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If you’re ready to step up in your career and you want to pursue your first management position, but you don’t have the experience, don’t worry! With a little help and guidance, you will be able to achieve your goal.
There are certain things you can do to prove yourself and make your employer aware of how ready you are for your first management position. That’s what we’ll be discussing today!
10 Tips to Land Your First Management Position
1. Do Your Research
Before you start pursuing your first management position, you need to understand what managers do. That’s why it’s important to do your research, read up as much as you can, and watch the company managers get a better understanding of their duties.
Luckily, there are many books on management and leadership that will show you the do’s and don’ts of the job. Also, you can always talk to managers to have better insight and understand the gig a lot better.
2. Learn to Walk the Walk
As you may already know, every industry expects something different from its managers. A big part of your research should be based on this. If you want to fulfill the management expectations of your industry, you need to understand its needs. Otherwise, your employer will see you’re not ready.
Connect with managers in person or online via LinkedIn, find a life coach with experience in the field, read blogs and books, etc. Do whatever you need not only to understand the position but to develop a management philosophy of your own.
3. Emphasize Your Transferable Skills
Managers do so much more than oversee, they also train and coach others, give presentations, oversee projects, handle recruitment, etc. You may have already been exposed to some of these responsibilities in your career, and now is the time to play that experience up.
If you want to get your first management position, you need to be able to explain how your experience relates to the leadership position you’re after. Highlight these skills in your resume and cover letter, and be prepared to discuss them in your interview.
4. Bring Focus to Your Expertise
If you truly feel ready for your first management position, your industry expertise is another thing you have to play up. You have valuable wisdom about your industry, your team, and your current position.
Amazing supervisors need to understand their industry and its nature because that’s very helpful in a management role. Bring focus to your expertise in your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile, and include a list of all the relevant skills you’ve gained in your career.
5. Continue Your Education
If your transferable skills are a little light or you want to obtain or strengthen your leadership skills, you need to invest in your education. Taking management classes or getting a certification in the field will be of great help.
This will not only show your employers you are serious about getting your first management position, but it will also show them that you’re committed. These certifications and training should be included in your resume even if you haven’t finished.
6. Be Able to Explain Why You’re Ready
You know you’re ready for your first management position, and you know you have what it takes. But that means nothing if you can’t explain it to your employer and show them why you’re ready even if you don’t have direct experience.
Whether it’s because you’re invested in employee development, have amazing process-improvement ideas, or are ready for the challenge, you need to be ready to communicate that.
7. Work on Your People Skills
What do managers do? They manage people, which is why people skills are so very important. It would help if you learned how people function, think, and react to things. This will help you work with others and influence their behavior to get the best out of them. If you can’t manage others, you won’t get your first management position. So, start working on them!
8. Demonstrate Initiative
If you truly want your first management position, you can’t just sit at your desk and wait for it to be handed to you. You have to go get it and show Initiative. Volunteer for tasks and projects that will allow you to showcase your leadership and management skills.
You should jump on every opportunity that allows you to practice your skills, so go for every assignment and project you can, without compromising the work you have to do in your current position.
9. Ask for It
There’s nothing wrong with asking for the position you’re after. If you are ready for it and can make a case for yourself, don’t wait for your employer to come to you. Go to them and show them why you’re perfect for the positions and what you bring to the table.
Ask them to consider you when they need someone to lead a committee or a small team because you’re ready. That will show them you’re interested, and they will keep you on their radar.
10. Get a Life Coach
Last but not least, working with a life coach can help you reach your goals and make your own path to success. A life coach is a professional that helps people reach their full potential, and they form a collaborative relationship with clients.
They identify career goals and help you make a plan so you can achieve them. A life coach has a wealth of knowledge and expertise that you can leverage to find the success you’re looking for, so you should definitely work with one to land your first management position sooner than you thought possible.
If you are more than ready for your first management position, there’s no reason to sit around and wait any longer. Follow these tips and take action so you can land your dream job even if you don’t have direct experience!
