MBA Jobs

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MBA Jobs

An MBA can create all kinds of new career opportunities for you. Read about some MBA career paths and meet some recent MBA grads through "Day in the Life" profiles.

Arts, Education, Government, Public Policy
and Not-for-Profit MBA Careers

Recently, the success of MBA holding professionals as managers in the non-business sector has resulted in increased interest for hiring people holding MBAs. Additionally, this demand for highly trained individuals has led to specialized degree programs in areas like environmental management, health care administration, arts management, educational administration, public administration/ government, and non-profit management.

Educational Management and Administration

Educational administration programs help the private and public school systems find individuals with exceptionally good management skills. These skills are especially in demand, as the schools must operate effectively on limited budgets. Persons with MBAs who focus on education frequently obtain mid to senior positions. You will often find departmental staff and management with MBAs, while faculty and college deans often have doctoral degrees in addition to MBAs.

Environmental Management

While environmental management is often covered in public administration/government management programs, there are other programs that specialize in a large spectrum of environmental topics, including marketing, finance, operations, and international environmental strategy. Civil engineering, environmental engineering, and public policy experience or background is common among students of environmental management. Positions with environmental consulting firms as well as large scale construction and manufacturing companies are often sought after by these students.

Not-for-Profit

Many nontraditional career paths fall within the non-profit category. Colleges often offer a non-profit educational curriculum that may include one or more courses in a set of areas, instead of offering each area as a specialized curriculum. Many non-profit organizations now utilize professional management teams in the place of promoting individuals from within the organization. It is critical for an MBA holder who wants a career with a non-profit to demonstrate to potential employers an affinity to the non-profit’s area of interest. The MBA graduate in the non-profit world will experience somewhat lower salaries than the typical corporate MBA would see.

Arts Management

Arts management programs help graduates prepare for work with museums, arts councils, musical or theatrical companies, and media outlets. Arts managers often run the business management side of the organization so that it can operate efficiently, be it a non-profit or a commercial institution. MBA students who are looking for a career in the field of arts management must show a strong interest for the art form of the organization or field. For example, if you are interested in obtaining a position as the manager of a museum, it may be wise to have a degree in art history, as well as your specialized degree.

Public Policy/Government

Public administration and government management MBA programs often contain a mix of traditional management training and an instruction in issues related to public policy. Many students in this curriculum have prior experience participating in government or have experience working with some sort of lobbyist organization. Economics, Public Policy, and Political Science undergraduate degrees are often held by people in this field.

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Consulting Career Opportunities

There are two basic types of consulting firm. The largest firms deal mostly with very large clients, such as Fortune-500 companies. They deal with issues such as profit and cost management, strategic alliance formation, emerging market positioning, automation, and technology utilization. There are also consulting firms that specialize in specific industries or a specific business discipline. Most corporate positions involve some sort of consulting aspect.

When hiring, consulting firms will search for prospects who have a specialization in a specific industry or business arena. Generally, five or more years of experience in the workforce before getting the MBA is preferred. In addition, they try to find a prospect who has demonstrated a strong ability to communicate and solve problems in a logical manner and under extreme pressure. As a result, persons holding MBAs are often the preferred candidates. A career with a consulting firm typically begins at the analyst level. In order to be eligible for promotion, you must be one of the best performing analysts in addition to obtaining an MBA. After obtaining an MBA, the candidate may be eligible for advancement to associate, manager, or principal. After demonstrating his or her ability, the MBA holder may even make it to the position of partner or vice president. Promotion is typically based on career achievement such as success in project management, obtaining new or add-on work for a contract, and producing a well-rounded amount of billable hours on the clients you work with.

The consulting firms, or divisions within the firm called practices, will focus on one or more particular areas:

Strategy

This practice focuses on planning, strategy and services. Typically this practice does not include project implementation.

Technology

The technology practice focuses on systems integration, information technology systems sales, and ongoing services or technical support. The technology practice tends to be more focused on implementation than on strategy. In addition, Technology practice projects often lead to other consulting contracts because they provide the client with technology, information, and additional resources but not the knowledge required for evolving change.

Service Line

This practice focuses on CRM (Customer Relationship Management), turnaround optimization, organizational optimization, and enterprise resource management and planning. The Service Line practice involves an implementation aspect as well as strategy.

Industry

This practice focuses on specific industries such as telecommunications, health care, manufacturing, chemical and pharmaceutical, energy and utilities, and so on. Industry practices generally have both strategy components and implementation components.

