supervisor

A supervisor has various responsibilities, including: 

• managing workflow: as a supervisor, you manage the activities of a team or department. That means you create workflows and monitor team members to ensure everyone is productive. This includes determining the tasks required to complete a job. You also define the objectives of a project or an activity and communicate expectations to team members.
• training new employees: as a supervisor, you are part of the hiring process. When new workers join your team, you support them during the onboarding period. You provide orientation and train them on the team's duties and expectations before they start work. You also explain company policies and ensure new employees receive the necessary information from the human resources department.
• managing team schedules: supervisors are tasked with creating work schedules and routines for the team. For instance, if the employees work in shifts, it is your job to manage the schedule and ensure workers complete their duties during the shift. Your flexibility is valued when employees need to make changes to schedules.
• evaluating team members' performance: supervisors spend most of their time with employees and often have to write performance reviews and share employee feedback. That means you participate in the creation of goals and determine the rewards for various achievements.
• resolving employee disputes: as a supervisor, your job involves addressing employee grievances. In most companies, employees take their grievances to their supervisors before speaking with the HR department. You also deal with employee disputes and report any violations of company policies to HR.

Your work environment varies according to the industry you work in. For example, a construction supervisor works outdoors on a construction site. An office supervisor mostly works in an office environment. In restaurants, a kitchen supervisor works behind the scenes, whereas an individual supervising the waiting staff works front-of-house. A supervisor in a factory or warehouse works in climate-controlled indoor settings. The job involves minimal travelling since most duties are performed in the same location. You also need to be physically present to perform your duties, which means you cannot work from home.

As a supervisor, you can work in a wide range of sectors, including hotels, manufacturing companies and construction. Your colleagues in various settings include hotel managers, chefs and construction managers. You may also work with project managers and HR managers, as well as other specialists like cost estimators, warehouse workers and factory managers.

As a supervisor, you are in the middle to lower management position. While some supervisors work 40 hours a week, middle-management jobs often require 48 hours. Upper management relies heavily on supervisors to oversee the work of individual employees. That means long workdays and weeks.

You can get a feel for the number of hours you typically work by looking at other employees' requirements in the same field. For example, if you are in an area where all employees are expected to work long hours, you can expect to work as long or longer than many other employees. Conversely, if most people work a 40-hour week in your field, your schedule is likely to be similar.

The level of demand for supervisors depends largely on the industry sector. Supervisory jobs also set you up for a great career in leadership roles. For instance, you can move to a managerial position and other senior leadership roles. As a supervisor, you have the opportunity to progress to a project manager, operations manager or branch manager role. Some supervisors specialise in working in a specific industry and advance to managerial roles like restaurant or hotel manager, factory manager or construction manager.

Finding your supervisor job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:

• a wide variety of training and development opportunities
• an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
• a range of opportunities in your area
• get paid on a monthly basis
• temporary and permanent contracts

Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a supervisor is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!

A supervisor is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day performance of employees. The responsibilities vary based on the company. In most cases, you manage a team, department or shift.

A supervisor is an individual who supervises workers or is responsible for overseeing the work done by others. For example, in a factory setting, a supervisor oversees the work done by floor-level operators or specialists. A supervisor may also be called a foreperson, gaffer or team leader.

Although some people use the terms interchangeably, there are distinct differences between the responsibilities of a manager and a supervisor. A manager has the responsibility for making decisions. A supervisor is responsible for implementing those decisions. Their role may include outlining how other employees do certain aspects of the job. Supervisors serve as intermediaries between employees and management.

Supervisors should be excellent communicators. You know how to identify and resolve conflict. You are a leader who delegates tasks and manages a wide range of skills. Critical thinking and the ability to solve problems logically are also important parts of your role.

Applying for a supervisor job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!