Supervisor - who is he, where did he come from and why is he needed

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Supervisor. Who this is, it becomes clear far from immediately, since the word for the Russian language is new, unusual and is a borrowing from a foreign lexicon. The meaning of such an import of foreign words becomes clear as soon as one manages to figure out what is hidden behind such an unusual and respectable concept.

Abroad, this position has existed for a long time, and the question no longer arises: "Supervisor - who is this, and what does he do?". This is primarily due to the fact that in Western countries a market economy has existed for more than a century and a half, while in Russia and the CIS, transformations from a planned to a competitive market took place not so long ago, only some twenty years ago.

It was the emergence of mass producers, as well as those who sell their products, that led to the formation of the concept and, accordingly, the position of "supervisor of sales representatives." For the most part, manoccupying this place, ensures the work of outlets selling products. To simplify (so that there are no more special questions “supervisor - who is it and why is it needed”), it turns out that this is a simple manager who is not tied to a specific point, but moves between them and organizes the work of the lowest, according to the company’s hierarchy, workers.

If in Russian reality this word causes a certain respect, as it sounds very mysterious, then this is not the case abroad. There, this name is used to call line managers of the lowest order, who have a minimum of privileges and a maximum of responsibility. The salary of such a person is based on how many sales were made in the field under his control.

In Russia, the main distribution of such a position occurred in the field of mobile services. There are many small companies selling sim cards from certain operators through a network of small points for one person, located in the busiest places in the city. Here, the supervisor is a kind of unskilled worker who most of the time is engaged in the delivery of promotional products and the installation of stands from which it will be distributed, and in the remaining hours he is looking for new people who will work at these points. At the same time, the salary of such a “manager” can sometimes be less than the standard rate of his subordinate, since the level and number of sales are rarely high.

When it goesinterviewing for a supervisor, especially for a small firm, needs to appear in the right light. First of all, you should highlight your leadership skills, referring to past experience and, preferably, demonstrating its presence. Rational judgment and charisma are the main virtues when talking with a future boss, as many of them will try to besiege the applicant in order to lower the salary bar. And most importantly, you should show your understanding of the position of "supervisor" - who it is, what it does and what it is for. This will make it possible to do not ancillary work, but to become a small, but still a leader.