How to Become a Manager Without a Degree

Co-authored by Brandy DeOrnellas, PCC, ESQ.

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References

Managers manage people and projects within an organization to achieve the goals of the company. Having some kind of management degree definitely helps when you want to become a manager, but it is not always necessary. You can become a manager without a degree and with no prior experience by developing managerial skills so that you will be able to handle the many different responsibilities of a management position and execute your job well. Then, work your way up to a management role within an organization by proving you are ready for it. With patience, time, and commitment, you can certainly become a manager without a degree.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Developing Managerial Skills

1
Work on your organizational skills. Managers are responsible for many different things including setting goals, managing team members and tasks, monitoring progress towards goals, and dealing with problems as they arise. Work on your personal organizational skills.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Brandy DeOrnellas, PCC, ESQ.
Career & Life Transition Coach
Expert Interview. 15 December 2021.} Keep track of personal tasks, to-do lists, deadlines, and other responsibilities to help you get everything done on time.^{[2]
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- There are lots of tools you can use to help yourself be more organized. If you’re more old school, you can try using things like planners, calendars, and sticky notes to keep track of tasks, to-do lists, and goals. More modern options include smartphone apps and project management software that help you keep track of all your projects and their progress.
- Examples of things you might need to organize and keep track of as a manager include team tasks, project deadlines, budget, and other resources.
Tip: One of the most important ways you can demonstrate managerial skills is by proving you can manage yourself, and this starts with personal organizational skills.
2
Learn planning skills. Many managers, especially senior managers, are involved in the strategic planning of a business organization. Learn how to plan by setting personal goals and objectives and outlining strategies to achieve them, then tracking your progress.^{[3]
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- Junior managers are typically less involved in the setting of goals, but all managers need to know how to plan ways to achieve the goals that are handed down by more senior leadership.
- For example, if you manage a sales team, you may need to plan how you are going to reach quarterly sales goals for the company.
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3
Be a team player. Good managers need to switch from having an individual employee mentality to thinking about things in a collective way. Managers are responsible for helping the people and projects they manage succeed for the good of the organization as a whole, so their jobs are no longer just about individual performance. Switch from thinking about what will just benefit you to what will benefit those around you as well.^{[4]
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- You can think of this as switching from an “I” to a “we” mindset. Start making “we” statements and thinking about how “we” can achieve something instead of how “I” can do my job.
- Examples of how you can be a team player include helping out others with their tasks and workloads, attributing wins to the whole team rather than just yourself, keeping your team informed, supporting and respecting others, and being reliable and responsible.
4
Develop your communication skills. Communication is key when you have to manage people and projects. You need to be able to communicate in order to delegate tasks to team members as well as provide updates and reports to higher ups. Make eye contact and speak clearly and professionally in person and work on writing professional communications like emails or reports.^{[5]
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- You will need to be able to communicate in a variety of settings to be a manager, including in-person, on calls, via email, in meetings, and one-on-one.
- For example, if you want to be a social media marketing manager, you can practice writing up weekly professional reports on social media interactions and followings.
5
Build up your leadership skills. Managers have to be good leaders in order to succeed. They must be able to lead a team, motivate people, and lead projects to success. Take on roles at work or in extracurricular activities that allow you to practice leadership skills like delegating tasks and guiding others.^{[6]
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- If you’re not a natural leader, that’s OK. You can learn by observing other leaders in your job, such as managers or senior leadership members, and try to learn by imitation. You could even ask for a one-on-one meeting with someone who you look up to as a leader and ask them for tips about how they do their job.
- For example, if you end up managing a team of sales associates at a shoe store, you will have to delegate who will handle what section of the store and provide sales goals for each employee.
- If you don't have any opportunities at work to take on leadership roles, you could seek out other opportunities. For example, volunteer to be a team captain of a recreational sports team.
6
Be a decision maker. Managers are ultimately responsible for making decisions, sometimes difficult ones. You need to be able to hire people, set priorities, settle disagreements, and sometimes fire people. Weigh the pros and cons of potential decisions and choose the one that will result in the best outcome.^{[7]
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- In order to make good decisions as a manager, you’ll often have to look at things objectively and without emotional attachment. You’ll need to make decisions for the good of the team and the company, rather than for yourself.
- For example, if you become a manager of a team that receives a budget cut and you have to let someone go, you will have to evaluate each team member’s performance to decide who is contributing the least to the team, even if there is nobody that you particularly feel like should be fired.
7
Grow your confidence. Confidence is a trait of all good managers that connects to almost all the other important managerial skills. You need confidence to be a leader, make decisions, plan, and communicate in order to guide your team and projects to success. Step out of your comfort zone regularly and try new things to build confidence in unfamiliar or uncomfortable circumstances.^{[8]
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- You can do this by doing 1 thing that scares you every day. You will eventually feel confident and less shy about taking on challenges and handling uncomfortable situations, as you will have to do as a manager.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Proving Yourself at Work

