The study of management involves understanding organisational theory, business practices, and the issues affecting companies and organisations. Managers provide people with a sense of purpose and make them aware of the significance of their work. They allocate tasks, track performance, and recognise individual contributions to achieving the organisation’s goals. A key role they play is also identifying areas where their team needs improvement.
Learn more about management careers, how to secure them, and the benefits of working within the industry with our guide.
- Why become a manager?
- What careers are available in management?
- What skills are needed to work in management?
- What degrees help with a career in management?
Why become a manager?
Apply your skills to any industry
An advantage of management is that you acquire transferable skills that can be applied to any industry. Therefore, you can specialise in areas in the industry of your choice, such as business development, retail hospitality, and finance to name a few.
Influence company culture
By shaping and improving the company culture, managers can have a significant impact on how their organisation runs and operates. As a manager, you can encourage top talent retention and create a more appealing and supportive work environment for your colleagues.
Personal growth and development
Since managers interact with their subordinates differently than co-workers, they can develop different communication skills, including listening to and responding to their employees’ needs. It is a manager’s role to inspire and motivate his or her team to achieve their goals by demonstrating leadership skills and therefore you will need to continuously grow and build on your skills.
Career advancement
Taking on a management role can provide you with more responsibility, control, and often a higher salary, boosting your career prospects.
What careers are available in management?
Among the careers you can pursue with a management degree are:
- Marketing manager
- Social media manager
- Sales manager
- Financial manager
- Accounting manager
- IT manager
- Business analyst
- Property manager
- Project manager
- Production manager
- Management consultant
- Operations manager
- Food production manager
- Architectural and engineering manager
- Public relations manager
- Human resources manager
- General manager
- Spa manager
- Gym manager
- Retail manager
- Hotel manager
This means that, upon completion of your degree, you will be prepared to land a job in sales, marketing, business development, retail, healthcare, etc.
What skills are needed to work in management?
Leading a team effectively and becoming a respected manager requires a set of skills. Get to know what it takes to be a successful manager and learn how to develop and refine these skills:
- Problem solving and decision-making abilities
- Forward planning and strategic thinking
- Organisation and delegation capabilities
- Communication and motivation
- Interpersonal skills
- Commercial awareness
- Ability to mentor others
To develop these skills, you can:
- Join student societies
- Complete an internship
- Volunteer
- Find a part-time job
- Take online short courses
- Get a mentor
- Undertake professional qualifications
We recommend finding job advertisements for jobs in a particular industry and reading the job description and person specification. To meet the essential criteria for the role, identify the skills and experience you already have or where you need to improve. Learn more about the eight graduate skills employers want.
What degrees help with a career in management?
There can be many ways to obtain a career in management. It could be that you study a degree in management and whilst having a qualification will certainly help you get into a leadership position, an alternative can be to develop managerial skills and showcase that within an organisation to work your way up to a management role.
Here are a few courses to consider:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Chartered Management Institute (CMI) – Level 5
- Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) – Level 3
- Certified Management Consultant (CMC)
- Master in Management (MIM)
- Commissioning Course – Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst (RMAS)
- Internal company training programs
- The Manager’s Toolkit: A Practical Guide to Managing People at Work – University of London
Overall, experience is important to become a manager and looking at the person specification included in the adverts for the types of jobs you are interested in can help you see if they list a degree as part of the essential criteria.
Check out the Unitemps job search portal to see if we have any roles available within the industry or organisation you’re looking to manage. You can also read more career advice to discover more tips and tricks to help you land a job.
Last updated on 19 December 2022
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