Top 10 Reasons to Specialize in a Career in Operations Management

In this line of work, you don’t simply have one role. You’re a manager, IT guy, repairman, and pretty much everything else in between.

You’ll be a wearer of many hats – but with that comes many rewards.

Once you break through the initial newbie vibes, and your team gets to know you – what you can accomplish together will be pretty amazing.

A team who works well together will achieve mind-blowing results together. And with you at the helm, what’s not to enjoy?

Roles in operations are highly cross-functional. Operations employees need to have a firm understanding of how different parts of an organization come together and be able to work across different functions.

Why you ask? Process improvements usually involve changes among multiple functions or departments – with operations employees often responsible for leading that change.

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As a jack-of-all-trades within the industry, the soft skills you can develop and curate are unprecedented.

Some examples include:

• Presentation skills: Delivering results and ideas to different stakeholders in the business, including senior management and other members of staff
• People skills: Ensuring communication is efficient across all the different departments
• Initiative: Being able to ‘get on with it’ and take the lead when obstacles rear their ugly heads

As of February 2020, the average operations salary in the US is US$98,230, but salaries usually range anywhere from US$85,475 to US$114,842.

The range in salary is hugely dependant on a number of important factors, including certifications, education, additional skills and the number of years you have spent in the profession.

Estimated job growth for operational management professionals is around 12.5 percent for 2012-2022, which is faster than the average for all professions analysed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Operations with logistics expertise can expect even better employment opportunities than most – with the projected job growth for logisticians coming in at about 22 percent.

Steady employment and high salary opportunities entice a number of employees into a career in operations management – with most choosing to remain in the field because they find the work so rewarding.

A 2017 report compiled by APICS (a supply chain management research association) stated that millennials see supply chain management as an opportunity for growth. Employees surveyed believed in their ability to make a difference in the field, while also achieving personal growth and development.