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Entrepreneurship/Small Business Careers

Graduates planning to look for work in small-business will need the broadest possible curriculum or general management MBA program. The small-business arena requires performing many varied functions and different tasks. It is exceptionally helpful to have a background in sales, negotiation, cash management, and/or venture capital when embarking on a career managing small businesses.

In addition to reporting to the board of directors and strategic direction of the company, the CEO, manager, or owner of a small businesses such as independent franchises, new start-up companies, small scale manufacturers, and service companies must also be the one responsible for day to day supervision of the company and employees, as well as new hiring, quality control, employee training, etc. The CEO must take on the responsibilities of many positions which would be held by others in a larger company.

Persons wishing to follow a career in small business or entrepreneurship should combine management studies with education in another core discipline like marketing, finance, human resources, operational management, or some other core discipline that is appropriate to the areas that interest them.

A general management MBA program can be applied across a large number of career paths. Persons who would like to work in the small business arena will find that they are required to perform a number of diverse functions and should seek after the broadest curriculum or study program possible.

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Finance and Accounting Careers

Accounting or financial managers are the people responsible for overseeing and maintaining the financial strategy and history of a company. The accounting manager is focused more on financial reporting, while the financial manager is focused on strategy and money management. Finance has been one of the more popular choices for MBA focus or concentration.

A finance MBA can offer numerous possibilities and can be an effective tool to help with promotions in the professions discussed below. Most prospective jobs for finance MBAs fall within investment banks, corporations, and securities firms. Many finance MBA graduates also follow careers in the consulting industry .

Financial Managers or Financial Analysts

Financial analysts and managers use historical (accounting) data in their decision making, however the number one role of the financial manager is to oversee the production of financial analysis and reports to help the company with decision making, business development, strategic planning, and alliance management. Through the use of these reports, the financial analyst helps to shape the company’s investment and business growth. Cash management strategies developed and implemented by the financial analyst help the company to grow efficiently and allow for maximum profitability in its investments.

Financial analysts and mangers play an important part in mergers and global financing and expansion. Highly specialized knowledge in these areas is an important asset to the financial manager and his or her employer to maximize potential profit and reduce risk. Many companies utilize globally active consulting firms exclusively for these purposes.

Accounting Managers

Accounting managers working in a corporate setting perform responsibilities relating to tax reporting and management, and creating income statements inside of controller and audit groups. This career path may bring one to the positions of corporate treasurer, corporate controller, or CFO (chief finance officer). Professional accountants working for a public accounting company will perform functions similar to those performed by independent audit or tax consultants. An educational history or background based in accounting, either as a Masters degree or as a finance MBA, will give you some of the coursework you need to have in order to take the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam.

Corporate Controllers

A controller is someone who is in charge of preparing a company’s financial reports to forecast and sum-up the company’s financial situation. The statements a controller would get together consist of balance sheets, income statements, earnings analyses, and expense analyses. Regulatory agencies may also require special reports from companies. Controllers prepare these reports. In addition, a controller will frequently be over the budget, auditing, and accounting departments of a company.

Chief Financial Officers

The top financial executive of an organization is the CFO. The CFO supervises all accounting and financial operations, as well as administering the company’s general financial policies and strategies. While the CFO in a small company will often be responsible for all of the financial management duties, a CFO in a large company may delegate some or all of the responsibilities to other managers or vice presidents within the company.

Treasurers and Finance Officers

Finance officers other than the CFO and treasurers oversee and guide a company’s financial objectives and budgets. The financial officer may formulate and implement strategies to raise capital, oversee cash management, or manage the company’s capital investment activity. Financial officers also play a significant role in a company’s merger and/or acquisition activities. The treasurer, while he or she may share some of the financial officer’s duties, will usually have some banking experience.

Cash Managers

The Cash Manager is responsible for overseeing and controlling cash flow, both accounts receivable and accounts payable. He or she is also responsible for ensuring that the cash position of the company is sufficient to meet current and forecasted needs, or whether adjustments in investment quantity and type are necessary.
Risk and Insurance Managers

Business operation and transactions involve a certain amount of risk. Risk managers and insurance managers work to minimize the amount of loss a company incurs and the amount of risk it is exposed to.

