General Manager

OFO No: 1

• General Manager
• OFO 121 Managing Director

What is a Manager?

The most important job of a Manager is to manage the staff or a particular team in the company.

Managers are usually found on 3 basic levels:

• Supervisors

• Middle Management

• Senior Management

Supervisors usually report to Middle Management who then report to Senior Management.

Managers can be found in almost every industry.

Here are just a few examples:

• Agriculture
• Insurance
• Mining
• Retail
• Sports
• Tourism etc

Managers can there also be found in different departments of a company.

Here are just a few examples:

• Finance
• HR
• Project Management
• Sales etc

What does a Manager do?

(these can differ slightly from one industry or department to another)

• sets goals for the team or company
• prioritises and decides what work needs to be done
• organises and motivates team
• makes staff decisions (promotions, retrenchments, pay increases etc)
• researches and sets targets / goals for team or company
• acts as a good leader and role model

Are you . . . ?

• interested in business?
• motivated?
• organised?
• a leader?
• a person who can motivate others?
• strategic thinker?
• computer literate?
• professional?

How do I become a Manager?

Managers don’t become Managers straight from college. A Manager is a senior position so it will take time and hard work and experience to get to this point.

Managers have usually studied a diploma or degree in business management or a Bachelor of Commerce (B-Com). They have also worked for a number of years collecting experience and knowledge. They work their way up through the company to a managerial position.

Once qualified, you will enter the company as a junior or as an assistant. From this position, you will need to learn as much as you can on the job. It’s advisable for you to collect more skills and training to jump ahead of the rest. You need to show that you’re motivated, a team player and that you’re responsible and hard-working enough to ‘manage’ a team or company before you will get promoted.

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Accountant … or … Administration Officer

Is becoming a Manager the right career choice for me?