Supervisor

Contents

• What is a supervisor?
• How does a supervisor differ from a manager?
• Areas of activity and specializations of a supervisor
• Duties of a supervisor
• Key skills of a supervisor
• Demand and prospects of the profession
• How to become a supervisor?

What is a supervisor?

A supervisor, or controller, is a specialist who oversees the work of employees in various fields, primarily in companies and government institutions. This role is most commonly found in sales, where the supervisor manages promoters, merchandisers, sales agents, and sales consultants. The word "supervisor" comes from the English terms "supervise" and "supervisor."

This position first appeared in the early 1970s in the USA when businesses faced the need to enhance control over personnel due to the introduction of new technologies. In Russia, the profession emerged in the 1990s when the country began transitioning to a market economy. Today, supervisors are in demand in areas such as sales, logistics, hospitality, and the oil and gas industry.

How does a supervisor differ from a manager?

Although both supervisors and managers engage in personnel management and coordination of work, their roles differ in terms of responsibility level and task specificity. Managers handle overall business management, develop strategies, hire and fire employees, and set goals. Supervisors, on the other hand, focus on monitoring the completion of assigned tasks and observing employee behavior. They may occasionally be involved in recruiting new workers, but this is not their primary function.

Areas of activity and specializations of a supervisor

Supervisors most often work in the sales sector, where their main task is to oversee the work of various specialists. Their responsibilities include:

• Promoters: Supervisors select locations for promotional activities, train employees in customer communication, and monitor their appearance.
• Merchandisers: They ensure that products are presented well in retail outlets, check product availability, and verify pricing accuracy.
• Sales agents: Supervisors train agents, create routes, and oversee delivery performance.
• Sales consultants: In large stores, they create work schedules and monitor service levels.

Additionally, supervisors can work in the service industry, manufacturing, educational institutions, and even in the oil industry, where they ensure compliance with technological processes.

Duties of a supervisor

The duties of a supervisor may vary depending on the area of activity, but they generally include the following functions:

• Personnel control: Checking task completion, ensuring compliance with standards and norms, assessing performance.
• Coordinating actions: Developing work plans, distributing tasks, and ensuring team coherence.
• Training employees: Onboarding newcomers, organizing training sessions, and providing feedback.
• Reporting: Collecting and analyzing data on work results, preparing reports for management.
• Developing corporate culture: Creating a comfortable work environment, resolving conflicts, and motivating employees.

Key skills of a supervisor

In the profession of a supervisor, both professional skills and personal qualities are important. Necessary professional skills include:

• Knowledge of the industry, labor legislation, and safety regulations.
• Understanding the basics of marketing and personnel management.
• Ability to work with office software for reporting.
• Driving skills (if necessary).

Universal skills include:

• Organizational abilities and systematic thinking.
• Leadership qualities and the ability to motivate a team.
• Responsibility and stress resistance.
• Communication skills and empathy.

Demand and prospects of the profession

Supervisors have a high demand in the labor market. They are needed in trading companies, service sectors, and logistics. As of August 2024, there are over 10,000 job vacancies for supervisors available on the HeadHunter website. The average salary in Russia is about 81,000 rubles, but in major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, it can reach up to 160,000 rubles.

Supervisors have good prospects for career advancement and can move into manager positions or lead HR departments.

How to become a supervisor?

To work as a supervisor, having a higher education is not mandatory; experience and skills are more important. Many enter this profession from roles as sales agents or merchandisers. While having a degree in management or economics can be an advantage, specialized courses in supervision are also available and can aid in training.

Working as a supervisor opens up numerous opportunities for professional growth and development in various business sectors.