Management

What can I do with this major?

Management

Employer

  • Business and industry including:
    • Banks and financial institutions
    • Retail stores
    • Restaurants
    • Hotels
    • Service providers
    • Healthcare organizations
  • Local, state, and federal government
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Self-employed

Information / Strategies

  • Be prepared to start in entry-level management trainee positions.
  • Gain experience through internships or summer and part-time jobs.
  • Work at a retail store or restaurant; advance into an assistant manager position.
  • Get involved in student organizations and assume leadership roles.
  • Demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit, a strong work ethic, integrity, and a sense of independence.
  • Take courses in a secondary specialty such as marketing or information systems to increase job opportunities.
  • Learn to work well on a team.

Human Resource Management

Area

  • Recruiting/Staffing
  • Compensation
  • Benefits
  • Training
  • Safety
  • Employee Relations
  • Industrial Relations
  • Organizational Development
  • Equal Employment Opportunity
  • Employment Law
  • Consulting

Employer

  • Large corporate entities
  • Service industry
  • Hospitals and healthcare organizations
  • Universities
  • Temporary or staffing agencies
  • Executive search firms
  • Local, state, and federal government
  • Labor unions

Information / Strategies

  • Take courses in the social sciences such as psychology and sociology.
  • Gain relevant experience through internships.
  • Develop strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Learn to solve problems creatively, and build strong conflict resolution skills.
  • Develop strong computer skills because many human resource systems are automated.
  • Join the Society of Human Resource Management and other related professional associations.
  • Be prepared for continuous learning once in the profession.
  • Seek endorsements such as the Professional Human Resource Certification (PHR).
  • Earn a master's degree for career advancement or a law degree for employment law.

Operations Management

Area

  • Operations Research Analysis:
    • Business strategy
    • Facilities layout
    • Inventory control
    • Personnel scheduling
  • Production Management:
    • Line supervision
    • Manufacturing management
    • Production planning
    • Quality assurance
  • Materials Management:
    • Purchasing/buying
    • Traffic management
    • Inventory management

Employer

  • Manufacturers
  • Industrial organizations
  • Service organizations

Information / Strategies

  • Develop strong analytical skills and a logical approach to problem solving.
  • Take additional courses in statistics and computer systems. This is a more technical side of business.
  • Develop skills in budgeting and cost management.
  • Take additional accounting and finance courses.
  • Learn to manage multiple situations and problems.
  • Be able to communicate effectively with different types of people in various functional areas.
  • Earn an MBA to reach the highest levels of operations management.

Sales

Area

  • Industrial Sales
  • Consumer Product Sales
  • Financial Services Sales
  • Services Sales
  • Advertising Sales
  • E-commerce
  • Customer Service
  • Sales Management:
    • District, Regional, and Higher

Employer

  • For-profit and nonprofit organizations
  • Product and service organizations
  • Manufacturers
  • Financial companies
  • Insurance companies
  • Print and electronic media outlets
  • Software and technology companies
  • Internet companies

Information / Strategies

  • Obtain experience through internships or summer and part-time jobs.
  • Seek leadership positions in campus organizations.
  • Work for the campus newspaper, directory, or radio station selling advertisements.
  • Become highly motivated and well-organized.
  • Develop a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.
  • To deliver effective customer service, develop problem solving skills, self-confidence, assertiveness, and empathy.
  • Learn to work well under pressure and to be comfortable in a competitive environment.
  • Be prepared to work independently and to be self-motivated. Plan to work irregular and/or long hours.
  • Learn to communicate effectively with a wide range of people. Take additional courses in interpersonal communication and public speaking.
  • Develop strong persuasion skills and learn how to build relationships.
  • Some positions in sales, such as pharmaceuticals, require at least one to two years of a proven record in outside sales. Be prepared to start in a different industry before getting a job in pharmaceuticals.

Insurance

Area

  • Claims
  • Underwriting
  • Risk Management
  • Sales
  • Loss Control

Employer

  • Insurance firms
  • Banks

Information / Strategies

  • Complete an internship with an insurance agency.
  • Talk to professionals in the industry to learn more about claims, underwriting, and risk management. Many entry-level positions exist in these areas.
  • Initiative and sales ability are necessary to be a successful agent or broker.
  • Develop strong communication skills as many positions require interaction with others and the ability to explain information clearly and concisely.

Real Estate

Area

  • Residential Brokerage
  • Commercial Sales
  • Appraisals
  • Property Management

Employer

  • Real estate brokers
  • Banks
  • Appraisal firms
  • Apartment and condominium complexes
  • Developers
  • Large corporations: real estate departments

Information / Strategies

  • Obtain sales experience through part-time, summer, or internship positions.
  • Research the process of becoming a real estate broker through the National Association of Realtors.
  • Develop an entrepreneurial spirit.
  • Research apprenticeships in appraisal.

Banking

Area

  • Commercial Banking
  • Retail/Consumer Banking
  • Credit Analysis
  • Lending
  • Trust Services
  • Mortgage Loans
  • Branch Management
  • Operations

Employer

  • Banks
  • Credit unions
  • Savings and loan associations
  • Financial services institutions
  • Federal Reserve banks

Information / Strategies

  • Develop a solid background in business including marketing and accounting.
  • Get experience through part-time, summer, or internship positions in a bank.
  • Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills in order to work well with a diverse clientele.

General Information and Strategies

  • Management is a broad business degree that can lead to many career opportunities. Students should clearly define their career goals and seek related experiences to reach those goals.
  • Gaining experience through part-time and summer jobs or internships is critical.
  • Many desirable skills can be developed through participation in and leadership of student organizations.
  • Learn to work well on a team and effectively with a wide variety of people.
  • Strong communication skills, including public speaking, are important to achieving success in this field.
  • Join related professional organizations and pursue certifications in your respective area of interest.
  • Develop and utilize a personal network of contacts. Once in a position, find an experienced mentor.
  • Consider earning an MBA after gaining work experience to reach the highest levels of business management.