Management is the process of using your resources in the best possible manner to achieve the desired goals in the least possible time. The ‘resources’ you might have under your disposal vary depending upon the nature of your job; manpower, capital, land and machinery, all are resources of one kind or the other. A person who manages a firm/organization or a group of individuals is primarily called a Manager. The ‘Top 7 Careers in Management’ is a list of the best careers and fields you can work in as a Manager. These careers offer tremendous growth opportunities and authority. Most of these careers require a good past track record and necessary experience in the field.
A Manager is responsible for supervising and overseeing all the operations and the financial health of a business unit. Managers lead people and motivate them to achieve targets. Their main aim is to increase profits and decrease costs. They look after the overall functioning of the unit and it is their responsibility to ensure that the organization’s targets are met and their policies are implemented. The nature of a Manager’s job depends upon the department of an organization he/she is working in. These departments can include Sales, Marketing, Finance, Human Resource, General Management, Production and Supply Chain Management. Managers generally have a lot of authority are very important for the success of any department/organization. Careers in the field of Management require a person to have excellent communication skills and leadership qualities, apart from having a strong knowledge base about the financial aspects of the business. There are a lot of career opportunities for people in the field of Management depending upon their skills and education.
Sales Managers are in charge of the Sales Team and are responsible for increasing the total amount of sales of the product/service and meeting the targets set by the heads of the company. They have to come up with innovative ideas and offers to boost sales. They train and motivate a team of Sales Executives who are responsible for interacting with customers and persuading them to buy the product or the service. The mode of persuasion can be face to face, on the phone or through e – mails. Sales Managers are responsible for the behavior of the executives and have to ensure that they always follow the specified code of conduct.
Sales Managers are very important to any organization as they look after one of the most important stages in the supply chain, i.e. Sales. It is the stage through which an organization earns most of its revenue and the performance of a Sales Manager can make an organization earn a lot of profits or go into massive losses. They are responsible for attending to the grievances of the customers and developing good relations with them. They should also have some basic knowledge about Marketing and how to use it improve the sales of products. A Sales Manager should also be able to look after the financial aspect of his/her department and ensure that costs do not exceed the revenue. Sales Managers normally start off as Sales Executives and deal with customers directly. As they gain experience and become better in their job, they start to move onto higher positions such as Sales Managers. Even though there is no necessary educational qualification required to become a Sales Manager, a B.B.A plus an M.B.A in Sales or Marketing can prove to be a major help in your career.
Find out about other Careers in Sales.
The purpose of ‘Marketing’ is to spread awareness about your product/service amongst the minds of the prospective customers. It focuses on persuading people to purchase your product/service by highlighting its qualities and benefits. Marketing Managers are responsible for monitoring market trends and finding ways to improve the sales of the product by expanding your consumer base. Their basic function is to turn ‘Potential Customers’ into ‘Regular Customers’. They study competitors’ products and services and find out ways through which the organization’s product/service can stand out as ‘unique’ and ‘different’.
Marketing Managers are excellent communicators who have the ability to use their creativity to develop a feeling of inquisitiveness amongst the target audience regarding the product/service. They use their skills to convince the potential consumer to purchase the product or service. They prepare marketing plans and budgets and find ways through the profitability of the product can be enhanced. They are linked closely with the Sales department and often consult them regarding the ways through which the consumer base can enlarged and the product can be improved. A Marketing Manager supervises a marketing team who is responsible for finding ways through which more awareness can be generated amongst the public regarding the product/service. Advertising is a major component of Marketing. Marketing Managers conduct research about customers and study their behavior. Statistics from these studies are analyzed and the inferences are communicated to other departments of the organization so that the product/service can improve as per the needs of the consumers. They usually start off as a part of the Marketing team or in other management roles and it takes about 4 – 6 years on an average to become a Marketing Manager. There are no educational requirements as such, but most companies would prefer to hire people who have a B.B.A plus an M.B.A in Marketing from a reputed institute.
Find out about other Careers in Marketing.
The job of a Financial Manager is to advise other departments and the heads of an organization regarding the various financial aspects of the business. They are responsible for creating budgets and allocating funds to specific departments. They keep a track of the financial health of the organization and find ways through which the profitability of an organization can be improved and costs can be cut. The role of a Financial Manager can vary from organization to organization. In bigger organizations, they are responsible for looking after the overall financial health of organization, whereas in smaller organizations, they are responsible for collecting and preparing accounts.
Find out about other Careers in Finance and Accounts.
Financial Managers are extremely important people in any organization and use their excellent numeric skills to forecast the financial health of the organization. They are heavily involved in advising the heads of the organization on expansion activities. They monitor the ‘inflow’ and ‘outflow’ of costs and revenue respectively. Financial Managers are responsible for coming up with long term strategies and plans so as to ensure that the organization continues to grow in the future. They manage budgets and minimize the financial risk in the organization’s dealings. They are often involved in supervising accountants and auditors. Most Financial Managers start off as Accountants or auditors and then move up the ladder by proving their mettle. A degree in Chartered Accountancy or a B.B.A and M.B.A in Finance can help your career develop faster than usual.
