How to get into a leadership position. How to get to a leadership position from a private? Secret centers of power

Job Matching Paradox - You can't get a job without experience, but you can't get experience without a job either. This difficulty haunts us when we first enter the labor market or are about to take a leadership position. Young ambitious professionals and recent graduates especially suffer from this paradox.

Such contradiction is paralyzing. However, professionals at all levels differ in that they find access to opportunities. The key to resolving this paradox lies in understanding that you will always be judged on two criteria: your potential to create value in the future, and your track record in an area that is key to your work. Depending on seniority, these two types of value will be weighed in different proportions. General rule such that the less experience you have, the more weight the potential carries.

Potential is best seen in attitude, enthusiasm, work ethic, communication skills, curiosity and questioning, willingness to learn, knowledge of the company and position. However, in addition to demonstrating potential, there are five other strategies that will overcome the paradox of fit for office.

1. Get empowered

One of the logically correct ways to find a job is to get the necessary qualifications. This may be education in a particular field or special training. One of the fastest growing industries today is computer programming. According to the American Bureau labor statistics, by 2020, about a million vacancies in this field will remain unfilled. Traditional IT education will no longer satisfy this demand. Tech companies are already calmly accepting programmers without higher education. At Google, according to The Wall Street Journal, today 15% of the staff did not graduate from college. With trainings like Codeacademy accessed by 24 million users around the world, completing one or more courses allows you to master professional skills in a month. With this knowledge, you will be able to qualify for an entry-level job, and after a while, compete with other experienced programmers. So decide on your interests - it can be programming, finance, aviation, art management and more. In almost each of these areas there is an opportunity to learn the basics of the profession. Find courses that are respected by employers and thrive.

2. Take the initiative

Laura Chambers launched the eBay university program, which was aimed at improving the quality of recruited interns. Laura's advice is to show the creativity and initiative that help you stand out from the crowd. This method is especially suitable for those who do not have a technical or special education. Volunteering is a great career start. Think of it as your startup, Laura advises. - Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. You will have the opportunity to try different types activities to understand what you love, and at the same time gain the necessary skills. It is important to demonstrate what you can do, not just your potential. She also advises to come up with a special plan to win the company of your dreams. If you want to work for eBay, arrange small business on this platform or use PayPal, be prepared to talk about the pros and cons of this experience. It doesn't cost much to create a small video or blog about your experience. Perhaps it will be picked up and promoted by the media. At the very least, a blog is a great addition to your resume.

3. Be prepared to start from the bottom

If you have just completed your education, you may feel that you are too qualified for many entry-level positions. But you need to start somewhere. As Lao Tzu said, the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Chad Dickerson, CEO of booming online exchange Etsy.com, is convinced that the best position is to put your foot in the door. That's how people got jobs in his company's support desk. They understood the company's business well and made great salespeople, he says. These people have a special place in his heart, because this way of hiring has proven to be beneficial for him as well. “I took a low-paying clerk position at the Raleigh (North Carolina) city newspaper in 1993, and it became the first online daily publication in the United States. I just realized how websites work here. It doesn't matter what area of ​​the Internet industry you are in. It can be finance, trade, hotel business and any other that works with a large number of clients. Start from a position that will allow you to communicate with the client - no matter for cash register or in support, sales, or at the front desk. You will get a lot of valuable opportunities to understand what is really happening in the market. You can use this experience to develop your career or apply it in any other field.

4. Barter

Perhaps you don't have a job yet. But you have a resource of infinite value that you may not realize. This time. If you spend your time with energy, enthusiasm, and initiative, you can trade it for tremendous opportunities. A young college graduate with a degree in history was talking to the director of a real estate agency. He looked very busy and not in the mood for conversation, and then she thought to ask: “What would you do to expand your business if you had one day off a week?” He said that he would prepare a marketing study of the rental market for young people. She offered to do this research for free, briefly explaining how her analytical and writing skills would help complete such a project. He agreed to pay for this work at the rate of $10 per hour, and when it was completed, he was amazed at the quality of the analysis, the clarity of the applicant's thinking and the wit with which the facts were presented. She now holds a junior position in the marketing department of this company.

