Choosing the right business career to pursue can often be a difficult decision. A recent graduate with any level of business degree is often confronted with a variety of career options that all require similar skills.
Although a business education serves as a solid foundation for any number of related careers, the difference in working environment and duties can vary widely depending upon which particular area of business you choose. Here, we'll explore a list of the most popular career choices for those with business degrees to help you find the right career path to meet your own goals and interests.
Business students with a natural facility for numbers and budgeting may wish to pursue a associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting or complete an accounting certificate program. The job outlook for professionals entering the accounting industry is good, especially for those who possess expertise in computer applications or an advanced degree.
Accountants are responsible for ensuring that businesses maximize productivity and operate according to tax laws. Some of their tasks include:
An effective business manager is responsible for generating new business ideas, increasing company revenues, enhancing productivity and steering a business to help it meet its budget and vision.
Professionals in business administration and management should possess a gift for motivating employees and leading them to work toward the common good of the company.
As business is increasingly conducted online, most major companies use call centers as a way to interact with customers and provide product support.
Call center managers require general business administration skills, as well as knowledge particular to the call center environment, such as workforce management, queue control, reporting and quality monitoring.
Students seeking a business degree may also choose to enter the field of communications, which includes:
Professionals in business communications possess knowledge about theories of mass communication and have excellent professional writing and communication skills. They often find work with newspapers, magazines and in television. Those who specialize in marketing may promote a product line or work to build a company's public image.
Job outlook is very good for e-business professionals, as more and more companies establish and expand their presence online.
For those looking to start a business, especially an Internet business, e-business skills such as digital marketing and Web design, along with knowledge of database management systems, electronic security and information systems, are increasingly important in today's marketplace. E-business is a fast-growing industry with exciting options for entrepreneurs with solid business skills and a high degree of self-motivation.
If you love interacting with people, you may wish to consider putting your business degree to work in the hospitality industry. Whether working as a manager in a high-end hotel or running a business in the booming tourist industry, successful hospitality professionals offer superior customer service, clear communication and ensure the high quality of their product.
Information systems professionals fuse technical knowledge with strong business skills. Managers in this field are responsible for implementing technology within their organizations. They help integrate technological advancements into a business plan, oversee network security and direct Internet operations.
Professionals in this field require a strong understanding of both technology and business practices; they should be interested in keeping up with the latest trends in the technical world and also have the ability to communicate their know-how to further a business' growth.
Organizational innovation is a new field that is growing, along with advancements in technology, to integrate innovative technology and new ways of thinking into the traditional business model. Professionals in this field specialize in bringing innovative practices and creativity into developing business strategies, services and products.
Organizational innovation workers manage intangible assets and help bridge the gap between conventional business thinking and new, creative principles for business design and operation.