Department managers have a variety of responsibilities. Not only must they manage the employees within their department, they also have to manage any inventory, keep customers happy and find creative and effective ways to improve things such as production, quality, sales numbers and/or profits. There are several career paths that might help you become a department manager. Some people who want to become department managers obtain their college degrees, start at entry-level positions, begin as management trainees or work in their desired field for several years before applying for department manager positions. Each company is different, so it is best to find out what qualifications are required or desired by the company for which you would like to work.
Earning a college degree in business management is one way to start to become a department manager. This does not guarantee you a position, but it does help demonstrate that you have been trained for a management position. Some colleges offer specific management programs within various career fields, so if you have a specific field you would like to work in, you should make use of these. A degree coupled with experience in your chosen field is very helpful in finding department manager positions.
Many companies have moved toward promoting employees from within. This means that they will evaluate current employees for promotions before looking outside of the company. Taking advantage of this policy might help someone who has started at an entry-level position move toward a department manager position. To become a department manager, try to learn as much as possible about the company you work for, demonstrate initiative and try to be a valuable asset to the company.
Some companies offer a management trainee program to help an individual become a department manager. Certain programs have a few basic requirements, and others have several strict policies in place when entering training. A management trainee program is a good way to put your skills and experience to work with training to become a manager.
Working in your desired field to eventually become a department manager does not mean that you have to start with an entry-level position. If you have experience that might land you a job with a great company, working several years with that company might make you eligible for a department manager position. You might also benefit from working for various companies within the same career field, thereby gaining a variety of skills that might help you become a department manager.
