General Manager profession
 

Has anyone applied for this profession?

I am unsure if it only applies to Managing Directors of large companies or not. I have been the MD of a small company since 2002. If you go to the criteria, I seem to fulfill the first 'or' option, having been the MD of a company for at least 5 years. Just think I wouldn't get through if show an operational chart with few employees on.

Does anyone know how one is assessed for this profession?

Thanks.

Re: General Manager profession
 

Ive just had my PR visa granted under this profession as a General Manager of a company with under 20 employees in the UK then moving to a company with only 5 employees in Perth where I have been for 2 years now.

You will have to have your skills assessed with AIM and to be honest if you have diverse management experience of a small company you will have a better chance of a positive skills assessment than having limited experience with a larger company.

How many managers were you responsible for and how many people were they responsible for? That is the big question here you will be expected to have been a proven high level manager with separate managers reporting to you.

Good luck its not an easy process but its worth it :)

Re: General Manager profession
 

My company is less than 20.

How do they actually assess you? Is it just what you send you or do they contact anyone to check?

How long does it take?

To complicate things, as part of my role, I go and work as project manager for other companies. Don't know how would cover that adequately or if should not mention.

I have all the skills and experience I just don't want to mess things up, confuse things and just get through.

Re: General Manager profession
 

AIM (General Manager) is one of the toughest to pass...there are some older threads here... I would strongly recommend using a good agent..

Re: General Manager profession
 

Its only tough if you dont have the skills they require.

There have been people on here working for multinationals who have had to submit lever arch files worth of information and still not been passed and I was advised by people on here and by an agent that it would be very hard if not impossible working for a smaller company and especially with me not having a degree.

I submitted my experience and references in 8 A4 pages without any aid from an agent and was passed with no problem.

If your skills match what they want it isn't an issue but just be clear on what they want because they are strict, read the requirements carefully and be realistic on whether you match the criteria or not before you proceed.

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]?opendocument

Re: General Manager profession
 

Thanks.

It appears that they are looking for people with skills/experience in managering managers in different fields, for example managing a manager responsible for HR, another for Finance, another for Marketing.

It would seem you would fall down if you lack the diversity.

At least the assessment fee is cheaper for AIM than VETASSESS.

Re: General Manager profession
 

Most defintiely, if you havent managed across a wide range of areas or managed people who do then you can forget it.

Re: General Manager profession
 

I do find it odd that with no degree (let alone an MBA) people can get in under the Management criteria.

Not knocking anyone here, just commenting that it seems odd. Management isnt really something you just pick up as you go along - or is it?

Re: General Manager profession
 

Of course it can be something you pick up as you go along, I started as a warehouse worker 15 years ago and worked my way through the ranks through just about every department on my way to becoming Managing Director of an International company with an annual turnover in excess of 50 million Euro.

A degree can teach you a lot of things about hypothetical management but I still maintain that for me the best managers I have are people who have done it "on the job".

Re: General Manager profession
 

Maybe law, medicine and engineering are the same… :)

Re: General Manager profession
 

I am currently doing an MBA and have no degree although I am a CIMA qualified Accountant. All the MBA is doing is formalising the theory behind what I have been doing practically for years.

For me management is nothing more than dealing with the "What". Its the "So What" that makes an effective Leader and strong MD. A degree or even an MBA can only take you so far in the "What" stage, experience has to do the rest. I learned more about managing different types of people and their expectations from six years in the Royal Navy Submarine Service than I ever will in the classroom.

Just my two pence.:)

Cheers

Si

Re: General Manager profession
 

Same here, I was an Army Officer. My officer training and the subsequent practical leadership and management experience taught me far more than my MBA.

On the other hand, I wouldn’t hand command of a platoon to a guy and say “its on the job learning mate, go for your life”.

The MBA taught me a lot of things that were not so obvious or structured as ideas in my mind.

I find it strange that you can’t repair a car without years of training, but can run the company making them without a single qualification. Maybe its just me.

Re: General Manager profession
 

I can only assume that is a sarcastic smilie...

You have your opinion, I took a company from 4 employees and a turnover of 2 million GBP to 30+ employees, 4 offices worldwide and a group turnover of over 30 million GBP without any qualifications except for GCSE's so dont tell me it cant be done. I agree I am probably an exception to the general rule but it can be done and AIM who are notoriously strict seem to agree with me :)

Now the thread is well off track so probably time to draw a line under this conversation.

Re: General Manager profession
 

There was a degree of sarcasm, I will admit:)

In defence of management as a science (just as warfighting is a science); although I admire your success, it equates with a gambler in a casino. Out of hundreds who lose, someone will win.

I was unlucky enough to experience British management by amateur experience in the 70s. I really can’t recommend it.

Would Crown casino approve a gambler for residency, based upon his or her success at the roulette wheel?

Just my thoughts.

Re: General Manager profession
 

Crickey guys! Chill out.

Surely it is possible to be a successful manager without a degree, like many of the ultra successful businessmen who built their businesses from nothing.

I have a degree so not an issue. I would like to this anyone assessing would like at a combination of academic and work related skills.