1
Take responsibility for yourself and your actions. You’ll be largely responsible for the actions of your team and their outcomes as a manager. Start now by always taking responsibility for your own actions, no matter their outcomes, to show that you own up to your decisions and don’t try to make excuses when something goes wrong.^{[9]
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- This will also make others around you respect you more, so they’ll be more willing to follow you when you move up to a leadership role.
2
Exceed the expectations for your job. Always try to go above and beyond while carrying out your daily tasks by doing more than the bare minimum. Look for extra work to do, get ahead on the next day's tasks, or help out your teammates. This will show your worth as an employee to higher ups as well as demonstrate your ability to take on more responsibilities and be a team player.^{[10]
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- You can do this by following the 110% rule. This means always do 100% of what’s expected of you, then do 10% more.
3
Look for solutions to problems. Supervisors and managers appreciate people who find solutions to problems on their own, rather than bringing problems for them to solve. Look for company processes that need improving, then come up with ideas to make them work better.^{[11]
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- For example, if you notice a certain process like sending sales reports is taking much longer than it needs to and wasting employees’ time, find a way to speed it up by automating or streamlining certain parts. Present your proposed solution to your manager or supervisor and explain why you think it will improve things.
4
Help others and be a mentor to new employees. Help other team members get things done when you have extra time to show that you’re a team player. Volunteer to take new employees under your wing to help train them and show them the ropes to show your leadership skills.^{[12]
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- This will also demonstrate your interpersonal and communication skills, as well as help you maintain a good rapport with coworkers. All of these things will help prove you are ready for management responsibilities.
5
Volunteer for leadership roles. Look out for opportunities to take on more leadership responsibilities in your team and within the company, such as when your supervisor or manager asks for someone to take on a task that is not part of their job description. Volunteer for these roles and responsibilities to show your ability to do more than just your individual tasks.^{[13]
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- For example, if your manager or supervisor asks for a volunteer to take on some of the team’s reporting duties, volunteer yourself to do this.
- These types of leadership duties could also fall outside of your specific job or team responsibilities. For example, if your organization needs someone to help organize a company holiday party, you could volunteer to do this.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting a Management Position without a Degree

1
Start in an entry-level position. You’ll need to start out at the bottom in order to work your way up to a management role without a degree. This is your opportunity to learn all the ins and outs of the job, the company, and prove your worth to higher ups to show that you will make a good manager.^{[14]
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Brandy DeOrnellas, PCC, ESQ.
Career & Life Transition Coach
Expert Interview. 15 December 2021.} Apply for an entry-level job in the field you want to become a manager in to get your foot in the door.^{[15]
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- You can do this in any industry that you want to pursue a management career in. Pick something that you have an interest in and preferably have at least a base level of knowledge and experience in.
Tip: Many types of businesses in the retail, hospitality, and travel industries offer management training programs that you could take advantage of. If these industries interest you, consider an entry-level job in a restaurant, hotel, supermarket, department store, bar, or tourist attraction.
2
Tell your superiors you are interested in becoming a manager. Make sure that your superiors know your aspirations to become a manager by telling them clearly that you are interested in moving up from your entry-level position. They’ll be able to help you develop your skills, give you responsibilities to prepare you, and eventually consider you for any open management positions within the company.^{[16]
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- You could even ask if there is an opportunity for you to take on a mentor who is already a manager in the organization. You could shadow them to learn about their job duties and help them out with certain tasks to develop your skills.
3
Apply for open management positions when they arise. Wait until there is a management position available at your current company. Complete all the required steps of the application process to apply.^{[17]
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- Make sure to update your resume with any specific achievements you’ve made during your time at the company and any additional skills and qualifications that you’ve gained. You may be the best candidate in the applicant pool if you have relevant experience.^{[18]
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  Expert Source
  
  Brandy DeOrnellas, PCC, ESQ.
  Career & Life Transition Coach
  Expert Interview. 15 December 2021.}
- Ask your manager or supervisor to put in a good word for you with HR.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you break into management?

Brandy DeOrnellas, PCC, ESQ.
Career & Life Transition Coach
Brandy DeOrnellas is a Professional Certified Coach specializing in life and career aspirations and transitions. She also serves company founders and small business owners. She is a former attorney with more than three years of experience as a coach. Brandy holds a JD from Harvard Law School. She also holds a BA in Social Welfare and a BA in Political Science from The University of California, Berkeley. In addition to her formal education, she has multiple coaching certifications, including a Professional Coaching Certification from The University of California, Davis, and a Relationship Coach Certification from Prepare/Enrich. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation.

Brandy DeOrnellas, PCC, ESQ.

Career & Life Transition Coach

Expert Answer

Often the path of least resistance to becoming a manager without a degree or experience is to build skills and credibility within an organization and then seek a promotion.
Question

How do I become a first time manager?

Brandy DeOrnellas, PCC, ESQ.
Career & Life Transition Coach
Brandy DeOrnellas is a Professional Certified Coach specializing in life and career aspirations and transitions. She also serves company founders and small business owners. She is a former attorney with more than three years of experience as a coach. Brandy holds a JD from Harvard Law School. She also holds a BA in Social Welfare and a BA in Political Science from The University of California, Berkeley. In addition to her formal education, she has multiple coaching certifications, including a Professional Coaching Certification from The University of California, Davis, and a Relationship Coach Certification from Prepare/Enrich. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation.

Brandy DeOrnellas, PCC, ESQ.

Career & Life Transition Coach

Expert Answer

Apply directly to an individual at the organization, if you can, instead of through an online portal. If you apply online and your resume does not meet the basic requirements of the job, your resume may never be reviewed by a person before being eliminated.