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7 things to expect from a management training program right out of university

Sam Wong

Team Prosple
A management training program is a months’ to a years’ worth of commitment to a company—and you’ll need to know these things before you sign on as a trainee.

What is a management trainee program?

A management training program is an extensive training program designed for self-motivated trainees to explore various departments within a certain company. 

It aims to prepare young leaders for future management roles by familiarising them with the ins and outs of an organisation. More often than not, these opportunities are usually offered to fresh graduates or young professionals.

While management training programs have been around for some time, some students fresh out of university are curious about what the program entails.

So here are 8 things to expect from a  management training program:

1. Trainees have ensured a managerial role after the training program

The program is designed to train and develop future managers within the company. Provided that trainees put in the work, they are ensured a managerial role by the end of the training program. 

2. Management training programs can take as long as 2 years

While the trainee is ensured a managerial role by the end of the program, the management trainee must commit their time to learn the process of each department. 

The duration depends on the company. It can go for as long as 6 months to 24 months. 

3. Trainees will rotate among different functions

The nature of this program is to dip the trainees’ toes into different parts of the company. 

That means learning the processes and systems of almost every department. A management trainee can be in human resources for the first few weeks, transferred to marketing afterwards, and rotated to sales. 

4. Trainees will get a holistic point of view of the business

Through the management training program, the trainee will get a bird’s eye view of how the entire company operates. The program is designed for trainees to know how different departments can collaborate more efficiently and effectively.

5. Trainees will have less time to focus on specialisations

Because trainees are often rotated among different departments, they may have less time to focus on specialisations. Unlike specific roles that focus on one set of skills, management trainees are expected to be a jack of all trades. 

This format is perfect for graduates and young professionals eager to learn something new, and who have no specific skill set in mind.

6. Trainees will receive a lot of feedback

Management training programs are usually coupled with personal development plans—plenty of feedback, key performance indicators, and 1-on-1 sessions with immediate supervisors. 

As trainees are constantly put into different roles, they receive feedback on a weekly or even daily basis. 

7. Accomplishing a management training program looks good on a resume 

If—after the program—the trainee realizes that they are no longer a good fit in the company, they are free to explore other career opportunities.

Accomplishing a management training program looks good on any resume. It shows that the graduate has the dedication, commitment, and flexibility required from any kind of job role. 

Their experience rotating through various departments makes them great workers and leaders overall.

Conclusion

Before enrolling in a management training program, evaluate whether you have the time, resources, and capabilities to see it through. 

Being a trainee is challenging—it entails much responsibility, flexibility, leadership, business savviness, and interpersonal skills. 

Any great management training program is designed to bring the best out of their graduates, moulding them into the best business leaders they can be

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