Tell someone that you have an MBA and you’ll immediately gain their respect. That’s because this degree program features rigorous coursework and real-world applications that thoroughly prepare students to tackle the challenges presented by today’s competitive business world.
Additionally, students are given valuable insight into the attitude, skills and knowledge that is required to remain competitive as they encounter the realities of the industry in which they choose to work. Nearly every business sector contains opportunities for MBA graduates to be successful—both personally and financially.
Armed with an MBA, students can enjoy a myriad of career opportunities. These range from becoming entrepreneurs and independent consultants to working in a management position within a traditional office setting.
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Where Do MBA Graduates Work?
The better question might be where don’t MBA graduates work. Nearly every industry in place around the world today relies on the technical expertise and people skills that this challenging degree prepares them for. Companies as different as Uber, Nike, Burger King, and Hilti, a multinational company that develops and manufactures products primarily for the construction sector, make use of the knowledge, skills, and expertise that MBA graduates possess in a range of positions.
Not only are these jobs in demand in the United States, but they also allow graduates to take their careers to countries around the world. Gaining experience internationally can open up more doors professionally while also allowing graduates to further hone their expertise.
Best Jobs for MBA Grads
The best jobs for MBA grads are those that tap into both your education and your passions. Because an MBA degree is so versatile, attaining it opens up a range of possibilities that you might not otherwise have.
For example, if you’ve always wanted to work in the finance sector but didn’t want to be tied down to a single employer, an MBA degree provides you with the training, skills, and knowledge you need to succeed as an independent consultant. Doing so allows you to pick and choose the companies and assignments you work on to suit your schedule, interests, and other personal factors.
An MBA also positions you well to rise to the challenges that management must face. As an aspiring management professional, you’ll combine your strong work ethic with the knowledge you attained during your MBA studies to reach impressive and rewarding heights in a range of fields.
As a rule, entrepreneurs need to be bright, ambitious and skilled in order to succeed in their business ventures. Armed with an MBA, you’ll tick all the boxes that set you up to see your innovative ideas from germination to fruition.
MBA Career Paths
Once you’ve obtained your MBA degree, you can expect to be able to find that your skills are in demand in a range of diverse career paths. In fact, as the recipient of such a rigorous degree, the MBA career paths that are open to you are virtually limitless.
Take a look at the findings of a 2019 GMAC survey of over 1,200 employers across the globe. The organization was curious about these companies’ goals regarding the hiring of graduates with MBAs. According to that survey, employers in five key areas were the most eager to add MBA graduates to their ranks. These include:
- Finance
- Consulting
- Strategy and innovation
- Marketing
- Business intelligence and analytics
Jeremi Bauer, dean of The Malcolm Baldrige School of Business at Post University in Connecticut, says the ideal MBA curriculum for an aspiring consultant or general manager is broad and deep. It includes lessons in various business disciplines but also demands “a depth of thought and application within each discipline.”
Jobs You Can Get with an MBA
Below is just a small sampling of the diverse and exciting opportunities that could be open to you once you finish your MBA degree. Of course, these kind of leadership positions aren’t entry-level jobs. You’ll need to pay your dues and earn real-world relevant experience in the industries discussed to pursue the position successfully. But the way there often starts with the comprehensive education an MBA provides.
- Financial Manager
These jobs that you can get with an MBA—and relevant experience—shouldn’t come as a surprise because of the strong focus on finances as a thread that runs through the coursework required for such a degree. As a business executive whose primary focus is to both monitor the company’s budget and determine where its financial investments should be allocated, you’ll find that MBA skills are constantly in demand.
You probably won’t be surprised to learn that you will likely be paid well for your role in guiding the company toward its goals. Not only is the job outlook for financial managers expected to grow faster than average, but you can expect to make a healthy six-figure income as well.
