MG410 Career Viewpoint: Exploring Retail Assistant Manager Career

This report provides an overview of the skills, knowledge, and experience required for a recent graduate to enter the retail sector as an assistant manager. It highlights the impact of trends like e-commerce and automation on the retail industry in the UK and their implications for the role of an assistant manager. Essential skills such as communication, multitasking, decision-making, leadership, and technical proficiency are discussed. The report includes a personal evaluation of the career path, concluding that the role aligns with the author's existing skills and offers opportunities for growth. The appendix includes a job advertisement and other research evidence. Desklib is a valuable resource for students seeking similar solved assignments and past papers.

Career Research Report

Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
EVALUATION AND APPLICATION..........................................................................................1
General trends which needs to be assessed impact on chosen industry......................................1
Skills and expertise required by individuals for assessing in retail industry...............................2
EVALUATION...............................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
APPENDIX......................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Career can be described as general course in one’s working life as per its professional
achievements (Burke, 2021). Main purpose of this report to identify varied skills and knowledge
which is essentially required by individuals in starting their career as assistant manager in retail
sector. Retail industry of UK is crucial for economy as well as provides a livelihood to millions
of people. Manager is termed as an individual who manages as well as supervises employees in
order to make them productive and achieve organisational objectives. Apart from managing
employees and operations, responsibilities of assistant manager in retail are recruiting, training,
motivating and many more. In order to make career after becoming university graduate as an
assistant manager in retail sector, I have gone through varied trends and availability of this
industry.
This project highlights the evaluation of varied trends in retail industry that essentially
impact skills and existing jobs. It also illustrates about various skills and expertise which is
required by individual in working in a retail sector as a manager. It also covers an evaluation that
is done for ascertaining appropriate job opening in the specified retail sector.
EVALUATION AND APPLICATION
General trends which needs to be assessed impact on chosen industry
Retail industry of UK is facing multiple variations in their business operations that has
significantly impact on the role as well as responsibilities of assistant manager (Chen Musgrove
and Et. Al., 2022). General trends of retail industry in relevance with globalisation and
technology that would impact role of manager are discussed below:
Significance of e commerce- It is essential to notify the impact of e-commerce on retail
organisations in UK. Covid 19 pandemic has drastically changed the shopping patterns of many
people. They are not willing to go out for shopping purpose rather they tend to purchase from e-
commerce website. People at a global level have found it easy to shop online at lockdown period.
Nowadays, customers become familiar with automated e-commerce platforms that has impacted
physical and convenience stores significantly. It also compels university graduates who are
willingly to take the role of assistant manager in retail industry to enhance their knowledge about
current trends of market. They should out to enhance their online viability through the use of
advanced technology. Retail companies have made collaborations with various e-commerce
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websites like Deliveroo, Instacart, Rappi and many more. Recent graduate should have
capabilities and knowledge to enhance the online presence of retail establishment in market. It
assists them to cater the varied needs of people around the globe. Even quick commerce has
impacted on the retail sector as because of this customers have the option of small orders and too
in less time as compared to earlier time period consisted of 3 to 5 working days. In order to cope
up with emerging competition, retailers need to utilise technological advancements and maintain
their own online delivery service. For instance, Tesco, a grocery retail organisation has
introduced their online delivery system known as Tesco Whoosh. Managers should need to
oversee that it is important to perform proactively for gaining competitive advantage.
Automation of supply chain- In recent times, retailers are planning to implement more
measurable and adaptable solutions in their supply chain management in order to keep in pace
with dynamic and drastically changing market trends (Etmanski, 2019) (Kohnle, 2021). It is due
to globalisation whereby technology of other countries can be implemented successfully in
business operations. Use of advanced technology assists organisations operating in retail industry
of UK in securing competitive advantage over their competitors. Forces which compels retail
sector establishments to deploy automation processes in their supply chain management as well
as procurement practices are shortage of labour, rising rental prices for warehousing and
changing customer preferences. Automation plays a significant role in lowering down the supply
chain costs as well as optimising their business operations in order to improve efficiency. It
impact on the role of managers in retail organisation as it helps them to save extra cost through
effective optimisation of storage capabilities as well as evaluating customer demands. It also
impact on existing retail jobs as cost of implementation of automated systems for supply chain
management is high but it is but it is worthy adaptable practice which help retail managers in
enhancing their profitability ratios.
Skills and expertise required by individuals for assessing in retail industry