5. Take a Bigger Look at Your Experience

You may browse the pages of companies you are interested in with the thought that you do not have the necessary experience to work on open vacancies. You can leave the site and try to conquer other companies, but try to look at your skills differently. This is exactly what one young specialist did, who was attracted by a vacancy in a food company. However, “project management” was indicated as a key requirement, a skill that he did not seem to have, although he was suitable in all other parameters. At the interview, he spoke about his experience of traveling Eastern Europe, which he made with his friends, and he was the initiator of the trip and was responsible for the entire group: he studied the route, found the cheapest tickets for transport and hotels, collected money from the participants and was the keeper and manager of the general cash desk. As a result, he was able to demonstrate the skill necessary company, although he was not associated with the professional sphere. So you, if you think about it, will find yourself with much more suitable skills than you think.

The position of director is desirable for many people, but not everyone is able to rise so high in career ladder or cope with it when the goal is achieved. It is worth noting that the opinion that such a position can only be available to those people who are ready to go over their heads is wrong.

In fact, there are not so many applicants. Some simply do not want to have more work problems and responsibilities, others do not have the necessary leadership qualities, so setting a goal, getting a job as a director (http://hotwork.ru/jobs/moskva/direktor/) can achieve it.

If the dream of becoming a director is your number one goal, you should consider several options and ways to achieve your goals. At the same time, it should be understood that this position is not only a source of power and pain wages, but also the cause of more responsibilities and problems. So, having placed the accents and realizing that a managerial position is just for you, it is worth considering some tips for finding a director's job.

1. As mentioned earlier, not everyone is able to lead a large team and solve workflow problems. To begin with, you should make sure that you need the position of director, otherwise the whole difficult path may turn out to be a waste of time.
2. Do not think that becoming an assistant director you are already guaranteed a successful leadership position, to which there is one step left. The harsh reality is that the vacant position of director is likely to be taken on by an outsider. This is how it is done in many modern companies. A more profitable option would be to change your place of work with a systematic and consistent climb up the career ladder.
3. When changing jobs, you should try to take the place of the head of the department with a small amount subordinates. So you can hone your management skills and gain invaluable experience, with which a leadership position will become more accessible.
4. A person who looks like a leader and behaves accordingly can find a job as a director in Moscow. Look closely at your leadership and adopt their demeanor.
5. Learn to control people, your subordinates. They must listen to you and follow your instructions without question.
6. Demanding high level professionalism from employees, work in full force while remaining the best.
7. Try to be engaged in the main activity of your company and look closely at the features of your still director. Thus, having taken the position of director, you will be familiar with the intricacies of work.

Did not work out. The business has shut down and you want to return to work. In a short period of time, you have delved into many processes: you want to implement a versatile experience, even if it is within the framework of a foreign company. How to convince employers that you are not a loser, but a candidate with rare experience in different fields?

Former entrepreneurs are treated with caution: there is almost always a risk that they will not be loyal to the company and return to their business. As a rule, the ambitions of such employees are much higher and not everyone succeeds in working under someone else's guidance. All these are risks for the employer, which he diligently avoids. Service expert "" Anastasia Zhukova shared tips on how to look for work for former entrepreneurs.

Soberly evaluate the offer

Former entrepreneurs are not liked in companies with well-established processes: after returning from “free swimming”, people feel uncomfortable within job descriptions and rigorous working arrangements. But in places where decisive, responsible and independent employees are needed, former businessmen and startups are really welcome. This is confirmed by the story of one of the applicants whom I hired.

His shipping business went bust and he had to sell off a large part of his property to cover his debts. He decided to get a job as a driver to support his family. Our manufacturing company I just needed someone with a car. At the interview, it turned out that he was well versed in procurement, and we offered to deal with them as well.

The employee performed excellently, and he was gradually entrusted with conducting big deals. And after some time, the position of the head of the production and economic part of the company was vacated. The owner carefully chose people for this position: not everyone could cope with a large amount of work, and they were looking for a suitable person for a long time.

By that time, our candidate had been working in the company for about six months. Everyone agreed that he should be given the opportunity to show his skills and abilities in this position. Now he is in charge of the logistics, procurement and production block, having taken the position of deputy director.

Conclusion: do not lose faith in your strengths and skills. You have a significant advantage over other candidates: you look at the processes and the work itself differently, as the experience of entrepreneurship expands consciousness and perception. This is your forte: you know what it's like to make decisions, right or wrong, and be responsible for them.

Describe entrepreneurial experience

There are a few tips that will help you not scare off the recruiter at the first stage.

In the employer's office, responses are displayed in a list with a brief excerpt from the resume. Recruiters set up the list type themselves - usually there are work experience, desired salary and names of companies in which the candidate worked. If this information is of interest to the employer, then he opens the resume and views it in full.