Find out about the Top 7 Careers in Finance.
Human Resource Managers are responsible for managing the staff of an organization. Their primary job is to screen, interview and recruit suitable candidates for vacant positions. They serve as a link between the employees of an organization and the heads of the management. They look after the needs of the employees are ensure their safety and security. They handle a lot of staffing issues that sometimes include solving disputes, punishing and rewarding employees. Human Resource Managers are also responsible for creating a competent and motivated workforce that is employed according to its strengths.
Human Resource Managers ensure that the value of each employee is maximized and that he/she is used effectively in the organization. It is their job to see that each worker works up to his/her potential and stays motivated to benefit the organization. It is a part of the job of a HR Manager to advise the management regarding the compensation and benefits for employees. They work very hard to ensure that an organization meets all its staffing requirements and that there is no ‘over – staffing’ or ‘under – staffing’. Most Human Resource Managers start off as a part of the HR team and perform basic tasks like short listing candidates and meeting other staffing related requirements of the organization. You can become a Human Resource Manager without any educational qualification as well, but a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management or a related field can be very helpful.
General Managers are one of the most important people in any organization and generally look after the whole business or an entire department. They are also known as CEOs, COOs or Corporate Managers. Their goal is to ensure that company increases its profitability and costs are reduced through ethical and legal ways. They motivate their subordinates and coordinate between different departments of an organization so that targets can be met. They look to ensure the effective and efficient management of resources and capital. They look for opportunities through which an organization can grow and expand. Some General Managers are also responsible for looking after the daily operations of the business.
General Managers are heavily involved in creating and reviewing company procedures and policies. They coordinate activities between different departments and plan for the future by setting targets. They also look after the overall financial health of the business. General Managers are responsible for delegating tasks to different subordinates and motivating all employees and departments to perform to their maximum. They regularly hold meetings with the heads and owners of the company and plan for the future while keeping their interests in mind. They look after each and every aspect of an organization and are involved in working closely with all departments to ensure that the organization benefits in every way possible. General Managers usually start off as lower level managers or executives in specific departments within the organization and move up the ladder due to their knowledge and excellent managerial abilities. A B.B.A plus an M.B.A from a reputed institute can help you get the job of a General Manager.
Find out about the different Careers in General Management.
Production Managers are responsible for managing and supervising the manufacturing process in an organization. This is usually applicable to organizations that produce goods and not services. Their job responsibilities include planning, coordinating and controlling the production process. The main aim of a Production Manager is to ensure that quality goods are produced in the right amount within the specified time limit. They work in a variety of industries, including the Food Manufacturing Industry, Automobile Manufacturing Companies, Garment Production etc. Production Managers ensure that the costs of the manufacturing process do not exceed the allocated budget. They also look to decrease these costs so as to increase the profitability of the process.
Find out about the Top 7 'Fixed Hours' Careers.
Production Managers organize and plan production schedules that specify the amount of goods that are to be produced within a particular amount of time. They purchase and manage inventory and ensure the optimum use of resources like labor, machinery and raw materials. They deal with a lot of on the spot problems during the production process and solve them as quickly as possible so that the production of the goods can go on as planned. They are sometimes also involved in hiring and training staff that works under them. They motivate the staff and ensure that they put in their best efforts to complete the production on time. Production of goods or services is a hectic process and requires the Production Manager to be available at all times. They establish safety standards and make sure that the staff works in a safe environment. Production Managers are also involved in coordinating between Suppliers of raw materials and managers from other departments. Most Production Managers start off as ‘Shift Managers’ or ‘Supervisors’ and then go on to become Production Managers with experience. You might need training and a Bachelor’s or preferably a Master’s degree in Management or a related field can help you climb the ladder of success.
Find out what it is like to be Working in the Manufacturing Industry.
Find out about the Top 7 Physical Careers.
A ‘Supply Chain’ refers to the various stages that a product goes through in the process of being produced. This includes manufacturing, distribution and consumption. Supply Chain Managers are responsible for ensuring that the overall transformations that a product goes through should be smooth and should be as cheap as possible. They plan, organize and manage the transfer of goods and services from its manufacturer to the consumer. They are not only responsible for the supply of products but are also responsible for the supply of information about products such as status information, payment schedules and ownership titles.
Supply Chain Managers aim to keep the inventory at a minimum and increase the speed of transactions that get revenue. They are closely involved with every stage in a product’s life including manufacturing, distribution, sale, consumption and feedback. They design and plan supply chains which focus on fast transactions between different departments without the loss of much revenue. These designs include how a product will be transported, where it will be transported, time available for each stage etc. They also study market trends to make sure that amount of goods produced is not less than or greater than the demand for that product in the market. Supply Chain Managers are also often involved in checking the quality of the products before they are distributed. They choose suppliers which provide them with the cheapest and superior quality raw materials so that the profit margin remains as high as possible. They guide and motivate their subordinates to ensure that every member of the staff works according to his/her potential. Supply Chain Managers need to be multi – talented with a strong knowledge base in all these areas. They normally start off in entry level or managerial positions in specific departments and work up the ladder. A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management can help you progress faster and get jobs easily.
