Degree educated but won't go for managerial jobs

[MiaMarshmallows]

Anyone else know someone like this? This person is a family member. None of my business I know but I do wonder.
She is degree educated, has health issues and made redundant from a job she had been in for years (Well below her skill set but she loved it.)
Just feel she is really doing herself a disservice and feels like it's lack of confidence more than anything.

Every man and their dog has a degree these days. It generally doesn’t mean you can just apply for a managerial post. You either work your way up or do a graduate scheme. I know people with degrees in call centres....it’s a tough job market.

Depends how you view success.
Personally I view it as personal contentment. An enjoyable non stressful life is success for me.

What do you mean by managerial? Lots of people don't want to manage other people- it can be a nightmare! Unfortunately managerial level often comes with direct reports. There are still plenty of good jobs that don't involve this.

But you can do a degree in so many different things, it doesn't necessarily make you suited to management. I've got three, but I'd be a terrible manager 😄.

Up to her, isn't it? Not everyone wants to be a manager. Some people see working as a means to an end, a way to pay the bills rather than a career.

@MuddyWalks

Depends how you view success. Personally I view it as personal contentment. An enjoyable non stressful life is success for me.

Very true. My brother has a 1st class maths degree and works as a TA, loves it. He’s had a big sales manager job before and it wasn’t for him. Said he wanted to work to live, not live to work.

Perhaps she does not want the stress. It also is not that easy to get even entry level graduate jobs.

Some people just hate being in management roles or just aren’t very good at it. It’s hard to be a good people manager. Having a degree isn’t enough you need lots of other skills and yes confidence.

I’m sure she can progress in other ways. It really isn’t a job for stressed/ anxious people.

Having a degree doesn't mean you'll be good at management or be able to manage effectively.

Not everyone is suited to managing people and there are plenty of graduate jobs which aren't management. In many cases non management specialists are paid significantly more than middle managers, and middle managers are often ambitious but mediocre at the actual job - the mediocre ambitious man rises to their point of incompetence as my father used to say...

Management is a skill. Just because someone has a degree doesn’t make them cut out to be a manager. And it’s a bloody thankless task that is best carried out by someone who actually wants to do it.

You refer to health issues, that may be a deciding factor. In any case, there are aspects of management especially of people that many people do not enjoy.

“Graduate” and “Manager” aren’t synonymous - at all.

You can be a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist without being a manager.

You can be a retail or hospitality manager without being a graduate.

Lots of people with degrees that barely scraped A levels (looking at you, cousin’s daughter!) who definitely aren’t management material. Low entry level to a not-well-thought of uni, and I saw the quality of work they were passing from her 🙈

I'm degree educated. I have no desire to be a manager and I know I'd be rubbish.

I've got a degree, I've been working for nearly 20 years now and have never managed anyone. I'm just not interested in progressing to management, I'm happy at my level. It's not for everyone.

I'm just like this. I have a degree but I don't want to be a manager. I don't see the issue?

I don't have the interpersonal skills it takes to manage people and I would be uncomfortable in that kind of position. Not everyone is suited to it.

What's a degree got to do with being a leader? Half of 25 year olds have a degree but half of all 25 year olds are not ready or experienced enough to lead others.

A degree doesn't mean you get to bypass work experience; it's a way in so you can start working up.

To echo PP there's no logic to your statement. My role is a bit niche and I'm incredibly good at it. I had to manage a team for a while and hated it. My current manager (whilst an exception to the rule) doesn't have a degree but is a "see the big picture and react" specialist.

Like pp I've got a degree and have never had, or want to have, a managerial role. I'd hate it. There are plenty of 'good' jobs not involving management, but at the end of the day if she's happy what does it matter?

Also, being a manager can become a dead end. You spend your time on holiday forms and back to work interviews, and can become rapidly de-skilled.

I don't have a desire to manage anyone, I quite enjoy flying solo in my work.

I have a degree. I'd rather sticks pins in my eyes than be a manager. I got asked recently if I was going to apply for a management position that's come up. That would be a hard no.

Degrees are pretty worthless these days; everyone has one.

So what if she doesn’t want to go for a management position? As long as she’s happy what does it matter?

I'm fairly senior at work though I don't manage anyone.

My boss is eager for me to fill his shoes when he's ready to take a step back.

I've zero interest in this. Zero.

Everyone is different.

I don't have a degree but am in management. It's shit. Can completely understand why someone wouldn't want to do it