List of interviewees

Therefore, if you had an IP, in the last place of work it is better to write not “IP Ivanov Stepan Semenovich”, but simply “ Entrepreneurial activity” - it sounds better and is easier to perceive. Be sure to indicate the industry and direction of your activity.

If you are not applying for a managerial position, avoid the words "owner" or "owner": they may suggest that it is difficult for a former businessman to work under another manager.

Think carefully about choosing a position, especially if the direction of your business and previous experience diverge. You can develop further in a new industry or return to the profession: both are absolutely acceptable.

If the business did not last long, apply for the position level that was before it was opened, or a little higher. A common problem is high expectations: former businessmen hope to get a managerial position, although they did not rise above an ordinary specialist at their previous job. Going straight to a leadership position will be difficult. But rapid career growth in this situation is also possible.

Describe responsibilities based on job requirements. Move relevant functions to the beginning of the description. Formulate everything in detail: brevity is not an assistant here. Specify the number of employees of the company, if any, especially if you have not previously held leadership positions.

The most common mistake I've seen on resumes is short listing of responsibilities: "Company management, procurement, customer service, development, market promotion." Everything was laid out in a couple of lines, without details. It is clear that I had to deal with absolutely everything, but the details are important here.

For example:

• company management, development of a strategy and setting goals for employees (10 subordinates);
• work with suppliers (you can name key ones if they are large and well-known, or list product groups);
• negotiating with key customers (again, if there were large ones, name them); development of a strategy for promoting products / services / services and so on.

Do not forget about the results of work in the period of entrepreneurship. If a financial indicators your business weren't spectacular, just don't list them. But information about establishing relationships, getting even small discounts on purchases, and successful experience in finding partners is worth pointing out.

Prepare for the interview

In addition to the standard questions former entrepreneurs In an interview, they like to ask the following.

"Why did you decide to return to hire?"

Do not take this as an attempt to humiliate or insult you. It is really important for an employer to know what your motivation is.

The answer must be honest. A perfectly acceptable option is this: “I decided that I was ready to start my own business, because I did not see growth prospects for previous work. Collected necessary information and chose the direction of activity (explain why this is so). Organized the process. But at a certain point, difficulties arose, ”and to tell what exactly went wrong.

Your task is to convince the employer that you did not come to get the missing experience or temporarily wait out an unsuccessful period in the country's economy, but are ready to develop within the framework of a new company and use all the experience gained for its benefit.

"Are you planning to get back into business?"

You came to get a job, and your goal is to grow within the new company. That is exactly what you should answer.

“You have failed in your business. Why do you think that things will go better in a new place?”

Describe the situation honestly, tell about the reasons why the business “did not work”. Emphasize that you have gained this experience in your own company and will be able to prevent similar mistakes in another organization. Indicate that you will be able to implement complex tasks and hope to be part of a successful team - of course, if you really want to.

For those who doubt what described entrepreneurial experience right, there is a service " Successful resume". Experts from HR and recruitment will look at the resume through the eyes of the employer and help make it more attractive for the company of your dreams.

To become a good leader, you need at least three years to work in someone's submission? Not always! Some even after a year of work experience feel the strength to move into the ranks of top managers. How to achieve this?

They say that in order to become a good leader, you need to work for at least three years in someone's submission. However, some even after a year of work experience feel the desire and ability to move into the ranks of top managers. How to achieve this?

It's easier to do this if your company encourages career. The management itself can offer you a promotion based on your performance, when a suitable vacancy appears. However, the tendency to "grow" personnel is not relevant in all companies. If you understand that you will most likely not be given the opportunity to head a department in your "native" company, start looking for a new job.

To begin with, it is wiser to apply for a position with minimal managerial functionality. And don't count on good salary. There is a kind of barter: you get a managerial position, and the company saves on the salary of a professional.

“In the best case, this amount will be called a “starting salary”, and if you live up to expectations, your salary will increase over time,” says Zifa Dimitrieva, managing partner International Institute management. - At worst, they will not increase it (they will "ride" you) or the rate of its growth will be minimal. If they decided to save money from the very beginning, then they can stick to this line later.

But, having gained the necessary experience, you can come to another company for good money.

Put the "right" accents in the resume

The task of finding a job in a company, at least for an initial managerial position, is complicated by the fact that your resume is a resume of a "performer". And it most likely does not reflect the facts that speak in favor of the fact that you are able to lead.

However, according to Elena Bakanova, head of the selection of managers investment holding"Finam" - "pure performers" do not exist today. "Now any employee has to make decisions related to the development of projects, the organization of certain work processes," she recalls. And he advises to focus on these points in the resume.