- Business Operations Manager
In addition to the relevant experience you’ll gain in the industry working your way up the ladder, an MBA can prepare you to pursue leadership opportunities in operations. As businesses continue to expand their reach globally, this provides unprecedented challenges for them. Maximizing efficiency across the complex international supply chains and manufacturing systems and effectively managing deadlines is the crucial forte of a business operations manager.
Coming in at number 9 on the rankings of “Best Business Jobs” according to the U.S. News & World Report, business operations managers topped $100,000 annually in earnings. At 1.8 percent, unemployment for the position is also very low.
- Marketing Manager
Your skills and knowledge as an MBA graduate, along with plenty of industry experience, can put you in the perfect position to succeed as a marketing manager. This diverse and in-demand career is a critical part of business across nearly every industry. In this role, you’ll be tasked with guiding your company’s strategies as it markets products or services. Determining if an idea, service, or product is viable for the company’s success and the long-term bottom line is also within the scope of this job.
Coming in at number 1 on the rankings of “Best Sales and Marketing Jobs” according to the U.S. News & World Report, marketing managers earned a median annual salary of $134,290. Of course, earnings depend on where the job is located and experience within the industry.
- Database Administrator
The digital revolution is the new normal for nearly every business, across every industry, and in every country around the world. Not surprisingly, there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight in the growth of this trend. With the business world relying so heavily on the digital and online aspects of today, there is an influx of information regarding consumer behavior that companies need to organize and secure. This is where the skills of a database administrator are invaluable.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts a 10 percent increase in the need for database administrators by 2029. Depending on work experience, educational credential and relevant certifications, the position pays handsomely, as well. In 2019, the median average annual pay for database administrators came in at $93,750.
- Health Services Manager
The demand for health and medical services is only going to grow in the coming decades. The challenge the United States—as well as other countries around the world—is facing is how to meet the challenges that arise due to this demand. As a health services manager, you’ll be charged with overseeing a variety of medical or health care facilities. In doing so, you must meet regulations, comply with recordkeeping requirements, reduce costs, and improve quality.
The BLS expects that the need for medical and health services managers will grow by a staggering 32 percent by 2029. It pays well, too. In 2019, these professionals earned a median annual wage of $100,980.
- Management Consultant
If you’ve always wanted to have more flexibility and control in your career but didn’t want to go the entrepreneurial route, then management consulting could be the ideal job choice for you as an MBA grad. Sometimes also referred to as a management analyst, this type of consultant focuses on increasing a company’s efficiency. You accomplish this by thoroughly analyze financial reports, interview personnel and collect other pertinent data. You’ll use the information you’ve gathered to determine where the company can improve and offer recommendations on how to best accomplish this. As an independent consultant, you are able to deliver an objective view of the business that can prove to be invaluable.
The consulting field can pay well. The BLS lumps these types of consultants in with management analysts as it gathers data. According to the BLS, these professionals earned a median annual wage in 2019 of $85,260 with a projected job growth rate of 11 percent by 2029. But according to this U.S. News & World Report article, the average salary for management consultants specifically is actually quite higher: “The average consulting salary among MBA graduates in the class of 2018 who earned their degrees from ranked full-time MBA programs was $130,656.”
As an MBA graduate, you’ll enjoy a certain level of prestige and respect. Holding this rigorous and challenging degree also opens many career paths, allowing you to have your choice of plum positions. Get started by enrolling in a highly-quality MBA program today.
Thank you for reading! The views and information provided in this post do not reflect Post University programs and/or outcomes directly. If you are interested in learning more about our programs, you can find a complete list of our programs on our website or reach out directly!
Please note jobs, career outcomes, and/or salaries highlighted in this blog do not reflect jobs, career outcomes, and/or salaries expected from any Post University program. These are not indicative of entry-level positions. Salaries quoted are subject to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, location of the position, number of years of experience in the industry, and the highest level of education attained. To learn more about Post University’s program and their outcomes, please fill out a form to speak with an admissions representative.