Going into Management?

Author
Discussion

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,406 posts

209 months

Sunday 22nd March 2015
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I've managed people before in a previous job and I enjoyed it, and I believe that I was pretty good at it (the colleagues I managed seemed happy with me).

I was moved out of management due to no fault of my own (both me and the only other male manager were moved sideways, leaving an all female management team).

I would like to get back into a management role, but not sure the best way to go about it? I know most companies promote within, and unfortunately in my company that is impossible.

I am looking to leave anyway. Has anyone done something like this within the last few years and can offer any advice?

Thanks.

rog007

5,759 posts

224 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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Very good managers are always in short supply in most industries. You don't however indicate what industry you have experience in nor what your management qualifications are. If you can share some insight in to both of those then some further advice may be possible.

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,406 posts

209 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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I managed a team of 5 on an IT support help desk. I did this for less than a year and other than going on a "management" course i have no qualifications.

rog007

5,759 posts

224 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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If you intend to remain within the IT industry then I'd continue with your CPD plans for that. In addition, I'd start looking at the roles you're interested in on the usual job sites and see what the essential criteria are for the roles you aspire to. If you're short of any of the essential competencies then that is where you would direct your further learning towards.

As concurrent activity, you may wish to gain some formal management competency to confirm you do indeed have the requisite skills. You could begin with joining the CMI and taking some short course before considering something like a post grad cert in management studies at your local uni or OU. Hope that helps. Good luck!

toon10

6,175 posts

157 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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I did an ILM diploma in Management at college. It's pretty easy and takes a year to do. No exams as such but about 4 assignments every 6 weeks. Luckily, work paid and let me use a Thursday afternoon a week to do the classes. As long as you dedicate a few hours per week to do the work, it doesn't eat up your home time too much. I qualifying uni back in '97, so I struggled with work, home and being in education again at first but it soon became the norm.

It gives you some useful tips, background and theory to management and a formal qualification. My issue was that although I was promoted from within, my title was deputy manager which won't open too many doors elsewhere. Since getting a new boss, I'm now being moved away from the management team and pushed down the business analyst route. I like working with people more than developing software (my original career) and doing analysis work so time will tell. At least getting some formal certification helps on the CV.

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,406 posts

209 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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Thanks for the insights guys, I will have to look into those avenue's.

Re an OU or going to a local UNI, I would have to leave my current job to be able to do either I think which would make it difficult I think... frown

ozzuk

1,180 posts

127 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
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For IT in my opinion the 'managing people' part is a necessary skill but is secondary to the majority of IT 'management' roles. For instance, in support/hands on roles it usually more important to have the relevant skill sets for issue escalation. Then there are SDM roles which require for instance ITIL skills. Just about any IT role I've seen may reference 'confident or experience of managing a team of xyz) but usually something pretty easy to talk to.

Its rare to have an IT manager there purely to manage people, any business with that structure I'd question the value and likely consolidate with another role, finance or facilities if the IT manager role isn't adding sufficient 'IT' value.

You need to consider which area of IT you want to work in - as advised look at adverts to see what the requirements are. If you have the opportunity then its great for your own development to also build on your people skills, I've 20 years varied IT experience and am still looking to do a team management course at some point as I recognize an opportunity for improvement.


TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,406 posts

209 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
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Thanks for your reply. I have done a management course back in 2010 (no proof) and i have worked in IT for over 17 years.

I'm going to look on job sites tonight to get a view of what is out there

968CS

132 posts

179 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
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toon10 said:
I did an ILM diploma in Management at college. It's pretty easy and takes a year to do. No exams as such but about 4 assignments every 6 weeks. Luckily, work paid and let me use a Thursday afternoon a week to do the classes. As long as you dedicate a few hours per week to do the work, it doesn't eat up your home time too much. I qualifying uni back in '97, so I struggled with work, home and being in education again at first but it soon became the norm.

It gives you some useful tips, background and theory to management and a formal qualification. My issue was that although I was promoted from within, my title was deputy manager which won't open too many doors elsewhere. Since getting a new boss, I'm now being moved away from the management team and pushed down the business analyst route. I like working with people more than developing software (my original career) and doing analysis work so time will tell. At least getting some formal certification helps on the CV.
I'm about to move back into a management role in the 3rd sector. The 3 other candidates for the role all had MBA's but I was chosen because of previous experience of setting up and running my own business and general management experience. A condition of the offer was that I get some kind of management qualification, to help me move further up the tree when the next opportunity comes along (They have offered to pay and give me half a day a week for study, which is nice.)

Anyway don't want to do an MBA too much like hard work at this time of life so I'm interested in knowing more about the ILM diploma, where did you do it?

toon10

6,175 posts

157 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
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968CS said:
I'm about to move back into a management role in the 3rd sector. The 3 other candidates for the role all had MBA's but I was chosen because of previous experience of setting up and running my own business and general management experience. A condition of the offer was that I get some kind of management qualification, to help me move further up the tree when the next opportunity comes along (They have offered to pay and give me half a day a week for study, which is nice.)

Anyway don't want to do an MBA too much like hard work at this time of life so I'm interested in knowing more about the ILM diploma, where did you do it?
I did mine at Newcastle college. There's a level 3 and level 5 but the 3 is a good baseline if you're just looking to be certified. Management isn't really rocket science as you'll know but it's a pretty interesting course. It covers Maslow's hierarchy of needs, situational leadership model and various other topics of interest.

http://www.ncl-coll.ac.uk/courses/1315/ilm-award-i...

I think it's a fairly well accepted course so should be available at other colleges. I think there is a similar one that the ILM don't run. Off the top of my head I think it's run by CMI?




968CS

132 posts

179 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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Thanks Toon10 that's really useful.

968CS

132 posts

179 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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Thanks Toon10 that's really useful.

AndyNetwork

1,834 posts

194 months

Friday 27th March 2015
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I also work in IT, and have taken the ILM course in Management. I too am looking for management positions, find that having my ITIL qualificationstands me in a better position than the management qualification.

Generally, I find that as long as you have the technical ability, and the IT management qualifications (ITIL) then you can be taught the "man management" part in line with how the organisation you are working for wants it's department managed.

Why am I not currently in a management position? Because I am being very selective over the jobs I apply for, in particular, I would like to stay within the 3rd Sector, and not too far from where I live, therefore, I am limiting the companies that I could work for.

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,406 posts

209 months

Monday 30th March 2015
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AndyNetwork said:
I also work in IT, and have taken the ILM course in Management. I too am looking for management positions, find that having my ITIL qualificationstands me in a better position than the management qualification.

Generally, I find that as long as you have the technical ability, and the IT management qualifications (ITIL) then you can be taught the "man management" part in line with how the organisation you are working for wants it's department managed.

Why am I not currently in a management position? Because I am being very selective over the jobs I apply for, in particular, I would like to stay within the 3rd Sector, and not too far from where I live, therefore, I am limiting the companies that I could work for.
I think I will do the ITIL Foundation (easy enough to do at home) and then look at going on a classroom course for the next level up. It wont harm my career either way as even support roles like you to have ITIL.

My employer was meant to put me through an ITIL Foundation course but never bothered to.