There is a wide range of environment that managers work in and the work of a manager in construction will be very different to one in a large supermarket. The typical duties will vary depending on where you are going to work, but there are certain things to expect. These things will include the attending of internal and customer meetings as well as elements of people management.
The Training You Get as a Manager
Graduate management training schemes will vary depending on the employer, but they will all provide you with the skills, training and knowledge that you need to be a successful manager. The training will often have on-the-job training as well as formal training sessions. There are also some schemes that have a mentorship.
With a mentorship program, the graduate will be paired with an experienced and senior mentor. There are other schemes that focus on an intensive, in-store training course which will provide you with commercial skills in certain areas including HR, leadership and finance. External training programmes with reputed companies like GBS Corporate Training may also be an option for further training in some organisations.
Getting a Qualification as a Trainee Manager
There are some management training programmes which offer you support in getting a formal qualification. This could be a postgraduate degree or another professional qualification from one of the industry bodies. An example of this kind of scheme is the NHS management programme which has led to postgraduate certification in healthcare leadership. The qualification could also be specific depending on a specialism such as the CIMA qualification for graduates who are in finance management training schemes.
There are also some training schemes where the employers will put the graduate through a masters degree in business administration. However, this is generally aimed at professionals who have at least a few years of working experience. The MBA can be done on a full or part-time basis and will take between 10 months to 2 years to complete. There is also an option for graduates to complete this via distance learning or online.
Corporate Social Responsibility Projects and Graduate Managers
There are a number of graduate training schemes which will place recruits on corporate social responsibility programs or other fundraising projects. This can be a great chance to create better links with colleagues and to give back to the community. One of these schemes is the John Lewis partnership management programme which focuses on CSR and will place graduates on projects where they work with social enterprise organisations.
The Good Parts of Being in Charge
You will find that there is a lot of high-level responsibility early on. These schemes will often place graduates in positions of assistance and deputy manager. Progression can also be quick, particularly in the retail sector where a graduate could be running a department within a few months. Within 2 to 3 years, the same graduate could be running their own store.
The starting salaries for these schemes are also quite generous depending on the company you are working for. There can also be other benefits such as health insurance, a company car and bonuses for completing projects on time or meeting targets.
The Challenges Faced On Graduate Management Schemes
These schemes will involve a lot of unsociable and long hours. If there is a project that is due or a deadline, you will have to ensure that it is delivered on time. However, if you have good organisational skills, you will be able to achieve a better balance for your hours.
There are some schemes that will require you to relocate. An example of this is that Tesco, in the past, has only recruited graduates who are flexible regarding location.
You will also have to be comfortable and work with concepts that you have no prior knowledge about. This is particularly important if you have not studied management or business. An example is having to keep a stakeholder happy and manage their expectations.
When Your Training Scheme Is Over
There are some schemes that will guarantee you a role at the end of your training, but there are others where you will have to apply for a vacancy in the company. If this is the case, you will generally be offered support while you are completing the application.