Sometimes, taking care of your family means taking steps to take care of and improve yourself; your decision to earn a new degree may be just as much for them as it is for yourself. Because of this, you probably want to make a career choice that will not only benefit the ones that you love with financial security, but also allow you to enjoy and look forward to going into work every day. If you’re thinking about a career in business management, then the good news is that it’s a great place to start.
You might be wondering – what exactly can you do with a degree in business management? The answer may not be as simple as you think – there are so many different options and career pathways that you can choose as a business management professional. And, this degree isn’t just for people who desire a career in management – you’ll receive a very versatile education while studying business management, which can prepare you for a large variety of roles. We’ve gone into a bit more detail about what you can expect to learn.
Accounting Principles
Studying for a degree in business management will provide you with at least a review of accounting objectives and how they are related to business. In addition, your degree is likely to provide you with a survey of the theory and application of accounting principles from a managerial perspective. Regardless of the role that you end up working in when in business, a strong accounting background and knowledge can be hugely beneficial. The knowledge that you can gain from taking this class will be widely applicable in a variety of different career paths, whether you choose to work as an accountant or not.
Marketing Principles
Business management degree programmes will integrate the seven key perspectives on marketing, giving students a broader understanding when it comes to a range of useful, industry-specific marketing strategies and tactics. Some topics that you might cover when studying business management include:
- Business to business (B2B) marketing
- Market research techniques
- Business to consumer (B2C) marketing
- Consumer buying habits
Business Ethics and Law
As this list of jobs in business management from Aston University shows, you will be requiredto have a strong knowledge of business ethicsand law, therefore as a student you will be expected to review fundamental principles of law that apply to business transactions. The course materials will provide you with an overview of ethical concerns that arise in the business world; students will learn a great deal about private and public law, partnerships, and contract law. Although for many students the law classes might not be as exciting as the others, a solid understanding of law in business is crucial for anybody studying business management.
Human Resources Management
In any kind of organisation, human resources take on a huge amount of highly important work. A business management programme will explore the importance of both establishing and administering organisational goals and objectives, procedures and policies. You may cover a range of topics while studying the human resources side of a business management degree including:
- Interview techniques
- Hiring process
- Disciplinary action
- Employee benefits
Project Management
A business management programme will also explore a range of management roles and study in further detail how they interrelate within an organisation. This is achieved by analysing the daily tasks and responsibilities held by each management role. Your study programme will compare how divisional managers lead different teams, investigate cross-functional relations, and explore the need for developing strong project management skills within a variety of disciplines.
What Career Options Are Available:
Once you’ve spent 3-4 years learning all of the above, there are several career opportunities that you might want to consider pursuing. Some popular careers amongst business management graduates include:
Business analyst:
Business analysts are tasked with gathering data regarding problems or procedures within the business. Then they must analyse the information that they collect in order to come up with potential alterations or solutions to improve the situation. New and improved procedures can be designed based on a wide range of different data types, including interviews with employees, inspection of company documents or on-site observations.
Administrative Assistant:
Typically, the everyday tasks of an administrative assistant include taking telephone calls, updating database information, scheduling meetings, preparing invoices, and managing any incoming and outgoing mail or email. An administrative assistant must be somebody who is organised and shows great attention to detail; as they are directly responsible for a wide range of tasks that ensure the smooth running of a company.
Customer Service Associate:
Customer service associates are – you guessed it – all about serving the customer. Their day to day work involves listening to customer concerns and questions, placing orders, providing further information about a brand, product or service or gathering customer feedback. These business professionals are an essential part of any business, making sure that customers and clients feel valued and that their needs and wishes are seen to. Qualities that go a long way in this position include empathy and patience, since many customer service associates are the first point of contact for a customer with a complaint.
Relationship Banker:
It’s the responsibility of a relationship banker to handle their client’s entire relationship with a bank. This is a career well-suited to business management graduates who have a strong grasp and understanding of the financial side of business, as they will need to possess a large range of knowledge about the products and services that a bank offers, from personal checking accounts to investments and trust funds. A relationship banker works closely with their clients, listening to their requirements and answering their questions in order to help them make the right decision for their business or personal finances.
Sales Manager:
Sales managers are the driving force behind sales goals and initiatives for a company. Their day to day tasks include the following:
- Working to resolve customer complaints
- Monitoring customer preferences and behaviours
- Preparing budgets to maximise sales results and determine the focus of sales efforts within the company
What will you do with a degree in business management?
