You want to be a Management Trainee?

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.

Whatever the title, the purpose of the position is the same: To train and mentor individuals for management functions in the organization. Duties of a management trainee vary by industry and by the specific firm employing the individual. Often, a trainee will be assigned duties in various departments of the organization. This is to familiarize the trainee with all functions of the organization.

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