10 jobs you can do with a business management degree

Are you a business-minded individual who likes to lead from the front? If so, then you may have thought about studying for a degree in business management. 

Business management is ideal for students who want to manage the overall functions of a business, rather than specialise in a particular field. The knowledge and skills you learn from your degree can also be used across a range of other interesting industries and job roles.

In this article, we’ll explore what jobs you can get with a business management degree, so you’re able to figure out the different opportunities available to you.

What is business management?

Business management is where you oversee all aspects of a business. This involves planning, organising, and directing a company’s resources to achieve its goals and improve its operations. Some of the departments you’ll be responsible for include:

• Accounting
• Administration
• Finance
• Human resources
• Marketing 
• Operations
• Production, research, and development
• Sales

You’ll need to adapt the business to keep up with new trends and industry needs, whilst maintaining strong relationships with customers and creating a good working environment. Ultimately, you’re responsible for improving business growth and maximising profits.

What will you study as part of a business management degree?

You’ll cover a variety of different modules while studying for your degree in business management. These can include:

• Business data analytics and decision-making
• Communication skills for business and management
• Discovering mathematics and statistics
• Fundamentals of accounting
• Developing leadership skills
• Understanding customers
• Financial analysis
• Strategic management

Coursework, essays, exams, presentations, projects, and a dissertation will all be used to assess you.

The beauty of a degree in business is that you’ll not only develop key career-specific skills, but you’ll also be equipped with a range of transferable skills that can be used across a wide variety of different industries and jobs. 

Some of those soft skills include:

• Excellent communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Good decision-making and analysis
• Presentation skills
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Good organisational skills
• Being calm under pressure
• Excellent time management 
• Emotional intelligence

What jobs can you get with a business management degree?

With a business management degree, there are lots of different careers you can choose from. While some will be directly linked to the expertise you’ve gained during your degree, others will utilise the transferable skills you’ve learned. 

Jobs directly related to your business management studies include:

1. Business manager

You’ll be responsible for supervising and managing the business of a company. This includes assets, operations, employees, and other areas. The main goal of a business manager is to assess and implement business strategies to boost productivity and efficiency at a company.

2. Business adviser

You’ll provide information, support, coaching, advice, and guidance to individuals and companies. Depending on your expertise, this could involve supporting new businesses or helping existing businesses to grow and upscale. 

3. Business analyst

As a business analyst, you’ll help an organisation grow by analysing data, assessing processes and systems, and creating solutions. This may involve helping on a particular project or working across an entire organisation on a permanent basis.

4. Business development manager

You’ll identify new business opportunities to generate revenue, improve profitability, and help growth in the business. This may involve focusing on strategic planning within the market or tidying up an organisation’s operations.

5. Chartered management accountant

Your role as a chartered management accountant is to analyse financial information and advise businesses on how to be more profitable. This involves helping with strategic financial planning, securing a company’s financial stability, and boosting growth.

6. Corporate investment banker

As a corporate investment banker, you’ll offer a range of financial services to companies, institutions, and governments. Your main aim is to help them achieve their financial goals and implement financial plans.

7. Data analyst

You’ll be responsible for translating numbers and data into information that can be used to solve business problems. Using graphs, charts, tables, and reports, you’ll present your findings to businesses in sectors such as finance, consulting, and government.

8. Project manager

Your role as a project manager involves planning and coordinating projects and managing budgets and people. This involves tracking completed work, setting deadlines, and task delegation. Your main aim is to make sure the project is completed successfully, on time and within budget.

9. Risk manager

As a risk manager, you’ll advise organisations on potential risks to the profitability, safety, or security of the company. This involves identifying threats to an organisation and coming up with solutions to reduce risk and financial damage.

10. Supply chain manager

You’ll manage every stage of the production flow in a supply chain, from purchasing to the delivery of the final product. One of your main goals is to organise the movement of goods from distribution centres to customers and stores.

Other jobs you can apply for once you’ve gained your business management degree include:

• Construction manager
• Environmental engineer
• External auditor
• Human resources officer
• Logistics and distribution manager
• Marketing executive
• Mortgage adviser
• Retail manager
• Sales executive
• Systems analyst

What is the average salary for a business management graduate?

As the jobs available to you with a business management degree are so varied, it’s hard to put an exact figure on what your salary as a graduate will be. However, as an estimate, an entry-level business development manager with one year’s experience can expect to earn approximately £26,997.

Once you gain more experience and your career progresses, your earning potential will start to climb. For example, the average salary in the UK for someone in business management is £42,500.

Some of the most common sectors for business management graduates after graduation are:

• Business management 
• Sales
• HR
• Marketing
• Finance
• Research and administration
• Training

Careers in business: additional learning

The jobs available to you with a degree in business management are incredibly diverse. Plus, the skills and expertise you develop will help you not only land a job in business but across a whole variety of different sectors.

To start you on your journey, why not take a look at the extensive range of business and management courses we offer at FutureLearn? Whether you want to excel in finance or manage people at a large organisation, our expert-led courses will help improve your skills and knowledge in line with your studies.

Business and management degrees

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) by University of Roehampton
• MSc Global Business Management by University of Roehampton
• Innovation, Enterprise and Circular Economy MBA by University of Bradford
• BA (Hons) Business Management by Arden University

Are you looking to gain a business degree online? Check out our range of online business and management degrees to start your journey towards a new career from the comfort of your own home