What Can You Do With a Business Administration Degree?

Are you thinking of pursuing a degree in business administration?

First things first, that’s a smart thought! The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 7 percent growth for business occupations through the next decade. There will be plenty of jobs.

As a business administration student, you’ll study economics, psychology, and financial accounting. There are also classes in business information systems, sales and marketing, and strategic management.

So, what can you do with a business administration degree?

Here’s a guide on your potential career paths.

Administrative Services Manager

An administrative service manager oversees an organization’s operations. Although specific duties vary from organization to organization, their work typically involves:

Supervising and delegating tasks to clerical staff
Serving as a liaison between an organization’s departments
Overseeing the management of records (physical and electronic)
Ensuring the organization’s facilities and equipment are well maintained
Maintaining positive working relationships with the organization’s suppliers or service providers.

Think this is the right career for you?

The level of education you’ll need will depend on the employer. Smaller organizations usually hire people with an associate degree in business administration. You can check out this online program for more information.

Large organizations hire professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree. Vast on-the-job experience is also key. In such organizations, you may start out as an office or department manager and then work your way up.

Sales and Marketing Manager

In a business administration program, you’ll learn about the fundamentals of sales and marketing. As such, you can opt to pursue a career in sales and marketing management.

So, what does a sales and marketing manager do?

Hiring, training, and supervising sales reps and other department personnel
Developing sales and marketing goals for the organization
Designing and implementing sales and marketing strategies
Doing market research
Staying abreast of marketing trends
Reporting sales and marketing reports to senior organizational managers.

In this job, you’ll need a little bit more than just a degree in business administration to get hired. The vast majority of employers typically want to hire managers with a compelling sales and marketing track record. This certainly means you’ll start out in an entry-level sales and marketing position and then work your way up the ladder.

Business Information Systems Manager

Business administration graduates have an in-depth understanding of business technology. This is how the role of a business information systems manager came to birth.

In this job, your duties will include:

Analyzing the operational efficiency of an organization
Identifying the technologies an organization should adopt
Leading the acquisition of computer programs, tech devices, and other equipment as per the organization’s needs
Overseeing the installation/deployment of these technologies
Maintaining strong business relationships with the organization’s IT vendors.

This role is suitable for graduates who have a passion for technology and strong computer skills.

Financial Analyst

You already know you’ll take finance classes when pursuing a business administration degree. If you like crunching numbers, then you can become a competent financial analyst.

Financial analysts keep an eye on an organization’s finances. Specific duties include:

Identifying the financial needs of an organization
Participating in the development of financial policies and procedures
Developing financial reports
Keeping accurate records of financial information
Evaluating financial transactions to identify errors and omissions
Reporting to the financial manager.

It’s important to bear in mind that the financial field is becoming more specialized. Employers are giving more preference to professionals with specialized degrees in finance. As such, you might want to pursue an additional certification in finance to improve your prospects.

Business Consultant

Business consultants offer professional advice to solo entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even large corporations. They tap into their vast knowledge of business to help entities cut costs, improve operational efficiency, and become more profitable.

Want to become a business consultant?

Well, earning an undergraduate degree in business administration is your first step. Consulting requires highly-educated and experienced professionals, so you will need to pursue a graduate program in business administration (MBA), in addition to earning vast practice experience.

As a business consultant, you have two employment options. You can work as an in-house/resident consultant in an established business consulting firm. Or you can start your own business consultancy.

Become an Entrepreneur

About 600,000 new businesses set up shop every year in the United States.

What’s stopping you from becoming an entrepreneur?

Of course, you need adequate business knowledge; otherwise, your business will be among the vast majority that fail. To get this knowledge, pursue a degree in business administration. You’ll not only learn the basics of entrepreneurship but also develop a passion for business.

Now, business knowledge alone isn’t enough to help you become a successful entrepreneur. You also need a good business idea, as well as adequate startup capital.

The beauty of entrepreneurship is you get to be your own boss. You won’t worry about looking for a job or reporting to someone. You work on your own terms.