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[Note from Pat: Today’s post is from Rebecca Martin on how to get a management position. She is the community outreach coordinator for the University of North Carolina’s MBA online program. Becca graduated from Loyola University in Maryland with a B.A. in Business Administration and a concentration in marketing. An avid traveler and lover of all things tech, Becca spent a year abroad working for a technology company in the wine sector. Now, back in the USA, Becca spends her spare time visiting friends in other cities, volunteering, and playing tennis. Follow her on Twitter @bsmart10 .]

For engineers who would like to be promoted into a management role, the expert technical skills that serve you well in your field are often not enough to be considered for, and to succeed in, a leadership position. Engineering managers are hard to find and are in demand, so if you are a successful engineer, now is the time to capitalize on your technical expertise and expand your business and managerial skills. Here are five things you can do to get a management position.

1. Develop and strengthen your soft skills

In order to thrive, managers need to be effective communicators and collaborators. On a day-to-day basis, managers help resolve conflicts and facilitate strategic solutions across teams of people. A study published in the Harvard Business Review notes, “Requirements for all the C-level jobs have shifted toward business acumen and ‘softer’ leadership skills. Technical skills are merely a starting point, the bare minimum.” Recognizing the importance of soft skills is an important step in developing your own leadership potential. As you work on project teams, make a concerted effort to practice and fine-tune your communication skills.

2. Establish a leadership presence

Making the transition from engineer to manager means shifting from the focus from what you can get done to what you can help others get done. Whether it’s taking on new projects, giving a presentation to executives at your company, or resolving a conflict among your colleagues—try to make the collective work of the team your primary motivation for success.

3. Continue your education

Find ways to develop your business acumen through training offered by your organization or by attending a conference with leaders in your field. These opportunities can help you learn your industry’s vernacular and trends. If you are aiming for an executive position, you should also consider earning an MBA. Increasingly, professionals are pursuing MBA degrees through part-time programs including evening, weekend, executive and online programs that allow students to continue working and earning income. For example, MBA@UNC is an online program that allows students to earn an MBA from a well-established business school ranked among the top 20 MBA programs by U.S. News and World Report.

4. Identify the key players in your company

The best way to determine what your organization is looking for in a manager may be to ask the person who is doing the hiring for management positions. Set up a meeting with them or invite them for coffee to discuss what they’re looking for in a manager. If you work closely with this person, ask them directly what you need to do to move into a managerial position and be sure to come away from the conversation with actionable next steps. Be sure to execute these tips in a timely manner, and on a consistent basis.

5. Keep your resume up to date

Document every leadership opportunity you have had, no matter how small. Not only will updating your resume regularly ensure you’re prepared when an advancement opportunity comes along, it will make your life easier because you won’t have to rack your brain to remember everything you could have added along the way. Finally, you may have to look elsewhere if you don’t see the potential to be promoted at your current company.

Moving forward

We all know engineers are in demand, but what’s even more in demand are engineers who can lead effectively and harness talent to produce results. As a manger, technical skills are not the most important quality. Knowing how to make connections, be accessible for your team and continually adapt your managerial skills is even more critical.

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