Gaining initial business management experience often begins with a solid education. From there, you can gain experience through any corporate apprenticeship programs that might be offered. Companies often have layers of managers, and a willingness to assist in this type of organizational structure might help you get hired for your first role in business management. The leadership and decision-making skills that are demonstrated in a junior or middle manager spot could lead to a more senior managerial role.
Before gaining any business management experience, you will need to earn a college education. As an undergraduate, select a major such as business, business administration or business management to serve as a foundation for a career. Earning a master of business administration (MBA) degree in graduate school could enhance your chances of gaining managerial experience early in your career.
To gain business management experience, you need to be hired to that first managerial role unless you own your own company. You might need to accept a title that is akin to a senior professional, such as a senior researcher, before the formal title of "manager" becomes attached to your position. The responsibilities as a senior professional, however, are likely to include managerial tasks, such as overseeing the job performance of other employees, interviewing job candidates for open positions and overseeing a departmental budget. To gain business management experience, be willing to accept a senior role, middle manager position or co-manager job, and use the skills you learn as leverage for a more senior managerial role.
Throughout a career in business management, you are likely to be involved in all of the major aspects of that entity. You will oversee personnel, financial decisions and other functions that a support a company's overall goals. Achieving some formal certification in any of these areas — from personnel or human resource management to financial management — might open the door to some business management experience.
Apprentice opportunities may be available to provide you with some business management experience. Employers who offer apprenticeships could declare that applicants who attain or exceed some minimum academic performance will be more highly considered. These programs could unfold over a one-year period or longer. You might work with a company on a formal rotation basis and take various assignments throughout the program. The leadership skills that you gain and use throughout a business management apprenticeship should be counted toward your business management experience.