Management Jobs
A person's decision to enter into a career in management generally requires a self-evaluation to answer several questions such as:
Do I have the right personality type to handle not only the successes of being a manager, but also the disappointments that may come along with the job? Do I have the long-term drive to get the right education, even if it means going to college for 6 or more years? Do I think a manager's annual salary is enough to comfortably afford by expectant life style? Do I really understand what it means to be called a manager, or is the job description too demanding?
Personality Synopsis
A question that is often asked by someone before they embark on a career in management is, “Do I have the temperament or personality to be a manager? Could I actually fire someone knowing that they were not keeping up their end of the workload? Would I end up playing office politics, just to make myself look good in front of the company's management? Do I actually have the ‘right stuff'?” These are interesting and pointed questions that one may have to ask if a career in management is one's goal. In the scheme of things, managing is about going from one point to another point. It is about following a course of action that is strategically planned at first, and then adjusted as required. It is about delegating, it is about decision making, it is about taking responsibility, and it is ultimately about leadership.
To understand human personality types, one can look to the writings of author, teacher, and management consultant Peter Urs Bender. This is particularly important, because effective managing is really all about understanding those personalities around us. According to Urs Bender, there are basically four types of personalities: analytical, amiable, driver, and expressive. Urs Bender defines the strengths and weaknesses of each one of these groups.
The analytical person is generally thought to have personality strengths of analytical thinking, attention to the details, and a disciplined approach to an issue. The analytical person's weaknesses include a lack of feeling, a tendency toward perfectionism, and an approach to an issue that may be perceived as too rigid.
The amiable person is considered to have personality strengths of being supportive, patient, and diplomatic. The amiable person's shortcomings are a tendency to try to accommodate everyone's ideas or wishes. The amiable also forgets about time, allowing deadlines to slip away, and in the end is typically not assertive enough to be an effective leader.
The driver personality has strengths of being independent, being decisive in decision making, and being determined to get the job done. A driver's shortcomings are having difficulty in working with others, and ultimately believing that his or her way is right without considering alternatives.
The expressive personality brings the ability of strength in their communications, enthusiasm, and an imaginative thought process. The expressive person's weaknesses are being considered a talker and not a doer, tending to come on too strong, and ultimately coming across as being too idealistic on an issue.
Although, Urs Bender defines four personality types, he is quick to add that no individual within each of these groups will always portray their expected strengths and weaknesses. In fact, he adds that while a person has a dominant personality type, aspects of the other types will be present to some degree. This is an important point, because successful management needs all of the personality types, with their individual strengths and weaknesses, to be effective. The objective of a good manager is to first understand one's own strengths and weaknesses and achieve an objective by bringing in other personality types and allowing each of them to shine.
Education Requirements
A college degree is especially important in a management career, but the level of education and the particular degree level can vary widely from one managing position to the next. The following provides some general guidelines on the minimum education, preferred level of education, and where an emphasis should be placed for college classroom courses for different types of management positions. Earning a master's of business administration (MBA) is particularly important for career advancement in business financing.
Administrative Service Manager
Minimum education is an associate's degree.
Preferred education is a bachelor's degree.
An educational emphasis should be in human resources, business law, accounting, and finance.
Administrative service manager covers a broad range of responsibilities depending upon the specific industry, and as a result the educational level varies with the position. In small companies, service managers can sometimes get by with only a high school education, but an associate's level degree is the preferred minimum for future advancement.
Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations, and Sales Managers
Minimum education is a bachelor's degree.
Preferred education is a master's degree.
An educational emphasis should be in marketing, journalism, and advertising.
Management positions in advertising, marketing, and sales, generally require a bachelor's degree in business administration with additional college courses in marketing. A position in public relations requires a bachelor's degree as a minimum, but preference is for a master's degree in advertising or journalism.
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Minimum education is a bachelor's degree.
Preferred education is a master's degree, MBA with a technology component.
An educational emphasis should be in computers, software development, mathematics, and statistics.
These highly technical managers work with computer on a 24/7 basis. Obtaining an MBA with an emphasis in computer science, or management information systems is highly recommended for advancing in this particular management field.
Minimum education for these
construction jobs is an associate's degree with years of construction management experience.
Preferred education is a bachelor's degree.
An educational emphasis should be in construction science, construction management, or engineering.
The construction management field places work experience in high regard as the leading component for advancement. Earning a bachelor's degree in construction is considered the equivalent for many construction management employers.
Minimum education is a bachelor's degree.
Preferred education is a master's degree, and a PhD
An educational emphasis should be in education administration and education leadership.
State licensing and certification is also required for education administrators, such as school principals and preschool directors.
Engineering and Natural Science Managers
Minimum education is a bachelor's degree.
Preferred education is a master's degree, MBA with a natural science component.
An educational emphasis should be in a specific engineering field, or in the natural sciences.
Engineering and natural science managers that are employed in college or university research generally are required to have a PhD level of education.
Minimum education is a bachelor's degree.
Preferred education is a master degree, MBA with a financial component.
An educational emphasis is in accounting, economics, finances, and business administration.
Financial managers employed in accounting firms are also generally required to be certified public accountants (CPA).
Minimum education is a high school degree.
Preferred education is a bachelor's degree.
An educational emphasis is in food service management, and hospitality.
Food service managers are expected to attend management training that consists of classroom time, and hands-on experience provided by the particular restaurant employing company.
Human Resources, Training, and Labor Relations Managers
Minimum education is a bachelor's degree.
Preferred education is a master's degree, MBA.
An educational emphasis is in human relations, labor law, and business administration.
A well rounded education in human resources should also include classroom courses in behavioral science, psychology, and sociology.
Minimum education is a bachelor's degree.
Preferred education is a master's degree, MBA.
An educational emphasis is in industrial engineering, industrial technology, and business administration.
Industrial production covers a wide array of management careers in the production of goods. Gaining experience in production methods is important for advancement in this sector.
Minimum education is an associate's degree.
Preferred education is a bachelor's degree.
An educational emphasis is in business administration, hotel management, and hospitality.
Hotel chains also provide their own in-house training programs that award a certificate in hospitality.
Secretary and Administrative Assistant
Minimum education is a high school degree.
Preferred education is an associate's degree.
An educational emphasis is in business administration.
Entry-level secretarial positions can be filled by a high school education, but for long-term advancement in office management, a college degree in business administration is a requirement.
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
Minimum education is a bachelor's degree.
Preferred education is a master's degree.
An educational emphasis is in accounting, finance, real estate, and business administration.
On-the-job training programs for property, and community association managerial positions are common in this career. A real estate license is required for selling property.
Minimum education is a bachelor's degree.
Preferred education is a master's degree.
An educational emphasis is in economics, finance, engineering, and business administration.
The level of the required educational degree can vary with the employment position in purchasing, but a master's degree is generally considered a requirement for continual advancement in this sector.
Minimum education is a bachelor's degree.
Preferred education is a master's degree, MBA.
An educational emphasis is in public administration, economics, finance, and business administration.
Managers in this category include chief executives, chief operating officers, general and operational managers, vice presidents and presidents, who are typically promoted to these positions after years of experience. The education required for executive positions is generally specific to the particular industry sector.