Management Consultants

Management consultants work to help companies with a wide variety of problems and issues. Everything from profitability improvement to corporate restructuring to financial strategy. The MBA going into this field should have either an expert understanding of a wide base of knowledge, or be highly skilled in two or more sub groups. The management consultant will also help companies with cash management and emerging market analysis.

Investment Bankers

An investment banker will work together with corporations needing capital to grow and institutions or investors who have money available to invest. An MBA is an enormous asset in this field as the investment banker will be giving investment advice to his or her clients regarding raising capital. Most investment banks have a corporate finance division that assists clients in structuring financial instruments such as stocks or bonds to raise capital.

Investment Banking Associates

People graduating with an MBA in finance often begin their career as an associate with an investment bank firm or investment firm. This is usually at least one level above the entry-level position as an analyst typically obtained by persons with only an undergraduate degree. Most analysts end up pursuing an MBA degree after a couple of years in the industry in order to obtain promotions. Many people in the corporate finance side of investment banking will obtain a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation as a supplement to their MBA. The Association for Investment Management Research (AIMR) is the governing body for the CFA exam and designation.

The mergers and acquisitions departments of investment banks provide consulting services to companies in the process of merging or acquiring other companies or organizations. Organizations wishing to acquire, dispose of, or invest in real estate will deal with the real estate division of an investment bank. Equities research and consulting for private clients are also frequently chosen as career paths for MBAs with focus in investment banking.

Investment Sales Associates and Traders

While MBA skills and knowledge are not explicitly required in this field, they do come in as very valuable in enabling a person to understand the economic principles that drive the financial markets. Investment traders and sales associates assist corporate or institutional investors in the purchase and sale of securities such as stocks and bonds. The sales associate makes recommendations and helps with the analysis, while the trader actually executes the orders for the client.

Credit Managers nd Specialysts

The Credit manager is in charge of managing the credit a company may issue to its clients or others. Credit managers formulate criteria for rating risk and credit, determine the maximum amount of credit to offer, and supervise past-due account collections.

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Human Resource and Organizational
Management Career Opportunities

The foundational belief in all organization management or HR (human resources) careers is that a company’s employees are the organization’s most important resource. There is, however, a marked difference separating the strategic functions of organization management and the tactical function of human resources.

Persons who obtain an MBA with emphasis in human resources often obtain jobs in a variety of corporate positions. The organization management emphasis, on the other hand, is often utilized by persons with prior work experience or persons seeking a joint degree in order to obtain a entry-level position in another field. Persons who have five or more years of some prior specialty or experience are sometimes hired by strategic consulting firms.

There are a number of areas of general specialization for MBA students interested in human resource (HR) consulting. Persons with statistics or math backgrounds, as well as dual MBAs in accounting find that a career as a compensation specialist may be quite suitable. Those who have more of an interest in technology, optimization, and automation may find that change management or HRIS (human resources information systems) is a good match for them.

Other opportunities in human resources (HR) and organizational management include job analysis, employee relations, restructuring analysis, skill development, recruitment, hiring specialist, and so on.

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Information Systems Careers

MIS/IT (management information systems and information technology) has emerged as one of the fastest growing segments of the MBA world. The enormous scale of the technology industry and the high concentration of computer use in every field has made MIS/IT an integral part of most every business. As the focus of information technology has shifted to data intelligence from simply data collection and mining, data and it’s utilization has become critical for strategic decision-making.

Most important management decisions involve some aspect of technology and automation. Customer relations, market research, corporate finance and profitability, operations management, outsourcing, and many other areas of executive specialization require an intimate knowledge of technology.

MBA Concentrations

A large number of MBA students today undertake dual concentrations or additional elective courses in e-commerce or IT in order to supplement their core education requirements. Persons who obtain operations MBAs frequently study MIS/IT to enhance their abilities in things as diverse as manufacturing automation or strategic sourcing. Information systems and technology knowledge is useful for finance MBAs in equities research or for a CFO position in a technology related company. HR MBAs will find an MIS/IT background exceptionally helpful in utilizing HRIS (human resources information systems) and change management. Marketing MBAs, especially, rely a large amount on technology and IT education for enhancing their market research, technical product management, and customer retention responsibilities. As the world becomes more and more high-tech, an MIS/IT background will become increasingly valuable.

Many students with an engineering or technical background are drawn to IT relates MBAs. The predominant career pattern in information systems starts with a position as a systems analyst or consultant. The next step is that of project manager, where the individual will be responsible for everything from implementation to system design and research. The ultimate aspiration in the IT field would then be the position of CIO or chief information officer of a corporation.

