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What Jobs Can You Get With an MBA?

 

By DeVry University

May 25, 2023

If you’re asking “what jobs can you get with an MBA,” the answer may be broader than you think. Thanks to the versatility and generalized approach of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, opportunities can be surprisingly numerous and varied.

If you’re interested in pursuing career opportunities in a particular industry or role, the coursework of an MBA can be customized by adding on a specialization, giving you access to more industry-focused courses that can help you build relevant skills needed for your chosen profession.

An MBA can also be a great option if you’re already working but are looking to develop your managerial skills to help you prepare to pursue a management position or change industries. Online MBA degree programs offer the flexibility you need to balance your commitment to education with work, family and other elements of your busy life.

In this article, we'll explore some of the jobs you can pursue with an MBA degree, talk about MBA degree specializations and describe some of the careers you may consider after earning your MBA.

What Jobs Can You Get With an MBA?

An MBA is a graduate-level degree that covers a wide range of business-related topics. Because of this, MBA degree holders may be able to consider pursuing careers in a variety of fields, as well as a variety of leadership positions.

Throughout your career, you may come across some jobs that require an MBA, while others may simply prefer candidates who have earned a graduate-level degree. While this list is by no means exhaustive, we've highlighted some jobs you can pursue as an MBA graduate1:

1. Accountant

Accountants come in many forms, but in most instances, they provide clients with accurate records of their finances along with advice on how they can improve and manage them. Many people who wish to enter the accounting profession choose to earn an MBA with an Accounting Specialization instead of a general MBA.

The primary responsibilities of an accountant typically include:

  • Preparing financial reports and financial records for businesses and individuals.

  • Ensuring that all financial records are accurate.

  • Filing tax statements and returns for businesses and individuals.

  • Helping business and other organizations reduce costs and operate more efficiently.

  • Explaining their findings to senior-level managers, such as the chief financial officer, directors and other organization stakeholders.

2. Financial Manager

A financial manager works alongside executives and other management-level professionals to look after an organization's finances. Unlike accountants, who primarily deal with tracking and record keeping, financial managers work to make decisions about where money can be most effectively spent in order to improve a company’s bottom line.

The financial manager’s primary responsibilities typically include:

  • Providing advice with regard to an organization’s finances and investments.

  • Analyzing data and market trends to make financial predictions with the goal of maximizing an organization’s profitability.

  • Managing an organization’s budget.

  • Participating in the preparation of long-term business plans.

  • Ensuring that an organization’s investment and financial activities are compliant with all applicable laws and regulations.

3. Healthcare

Businesspeople who work in the healthcare industry help providers gain access to the tools they need to save lives. Professionals with an MBA can work in hospital management or in other health care facilities to help these organizations obtain the resources they need to help their patients.

Medical and health services managers, for example, typically have the following primary responsibilities:

  • Work in a variety of settings, with overall responsibility for maximizing quality of care while minimizing costs.

  • Supervise training of staff members.

  • Develop goals and objectives related to the efficiency and quality of healthcare services.

  • Prepare and monitor budgets.

  • Represent their facility or department at meetings of investors or governing bodies.

  • Ensure the operations of their facilities are compliant with regulations.

4. Marketing

An MBA degree can help you develop many skills that are ready to be put to use in the world of marketing. As a marketing professional, you'll help a company develop a positive brand image through thoughtful combinations of advertising, organic search visibility and product offering or service choices.

The primary responsibilities of marketing managers and product managers typically include:

  • Planning marketing programs to gain new customers or increase sales to existing customers.

  • Finding new markets for their companies’ products and services.

  • Determining which features new products should have.

  • Managing projects that are related to the execution of marketing strategies.

  • Conducting market research to measure demand and consumer preferences related to their products.

5. IT Manager

IT managers combine technology skills with management capabilities in order to oversee an Information Technology team or department. They often also have some business skills that can help them determine how to best delegate tasks and add members to their teams as needed, and may report to the company’s chief technology officer.

These primary responsibilities are typically assigned to IT managers:

  • Establishing technical standards and ensuring that employees follow them.

  • Safeguarding computer networks against cybercrime.

  • Upgrading and installing software.

  • Staying current with new networking technologies and preparing reports for senior management.

