No matter where you live in the world, the thoughts are always on promotion and attaining as high a position as possible. For many companies whether it's retail or other types of sales-oriented businesses, one must come in on the ground floor and work up to the branch manager before even entertaining dreams of becoming a regional manager. The regional manager must have the ability to work on several levels of management since his job will entail interacting with those various levels, and even on occasion working directly with the sales staff.

Throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, companies that are recruiting for regional managers are looking for those who have experience working with both sales staff and other managers. It's important for a regional manager to know a wide area because his job will entail overseeing operations in a number of stores or establishments that fall within his regional directive. The regional manager may work directly with branch managers, or depending on the size of the store, he may work through a district manager.

Regional managers make work throughout the world with companies that have international entities, and unlike branch managers, the regional manager may be in fields other than retail. In the United Kingdom, recruiters seek regional managers to work within the scope of charitable organisations to assure that the operation runs smoothly. In the manufacturing industry, a regional manager may be in charge of several plant locations in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, assuring that product quality standards are maintained and that production quotas stay within reasonable variations.

It takes a special kind of person to assume the role of a regional manager because the position is not always a simple 9-5 routine, nor does it involve working with just a few people at a time. In most cases, the regional manager works with other managers, but there may be occasion for him to work with the employees as well, especially when the need for reorganising the way the job is performed. In some companies, the regional manager must give the final approval for new employees and may even sit in on the interview with the branch manager, but this depends upon the size of the company and the type of position for which the employee is being hired. For those interested in a career as a regional manager, you must be prepared to work with a variety of different personalities and with a range of management styles. Willingness to guide rather than direct is essential.