Rabota.ru consultant Ekaterina Lukyanova also suggests revising her track record. “Perhaps, your organizational experience is small and you perceive it as not worthy of special mention, but this is a mistake,” she says. “It was in these situations that the makings of a future leader, leadership potential, ability to work with a team, and initiative could be revealed.”

When talking about their experience, experts advise using phrases: “on my initiative…”, “I implemented the plan as a project manager…”, “optimized the work of the department, group” –– and similar ones.

According to Elena Bakanova, the employer should also learn about "additional factors that can characterize you as a leader." Are you the captain of the corporate football team? It's a good message, she says.

By the way, the fact that the transition to a managerial position is a natural stage of career development also works for you. “You can also mention your desire for career and professional growth in your resume,” advises Ekaterina Lukyanova.

Before the interview

Take care of your image. “A person who wants to become a leader must look like a leader and speak like a leader,” reminds Ekaterina Lukyanova. successful leaders in this field.

“The more you remind the employer of “your friend on the board”, the more likely it is that in the end you will become one,” Zifa Dimitrieva agrees with Lukyanova and advises you to visit the company where you would like to work as a guest before the interview .

Learn all about the company. Ask the secretary for promotional products, price lists, read the information on the stands, experts advise. In addition, "study the company's website, its history, assortment, the specifics of the market in which the company operates, collect information about its competitors."

Think about what you can offer to the company. Do you have an idea of ​​what could be improved and how? Where would you start your work? You need to know how to answer these questions because they will be asked at the interview.

"Be prepared to present to the employer a reasoned plan for the development of the department you are going to manage," says Ekaterina Lukyanova.

The main thing is not to offer to build New Vasyuki, warns Zif Dimitrieva. "Most of the time, companies don't want to have problems with innovative leaders. Your job is simply to give the impression that you are more knowledgeable than anyone else in the industry."

Be confident but not arrogant in interviews. And not naive. “It is clear that you really want to get a managerial position, despite the fact that you have never managed before,” says Zifa Dimitrieva. that you will not fail."

By the way, the factor of trust in a person in employment for managerial positions plays almost the main role. The higher the position, the higher the level of trust should be, experts remind. Do not try to deceive the employer, hide the facts of the biography or impersonate someone who you really are not.

Moving up the career ladder can be very difficult. It is especially difficult business women : with the fact that a woman works on an equal footing with a man, society has already come to terms, but a woman boss - this still does not fit in the minds of some. Do you love your job, but feel that you have become cramped within its framework? If you really want to be promoted and are ready to accept the responsibility that comes with being a leader, there are only a few steps you need to take...

I'll go to the bosses, let them teach me

How to get a promotion at work and move from an ordinary position to a managerial one?

Many professionals once think about a promotion. Only for some this intention disappears quickly, while others are sure that they have the necessary experience, skills and passionately want to join the ranks of the bosses. But what if the employee is not familiar with managerial functions and has always performed the duties of an executor? Labor market experts told how to change a linear position to a managerial one.

There are two main scenarios for such a transition: a promotion within your company or a transition to a managerial position in another. What problems may arise for future tops? And how to realize the desire to become a leader?

an old friend is better than two new ones

According to Maria Silina, account manager at Contact Agency, growth within one company is considered a classic career development option and has a number of advantages: “Firstly, a potential manager has the opportunity and time to prove himself from a professional point of view vision, while still in the ranks. Secondly, during this period he can establish contacts with employees of the company, which can affect his position.

Indeed, convincingly demonstrating your leadership qualities to the authorities with whom you have been working for several years is easier than assuring the representatives of the new company of the same. But how exactly to grow in your own organization?

“In order to be promoted at work, it is necessary to demonstrate good results in work, to fulfill one’s duties with high quality and on time. It must be remembered that strategic thinking is inherent in leaders. Such people are able to anticipate changes in the industry in which they work, prioritize their work and the work of the team, focus on the main goals, bring creative ideas, make the right and timely decisions. This is not the whole set of qualities that people need to take a leadership position. When working in a team, it is also important to be able to see the situation through the eyes of your boss and abstract from the situational perception of the problem. Your manager and colleagues should be aware of your professional and career preferences,” says Alexei Iodko, Head of Human Resources at Raiffeisenbank.

“First of all, you need to be an active and proactive employee who does not avoid additional workload and participation in the life of the team, whether teamwork or brainstorm on how to improve the performance of the department. With the conviction "it's not in my official duties» it is difficult to grow professionally in the company and get a large area of ​​responsibility. If you are proactive, active, ready to take responsibility and back up ideas and suggestions with results, chances are career development are growing exponentially,” adds Nadezhda Smirnova, Leading Specialist at the Penny Lane Personnel recruiting agency.

