So you want to work in a Management Rotation Program? Learn more here!
Leadership Development Programs, also called rotational programs, are meant to provide entry-level hires with a cross-functional perspective of an organization. These programs can vary from a few months to a few years, where the employee spends several weeks or months in each of the key functional areas of the employer. The goal of these programs is to expose high potential employees to multiple aspects of the company with the hope that they will advance in the future to lead across those functions. Keep in mind that a number of these programs may have application timelines during the fall semester.
Leadership Development Programs should not be confused with Gap-Year opportunities, which are structured for an employee to stay with the organization for only a set term. In contrast, Leadership Development Programs are an investment the organization is making in their employees to prepare them for advanced leadership roles within that organization.
The Nuts & Bolts
Leadership development and rotational programs provide you with in-depth experiences, ongoing mentorship, and targeted training across a range of business areas within a company. Companies usually use these types of programs to hire interns or post-graduates and train them through rotational programs (i.e. rotating through different parts of a company) or specific, structured training programs. The goal is to recruit and develop leaders for their organization. Given the diversity of tasks and projects that candidates are exposed to Management Rotational Programs make a great option for advanced-degree candidates who are looking to establish a career in a more “corporate” organization but are unsure of where to do so. While programs are traditionally designed for undergrads or MBAs, some technical related programs are open for Masters/PhD students. Programs open to MBAs usually require 0-3 years of work experience. Programs open to masters or PhD require 0-2 years industry or related work experience. Sometimes PhD experience could be counted as work experience.
To help you explore these programs, we link to Leadership Development resources below. Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list; we intend for you to use it as a starting point. You can also meet with an OCS advisor to further discuss your options.
