Business managers are leaders in the business world who might oversee specific departments or whole organizations. In most cases, these professionals are responsible for overseeing and optimizing all of their employees' operations, training workers, analyzing productivity, recruiting and creating schedules and policies related to behavior and organizational goals. Some of the most common business management qualifications are degrees in business or in areas related to specific fields. For example, a business manager in the pharmaceutical industry might have a degree in a field such as chemistry or medicine. Other common business management qualifications include experience in a related field, the ability to lead and excellent communication skills.
In most cases, college degrees are considered important business management qualifications. Employers in more competitive job markets might even require managers to have master's degrees. In more specialized fields, people should have educational business management qualifications both in business and in a related field. A person who would like to become a business manager for an information systems firm, for example, might have degrees in computer science and management. He or she might have background specifically in implementing information systems into real-world business or financial contexts.
Most employers list experience among their business management qualifications. It is common for employers to prefer job candidates who might be considered experts in their fields. A business manager in the software industry, for example, might have years of experience overseeing sales and production of software products. This might give him or her special insight into how a software organization is best structured and run. Many employers prefer to promote business managers from inside their organizations because these professionals already are familiar with company's culture and codes of conduct.
It also is common to find leadership abilities listed among business management qualifications. Leading workers is one of the primary responsibilities of business managers. They must be able to uphold company standards and inspire trust in their workers. Business managers also must be able to delegate tasks to employees.
The ability to lead is considered by many management experts to be the most important of the business management qualifications. Even people who seem to have natural aptitudes for leadership often take leadership training courses. In business management programs, students might take courses in motivation and management strategies that enable them to earn the respect of their workers.
To properly lead, a business manager must be able to communicate. Many of the most successful business managers are excellent speakers and proficient writers. They are able to express ideas clearly and concisely.