Job Openings & Education Requirements - General Outlook
A handful of industries look to provide the bulk of opportunities for business careers. Consulting service careers should be in demand---if you have the right education and experience.
Job Openings & Education Requirements
In a tight job market, businesses are looking for candidates with a combination of the most education and the most experience. The job market is seeing an influx of applicants, making the competition stiff for the jobs out there. While jobs in traditional business fields may be taking a hit right now, the following industries look to be a good bet for a bright future.
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
The fastest growing industry in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics is management, scientific, and technical consulting services, but joining this field can be competitive. Just over one million people nationwide are employed in this sector, all educated and experienced. Consultants are selling their business expertise, so entering this field requires developing an impressive resume along the way.
Many firms consulting require your education to be in a business-related field, finance being a popular one. Many consultants are self-employed. The hard word pays off for these business professionals--the average hourly wage is more than $60 an hour and even the support staff--secretaries, bookkeepers--may make more than their counterparts in other industries.
Financial Examiners
Financial examiners exist mainly for government compliance reasons. According to the BLS, this business career should see more 40 percent growth in the coming years. Financial examiners, who can work in either the private or the public sector, make sure the financials of an entity are sound and comply with various laws. Financial examiners also are responsible for verifying the accuracy of a business' financial records.
Although government is the largest single employer of financial examiners, private companies employ the bulk of these professionals. For this career, you should have a bachelor's degree, preferably in accounting, and related experience just to get started.
Personal Financial Advisers
Personal financial advisers should see more demand, more job opportunities, and stronger competition in coming years. According to the BLS, this career is expected to grow by 30 percent between 2008 and 2018. Financial advisers help you make decisions about investments, insurance, retirement, taxes, and many other finance-related decisions. Financial advisors generally need to develop a list of loyal clientele to become successful. While it can take time to build your client base, professionals in this field also generally enjoy a certain amount of autonomy.
Most personal financial advisors need at least a bachelor's degree in a business-related field. Some popular degrees include accounting, finance, economics, and law degrees. This is a heavily regulated industry and it requires that you first become licensed via state regulators and the Securities and Exchange Commission before soliciting financial business.
Other Fields
Several other industries should experience significant growth in coming years, and along with that, a need for business specialists such as accountants, auditors, marketing pros should arise. While specialists in non-business related fields are usually the face of the industry, business pros work behind the scenes.
Many of today's business schools train their students for work in a range of industries, as business studies can include health care management, insurance and risk management, human resources, logistics, and several other fields. These degrees can help you get your foot in the door to free up the technicians, engineers, doctors and scientists to do their jobs. The business side of the job is your specialty.
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.
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Servic • Bureau of Labor Statistics
Financial Examiners • Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Employment Matrix; Search percent change in employment, 2008-2018; all occupations • Bureau of Labor Statistics
Personal Financial Advisors • Bureau of Labor Statistics
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