The career path of an MBA in the MIS/IT industry may fall in corporations or in consulting firms. However, the greatest numbers of people go through a combination of the two. A strong focus in IT functionality tends to lead MBA holders to large scale project implementation and management positions that sometimes span over many years. Many IT focused MBAs will hop from one company to another as projects are started and finished.

Computer/Information Systems Managers

Information systems managers are responsible for overseeing the work of computer programmers, system maintenance engineers, and systems analysts. They formulate and manage projects involving software and hardware upgrades and installation, systems design, network programming and development, internet/intranet implementation, and so on. The IS manager analyses the IT requirements and needs of the company as well as the equipment and employee requirements.

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Marketing Careers

There are an enormous amount of career opportunities and options for people with marketing MBAs. The most common are corporate positions such as marketing manager, brand manager, market research analyst, and new product manager. Persons with strong financial skills could seek a career in strategic or market related planning. Additional corporate positions such as sales manager, advertising manager, PR (public relations) director, and marketing communications manager are also common.

In marketing or advertising agencies, numerous opportunities exist in advertising, direct marketing, and communications specialization. Consulting firms also hire marketing MBAs as new market developers, strategists, and customer segmentation specialists.

Product management careers as well as brand management careers typically require that a candidate have an MBA, even at the entry level. However, some companies that focus intensively on sales promote these positions internally from highly successful sales representatives.

Product and Brand Managers

The product manager is entirely responsible for the profitability and market growth of a product line. The product manager could be considered the CEO of a particular product. They typically coordinate and oversee a number of diverse divisions of a corporation to ensure the efficient and timely flow of a product to market. While some product managers have international responsibilities, most product management positions focus on product and market development domestically. Product managers often will see promotion to director or manager of a group of products or even to the position of VP of marketing.

New Product Development Specialists

Some companies have a position specifically targeted to managing new or developing product lines. The new product specialist is skilled at launching and marketing initial implementations of a product or marketing plan before giving the project to a product manager for ongoing maintenance.

Marketing Managers

The marketing manager’s responsibilities are similar to those of the product manager, but are focused on servicing and managing an ongoing relationship with existing customers. The marketing manager utilizes skills in international marketing, customer satisfaction and retention, market strategy, and emerging technologies. This position can be highly demanding and require intensive knowledge of market research and customer management.

Account Management Specialists

While it is not often required, having an MBA can be very beneficial in obtaining a position in account management roles. The account manager is responsible for a large number of the functions of a product manager, but on the advertising agency side of things.

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Operations Management Careers

Operations management emphasis in an MBA program is generally divided into service operations and manufacturing or production operations. In each instance, the MBA student should supplement operations management curriculum with courses in MIS/IT or information systems.

Because of well-developed problem solving skills, undergraduate degrees in engineering or real world experience in engineering related fields are highly beneficial backgrounds for an operations management career.

General Operations Managers

An operations manager must be in possession of a diverse skill set. The operations manger is responsible for creating budgets and making decisions on employee training and hiring, employee supervision, equipment procurement, and administrative policy development. Well-developed communication skills are essential. The operations manager must coordinate and confer with other departments and managers within the company, as well as contractors and suppliers. Because of this broad range of responsibilities, the MBA is an essential part of an operations manager’s training.

Operations Management Engineers

Top management may give the operations manager broad guidelines for developing technical and scientific goals for the company. Operations managers develop plans and goals for such things as manufacturing process optimization, product development and re-design, intranet development, and so on.

Manufacturing Development and Operations

Other career paths for MBAs in the manufacturing area of the corporate world, such as product development manager, production supervisor, and manufacturing director can be stepping stones to upper level positions like plant manager or COO (chief operating officer). Persons in these positions often carry responsibilities like production planning, forecasting, quality control, standardization, and process analysis.

A number of MBAs with manufacturing emphasis enter the consulting field. Many have engineering backgrounds, making them ideal for assisting in process re-engineering, manufacturing consulting, and manufacturing optimization. In preparation for these duties, many students take additional courses in information systems.

Service Operations

An internal consultant or quality analyst performs many of the same functions as an operations manager, but in the service operations sector. These professionals are skilled in outsourcing, pricing optimization, customer service, and market optimization. Many MBA graduates in this field are also hired by consulting firms.