability to motivate their team. You can ensure that employees have all the tools they need to do their job, but you also need to provide that motivation in the workplace. This will help to increase productivity, which of course is good for business.
Excellent Problem Solving Skills
So much of being a manager comes down to problem-solving. From small to large problems, so many will end up falling on the shoulders of a manager. This means they need to be able to address these issues in a timely, effective, and decisive manner. While there is nothing wrong with taking a little extra time to gather all the information you need, putting off big decisions and waffling can lead to big problems. It also means all those issues are going to start to pile up because you’re not actually moving forward on any of them.
What happens if your problem-solving skills aren’t exactly strong? Well, that is a signal that you need to work on them and get them to the place that employers want to see. You can start by following a rather simple formula:
- Clearly state what the problem is
- Come up with a variety of potential solutions
- Consider how each of those solutions will play out and evaluate them
- Pick the best solution for that particular issue
- Put your solution into practice
In order to go about this process, you may need to talk to a variety of parties involved in the issue, gather relevant data, and make sure you have all relevant information. The good news is that usually, practice makes perfect. In other words, the more problems you work on solving, the faster and more effective you become at it.
You Have Excellent Organisational Skills
Here’s a really basic skill but the fact is that it can help you in a management position. Chances are you will be juggling multiple projects, clients, issues, and tasks at once so you need to be able to handle all the pressure and stress with ease. Those that thrive in fast-paced and high-stress jobs often do well in a management position. Being able to organise all the big and small details of your day will not only be helpful – it will also be necessary.
Stay Up to Date on the Industry and Market
Finally, you want to be sure you don’t just understand how the company works, but that you also have a strong grasp of the industry and market as a whole. It’s almost like you need to become an expert in that market. Get to know the competitors, who the target customer is, the suppliers, partners, and so forth. You want to know where the trends are right now and where they are potentially going.
The Kind of Manager That Gets Hired
By having these skills and experiences, you are better positioning yourself to land your dream job as a manager. It’s important to understand what today’s successful managers require, and what will set you apart from other applicants.