If you’re an authoritative and responsible individual who enjoys planning activities then a career as a Corporate General Manager could be for you.
Career Overview
A Corporate General Manager (GM) generally has a number of departments that he/she oversees. They hold one of the highest levels of managerial position within an organisation and they manage the financial growth and productivity of an organisation. In a small organisation, they are more involved in the business affairs of the organisation and in a larger organisation, they tend to delegate the workload to departmental managers. A GM’s role includes designing ideas that will generate financial growth and productivity amongst employees for the advancement of the organisation and implementing those ideas.
It is critical that a GM possess the skills of being a leader and effective communicator. These skills are put to use on a daily basis in the life of a GM.
Required School Subjects
You will need to have taken the following subjects at high school:
- English Home Language or First Additional Language
- Pure Mathematics
Recommended subjects:
- Business Studies
- Economics
Institution and APS
The following institutions are highly recommended for studies in Corporate General Management:
- University of Cape Town (UCT) – Faculty Point Score (FPS) of 480
- University of Pretoria (UP) – APS of 30
- University of Witwatersrand (WITS) – APS of 35
Required Qualification/s
Qualifications relating to business management are always required for this position. There isn’t one set qualification that is only recognised, meaning that either a Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree or higher is usually required for when applying for this position – although it is important to highlight that the qualification on its own isn’t enough to apply for a Corporate General Manager vacancy.
Since being a corporate Corporate General Manager is a senior position, extensive experience is required for individuals who are interested in holding the time in the future. If you would like to add a catalyst to the process, then additional studies that are completed during the working period, are of great assistance in enhancing one’s career profile.
Required Skills
You will need to have the following skills to succeed as a Corporate General Manager:
- Leadership skills
- Excellent Communication skills
- Analytical skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Time Management skills
- Motivator
- Hardworker
Where you can work
The good news is that every corporate company has a General Manager. This means there are many industries working the world of corporate that will be looking for a Corporate General Manager sooner or later. The following are some industries where General Manager’s can seek employment or for potential General Managers to begin their journey:
- Automotive
- Banking, Financial Services and Insurance
- Business Referencing
- Energy and Power
- Engineering
- Food and Agriculture
- Law and Legal
- Manufacturing
- Medical and Allied Health
- Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
- Research and Development
- Technology and Telecommunications
Working Hours
Working hours can tend to be more than your standard weekly 40-hours, which means the possibility of pushing more than 8-hours a day is highly possible. Fret not though, this isn’t a regular occurrence but it is one you should be prepared for. Socialising during and after working hours is another regular occurrence for a Corporate General Manager; time spent socialising with clients is considered work.
Expected Salary
The current salary estimate for a Corporate General Manager, according to PayScale, ranges between R304 102 to R1 468 277 with the average being R693 616. The salary is influenced by the size of the organisation, the qualifications and years of experience that individuals have.
The figures mentioned above are for the standard salary for a General Manager, there are additional incentives such as bonuses and other benefits that are included but these vary between organisations. Additional benefits include company car, stock options, life and health insurance, club memberships and expense accounts – just name a few.
What to expect
Here are a few things you can expect from a career as a Corporate General Manager:
- The larger the organisation, the more intense the workload and pressures are higher than they would be at a smaller organisation
- General Managers generally have their own office, either at the head office of the organisation or at one of the branch offices
- Traveling is a big part of the job. The larger the organisation, the more frequent the travelling. Most General Managers relocate, together with their families, for work purposes and this usually to a foreign country
- It is required that General Managers have knowledge on the operations of various departments within the company. Since they oversee multiple departmental managers, it is key for them to have knowledge, even if it is basic of the departments
- Suiting up is the standard look for a General Manager but depending on the occasion, alternative dress codes are acceptable. However, 90% of the time, it’s the suit
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