The job search basics for aspiring managers
You’ve worked hard, built your skill set, took on more responsibilities, and you’re ready to move up the corporate ladder. It’s time for you to take that first step into management. But wait! You’ve never applied to or interviewed for such a position before. So even though you have a perfect CV, you realize that this is a different world and you need to prepare before you take the plunge.
So, what are the steps you need to take to be completely ready for your new career adventure? At Bayt.com, the #1 job site in the Middle East, we want to help you start your journey the right way. Here is how to do that:
Ask yourself the essentials
Do you have what it takes to be a manager? You should be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses! This is why you need to ask yourself if you’re comfortable making important decisions, if you’re good with confrontation in case an issue with a team member arises, if you have the ability to provide constructive criticism, etc. If your answer is negative to those essential questions, then you might need to take a step back and reevaluate this career move until you are more comfortable handling a position like this.
Know the company
As a manager, you should be more well-informed about the company you’re applying to than anyone else. Do your research ahead of time and make note of all the important functions, services and products. Align yourself with the mission and values. It would be even better would to interact with employees who work there and get a greater sense of the company. This is a key step, as every manager is expected to know the ins and outs of their company.
Evaluate your experience
Take a look back at the experiences and skills that you’ve built along the way. Do you have what the employer is looking for? You need to be able to include relevant skills and abilities in your application. If there are any potential gaps, work on filling them. Take management courses, build your communication skills, and take on additional tasks and projects at your existing position. If anything needs further development, develop it!
Rearrange your CV
Once you are sure you’ve acquired all the skills and experiences, the next step would be to make it apparent on your CV. This might change the arrangement of your CV altogether. As an entry-level applicant, education was always the highlight. Now you can scale that back, as employers will be more interested in your accumulative career achievements. Highlight important projects you’ve worked on, including any qualifications and certifications you have under your belt. Most importantly, make sure to target your CV to the organization and the position at hand.
Research and apply
If you are applying for an internal position, then you already know who to contact and the general protocols of your workplace. But if you are on the lookout for a new company, then you should definitely start searching on platforms like Bayt.com. With the ability to search for jobs by industry, location, company name, or any criteria you set, you can select “Management Jobs” to find your intended career level.
Prepare yourself for the interview
An interview for a management position is entirely different from that of an entry or midlevel position. First and foremost, you need to demonstrate your excellent communication skills. To excel in a leadership position, you have to efficiently communicate to your team what is expected of them, explain matters when needed, give them recognition, as well as constructive criticism. How can you prove that? By communicating everything to your employer from goals, to history, to talents, to achievements, etc. Don’t just give answers, have a conversation! Asking questions is also important to show that you take initiative and are a lifelong learner.