Getting Hired as a Manager When You’ve Never Managed

Photo by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash

In my over 20 years working in higher education, I have worked in several positions that fit one of the following scenarios:

• I was the single employee in the department.
• Due to union rules, I couldn’t supervise someone within my own union.
• I worked in a small department with little hierarchy, despite titles that should have included supervision.
• I supervised dozens of student workers, but no graduate students or professional staff.

I often asked friends and colleagues how I could get hired as a mid-level manager when I had never managed. Or more to the point, I didn’t have enough manager experience with professional staff.

In my own journey, I was able to cobble together experiences that hiring managers were looking for and did my own professional development to earn manager skills without staff. But not all people have the skills to find a job with those experiences.

Thankfully, HigherEdJobs.com writer Justin Zackal gives some ideas for people who are looking to advance in higher education.

Three Things to Keep in Mind in Management Applications