A solid education is often the first step in gaining initial business management experience. After that, you can gain experience by participating in any corporate apprenticeship programs that may be available. Companies frequently have layers of management, and your willingness to help in this type of structure may help you land your first job in business management. In a junior or middle manager position, demonstrated leadership and decision-making skills could lead to a more senior managerial position.
You’ll need a college education before you can gain any business management experience. Choose a major such as business, business administration, or business management as an undergraduate to serve as a foundation for a career. Obtaining a master of business administration (MBA) degree in graduate school may help you gain managerial experience sooner in your career.
Unless you own your own business, you will need to be hired into your first managerial position in order to gain experience in business management. Before the formal title of “manager” is attached to your position, you may need to accept a title that is similar to that of a senior professional, such as a senior researcher. Senior professional responsibilities, on the other hand, are likely to include managerial tasks such as supervising the work of other employees, interviewing job candidates for open positions, and managing a departmental budget. Accept a senior, middle, or co-manager position to gain business management experience, and use the skills you learn to advance to a more senior managerial position.
You are likely to be involved in all of the major aspects of a company’s operations during your career as a business manager. You’ll be in charge of personnel, financial decisions, and other functions that help a company achieve its overall objectives. Obtaining formal certification in any of these areas — from personnel or human resource management to financial management — could lead to some experience in business management.
Apprenticeships may be available to help you gain experience in business management. Employers who offer apprenticeships may state that applicants who achieve or exceed a certain level of academic achievement will be given priority. These programs could last for a year or even longer. You may work with a company on a rotational basis and complete a variety of tasks throughout the program. The leadership skills you gain and use as part of a business management apprenticeship should be factored into your overall business management experience.