From tax accountants to retail merchandising managers, the career options for Business majors are plentiful and varied. Students who major in Business study subjects like accounting, finance, business management, marketing, human resources, e-commerce, international business, economics and merchandising management.
College and university bachelor's degrees are commonplace for Business majors. Many students also seek master's degrees including master's of business administrations (MBA) degrees, to gain a competitive edge in the job market. That said, certificate programs and associate degree programs are available at technical schools, online schools, colleges and universities, too. These degrees usually lead to more administrative or entry-level positions in the field, though some may qualify for more advanced roles with experience.
For success as a Business major you should have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. You should also be organized, disciplined, self-motivated and computer savvy. Possessing a professional demeanor can take you far. And depending on your career path in Business creativity, math skills and leadership qualities are helpful, too.
The possibilities are nearly endless in Business. Explore other more career focused business majors before you make your decision: Accounting & Related Services; Administrative Services; Auctioneering; Business/Corporate Communications; Business/Managerial Economics; Construction Management; E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce; Entrepreneurship; Fashion and Apparel; Financial Services; General Business; Hospitality & Restaurants; Human Resources; Information Systems; Insurance; International Business/Trade/Commerce; Management; Marketing; Real Estate; Sales Management; Special Products Marketing Operations; Specialized Merchandising, Sales, and Marketing Operations; Taxation; Tourism; and Vehicle and Vehicle Parts and Accessories Marketing Operations.
No matter what type of Business school you're looking for—technical school, career college, online school, community college, 4-year college or university—you'll find several options in every part of the country. You should choose a business school that will prepare you for the type of career you want whether it's in international business or real estate finance. You can also learn a lot about a business school by studying the professor's credentials and asking about the careers of recent graduates. Any career placement services and internship programs will be important to your success in Business, too.
Most college and university Business students seek a bachelor's degree. Students can expect to learn basic business principles and techniques including the buying and selling of good, accounting, economics, finance and management. Within these programs they may choose to minor in a more specific area such as marketing or business law.
Business graduate students often pursue an MBA. With an MBA, you'll have an edge when going for competitive jobs in any field of business. You'll learn more advanced business theories and strategies and often focus in a particular area of business such as financial services or marketing. Other bachelor's degree holders seek Business certificates to add to their skill set.
Many technical schools, career colleges and community colleges offer associate career training degrees and certificates in Business. These programs usually aren't the way to go for top level positions in Business, but qualify you for entry-level positions and fields such an administrative services or retail management.
If you want to study from your home computer, you'll have no problem finding an online school with a business online degree program to match your needs. Technical schools, colleges and universities all have online degree programs in business leading to associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and certificates. Look for a program that will prepare you for the type of business you want to work in whether accounting or human resources and the level whether financial clerk or chief financial officer.
Don't wait until your first day of college to start building business skills. In high school you can test your skills on the student government, in business clubs like Junior Achievement, volunteering in the business office of a local non-profit or by gaining leadership and team player qualities as a sports team captain. If you're interested in global business, study a foreign language or two. You should also hit the books hard in accounting, economics and communications classes.
In general, job opportunities are favorable for Business careers. However, highly sought after fields such as fashion or top-level management and executive roles can be very competitive.
Careers in marketing earn average annual salaries between $40,000 and $120,000 and vary greatly depending upon business segment—retail, banks, technology—and experience. Retail management, merchandising and marketing careers bring in annual wages between $25,000 and $78,000 and are generally higher in bigger markets or urban areas.
Human resources managers can make up to $115,000 on average, though higher wages come with experience and expertise in job training can help you secure competitive positions. Accountants and auditors, including CPAs and tax examiners can earn annual salaries around $42,000 to $72,000. Financial analysts and financial managers see salaries between $$51,000 and $125,000on average. Investment bankers, stock brokers and traders can see salaries with commission upwards of $125,000.
Careers for lower level degree holders or recent graduates include human resources assistants, payroll clerks and benefits administrators who usually make $28,000 to $41,000; bookkeepers, auditing clerks and accounting clerks earning $24,000 to $38,000; secretaries and administrative assistants earning $23,000 to $36,000 and executive assistants and legal secretaries earning $31,000 to $51,000.
Business majors may also find work as Computer Programmers; General and Operations Managers; Insurance Sales Agents and Insurance Underwriters.
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