Business Degree = What jobs?

Okay...so maybe this isn't that much associated with distance learning, but it's probably an interest several people here have in common.

I'll be finishing up a degree in general business pretty soon (from Excelsior). Have very little experience, but am looking to get some sort of job once I graduate. I know there are a lot of people on here persuing business degrees at the big 3, or at other distance learning schools. What sort of jobs could I expect to be able to get, what should I be applying for, what pay might I expect with just a BA and no experience, ect? Sites like salary.com are only helpful if you know the name of the job you are interested in...I really have no idea what I might qualified for.

 

I am expecting to have my BS in March, so I have been testing the waters myself.

I have been looking at management training programs offered by various firms. My resume is lacking any business related experience, but it does have supervisory experience (military). Most firms that I have applied to have asked me to reapply when I am one month out from graduation. This includes everything from Jr. Investment Broker with no experience ($40,000 base; plus commision) to paid internships with retail and banks.

I have had several offers for HR, Staffing, and Admin. jobs ranging from 25k to 38k.

Any other experiences and/or advice would be appreciated.

BTW, I have had about 10 interviews recently and I have only had positive responses to my DL education. In fact, I was advised by one recruiter to use it as a "selling point" (i.e., indepedent, self-motivated, goal oriented, multitasking abilities, etc.)

 

By the way, how does starting a business career relate to ones age? Does one still stand a good chance to find a decent job in the middle of the thirties?

Dennis

 

It is virtually impossible to answer this question succinctly without first identifying the industry (or industries) in which you would like to work. All I can offer are a few random thoughts:

Given the current economy, if you have an outgoing personality, you could find an entry-level sales job with no problem. Everyone is looking for good sales people right now. This could be software sales, equipment sales, or even "people" sales, as pertains to consulting, etc.

What industries interest you? Once you've identified the industries, then you can narrow it down a bit more.

Another way of looking at is from a "functional" perspective. Does the sales side of the business interest you most? the operations side? Perhaps the financial/accounting side? Marketing?

Regardless of degree earned, without experience, it will be difficult to find anything more than a middle-management job, and even then, most middle-management jobs require a certain practical knowledge of whatever industry the firm serves. Expect to start at or near the bottom with no experience. Find an industry that you like, an opening with a good company, and dig in ...

Cheers.

 

I'd say mid-30s is reasonable, but a lot of that would depend upon the person. Just keep in mind that if you are starting a "new career", experience within the business (industry) is still more important than age. You will need to start on the groundfloor and claw your way up, just like everyone else. If you can use your age as a "tool", a "weapon", if you will, to influence people, demonstrate responsibility, etc., you could fast-track ...

 

This is just a suggestion, but.....

The degree may get your foot in the door and provide you with the opportunity to sell yourself with a list of personal attributes and qualities that might appeal more than "experience" to employers. I just purchased a book by Anne McKinney. She writes books that teach you how to write resumes and cover letters in multiple fields that sell your abilities more than your experience and she covers a host of ways to do it. I just read her book Real Resumes for Nursing Jobs. It's the very best resume book I've ever read. It shows you how to write the letters and resumes that get you where you want to go. I just used her format and sent out 3 resumes to places that had no jobs advertised, so they were "cold" contacts. I have an interview for a nurse clinical manager position for next Thursday. I doubt I would have gotten the call without the sharp cover letter and resume that I created using her format because while I have been a nurse for the last 5 years, I have no clinical MANAGEMENT experience. I do have the aptitude and I believe the right attitude to learn it quickly though, and that's what I'll be selling on this interview. I've obviously already pre-sold it by virtue of the resume that got me the call back.

Out in the real world, selling yourself, using personal contacts, etc., is worth every bit the equivalent of the degree you are completing. Education is just one part of the puzzle.

Do a search on Amazon for Anne McKinney. I would bet most of her books are available through them.

 

Thanks for all the input so far, it's really appreciated!

Is that one month after you graduate or one month before? I'm hoping to start applying as soon as I have all my credits finished and am awaiting conferral (since it will take a couple months between these two points).

Ya, It's a tough question without knowing anything, which is part of my reason for asking, to hopefully gain some knowledge on what industries/positions are available to go into. I'm 20...really I still want to be a Toys R Us kid. My only work experience is a year as a Realtor, which did not go over very well.

