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Best Jobs For Former Managers [2026]

By Chris Kolmar
Jul. 13, 2022
Last Modified and Fact Checked on:

Top Career Options for Former Managers in 2026

In 2026, the landscape for managers and their subsequent career paths is evolving rapidly. Many former managers are pivoting to new roles that not only leverage their existing skills but also align with the shifting dynamics of the modern workplace.

Despite an increasing number of individuals studying management-related fields, fewer are pursuing traditional managerial roles, leading to a significant transition in career paths for those who have left management positions.

With this trend in mind, it’s worth exploring the diverse opportunities available to former managers. We analyzed thousands of resumes from individuals who transitioned out of management roles to uncover the top jobs they are now pursuing. The following list highlights some of the most interesting and surprising career moves made by these professionals.

Best Jobs for Former Managers

  1. Operations Director Jobs

  2. Bartender Jobs

  3. Business Developer Jobs

  4. Principal Jobs

  5. Chief Finance Officer Jobs

  6. Chief Executive Officer Jobs

  7. Recruiter Jobs

  8. Controller Jobs

  9. Associate Director Jobs

  10. Executive Director Jobs

These roles vary significantly in terms of appeal and responsibilities, but each offers a unique opportunity for former managers to leverage their leadership skills in new contexts.

The comprehensive list of jobs that former managers are transitioning into can be found below.

Detailed Ranking of the Most Common Jobs for Former Managers

Rank Job Title %
1 General Manager 1.51%
2 Assistant Manager 1.51%
3 Customer Service Representative 1.47%
4 Sales Associate 1.3%
5 Store Manager 1.03%
6 Operations Manager 0.96%
7 Administrative Assistant 0.92%
8 Owner 0.89%
9 Project Manager 0.87%
10 Director 0.85%
11 Senior Manager 0.79%
12 Office Manager 0.79%
13 Server 0.78%
14 Sales Representative 0.76%
15 Consultant 0.75%
16 Supervisor 0.74%
17 Cashier 0.74%
18 Internship 0.65%
19 Vice President 0.57%
20 Program Manager 0.46%
21 Owner/operator 0.44%
22 Sales Manager 0.41%
23 Team Leader 0.39%
24 Account Manager 0.39%
25 Substitute Teacher 0.37%
26 Teacher 0.36%
27 Associate 0.33%
28 Account Executive 0.32%
29 Sales Consultant 0.28%
30 Volunteer 0.28%
31 Registered Nurse 0.27%
32 Specialist 0.27%
33 Customer Service Trainer 0.26%
34 Operations Director 0.26%
35 Senior Project Manager 0.26%
36 Receptionist 0.26%
37 Assistant Store Manager 0.25%
38 Service Manager 0.25%
39 Technician 0.25%
40 Bartender 0.25%
41 Driver 0.24%
42 Security Officer 0.23%
43 Teller 0.23%
44 Human Resources Coordinator 0.22%
45 Business Analyst 0.21%
46 Coordinator 0.21%
47 President 0.21%
48 Machine Operator 0.21%
49 Owner/manager 0.21%
50 Certified Nursing Assistant 0.21%
51 Human Resources Manager 0.2%
52 Marketing Manager 0.2%
53 Business Developer 0.19%
54 Property Manager 0.19%
55 Principal 0.19%
56 Assistant General Manager 0.19%
57 Chief Finance Officer 0.19%
58 Office Assistant 0.18%
59 Medical Assistant 0.18%
60 Pharmacist Technician 0.17%
61 Assistant 0.17%
62 Information Technology Manager 0.17%
63 Product Manager 0.16%
64 Chief Executive Officer 0.16%
65 Production Manager 0.16%
66 Customer Service Manager 0.16%
67 Department Manager 0.16%
68 Maintenance Technician 0.15%
69 Instructor 0.15%
70 Cook 0.15%
71 Delivery Driver 0.15%
72 Recruiter 0.15%
73 Controller 0.15%
74 Associate Director 0.15%
75 Senior Consultant 0.14%
76 Executive Director 0.14%
77 District Manager 0.14%
78 Graphic Designer 0.14%
79 Agent 0.14%
80 Research Assistant 0.14%
81 Senior Director 0.14%
82 Shift Manager 0.14%
83 Home Health Aid 0.14%
84 Administrator 0.14%
85 Bartender Server 0.13%
86 Analyst 0.13%
87 Marketing Director 0.13%
88 Systems Administrator 0.13%
89 Waitress 0.13%
90 Area Manager 0.13%
91 Executive Assistant 0.13%
92 Billing Specialist 0.13%
93 Operator 0.13%
94 Production Supervisor 0.13%
95 Business Manager 0.12%
96 Managing Director 0.12%
97 Purchasing Manager 0.12%
98 Assistant Director 0.12%
99 Material Handler 0.12%
100 Customer Service Associate 0.12%

Most Common Jobs for Former Managers

  1. General Manager

  2. Assistant Manager

  3. Customer Service Representative

  4. Sales Associate

  5. Store Manager

  6. Operations Manager

  7. Administrative Assistant

  8. Owner

  9. Project Manager

  10. Director

All these roles require skills and competencies that are typically honed in management positions, making them viable options for those transitioning out of traditional management roles.

How We Identified the Best Jobs for Former Managers

To compile this list, we utilized data from our extensive database of over 7 million resumes, focusing on those that included management experience. We analyzed the subsequent job positions listed in these resumes, ranking them based on their frequency of occurrence.

For our selection of the most intriguing jobs, we sifted through the ranked data to identify roles that:

  • Appeared in less than 1% of all job listings
  • Were not included in the top 100 most common jobs within our database

These insights can serve as a valuable guide for former managers looking to navigate their next career move in 2026 and beyond.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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