Set up for success: 7 compelling business management career paths

If bacon and eggs is the archetypal breakfast, majoring in business management has got to be the quintessential college degree. A safe choice for those unsure of precisely where they see their career heading in the future, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business management potentially opens more doors for the burgeoning young professional than perhaps any other singular course of study.

From finance and the latest cutting edge technologies to pro sports or advertising, a degree in business management can set you up for success across a myriad of positions and jobs. While there are certain topics and areas of focus virtually every business management degree program will emphasize, like leadership, team building, risk analysis, ethics, and financial acumen, all of those skills are considered indispensable among countless industries.

Even better, holders of business management degrees are often placed on the fast track within their respective organizations for promotions, and are usually seen as having higher earning potential to boot. While business management majors usually zero in on a specialization or specific managerial area of expertise (HR, accounting, marketing, etc) at some point before graduation day, this course of study represents an incredibly flexible way to put your best professional foot forward – even if you aren’t exactly sure which direction you’re heading in.

Let’s take a look at just a handful of the positions open to professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree in business management.

Marketing manager

If consumer engagement interests you, a marketing manager position may prove both rewarding and lucrative. Working closely with other departments like sales and product development, the marketing manager analyzes demand level among specific consumer groups and oversees advertising campaigns aimed at generating interest and ultimately increased revenue.

Account manager 

Sometimes less is more, and if dealing closely with clients as opposed to overseeing entire initiatives sounds more appealing to you personally, account management is a great way to put business management skills to use in a more one-on-one manner. Account managers serve as the first point of contact for clients (or entire organizations). As such, stellar customer service acumen and relationship building skills are essential.

Financial manager

Maybe you’ve always preferred numbers and spreadsheets to phone calls and meetings. To each their own, and a job as a financial manager allows more money-minded business management degree holders to thrive in their area of interest. Financial managers guide organizations’ monetary policies, from investments and annual budgets to day-to-day accounting practices and product or service price points.

HR manager

All administrative matters involving a company’s in-house workers and employees falls under the purview of the HR manager. Recruitment, hiring, on-boarding, periodic performance evaluations, and firing of employees is overseen by the HR department, as are benefits packages, payroll, and educational/development programs.

Management analyst

Problem solving is a great skill to have, but the ability to identify problem areas before they actually turn into tangible issues is highly sought after across industries. Management or business analysts work to assess organizations’ pain points or areas in need of improvement (via worker interviews, data analysis, etc), and then put forth plans to rectify issues and increase efficiency.

Development director

No business or organization will get very far without popper funding, and the development director is tasked with crafting strategic and analytical approaches to securing proper funds. Most development directors have a team that they can delegate tasks among, while another key component of the job is habitual networking with potential new donors or sponsors.

Sales manager

If Always Be Closing is your go-to motto in business and sales, a position as a sales manager will likely fit like a glove. Sales managers are responsible for formulating sales strategies, assigning specific regions or territories, setting sales goals, and implementing training programs for new sales hires. This job also entails a healthy amount of data analysis, as it’s up to the sales manager to ensure the revenue coming in via new sales outweighs operational costs.