What should be feared?

Imagine that the long-awaited promotion has taken place, yesterday's performer becomes the leader. There are no problems with the performance of duties, everything is working out, the prospects are encouraging. However, there is one "but" - the team. Labor market experts say that relationships with former colleagues (current employees) can significantly poison the joy of promotion.

“The main stumbling block is building relationships with former colleagues. If in professional competencies and personal qualities new leader has already proven himself earlier, then he will need to demonstrate his talent as a manager to colleagues more than once. And only after that he can establish himself as a leader in a familiar team, ”comments Nadezhda Smirnova.

“Many young managers who have grown up within their own company, at the stage of forming their managerial experience, have to deal with the solution of a natural paradox: on the one hand, with a formal change in their own role, and on the other, with the perception by the team in a new status. However, this situation can be easily avoided if, firstly, the assigned officer has achieved a transition to new position exclusively by his work, and secondly, if he has a certain authority and weight in the team, not just as a “great friend”, but as a professional in his field,” says Boris Anikeev, head of the recruitment department at Svyaznoy Group of Companies.

Changing places

The process of moving from a line position to a managerial position new company is definitely harder to enhance within one's own. The reasons for leaving the old place can be different.

“Firstly, there may not be a vacant managerial position in the company, and secondly, other, more suitable candidates may apply for this position,” says Maria Silina.

It is possible that the highest echelon of the company's authorities simply do not believe in the leadership abilities of an ambitious employee. In any case, even if a specialist leaves an ordinary position in a large organization, he is unlikely to be able to get a job as a head in a company of the same scale. It would be wiser to choose a smaller institution.

Nadezhda Smirnova confirms that such a transition is possible from a "leading" position in big company for a managerial position in a relatively small firm.
“But 'shrinking' company size still doesn't guarantee a promotion. It is important that the new/potential employer sees and believes that you are not only a good specialist but also successfully cope with the management of people. Therefore, at the interview, remember and name a few situations where you demonstrated leadership and organizational qualities,” the expert recommends.

“If the candidate does not have managerial experience, it would be reasonable if he does not immediately apply for very high salary and broad management functions. As a rule, such applicants are offered to work on minimum terms for probationary period and, if the results are satisfactory to both parties, renegotiate the terms. Another important point: in a new resume, it is important for the applicant to indicate all the cases when he had to perform managerial functions or managed to show leadership potential (making decisions on the current project, organizing the workflow, building teamwork, etc.),” adds Boris Anikeev.

What should be feared?

Oddly enough, but you should not worry about relationships with new subordinates. Because they already perceive the incoming leader as a boss, and not as a former colleague.

“Sometimes it is more useful for a team to have a fresh look from a new leader “from the outside”. This will allow us to take a bolder step and make radically new decisions on this or that issue,” Alexey Iodko believes.

It is worth being afraid of an unfamiliar environment in principle - the process of adaptation in a new company always requires the expenditure of effort and energy. In addition, you will have to rely only on your own strength (if in old company if there was an opportunity to turn to the former leadership for help or advice, then in the new one, most likely, there will be no one to count on).

Boris Anikeev also sees difficulty in the lack of experience in managing people: “It can be partly compensated for by business acumen, readiness for irregular schedule and continuous improvement."

Labor market experts shared tips on what to remember for a person who has never led, but is determined to take the manager's chair.

“It is extremely important to tell employees about strategic plans: everyone should understand and share the common goals and objectives of the team. Try to find a mentor and enlist his support, go through additional training. For example, trainings on the development of managerial skills will allow you to make a more confident start,” the expert adds.

“Be confident in your actions! Any doubts will instantly be transferred to the team and shake your reputation. And do not be afraid to rely on your assistants, having previously understood who you really can / should rely on. Delegation of authority is the key to the success of any leader. But absolutely for sure, regardless of whether you are planning a career within a company or when moving to others, you must definitely know the main functions, tasks of a leader, think systematically, be consistent, be active, proactive in order to show and prove yourself, - advises Nadezhda Smirnova.

But the most important thing, according to Alexei Iodko, is to make sure that the desire to become a leader is genuine. To manage because it is “fashionable” or “all my friends have become managers a long time ago, so it’s time for me” are not the best arguments for achieving success. Remember - a person does best what he loves and what he really has a soul for!