Careers Support: Moving into management

Is making the move into management the next step in your career development?

Many people reach a stage in their career when moving into management is the next logical career move, but this sort of role is not right for everyone. How do you decide if it’s right for you?

We can help you review your options and support you once you have made that transition.

On this page

How we can support you
Is management right for me?
Which skills do recruiters look for?
Next steps

How we can support you

Our Management Group is made up of members who have successfully developed their careers in management roles. They can offer networking opportunities through their events. Membership of the group is open to all our members who have an interest in management.

Mentoring – if you have just moved into a management role or you are considering taking this step you may benefit from having a mentor; his or her experience can help you find out more about managing, and develop in the role.

Getting involved with our Divisions and Interest Groups by serving on their committees or organising their events, offer excellent opportunities to develop your management skills. 

Contact our career management team for more detailed and tailored advice.

Is management right for me?

Most people start their career in a technical or specialist role, with no responsibility for the work of others. As their career progresses they may have the option of considering developing their career in a management role.

If you're at this stage, it’s worth thinking about what's motivating your interest in seeking a management role. Is it because you like working with and managing people? Are you attracted to a role that has people-management responsibility (most management roles will require this). If the answer to these questions is 'yes', management could be right for you.

Also ask yourself:

• Are you a good communicator?
  You’ll need to be able to explain why something needs to be done, how it can be accomplished and the impact it will have without micro-managing.
• Would you be willing to be accountable for your team?
  If an issue arises from the action or inaction of one of your team, the responsibility may fall on you, especially if you were unwilling to confront a performance issue, weren’t paying attention or did not provide adequate training.
• Can you set a good example and motivate others?
  Your behaviour will have an impact on your team; the ability to motivate your team to complete their tasks with enthusiasm is a core management skill. 

If you don’t think you’d enjoy managing, or be able to manage, but are still seeking career progression and more responsibility, there may be a technical promotion route via your skills or organisation that may suit you better. It’s worth considering this option if it’s a better fit for your skills.

Which skills do recruiters look for?

The skills you need to be a successful manager can be very different to those required in a technical role. This list provides an overview of what's likely to be important.

• strategic thinking
• people management
• communication skills
• leadership
• experience with budget
• project management

Do you have a good sense of the skills you have, and which areas you need to gain more experience in or develop further? A recruiter may not make direct management experience a requirement, and don't be put off if you don't have that experience yet, but you will have to be able to demonstrate that you have the relevant skills they are looking for. 

Next steps

There are a few practical steps to take to progress your career into management.

• Talk to your manager; communicate that you are keen to progress your career. Immediate support or change may not be an option, but you may well be considered for future opportunities.
• Are there projects you can get involved with elsewhere in the organisation? Doing so will help you to gain or develop important skills, and also raise your profile within your organisation, which in turn can help with career development.
• Formal accreditation – such as CChem or CSci – may demonstrate to your employer important skills, such as leadership, managing others and making complex decisions.
• Consider becoming an RSC mentor by joining our mentoring scheme, which would enable you to develop relevant skills. You can find more details here on our mentoring page.