Do “entry-level” and “management” contradict each other? Not necessarily. Although few entering a company are thrust immediately into a managerial role, many start in lower-level positions that serve as a precursor to more advanced opportunities that involve overseeing a team or larger staff. Each field varies, however, and a management trainee program in retail differs significantly from one in the corporate world.

For a typical management entry-level job, a Bachelor’s degree in business or a similar field is a basic requirement. According to the latest PayScale College Salary Report, the most common positions for those entering business directly out of college are human resources manager, retail operations manager, administrative assistant, retail assistant manager, project manager, customer service representative, office manager, human resources generalist, and human resources director. Salaries for such positions range from $35,000 to $90,000.

Although college to career is the typical path for a management entry-level job, other approaches are possible. Management trainee programs, for example, allow a recent college graduate to shadow and learn from higher-level workers; he or she is groomed for an assistant manager position along the way. In the corporate world, trainee programs are offered in finance, trading, government, marketing, and accounting, and the student or recent graduate involved goes through a mix of classroom instruction and on-the-job work. Lectures, speakers, and tests are part of the classroom aspect, while on-the-job experience often involves being an assistant to a team.

As part of a college internship or job placement, these corporate trainee programs provide benefits but no pay. Working 40 to 50 hours per week in the office and classroom is expected. To be selected, the applicant needs to take a test and, in many cases, be interviewed.

Business school students also end up in retail after graduation, but not as cashiers, servers, or cooks. Starting as assistant managers, these former students might have been through a management trainee program. Essentially an apprentice to the manager, he or she is trained on all supervisory and technical aspects of the job; getting to be a store manager is the goal.

Typically, a retail management trainee program introduces the student to merchandising, advertising, inventory, bookkeeping, and human resources, as well as the many people skills he or she will need. Often, the trainee is responsible for interviewing, hiring, and training new employees, conducting performance reviews, resolving conflicts, and motivating and disciplining the team. In the event the store manager is absent, the trainee assumes all of his or her duties.

Getting into a retail management trainee program involves education (a high school or bachelor’s degree is required) and an interview. Such a trainee program may also be completed in lieu of a college internship, although compensation is typically offered.

Find the best management entry-level job to get your career on the right track. Browse through the many openings on ManagementJobs.net today and apply. As a job search engine, ManagementJobs.net compiles its listings from hundreds of employment boards and company websites to provide you with a thorough representation of openings in your field.

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