Area
Employer
Information/Strategies
Area:
Management
Sub-Area:
- Areas and job titles will vary by industry.
Employers:
- Business and industry including:
- Banks and financial institutions
- Retail stores
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Service providers
- Healthcare organizations
- Manufacturers
- Industrial organizations
- Local, state, and federal government
- Nonprofit organizations
- Self-employed
Strategies & Information:
- Prepare to start in entry-level management trainee positions. Demonstrate intitiative and leadership to get promoted.
- 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 and develop strong communication skills.
Area:
Sales
Sub-Area:
- Industrial Sales
- Consumer Product Sales
- Financial Services Sales
- Services Sales
- Advertising Sales
- E-commerce
- Customer Service
- Sales Management:
- District, Regional, and Higher
Employers:
- 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
Strategies & Information:
- 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.
- Prepare 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.
Area:
Insurance
Sub-Area:
- Claims
- Underwriting
- Risk Management
- Sales
- Loss Control
Strategies & Information:
- 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.
Area:
Banking
Sub-Area:
- Commercial Banking
- Retail/Consumer Banking
- Credit Analysis
- Lending
- Trust Services
- Mortgage Loans
- Branch Management
- Operations
Employers:
- Banks
- Credit unions
- Savings and loan associations
- Financial services institutions
- Federal Reserve banks
Strategies & Information:
- 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.
Area:
Real Estate
Sub-Area:
- Residential Brokerage
- Commercial Sales
- Appraisals
- Property Management
Employers:
- Real estate brokers
- Banks
- Appraisal firms
- Apartment and condominium complexes
- Developers
- Large corporations: real estate departments
Strategies & Information:
- 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.
- Investigate apprenticeships in appraisal.
Area:
Human Resource Management
Sub-Area:
- Recruiting/Staffing
- Compensation
- Benefits
- Training
- Safety
- Employee Relations
- Industrial Relations
- Organizational Development
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Employment Law
- Consulting
Employers:
- Large corporate entities
- Service industry
- Hospitals and healthcare organizations
- Universities
- Temporary or staffing agencies
- Executive search firms
- Local, state, and federal government
- Labor unions
Strategies & Information:
- 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 gain experience with conflict resolution.
- Build a solid background in technology because many human resource systems are automated.
- Join the Society of Human Resource 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.
General Information and Strategies
- General business is a broad area that can lead to many career opportunities. Students should clearly define their goals and seek experiences and skills necessary to reach those goals.
- Gaining relevant experience through part-time and summer jobs or internships is critical.
- Learn about various fields of business through research on internet sites and books, informational interviews of professionals, and exposure to work environments through shadowing, volunteering, or interning.
- Develop interpersonal and organizational skills through participation in and leadership of student organizations. Strong communication skills, including public speaking, are also important to achieving success in this field.
- Learn to work effectively with a wide variety of people and to work well in a team environment.
- Get involved in student professional associations in field of interest.
- Develop and utilize a personal network of contacts. Once in a position, find an experienced mentor.
- Consider earning an MBA or other related graduate degree after gaining work experience to reach the highest levels of business management.
- See also "What Can I Do With This Major?" for Management, Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Logistics, and Accounting for additional information.