Business experience is a broad term covering an array of topics. It may include financial, marketing, consulting or technology duties in either a small, privately held corporation or a large, corporate conglomerate. Managerial and supervisory experience can be defined in more detail based on the expectations for those roles. Though both are positions of responsibility, there are definitive differences in the scope of the job.
Managers are more apt to have decision-making experience. A manager is responsible for planning, organizing resources, leading or influencing individuals or groups and controlling processes so that goals can be achieved. A manager is often called upon to make decisions that can have a significant impact on the company. His experience and expertise place him in a position of trust and confidence, so his decisions are expected to be correct and in the best interest of the business. Supervisors are more involved in making decisions regarding day-to-day operations such as hiring employees, scheduling, securing raw materials and adjusting processes based on necessary corrective actions.
A supervisor oversees the work of others. It is his responsibility to schedule workers, organize the work flow, support employees as needed and ensure that tasks are performed safely and efficiently. A supervisor will always have subordinates reporting to him and their production falls under his realm of responsibility. Most supervisors have performed the tasks now completed by subordinates. A manager may or may not have employees reporting directly to him. He may oversee a project or department, as opposed to people.
Supervisory experience is internally focused while managerial experience is often externally focused. Supervisors manage groups of employees within the business through training, mentoring, skills assessment and appraisals. Managers more often deal with projects that affect the company's relationship with outside vendors or other businesses. A manager defines his duties based on the company's strategic plans and missions, while a supervisor's duties are focused on the internal operations that will achieve these long-range goals.
Both managers and supervisors gain experience in budgeting and company finances. Managers often work with large budgets for capital projects. Supervisory experience is based on internal budgets encompassing manpower costs, overhead costs, the purchase of raw materials and other operating expenses.
Both managers and supervisors gain a wealth of problem-solving experience. Supervisors deal with personnel issues, such as conflicts between employees and production problems, such as equipment malfunctions. The problems facing a supervisor may be repetitious as similar issues arise within his department. A manager's problem-solving skills may be tested in various ways and are often in critical areas. He must be able to assess the situation, find the root cause, determine possible solutions and make decisions that can have long-range impacts.
- Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images