From first-line supervisors
to top executives, managers plan and direct the work of the organization. They
set policy, establish channels of communication and evaluate the work that is
done. These functions require knowledge, skills and judgment, which are most
effectively developed on the job.
To prepare graduates for
management responsibilities, come companies recruit management trainees. These
positions are often found in finance, trade, manufacturing and government
agencies. Depending on the business, the position may also be referred to as
marketing trainee, purchasing trainee, accounting trainee and management
intern.
For
example, a management trainee hired by the store department may spend several
months working as a clerk in one or more of the sales departments, followed by
additional time working in customer services, purchasing, merchandising and
personnel departments for example. In a bank, the trainee may work briefly as a
teller, handle new accounts and then work at one of the loan desks before
moving onto other assignments.
Trainees may also get
classroom instruction on subjects relating to their rotational experience. The
instructions may involve lectures, projects, oral presentations and tests.
Guest speakers would also be invited.
Many firms have structured
training programs that lay out the instruction and types of assignments the
trainee will receive. They also specify times for the periodic evaluation of
the trainee’s performance. Management training of this kind may range from six
months to five years.
Under pressure to perform
A management trainee should
therefore be prepared to work in a variety of situations. Depending on the
industry, the setting may be a large office with many people, a workshop or a
department in a retail store. Trainees many at times work as members of a team
and at times on their own on an assignment. They are under pressure to perform
well and qualify for advancement.
Minimum requirement.
A bachelor’s degree is the
minimum requirement for a management trainee position. Occasionally,
individuals with some experience in an industry may advance to management
position. Firms may also require that applicants have a certain minimum degree
score. In addition to a good scholastic record, employers look for indications
of leadership such as participation in student government or other
extracurricular activities.
Applicants for management
trainee jobs must demonstrate maturity. They should be adaptable, analytical
and capable of working well with others. They should have good organizational
and communication skills. Some employers use psychometric and aptitude tests to
aid in selecting applicants. Public agencies require civil service examinations
usually both written and oral.
Opportunities.
Promotion is the goal of
management training. The jobs open to those who complete a management training
program depends on the industry employing them, as well as individual interests
and aptitudes. Examples of opportunities including operations supervisor in a
bank and a sales manager, credit manager or customer service manager in a
retail store. Promotion often depends on the ability and willingness to travel
or relocate.
Many employers recruit
management trainees directly from universities. Some rely on referrals from
college career placement bureaus, while others advertise vacancies in the
newspapers and also on their web sites. Private and public employment agencies
are also useful.
This article is by Juliah
Karimi of Staff Kenya
