A guide for your business career plans
Attending business school can build a solid foundation for your career. Your studies can be diverse, your job ever changing, and your pay rewarding.
Write a Business Plan for Your Career
Having a plan for your business education is critical.There are a range of degree programs, specializations, and career options for business students from the undergraduate degree in business to an MBA. When developing a plan for your business education, be sure to consider the type of program you'd like to pursue, your future career goals, and the overall economic outlook for the business industry.
Education and Career Choices
Deciding which degree program to pursue involves a range of important choices. Both the level of degree you pursue - associate degree in business management then a BA or an MBA - can impact your future career options. Do you want to work for yourself, a small business, or a corporation? While entry-level positions may be available at large companies with an associate's degree, climbing the corporate ladder or starting your own business typically requires a bachelor's or a master's degree in business or a related field.
Business students can also chose from a range of specialties within the field. While undergraduate programs often require you to study a range of fields from entrepreneurial studies to risk management, opportunities to specialize in a field such as health care management or international business are common at the graduate level. You aren't limited to a generic business studies degree anymore.
Undergraduate Business School
A solid education can help get your business career off the ground. Starting at the undergraduate level, a business education can start you on several different career paths. A bachelor's degree doesn't necessarily land you a high paying career right out of the gate, but it can get your foot in the door and it's a great foundation if you hope to go on to earn a master of business administration. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median weekly pay of someone with a bachelor's degree was $1,025--that's $399 more than someone that just has a high school diploma.
Graduate School in Business
An MBA program is more than just business management with fancy title. Many business schools offer a variety of studies within the business model. Degrees like business and health care management and business and information systems and actuarial science are almost as common as accounting and economics in some business schools. Master's degree holders' had median weekly earnings of $1,257 in 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.
Future Career Prospects
Industry-wide, business professionals should be in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, several sectors such as financial careers should grow significantly more in the coming years, mainly the health care sector. That leaves a great opportunity not only in health care business management, but for other specialists as well. These growing industries need help in logistics, accounting, marketing, and many other areas related to a business education.
The Ever-Changing Business Environment
The landscape of business is changing rapidly. Emails from PDAs keep executives up to date and deals are made in video conferences. Several careers require crossovers of extensive education or experience in business and another field, such as information systems.
The biggest crossover potential may lie in health care, as health care careers should see the most future job growth. The least potential should be in manufacturing related jobs, as many manufacturing jobs should see the largest declines in employment.
Making the right choices for yourself can be the difference for your business career. Explore our in-depth guide to business careers and education to get more information about various business careers and which one may be right for you.
Matt Riddle
Matt Riddle is a freelance writer based out of Reno, Nev. A journalism graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno, Riddle was a newspaper reporter and then an account coordinator for a political consultant in Reno where he worked for several successful campaigns. His interests are many, but CrossFit, rock climbing, reading and writing, skiing, snowboarding, fatherhood and acting round up the list.
Occupational Projections, 2008-2018, Abstract • Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review Online
Employment Projections; Fastest growing occupations • Bureau of Labor Statistics
MBA Resource Guide • Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania
Employment Projections: Education pays • Bureau of Labor Statistics
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