I do know some about my personality though, and maybe that could help people advise me on what field to enter or type of job to look for. I like to be in charge and I like to make decisions. I'm fairly analytical, but I prefer analyzing people and social things over mathematical systems. I'm definitely a critical person; I like to find flaws in the way things are currently being done. I think if I had one job task I could do all day it would be interviewing, hiring, and deciding who to fire. Of course I don't think there is such a job. As a general rule, the more discussing issues with others and deciphering things I get to do, instead of doing paperwork, the better for me. That is, with the exclusion of being a sales person.

This is certainly what I'm hoping...because I don't have many advantages other than just being who I am. I just want to know which doors I should wedge my foot in.

 

Re: Re: Business Degree = What jobs?

Unixman, I've also read your previous posts and it seems you are well informed about the issues relating to business careers. Maybe, you would be willing to share your thoughts on the following ones:
Even if one starts at the bottom with a low-level-management job and in a couple of years moves to middle-management and some years later perhaps to something above middle-management, it would still be a pretty decent career and a good pay-off for a bachelor in business(or even an MBA), wouldn't it?

In your opinion, would a MBA give you substantially more career advantages over an BBA, or is the difference insignificant?

Thanks,

Dennis

 

Hiring and firing are generally the responsibilities of the so-called "hiring manager" (fancy way of saying someone who is responsible for the staffing function of a particular department within an organization). Hiring/firing the right/wrong people can make or break anorganization, so your skills with regard to analyzing people would be critical there.

Given your preference of the social aspects of business, I would consider trying to land a job in the HR industry. Perhaps working your way into a job as a benefits manager/coordinator, then working your way up to the executive HR ranks. Retained (or even contingent-based) recruiting may also be an avenue for you to explore. Perhaps you could explore opportunities with a professional or executive staffing firm ....

Cheers.

 

Re: Re: Re: Business Degree = What jobs?

That would be ideal, yes. I've managed to go through all the levels without a degree, but I am a rare exception. And even now, in a hyper-competetive job market, I am hitting glass ceilings (hence my own degree completion efforts). It isn't uncommon for someone to reach the executive ranks with just a 4 year degree. What *is* uncommon, however, is picking and choosing your target companies and roles. Getting a graduate degree won't open as many doors as a 4 year degree, but the ones it will open will typically be more rewarding.

I feel there are definite advantages to having a graduate degree, yes. Again, it isn't necessarily the quantity of doors it will open, but the quality of the loot behind them.

Cheers.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Business Degree = What jobs?

Okay, thanks. Yet another question: in case of the MBA, would you recommend a general degree or one with a specific concentration? Especially, if one isn't(yet) sure which business field he prefers. To my knowledge, general MBA programs tend to be shorter and perhaps even less expensive, so that's one reason I'm currently more in favor of this ones.

Dennis

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Business Degree = What jobs?

You will no doubt find several schools on thought on this. At the end of the day, I think it is a balance between preference, time, and desire.

MBAs have broad appeal (horizontal), a master's degree with a specialization has a deeper, but narrower appeal (vertical).

By the end of your undergraduate studies, you should be ready to answer the "what do I want to be when I grow up" question. If something like human resources (HR) appeals to you, you may want to shoot for a more vertical degree.

However, by doing so, you do limit yourself somewhat (although not entirely). It will be harder to switch channels if you have a Masters in HR, than it would be if you had an MBA. But if you have a Masters in HR, you will be more readily considered for critical positions within that field.

If by the end of your undergraduate studies, you still don't know, get the MBA. It won't hurt you, and you can always pick up a certificate or a third degree in a specialized track down the road.

Cheers.

 

One month BEFORE conferral. I'll be done next month, so I am ramping up my resume, going on interviews for anything - just getting interview experience, asking VP's what they think of my resume, etc. When a VP calls my cell phone and says, "I was reading through some resumes and I came across this sentence in yours:..." I know to leave that sentence in! When an interviewing VP says, "That was a great answer." I know to memorize that answer! I'm getting ready to take the business world by storm...or something like that .

You may want to interview with a staffing agency like Adecco (the largest in the world), they are probably going to make me an offer of 30-35k+bonuses next week. I won't take it because I would have to relocate, but it sounds like something you might be good at and advancement can be quite quick (the branch manager that interviewed me was in my shoes 18 months ago).