What can I do to get more experience?

[latishia6]

I'm a bit stuck in a job I don't enjoy. It pays well (which is part of the problem) and in my line of work (social research for a charity) most jobs on my wage are management positions. I'm technically a manager as I am head of research, but because our charity is so small, I don't actually manage any people so have no management experience, so if I move jobs I would likely need to take a pay cut, as nobody is going to hire me into a manager role with no management experience. Is there anything I can do to make myself more employable? Has anyone else been stuck like this before?

I don’t think you have zero chance of getting a manager role. Everyone has to start somewhere.

Do you have, or can you start, any hobby where you’d be practicing leadership?

Can you do some leadership mentoring with a senior manager in your organisation?

Or would your organisation support you doing an apprenticeship? In terms of time over money maybe, it being a small charity. There’s a national website for apprenticeship opportunities.

Could you take some courses on management ?

I do have an apprenticeship in my field, (not management) and I am a committee member for my son's club, but hadn't thought of mentorship!

I'm looking out for free ones that are in person (I know of a couple just waiting for application rounds). Does this actually make a difference do you think when people are hiring? I was always under the impression that most orgs just want someone who can hit the ground running.

You might want to try for a job where you would be managing one, or two at the most. Don’t year straight for a job heading up a team of 9.

I'm not sure id want to! It's put me off applying for other jobs in the past (heading up a large team).

Same here. Managing people is the hardest thing. They are not all rational 🤣