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To be in the operations and management field, what skills are mostly sought after?

Veteran

Essenam Abok Hagatna, GU

I have nothing more to add to the question. Really just looking for guidance

4 September 2020 7 replies Mentoring

Answers

Advisor

Mazy Gillis, Ph.D. Auburn Hills, MI

Reliability, showing up on time, integrity, doing the right thing, ability to get along with a wide range pf people and a positive attitude. Everything else we can teach you on the job.

1 October 2020 Helpful answer

Advisor

Jerry Welsh Middleville, MI

Hessanam,
Dig into Indeed and start looking a positions that look like some that would interest you and pull out the requirements. I would also look at joining online career groups on LinkedIn and Facebook and ask people working in the field already. Online forums would work with your location, as you can interact versus calling. If and when you hit CONUS-I would start Informational Interviewing, this techniques allows you to speak with managers and gain knowledge and also learn about the career from people performing. You will find tons of lists and books, you best bet is going to be learning from people already in the career field by networking. Thank you for your service and God Bless.

21 September 2020 Helpful answer

Veteran

Robert Woods New York, NY

Hi Essenam,

From my perspective as a recruiter, high growth companies appreciate soft skills, but often times they want Operations managers that have skills that enable their companies to scale.

Therefore, Scrum Master certifications or Project Manager certifications would be a good place to start.

In addition, the ability to analyze data is key as well. Therefore, experience with data visualization tools like Tableau are becoming more popular in addition to the ability to use Excel effectively.

18 September 2020 Helpful answer

Advisor

Deb Miller Bardstown, KY

Couple ideas, gain experience in a field you like. Right up front ask your manager for opportunities to lead. In the meantime ask for leadership training within the company. My experience has been taking on the hard jobs, leading projects and teams no one else wanted to lead really boosted my opportunities in my company. Another thought would be either technical school in a field you like or gaining a degree in organizational leadership to boost your chances. Volunteer to lead small groups or projects within your company and/or in nonprofit agencies. Hope this is helpful.

6 September 2020 Helpful answer

Advisor

James Watters Norman, OK

Hi Navy. Petty officer Abok -
From an article written be Stephanie Lukins titled “The Top Skills You Need for a Career in Management.

“ Leadership skills
Good managers lead, they don’t boss. Managers should be passionate and positive, define goals and targets clearly, while ensuring team spirit and motivation is high.

Communication skills
Communication skills are considered the most vital skill in any job role. As a manager, they are particularly vital though as you are the main line of contact between senior management and entry-level employees. It’s your job to ensure communication flow up, down and across the organization is transparent and honest.

Interpersonal skills
It goes without saying that if you’re unable to establish positive professional relationships, you’re going to struggle in a managerial role. Your ability to empathize with, listen to, understand, and connect with your fellow colleagues and employees is critical as you work as a team to meet deadlines and targets.

Commercial awareness
It’s crucial you have a thorough understanding of the marketplace, as well as the industry/sector you work in. Whether it’s healthcare, media and entertainment, or finance and banking, you’re going to need to have the required business expertise to help your organization be a success.

Creative problem-solving and effective decision-making skills
Being on the ball and able to respond quickly to problems in the workplace, no matter how big or small, is crucial. Should a crisis situation arise, it’s the manager’s job to be resilient, agile and adaptable as they look to resolve the problem promptly and efficiently.

Organization skills
As a manager, you work hard to ensure all areas of the organization are run like a well-oiled machine. Good managers excel at juggling multiple responsibilities on a daily basis, such as implementing guides, organizing resources, outlining plans and scheduling meetings, all with the aim of driving delivery and meeting targets.

Negotiation skills
Negotiating in a managerial role is inevitable and is something you will probably end up doing on a daily basis, no matter how big or small the deal may be. It is absolutely possible to learn to negotiate, but it does take a lot of practice, so best get started now!

Forward planning skills
It’s all well and good being concerned with what’s happening in your workplace today, but managers always need to be looking at the bigger picture. As you review the organization’s current policies and plans, you will need to contemplate what plans are necessary in order to achieve its long-term vision and goals.“

Good Luck

5 September 2020 Helpful answer

Advisor

cathy salerno Flemington, NJ

Hi Essanam, thank you for your service! I took from your question that you're thinking about going into Supply Chain (operations). If that is right, one of the best ways to prepare is to have a solid foundation in Finance. You don't have to be a finance major, but much of what Supply Chain Management does is tied to finance. You need to understand "the numbers" whether it is working on the budget or building cost of goods for the P&L statement.
I hope this suggestion helps.
Best regards,
Cathy

Advisor

Barron Evans Ann Arbor, MI

Essenam ... foremost, thank you for your service.

Reflecting (in part) the previous responses, pulled this information from:
https://www.betterteam.com/operations-manager-job-description

Best wishes for success!

OPERATIONS MANAGER RESPONSIBILITIES

>Provide inspired leadership for the organization.
>Make important policy, planning, and strategy decisions.
>Develop, implement and review operational policies and procedures.
>Assist HR with recruiting when necessary.
>Help promote a company culture that encourages top performance and high morale.
>Oversee budgeting, reporting, planning, and auditing.
>Work with senior stakeholders.
>Ensure all legal and regulatory documents are filed and monitor compliance with laws and regulations.
>Work with the board of directors to determine values and mission, and plan for short and long-term goals.
>Identify and address problems and opportunities for the company.
>Build alliances and partnerships with other organizations.
>Support worker communication with the management team.

OPERATIONS MANAGER REQUIREMENTS:

>Bachelor’s degree in operations management or related field.
>Experience in management, operations, and leadership.
>Understanding of general finance and budgeting, including profit and loss, balance sheet and cash-flow management.
>Ability to build consensus and relationships among managers, partners, and employees.
>Excellent communication skills.
>Solid understanding of financial management.

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