In order to be successful as an assistant manager in an organisation related to retail sector,
an individual needs to have some specific skills. Varied skills in relevance with assistant
manager in retail sector are discussed below:
Communication skills- It can be described as essential skill which states interacting with
others or exchanging views or opinions with others (Lommatsch, 2017). It is required for
becoming successful assistant manager as they have to communicate with their employees for
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motivating them to achieve sales targets. This is also needed to by managers to communicate
varied issues regarding workforce to their superiors. Effective communication skills are needed
by an individual in order to give roper targets to their subordinates for accomplishing
organisational objectives.
Multi-tasking- It is a significant skill that must be possess by individuals for the job of
assistant manager. It is imperative for managers to be multi-tasking as they have to oversee
various departments and also comply with orders of their superiors (Reardon and Et. Al., 2020) It
is desirable for assistant manager to know the strengths and weaknesses of their various
employees in order to increase their productivity level by motivating them effectively.
Decision-making – An effective manager should have efficient decision-making skills
which enables them to take quick and timely decisions for the betterment of organisation (Shury
and IFF Research Ltd, 2017). It is significant to take quick decisions in retail sector for
maintaining productivity and grabbing the opportunity of first mover advantage.
Leadership skills- It is considered as a crucial skill which is required by managers in retail
industry to make effective use of all the potential of employees which enhances their
productivity level. It is imperative for managers to use judicious and constructive criticism for
employees by setting strategic examples in front of them.
Motivation skills- It is desirable for managers to have this motivations skill in order to
inspire employees for making greater use of their potential which enables them to increase
organisational productivity. Managers can set goals which helps in employees to be more
focused on achieving them for the long-term success of establishment.
Organisational skills- Managers are said to be efficient if they are capable to look for
areas or departments that are needs improvements or modifications. Organisational skills can be
demonstrated by assistant manager effectively by recruiting and training effective employees as
well as tacking cost-cutting procedures.
Computing/ tech skills- In recent times, these are considered as very significant skills that
are to be required by assistant managers to cope up effectively with technology driven
environment. It is important to have access to this particular skill for checking and operating
automated machineries and software.
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EVALUATION
From the above valuable insights and knowledge of required skills, I have evaluated that it is
the job and field that I want to being a part of. Job of assistant manager in retail industry suits my
existing skills of good motivator, leader and organiser. It is a highly paid and responsibility-
driven job which helps me in enhancing varied new skills as well as opens up the way for growth
and development for me. If I have given this job role, i will put my all the efforts for achieving
pre-determined organisational objectives. It helps me to enhance my communication and
leadership skills. I will lead my employees through the use of combined leadership skills which
helps me in gaining their trust.
CONCLUSION
From the above presented information, it has been assessed that research for choosing an
efficient career is important as it helps in delving growth opportunities for individuals. It is
important for individuals to assess their existing as well as new skills while opting for a specific
career. In order to make career in retail sector individuals should have communication, multi-
tasking, organisational skills and many more. Apart from hard skills, it is necessary to have some
soft skills as well as expertise in individuals for gaining success. General tends that are
flourishing in retail industry are automation of processes and use of e-commerce platforms.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Burke, A. B., 2021. Developing a Research Career. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Clinics. 33(4)\. pp.457-465.
Chen Musgrove, M. M. and Et. Al., 2022. Professional Development for Early Career DBER
Scholars through In-Person and Virtual Career Panel Workshops.
Etmanski, B., 2019. The prospective shift away from academic career aspirations. Higher
Education. 77(2). pp.343-358.
Kohnle, C. L., 2021. A Correlational Study of Teacher Efficacy and Missouri's Career
Education (Doctoral dissertation, William Woods University).
Lommatsch, C. W., 2017. Calculus in your career: Putting the “relate” back in related rates. The
Mathematics Teacher. 111(2). pp.112-118.
Reardon, R. and Et. Al., 2020. Career State Inventory (CSI): Applications in Practice. Career
Planning & Adult Development Journal.
Shury, J. and IFF Research Ltd, 2017. Planning for Success: Graduates' Career Planning and Its
Effect on Graduate Outcomes. London: Department for Education.
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APPENDIX
Job Advertisement
Job Advertisement for Assistant manager at Tesco
Job Description Tesco, multinational retail company majorly deals in groceries is
looking for a qualified candidate for the post of assistant manager.
Candidate need to supervise supermarket operations and to oversee
the automated procedures regarding the sales.
Requirements  Should have excellent communication skills leadership skills
 MBA in any field
 Preference should be given to experienced candidates
Responsibilities  Managing the supermarket’s staff.
 Oversee the process of hiring and interviews
 Keeping informed about new marketing trends.
 Be aware of other departmental operations
Salary As per skills and expertise.
Interested candidate can send their CVs at [e-mail] or by March 29, 2022.
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