How to Become a Manager: A Step-by-Step Career Guide
How to Build the Experience and Leadership Skills You Need to Move Into Management
Research shows that employees with effective managers are 15 times more likely to excel in their jobs.
Organizations recognize that impactful managers are critical to their success. As a result, skilled managers are highly sought after across all industries.
But how can you move into a high-earning management role if you lack leadership and managerial experience?
Read on to learn the steps you can take to build the leadership qualifications needed for your first management role—and to build a successful, long-term career.
The best way to move into a management role without prior experience is to first perform well in your current role, then seek opportunities to lead. Building your skills through a leadership degree program and communicating your desire to advance to your managers are also important steps.
Earning a degree isn’t required for every management role; however, in high-earning industries, it is often a nonnegotiable hiring requirement and can determine whether you are selected for a position.
A degree in organizational leadership prepares professionals to become outstanding managers in a variety of organizations by teaching leadership styles, problem-solving skills, conflict resolution, and techniques for developing and growing effective team members, among other essential approaches.
What Does a Manager Do?
Managers are mid-level professionals within an organization who lead teams, organize projects, make strategic decisions, and implement company initiatives to ensure organizational success.
While the day-to-day responsibilities of a manager differ across each position and industry, some common duties include:
- Hiring, training, and supervising staff
- Planning and delegating projects
- Directing strategy and operations
- Supporting upper management
- Tracking and reporting performance
- Resolving conflicts
What Skills Do You Need to Become a Manager?
Becoming a better leader and manager is an ongoing process of learning, adapting, and refining your skills; it’s a worthwhile investment in your career, both in the short and long term.
Key management skills that can advance your managerial career and enhance your professional value to organizations include:
- Communication
- Emotional intelligence
- Problem-solving
- Strategic thinking
- Adaptability
- Time management
- Mentorship
- Collaboration
How to Become a Manager: 6 Steps
Every leader has a starting point. And it’s possible to become a manager without previous management experience. However, you will need to demonstrate transferable skills and knowledge to secure a position.
Six proven steps that can help you build your resume and land your first manager role include:
- Perform well in your current role
- Look for opportunities to lead
- Develop management skills
- Advance your education
- Communicate your career goals
- Apply for management opportunities
1. Perform Well in Your Current Role
The first step to becoming a manager is to perform exceptionally well in your current role. By demonstrating a strong work ethic, being a team player, and showing dependability, your superiors will be more likely to take you seriously for management positions and see you as a trustworthy, high-potential employee.
2. Look For Opportunities to Lead
Seek opportunities in your current role to practice management skills. For example, you could volunteer to lead a small project, train and mentor a new co-worker, or develop and present a strategy plan. Taking initiative shows your supervisors that you are ready for more responsibility.
3. Develop Management Skills
Other critical skills to develop on your path to becoming a leader include strategic thinking, collaboration, and adaptability. Taking the time to learn more about your organization’s strategy, operations, and big-picture goals demonstrates your investment in the company.
Additionally, showing you can try new things and collaborate during challenges signals to employers that you can be an innovative, adaptable leader with strong problem-solving skills.
4. Advance Your Education
Leadership qualities are not innate. Leaders are made through practice, experience, and deliberate effort. One of the best ways to accelerate your knowledge and skills is through a professional leadership degree program, such as the University of Cincinnati’s Online Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership.
Continuing your education strengthens your resume, qualifications, and skills while also showing future employers your commitment to professional growth and learning.
5. Communicate Your Career Goals
Another critical step in becoming a manager is vocalizing your goals to your current manager or mentor.
By articulating your career goals, you can not only receive advice and guidance but also signal to your employer—and others in your network—that you are interested in and ready for management opportunities.
6. Apply For Management Opportunities
When management opportunities arise, either within your company or elsewhere, make sure your resume is up to date with your new skills and accomplishments, and apply for every opportunity that interests you.
Even if you’re not hired immediately, stay persistent—keep applying, building your skills and resume, and practicing your interview techniques. The right opportunity will eventually come.
Do You Need a Degree to Become a Manager?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 51% of management positions require a bachelor's degree.
Earning a degree isn't required for every role, especially in industries like hospitality and retail, or if you have demonstrated experience at the company where you hope to advance.
However, in other high-earning fields—such as business, finance, engineering, healthcare, technology, and corporate roles—a bachelor’s degree is often a nonnegotiable hiring condition.
Beyond building essential career skills, research shows that an undergraduate degree also significantly enhances your chances of being hired.
What Degree Can Help You Become a Manager?
With many management and business degrees available at multiple award levels, it can be difficult to know which learning path will best prepare you for a successful management career.
Common management degrees offered by many institutions include:
- Business Administration
- Business Management
- Organizational Leadership
- Master of Business Administration
Overall, business management and administration degrees predominantly focus on business processes, administrative functions, and operational execution.
Organizational leadership degrees, in contrast, focus on teaching the skills and approaches managers need to lead teams effectively toward an organization’s goals. Organizational leadership degrees are also more versatile across industries than degrees focused strictly on business management and administration.
Top Management Career Paths
Earning an organizational leadership degree opens the door to a wide array of career opportunities—and managers are needed now more than ever.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment in management positions is projected to grow much faster than the average from 2025 to 2035, with approximately 1.1 million job openings each year.
Popular career paths for professionals with management training include:
- Human resources manager
- Training and development manager
- Public relations and fundraising manager
- Healthcare administrator
- Sales manager
- Project manager
- Industrial production manager
- Operations manager
- Nonprofit manager
- Customer service manager
How UC Can Help Your Management Career
Ready to take the first step in advancing your management career? The University of Cincinnati’s Online Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership offers a flexible, convenient pathway to a rewarding career in management.
Our 100% online program readies you with the skills you need to become an outstanding manager. It emphasizes essential interpersonal skills and practical outcomes, making it a standout choice for those looking to excel in managerial positions across many different industries.
Our curriculum, led by expert faculty, is rooted in real-world managerial approaches and challenges, focusing on communication, team dynamics, ethical decision-making, and organizational strategy to prepare you for leadership roles across industries.
Most importantly, you can complete our program fully online and at your own pace, so you don’t have to put your career or personal life on hold as you earn your degree.
Want to Take the First Step Toward Becoming a Manager? Contact UC for One-on-One Support
If you’re ready to learn more about UC’s Online BA in Organizational Leadership program, or any of our other management-focused degrees, get in touch with us today. Our Enrollment Services Advisors are ready to help in your career planning journey.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you become a manager without experience?
It’s possible to become a manager without any experience, but you will need to show hiring business managers that you are ready for the role by demonstrating transferable skills, knowledge, and qualifications on your resume.
How can I get management experience without being a manager?
The best way to get management experience without being a manager is to perform well in your current role, look for opportunities to lead, and to advance your skills through a leadership degree program.
What degree is best for becoming a manager?
One of the best degrees for gaining the skills to become a manager is a degree in organizational leadership—such as UC’s Online Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership—because it focuses specifically on the skills and approaches managers need to lead teams successfully toward organizational goals.
How long does it take to become a manager?
The amount of time it takes to become a manager varies across organizations. However, most companies require at least 3 to 5 years of work experience.
Ready to get started?
We offer over 130 degrees from undergraduate to doctoral programs. Each program is supported by a team of Enrollment Services Advisors (ESAs) who are here to help answer any questions you have.