Job AnaIysis: Management Trainee

n every industry there is a need for manageriaI staff. From first-line supervisors to top
executives, managers plan and direct the work of the organization, set policy, establish
channels of communication, and evaluate the work that is done. These functions require
knowledge, skills, and judgment that are most effectively developed on the job.

To prepare individuals for management responsibilities, many companies use Management
Trainee positions. These positions are most often found in finance, trade, manufacturing,
and in government agencies. Depending on the business, the position may also be referred
to as marketing trainee, purchasing trainee, accounting trainee, or management intern.
Whatever the title, the purpose of the position is the same: To quaIify individuaIs for
management functions within the organization.

Specific duties of a Management Trainee vary widely according to the nature of the industry
and the individual firm employing the trainee. Very often, a trainee's assignments are
rotated among the various departments in order to develop familiarity with the whole
organization and its functions.

Trainees may also get classroom instruction in subjects related to their rotational experience.
nstruction may include lectures, guest speakers, projects, and oral presentations. Some
organizations evaluate with tests or exams to move to another level.

A Management Trainee hired by a department store may spend several months working as
a clerk in one or more of the sales departments, followed by additional time working in
customer services, purchasing, merchandising, and personnel departments, for example. n
a bank, the trainee may work briefly as a teller, handle new accounts, and then work at one
of the loan desks before moving on to other assignments.

Many firms have formal written training programs which lay out the instruction and types of
assignments the trainee will receive. They also specify times for periodic evaluation of the
trainee's performance.
Management traineeships may range in length from six months to two or more years.
Some programs are set up, where based on the trainee's knowledge and skill set, the
trainee will progress to more challenging projects or finish the program early with incentives.

The idea of a management trainee job is to evaluate the trainee's leadership, decision-
making, problem solving, communication and organization skills, then find their niche in the
company. Basically, trainees will progress and succeed based on how hard they work and
the area where they excel. A permanent placement is not always guaranteed but is highly
possible. A management trainee role is a great way to obtain an overview of an organization
and of various kinds of jobs within the organization.