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Going to a business school is a great idea for those looking to make a successful career in practically any field. It is because studying business does not just cover the basics of running a business but teaches one how to be a successful leader.
Therefore, even if you’re unsure about which path you want to take in your career, studying business can help, as it will open many great career options for you.
If you’re considering studying business but want to learn more about the career paths available, read on to learn about some lucrative career options you can opt for.
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Do I Need a Business Degree?
For those seeking career advancement, earning a business can help. There are many benefits of pursuing this degree; for instance, with a business degree, you have the potential for career growth, access to an array of job opportunities, and, eventually, high earning potential for those with years of experience in the respective field. Hence, investing in a business degree is a wise decision.
In addition to the potential financial gains, completing a business degree program can provide individuals with a set of valuable, transferable skills. Given the ubiquitous nature of business in modern society, these skills can be applied across various industries. These skills include effective communication, adaptability, teamwork, and leadership, which can be acquired through classroom instruction.
Moreover, as businesses seek to emerge from the pandemic, they increasingly seek talent with the skills to help them pivot and adapt to changing circumstances. Adopting a similar mindset and focusing on expanding your skillset and capabilities is important to position yourself as a strong candidate for these roles. Hence, enrolling in an online MBA degree program could be wise.
Organizations seek to hire individuals with various skills, including empathy, team management, and the ability to set strategic goals and influence stakeholders from diverse backgrounds. Fortunately, MBA graduates, in particular, have unique opportunities to develop these skills while pursuing their degrees.
Now that you know why a business degree is important, let’s have a look at some of the roles you can consider after completing your business degree:
1. Financial Analyst
While finance is a vast field with many sub-pathways, many technical roles require extensive knowledge and professional accounting qualifications. However, there is an exciting and highly lucrative career option you can pursue with just an MBA by becoming a financial analyst.
Financial analysts are data scientists that help businesses make better financial decisions. Using their expertise, financial analysts advise on the best investment options, budgetary concerns, and financial repercussions of business decisions in the long term.
Given the complexity of the on-the-job tasks, employers prefer hiring someone with an MBA in Finance or equivalent qualifications. So, if you’re interested in becoming a financial analyst, pursue an MBA program with a major in finance.
2. Management Consultant
For business graduates with a flair for problem-solving, a career in management consulting is a great fit. Management consultants are professionals that assist organizations in achieving their objectives regarding performance, growth, and management.
Management consultants work for specialized firms which provide consulting services to businesses. Their keen perspective helps identify problem areas, and they use their expert business acumen to find practical and effective solutions.
As you can imagine, the work is equally challenging and exciting. However, it requires a certain level of competence and skill to land a management consulting role. Therefore, you should upskill before starting your career as a management consultant.
3. Operations Manager
As an operations manager, you will oversee a business’s routine activities to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently. On the other hand, operations managers working in the manufacturing industry must manage the production process, coordinate with suppliers and vendors, and oversee employees’ work.
Given the nature of the role, an operations manager must have strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills, as they have to make informed decisions under pressure or within strict deadlines. Hence, a business degree is essential to pursue this career path.
4. Human Resources Manager
There are many functions within an organization, among which human resources (HR) is one of the significant functions. As the business function responsible for handling the most important part of an organization – the employee base –HR is a great career pathway for business graduates.
While most of us think that HR solely revolves around hiring and firing employees, there is much more to it. Besides recruitment, HR has many other facets, such as training, organizational development, mediation, dispute resolution, employee complaints management, etc.
With a business degree, you can easily make a career as a recruiter or any other role in HR. However, remember that an HR position requires skill and high emotional intelligence. Due to the sensitive nature of matters that HR managers often face, they must possess empathy and patience.
5. Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
The corporate social responsibility (CSR) manager position is integral to today’s business environment. A CSR manager’s primary responsibility is to ensure that a company upholds its social and environmental obligations while communicating these efforts to its stakeholders. It may involve managing sustainability, diversity and inclusion programs, and ethical practices within the organization.
A business degree combined with strong analytical and strategic thinking skills can equip you to contribute to developing and implementing CSR initiatives. A business degree curriculum covers technical and conceptual aspects and teaches students about ethics, corporate governance, and stakeholder management – skills crucial for a CSR manager role.
As more companies recognize the significance of responsible business practices, the demand for CSR managers is expected to grow, providing a promising career opportunity for business graduates who aspire to impact society positively.
Conclusion
There are many career options for business graduates. The above-discussed career paths are only the tip of the iceberg, and the more you explore your interests, the more you will realize how your business degree can help you find a role you are passionate about. One thing is for sure, studying business will come in handy someday.
Investing in your skill development is smart in today’s rapidly changing business landscape. By continuously enhancing your capabilities and staying ahead of industry trends, you can position yourself as a valuable asset to any organization seeking to navigate uncertain times and become stronger on the other side.
