12 Career Skills Employers Might Look for in Management

Building a career path in management can demand more than foundational skills—today’s employers may seek candidates who demonstrate a robust set of competencies that set them apart in a competitive landscape. Focusing on highly valued management skills could help distinguish your application and performance. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall employment in management occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2024 to 2034.¹

Management Career Skills

• Active Listening^2,3 - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Time Management^2,3 - Managing one's own time and the time of other.
• Critical Thinking^2,3 - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Negotiation³ - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
• Management of Personnel Resources^2,3 - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Coordination^2,3 - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Social Perceptiveness² - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Complex Problem Solving² - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Detail Oriented⁴ - Must pay attention to details across a range of tasks
• Computer skills⁵ - Use a variety of programs and applications
• Communication Skills^4,5 – Convey ideas clearly to a wide range of people
• Analytical skills^4,5 - review an organization’s procedures for ways to improve efficiency.

Pursuing advanced education, such as a business management degree or MBA, could help to strengthen your application and support career path advancement.

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Management, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/home.htm (visited 9/29/2025).
² O*NET OnLine, General and Operations Managers, at https://www.onetonline.org/link/details/11-1021.00 (visited 11/11/2025).
³ O*NET OnLine, Administrative Services Managers, at https://www.onetonline.org/link/details/11-3012.00 (visited 11/11/2025).
⁴ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Administrative Services and Facilities Managers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm#tab-4 (visited 11/11/2025).
⁵ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlooks Handbook, Sales Manager, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/sales-managers.htm#tab-4 (visited 11/11/2025).

AIU cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2161988 11/2025