Lifelong Learning MattersJan. 23, 2019
As children, we’re often asked the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
What was your answer?
Our responses tend to start off creative with no fear of rejection, such as career paths like race car driver, Olympic athlete or president. Although who are we to taint your dream of winning a gold medal? But as we get more of a sense of reality, our answers might turn more realistic, like teacher, marketer or salesperson.
Eventually, we may reach that dream career field. But sometimes, we may still be figuring out that answer of what we want to be when we grow up—whether we’re 12 or 42.
We know to reach that dream career, we’ll need some training and experience, such as in an undergraduate degree. But how are we to pick a degree path when we’re not sure the exact occupation in which we hope to find ourselves?
With a bachelor’s degree in business, you can gain the experience and knowledge you need that can be applied in many different career fields. The curriculum included in a business degree incorporates practical and quantitative courses to provide you the skills you can take to add value to your organization. You’ll get to know the ins and outs of a business from financial management to marketing to data analysis.
But how are you to know if a degree in business is right for you? Here, we share five things you should know about a bachelor’s in business to help you make the right move on your career path.
1. Be an Employee in Demand
An undergraduate degree in business is one of the most popular and versatile field selections of postsecondary students. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, from 2015-16, 19% of all bachelor’s degrees earned were in the field of business, higher than any other field of study.
In business-related roles, employers tend to want employees with a solid foundation of business knowledge and experience.
The popularity of a business degree isn’t just seen in the classroom. When it comes to getting hired for that dream job, a business degree is what many employers are looking for. A recent Job Outlook 2018 survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) showed that 8 of the top 10 majors that employers want are in the business field. These eight include:
- Finance.
- Accounting.
- Business administration/management.
- Marketing.
- Management information systems.
- Logistics/supply chain.
- Sales.
- Human resources.
Regardless of which career path you choose, with a degree in business, people will be looking to hire you. The practical tools you’ll gain can set you apart as you chase your current or aspired career goals.
Is It Right for You? Ask Yourself
- Am I interested in a career field that will equip me with practical business tools and abilities to succeed in future endeavors?
- Am I prepared to enter a competitive field that is in high demand?
- Do I desire to work and thrive in a field such as finance, human resources or sales?
2. Fuel Your Interests
One of the reasons why a candidate with a business degree is in such high demand is that nearly every organization needs leaders in business-related roles to be successful. Depending on the size of the company, different departments must work together, utilizing each employee’s interests and skills to be most efficient.
The practical and engaging curriculum experienced in a business administration program can be a great accompaniment to your current interests in business fields like marketing, finance, management and accounting.
Many leaders in business possess a drive to manage their teams and tasks efficiently and thoroughly so that they can see their entire team succeed. Whether you find joy in creating and organizing spreadsheets, can generate advertising ideas for nearly any product or have a bookshelf full of well-read marketing books, a business degree can match your interests with the knowledge and skills to be successful.
Is It Right for You? Ask Yourself
- Am I interested in business-related fields like management, accounting, finance, marketing, etc.?
- Do I consider myself a leader or am I interested in putting myself in leadership roles?
- Do I enjoy communication and working with others?
3. Be Equipped With Practical Skills
In a business administration program, you’ll engage in curriculum to enhance both your subject-related skills and soft skills. Business-related skills you’ll enhance include practical experiences in the core business functions of areas such as accounting, economics, data analysis, marketing and finance. Understanding these foundations will set you up for success whatever your career aspirations.
In addition to business-specific skills, an undergraduate degree will also enhance your soft skills or attributes that enhance your ability to interact effectively. Through assignments, discussions and dedication involved in a degree program, you’ll be able to build upon those skills you can use whether you’re at work or at home. These soft skills include things like effective communication and critical thinking. You’ll also be able to refine your decision-making process and leadership style as you explore opportunities in management.
With a business degree, you can continue in your professional and personal development to be the employee—and parent, spouse, child, friend—you want to be.
Is It Right for You? Ask Yourself These Questions
- Do I work well in a team?
- Am I passionate about a specific area of business such as accounting or marketing?
- Do I enjoy hands-on training to further enhance my skills?
4. Open Career Opportunities
As you gain practical knowledge, skills and experiences, you’ll see that you have more opportunities for finding where you love going to work every day. A versatile degree in business opens up greater possibilities in fields like marketing, management, finance and many others. Not only in those specific fields, but the foundation you’re equipped with will show you as more marketable in other situations as well.
A business administration program exposes you to a variety of topics, organizational issues, theories, processes and strategies so you can be a well-rounded leader and team player in influencing others and promoting organizational success. This knowledge can help set you apart from other applicants when searching for new career opportunities.
What kind of career opportunities can you be on the lookout for as you earn a degree in business administration? Here are just a few of the plethora of possibilities:
- Accountant.
- Advertising executive.
- Business analyst.
- Commercial loan officers.
- Entrepreneur.
- Finance officer.
- Market research analyst.
- Public relations specialist.
- Small business administration.
These career opportunities also may pave the way for an increased salary. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of accountants in 2017 was almost $70,000. Financial analysts earned a median salary of $84,000 while market research analysts earned a median of $63,000.
A degree in business administration can help you not only get on a career path that fits more of who you are; it can also provide opportunities for greater earning potential.
Is It Right for You? Ask Yourself These Questions
- Do I desire a career path in the business field?
- Am I unsure of the exact path I want to take but want to be equipped with a solid foundation of knowledge?
- Do I want to increase my earning potential with a career in business?
5. Take Your Next Step
If you consider yourself someone who wants to move up in your career, a degree in business administration may just be the solution to get you to where you want to be.
With the abundant number of opportunities available for you to grow your career, as well as the practical knowledge, skills and experiences you’ll be equipped with, you’ll be ready for your next step. Whether that next step is getting an initial job in the career you desire or climbing up the organizational ladder within your current company, an undergraduate degree can help you get there.
With the foundation of an undergraduate degree, you’re also open to continuing your education even more with a graduate degree program in business, such as a Master of Business Administration. In a graduate program, you’re able to deepen your understanding of business even more so and continue to thrive in your professional development. And in some M.B.A. programs—like those at PGS—you’ll have the opportunity to specialize in a particular concentration such as health care, project management, finance or global business.
On your career ladder, whether you’re just at the bottom getting started or climbing on the middle rungs, a business degree can empower you to take your next step to achieve your goals.
Is It Right for You? Ask Yourself These Questions
- Am I interested in setting my career up for a future of success in business?
- Do I want to continue to thrive in my professional development?
- Am I interested in continuing my education to move into a graduate program in business?
Discover a Business Degree Designed Just for You
How will you answer the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” With the knowledge, skills and experiences gained through a bachelor’s degree in business administration, your possibilities are endless.
And in a degree program at PGS, you can continue your education in a convenient format that’s designed to meet the needs and schedules of busy working adults. At PGS, you can choose to take courses 100% online or one night a week on-campus. With a practical curriculum taught by experienced faculty members, you can be well on your way to achieving your goals with a degree.