  • Developing new strategies for network troubleshooting in an effort to reduce downtime and maintenance costs.

  • Working closely with other department heads to measure and evaluate the maintenance and growth requirements of the company’s network. 

6. Sales Manager

Sales managers oversee the operations of a sales team at a business. They use communication, organization, interpersonal and leadership skills to manage the team and make direct sales to potential clients.

A sales manager’s primary responsibilities typically include:

  • Recommending ways to improve sales procedures.

  • Creating sales promotions.

  • Setting sales goals.

  • Training and determining the commission structure for salespeople.

  • Analyzing market trends to forecast customer behavior and demand.

7. Human Resource Manager

Human resource managers, commonly called HR managers, work to ensure that a company provides a safe and productive workplace for all its employees. Human resource managers need to have excellent communication and conflict management skills in order to do their job and maintain the safety of everyone at a company.

HR managers typically have these primary responsibilities:

  • Recruiting, interviewing, hiring and onboarding new staff members.

  • Working with company executives to develop long-term hiring plans.

  • Administering employee benefits programs.

  • Mediating disputes between employees.

  • Handling disciplinary procedures when required.

8. Project Management

Project managers use a combination of skills to ensure that projects are being completed in a timely and financially responsible manner. They often play a role in helping choose which projects a company takes on and provide insight into what resources it has available to them.

In a typical organization, project managers have these primary responsibilities:

  • Establishing and maintaining the processes for managing the scope of a project throughout its lifecycle.

  • Setting quality and performance standards for projects.

  • Developing and maintaining partnerships with third-party resources such as vendors and consultants who are essential to project completion.

  • Assigning and monitoring all resources to ensure efficiency and maximize deliverables.

  • Reporting progress and outcomes to stakeholders according to the project plan.

9. Business Operations Manager

Business operations managers help ensure the day-to-day operations of a company are always running smoothly. This may entail making business administration decisions regarding where company money should be allocated and how different departments should be staffed.

The business operations manager’s primary responsibilities typically can include:

  • Managing financial policies and generating financial reports.

  • Supply chain management.

  • Reducing operating costs.

  • Directing the organization’s operations.

  • Overseeing the company’s marketing objectives.

10. Business Intelligence Analyst

Working as employees or contracted management consultants, business intelligence analysts use available data to make predictions about various markets that inform the decisions that a company makes.

The primary responsibilities of a business intelligence analyst typically include:

  • Analyzing data to identify trends related to an industry or a business’s performance.

  • Determining how, based on data analyses, an organization can increase efficiency and profitability.

  • Using software to collect and process data.

  • Comparing past trends to current conditions to make recommendations to senior-level management.

11. Manager

Managers in many different industries delegate, collaborate, drive team directives and oversee staff to ensure they are being productive and using their time to impact the company in a positive way.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, administrative services and facilities managers typically have the following primary responsibilities:

  • Supervising clerical and administrative staff.

  • Setting performance goals for their departments.

  • Monitoring facilities to ensure safety and compliance with applicable regulations.

  • Recommending improvements to policies or procedures related to daily operations or recordkeeping.

  • Overseeing the maintenance and repair of buildings, equipment or systems.

Which MBA Specialization is the Best Option for Me?

If you opt to amplify your MBA degree with a specialization, choosing one in an area that most closely aligns with your career goals is a good option. Examples of MBA specializations include global supply chain management, project management, entrepreneurship, finance, human resources and others. If you want to pursue a career in marketing, an MBA with a Specialization in Marketing can help you develop industry-related skills, while someone who wants to work as an accountant would be better served earning an MBA with a Specialization in Accounting.

While no MBA specialization in and of itself is better than any other, choosing one that is aligned with your desired professional career path can help you develop a more industry-focused skillset and a greater understanding of that discipline.

Pursue Your Goals with an MBA from DeVry

Now that we’ve helped answer the question “what jobs can you get with an MBA,” let us help you get on the path toward your goals. We offer an online MBA program with 10 specializations to help you take charge of your education and earn your degree at your own pace. Let’s talk about how you can get started in our next session. Classes start every 8 weeks.

1Additional hours of industry-specific training may be required to obtain employment in this field. Employment in this occupation may require years of relevant experience.

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