Manager
How to Become a Manager
Manager Job Duties
Skills and Qualities of a Manager
Manager Salary
Influential Professional Managers
Leading Organizations for Managers
Top Cities for Management Jobs
Other Careers of Interest
How to become a Manager
Just about every industry has various levels of authority. Management is a very important level. Without proper management, it is likely things will not go smoothly. There are generally two ways for an employee to enter the realm of management.
Some workers enter the workforce at the entry level, either with a high school education or some college. With hard work and dedication, they can work their way up the ladder usually experiencing several job levels before reaching the ranks of management. This route to management usually requires several years of related experience and excellent job performance.
Another way people enter management is by skipping the entry level and entering the workforce as a manager. This often requires being hired by a company as a management trainee and going through a training program. In order to be hired as a manager or management trainee, the candidate generally has to possess a bachelor's degree in a related field. Some degrees specifically focus on business or retail management while others can focus on a particular industry such as hotel management.
What does a Manager do?
Managers are generally charged with the task of overseeing a group of employees. The manager is responsible for ensuring their employees are following company policies and procedures and that the quality of their work is satisfactory. A good manager will keep their hand on the pulse of the workforce to ensure that their morale level doesn't dip too low and that they are maintaining proper production levels. If production levels are low, it is a manager's job to coach and motivate their employees to increase production to acceptable standards.
Managers are ultimately responsible for the actions and performance of all their employees. If a manager's team is not meeting their goals then, by default, neither is the manager. It has been said that the captain of a ship is responsible for the actions of its crew. The same concept can apply for managers as they are generally responsible for whatever happens on their watch, whether good or bad.
Managers are often also responsible for hiring and firing employees and evaluating their employees' performances. Often managers also make decisions or recommendations about promotions, raises, and bonuses. A good manager will provide feedback to their workers to let them know what they are doing right and in which areas they need to improve. If improvement is needed, a manager should coach the employee on how to improve.
Managers often take on complex situations or complaints if a lower level worker is unable to handle a certain problem. Sometimes a customer will request to speak to a manager to appeal a decision made by a subordinate. Managers need to be able to balance the needs and desires of their customers without adversely impacting the bottom line of the business.
Within the rank and file workforce, the managers are the central nervous system. They make sure the proper messages get to the right places and that the entire operation runs smoothly. Without good managers, chaos and corporate anarchy are likely to ensue.
What skills or qualities do I need to become a Manager?
Managers absolutely need strong interpersonal skills to enable them to deal with the various personalities in their workforce as well as potentially difficult and demanding customers.
Most managerial positions are salaried and exempt from hourly overtime. This may mean long hours for managers. A manager needs to be able to commit whatever amount of time is needed to get their job done properly. Flexibility is important as managers may be called on to fill in for employees in their absence or change their schedule on short notice.
Managers often need to be able to think on their feet and make difficult decisions. While formal education is not necessarily required, it can certainly be helpful in obtaining a managerial position and will likely be required to advance past lower levels of management.
Managers are expected to be or to become,b> experts in their respective fields.
How much does a Manager make?
This is a somewhat complex question having more than one answer. Salaries for managers can vary widely, depending on their industries. According to data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a manager of retail sales workers is $33,960, including any applicable sales commissions. This includes such industries as grocery stores, clothing stores, and gasoline stations. The median annual salary for a manager of nonretail sales workers is $65,510, including any applicable sale commissions. This includes such industries as wholesale electronic markets, agents and brokers, postal service, and business support services.
Many managers work solely on commission, or a combination of salary plus commission. Generally, the commission is based on a percentage of the sales of their department's or store's sales.
Depending on the industry, many managers also earn various benefits including, but not limited, to paid vacation, 401(k) or other retirement plans, health insurance, etc.
Who are some leading professionals in this field?
While managers are extremely important to their respective industries and to the firms for which they work, in the public eye, they are relatively anonymous. It is, generally, higher level executive managers who are well-known publicly.
One exception to this rule is professional sports where field managers and head coaches are very well known. Some managers who are currently very influential include Joe Torre of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Larry Brown of the Charlotte Bobcats, and Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts.
What are some leading organizations in this field?
Managers are found in virtually every business organization from office managers to store managers to product line managers. Because the job of a manager is so diverse, there are no organizations specific to all managers. There are, however, some that are specific to managers in various industries such as the Restaurant Facility Management Association (RFMA).
What are the top cities for Management jobs?
The top cities for managerial jobs are three of the four largest cities in the nation: New York, Chicago, and Houston. Other large cities make the list as well such as Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Boston, and Phoenix.
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