Offered a job at a lower ranking, not sure whether to take it

[Rolaskatox]

I went for an interview yesterday for a management position. I don't have any management experience yet but I'm completing a qualification at the minute which would give me a much greater chance to work in this field.

I was honest that I didn't have management experience yet but that I was working on the qualification and believed that I had what it takes,keen to progress etc.

I received feedback saying they would love to offer me a job, but an entry level one, not the management role I wanted, as I haven't got the experience.

They said if I perform well in this role then maybe with time they would promote me to management.

I really don't know what to do, I've got to give an answer asap. In a way it's frustrating because I'd like to get into management roles, but where are you meant to get the experience from if everyone wants experience?

Just not sure what to do

Don't bother the wages are crap usually to get to senior management and the good pay you normally need to be a registered nurse. Are you interested in nursing ?

You have to be proactive. Speak with management about stepping up, taking on more responsibilities to gain experience.

No. Wait till you've got the qualification then reapply for jobs

I was this colleague in couple of jobs. It was never opportunity presented I went and asked if I can help with x so I can learn it.
That's how you get it in many places. Being active not passive. I ended up covering floor druing slt meetings etc and then moved to supervisor. If you never lead a team in any manner it's understandable they say no if they want experience. Where they are unreasonable is to actually interview you knowing you don't have what they want

Typically you work for a company, they see potential in you for line management and as a result of various reshuffles within teams you might be given one or two direct reports, this is once you and your capabilities are more well known. This is how it works in my organisation anyway, it's on your PDP that you want to take on line management experience and tasks etc are given to you with gaining that experience in mind, for example you might get the opportunity to take the lead in a project which might involve delegation and people management.

I think it's very unlikely they will take you for a management role if you have neither the experience or the qualification. Just because you think you could do the job and want to go into management doesn't mean you can. Many places will offer a lower grade job to see how you get on.
Many people say they want to be management - it doesn't mean they're any good, hence either experience or qualification is needed.

What you don't want is to take a job at the same level and pay as you are at now, based only on a vague mention that you might at some unspecified time in the future be made a manager if and but and whatever else might come to pass.

Instead you could look for employers with a defined career management structure which includes a trainee management scheme so that you would be recruited on to that pathway.

It's important to you so it's something you must probe and lay out your clear expectations and aspirations to management during any recruitment process and interviews that you do.

I don't know but once you get your qualification, you might find you are eligible to apply for a wider range of roles, even if you don't have hands-on experience of management. Use it to make a lot of your ambition and dedication and demonstrate a real sense of your seriousness and intent.

Could you go back and negotiate? That you take the entry level position with some additional responsibilities that managers normally do to get experience, with a performance review in say 6 months at which time, if you are doing well, you get promoted? If they don't promote you then, you use that experience and the qualification to apply elsewhere?

I have recruited a lot in both my current and my last role and there is definitely one type of interview that happens a lot.

“Thanks so much for interviewing with us today, and we’ll be in touch by the end of the week.”
waits for candidate picture to wink out and smile at other interviewers
“Well, that was a perfect interview for a <insert grade lower than vacant role>, wasn’t it?”

It becomes painfully obvious across the questions that you wouldn’t have the skills and experience to deal with the day to day challenges of the role yet. But you’re right, it’s really tough to make that step up.

This is what I did, and what I encourage my staff to do in our coaching sessions.

1. Formal training - you’re already doing this so that’s great. Soft skills management training is great as well, so get as much in as you can from the resources in your field. Also LinkedIn is good for that. But I wouldn’t list those, it just means that you’ll have some of that learning at the back of your mind which then comes out in interview answers.
2. Shadowing - I asked to regularly shadow my boss and see firsthand what the responsibilities are and how they approached the challenges (obviously not the direct line management ones though!). It also gave me a chance to ask questions in a safe space.
3. Stretch assignment - sometimes you don’t have to actually be directly responsible for people to manage them. In my field, that meant asking to lead projects and campaigns, that brought in people from a lot of different departments and then ensuring their work on it was done to time, to budget and executed well. In many ways that mimicked a management role and gave me examples of leading multi-disciplinary teams for interviews.
4. Mentorship - I took on training and coaching graduates/apprentices/interns etc from early on. Again, not responsible for their line management but was as close as you can get to management responsibilities. I set work for them, evaluated it, provided feedback and signed it off, under the eye of my manager. That gave me some great examples to use in interviews.

Soooo…go for it! Loads of options to build your skillset so that you become ready for a management role.

If you’re interested in the type of work I’d be tempted to take the entry level job. The secret to moving through a company … show an interest in taking on tasks which give you an insight into a managerial role. Voice this in probation and supervision meetings so that your managers knows you’re keen and they can support your professional development. Offer to train up to do audits, checks, induct new staff.

Hey I decided not to do it as it's not worth 1h commute each way for £10 an hour. Thanks for all the help

I wasn't based on something that might happen in the future unless it's your dream company or some other reason