If I want to move into management what should I do?

[Wrongdissection]

I’m qualified to undergrad level in a vocational subject - think nursing although I no longer work clinically. My current role is very related to my degree however it is pretty desk based in a new organisation that is very niche. I am in the middle of a masters degree in a related subject with a legal focus. I also do a second job that is again related to my original qualification and to my masters subject. This is an adhoc job, quite prestigious and looks great on my CV. I started off as a normal project worker and over a couple of years went on to lead the projects. However this is not a managerial role, more a chairing type post.

I’d really quite like to move into management. For those who are managerial and do management jobs what kind of qualifications might be looked upon favourably? Is there any experience I should try and get. I’ve applied for 2 managerial positions and got interviewed for one and not shortlisted for the other because I had no experience. The other job I interviewed for went to a candidate with managerial experience.

So those of you who are great managers, how did you get to that place and what would you suggest?

I’m from a nursing background but now in management (not nursing management but still healthcare). It was a bit ‘right place right time’ when I got into management - I volunteered to cover a 3month period of sickness from the existing manager at short notice which helped get me noticed and gave me some excellent experience. So might be worth looking for some short term interim/acting management roles.

I think what we think of as great managers are actually great leaders so maybe look into leadership courses.

CMI is good

(www.managers.org.uk/education-providers/qualification-resource-library )

and Prince 2 or similar for project management jobs of all kinds. It depends on your current qualifications and masters-no point in overlapping skill areas.

If you are looking in health, I still think that 'who you know' makes a bit of difference.

Print off or analyse a few job descriptions/person specs of things you would apply for. What skills are they looking for? What can you do in your current job which helps you to gain experience of those skills?

Have a good think about who your network is and how you can expand it, using any and every type of contact in your address book.

Great advice thank you.

If people are looking for experience then additional qualifications might not cut it. Consider whether you could volunteer in a role that meant you lead a team - environmental projects can be great for this as you can say lead a team to achieve y in c area. Or you might want to consider becoming a trustee of a charity or governor of a school. Look for roles that might mean you manage a budget and / or get experience of staffing issues.

My daughters school has literally just texted today saying they are looking for a parent governor. It hadn’t occurred to me! Great idea ☺️