WHAT CAN I DO WITH A BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEGREE?

 

INTRODUCTION

This page has been written for students of Business Administration (BBA) at the University of Kent. Other relevant pages on this site include:

Information is also available on PROSPECTS WEB www.prospects.ac.uk/student/cidd. In particular, the AGCAS Signpost Sheet - "Your Degree in Business Studies - What Next?" (on this site and also available from the Careers Advisory Service) should be read in conjunction with the information contained here.

JOBS WHERE A BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEGREE MAY BE USEFUL

There can be few careers where a knowledge of business would not be useful. Charities rely heavily on marketing and, like public sector organisations, need to deliver value for money and manage their finances effectively. All organisations, from schools to law firms need to recruit, train and develop good staff. A postgraduate degree in "Management for Ministry" offers the clergy courses in areas such as stewardship of financial resources, ethical investment and property management. Journalists may report on business matters (many begin their careers on trade magazines) - and to manage their expenses and personal finances. Even careers advisers need an appreciation of the business environment where so many graduates will be employed.

Many careers that do not necessarily require business skills and knowledge at the outset have the potential to develop into management roles where this will become important - teaching, nursing, social work and law to name a few.

Below, we list some jobs where a business administration degree may be particularly useful. While many of these careers are open to graduates in any subject, some employers may specify, or give preference to, graduates in business-related subjects. You can research more information about these occupations by looking in the Occupational files of the Careers Information Room or by visiting the Prospects website www.prospects.ac.uk

You can find a comprehensive list of jobs open to graduates of any subject here www.kent.ac.uk/careers/careermap.htm   

ORGANISATIONS EMPLOYING BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION GRADUATES

Some employing organisations who may value either the subject knowledge or transferable skills business administration graduates have to offer:

Self-employment may also provide an opportunity for graduates

GRADUATE TRAINING SCHEMES

The concept of a "graduate training scheme" is somewhat outdated - while many employers do offer these, many others will recruit graduates for a specific position rather than a training scheme. Graduate training schemes themselves are, for the most part, functionally specialised - relatively few employers now offer the type of training programme that allows you to gain experience across the spectrum of management functions. Some of those that do can be found on the Prospects website www.prospects.ac.uk (search on "General Management" under "Search job vacancies") or Prospects Directory (listed under Z9 "General Non-Technical Management Training" in the Type of Work index.

Many functionally specialised training programmes do offer a good chance to gain an insight into a range of areas within your organisation. Accounting, retail banking, management consultancy, marketing and health service management are examples of how a specialist training can still give you a broad-based knowledge of your business or clients' businesses.

Where a graduate is recruited to fill a one-off vacancy and carry out a specific job, this does not mean that they will receive no training! While much of this training may be on-the-job, learning by doing is often one of the most effective ways to develop your skills. Smaller employers often provide an excellent opportunity to become involved in all aspects of the business. Graduates who restrict their job search to "traditional" graduate training schemes with large, blue-chip companies may be missing out on some of the best training opportunities!

WHAT SKILLS HAVE I GAINED ON MY COURSE?

Here are some examples of the transferable skills developed as a result of studying business administration. They are not limited to your academic study and can be applied to other contexts. Employers' job vacancy details often refer to them when they advertise the positions available. They can also be used on the skills sections of your CV to demonstrate the broad range of qualities you have to offer.

GOING ON TO POSTGRADUATE STUDY

The proportion of business graduates going on to further study (both academic and vocational) is relatively low when compared with all UK graduates as a whole. Most business administration graduates, having completed a highly marketable degree, relevant to a number of career areas, are keen to get out into the world of work and put their skills and knowledge into practice. Postgraduate study, especially for an MBA, is likely to follow after around five years of graduate-level work experience has been acquired. However, some postgraduate courses may allow you to specialise in a particular aspect of your degree, such as Marketing or Human Resource Management, and perhaps to obtain a professional qualification. Qualified Teacher Status is essential if you want to teach business studies in state schools

DESTINATIONS OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES GRADUATES

(Destinations of Accounting & Finance graduates are here www.kent.ac.uk/careers/accountancy.htm )

Over the last three years the destinations of graduates in Business related subjects have broken down as follows:

In employment

78 %

Further study

6.5%

Time out/Unavailable

6 %

Unemployed

6 %

Other

3.5%

(Figures from HESA www.prospects.ac.uk/links/wdgd )

 

These statistics only cover the first six months after graduation. A significant number of graduates are, at this stage, engaged in work which they would regard as temporary - using a short-term job to gain work experience that could act as a stepping-stone to a better position, or earning money to finance postgraduate study or time out travelling, for example. Please remember this if some of the graduate destinations listed seem surprising or discouraging

Examples of jobs and postgraduate study entered by recent Kent graduates in Business Administration and related subjects

BBA (Marketing)

OMD UK

Planner & TV Buyer

Real Estate Company

Accountant

Manpower Sweden

Customer Service

University of Kent

MA International Relations

Kingston University

MA Marketing

Aston University

MA Marketing Management

University of Manchester

MA Processing & Logistics

 

BBA Business Administration

Finance sector:

 

Asset Management Co.

Investment Sales & Marketing Assistant

Capita

Graduate Financial trainee

Insurance Brokers

Account Handler

Dawnay Day

Accounts Relationships Executive

Abbey

Asset Servicing

Mellon Bank

Graduate Trainee

Royal Sun Alliance

Professional Finance Underwriter

London Stock Exchange

Human Resources Programme Analyst

Royal Bank of Scotland

Client Data Management Administrator

Barclays International

Compliance Officer

Bank of New York

Dealer/Analyst

Lloyds TSB

Telephone Associate

Partnership Assurance

Broker Support Administrator

Catlin Holdings Ltd

Compliance & Risk Management Assistant

 

 

Education Sector

 

Canterbury High School

Events Co-ordinator

St. Richard's Catholic College

Special Needs Co-ordinator

 

English Teacher

 

 

Marketing, Sales & Advertising sector

 

Enterprise Rent A Car

Marketing Assistant

Help The Aged

Telephone Marketing Agent

Enterprise IG

Account Executive

Saga

Marketing Assistant

 

 

Public Sector

 

H.M. Revenue & Customs

Administrative Officer

Medway Council

Payroll Operations Assistant

Croydon Council

Temporary Office Assistant

NHS

Admin Assistant/PA

Lambeth Borough Council

Business Analyst

Hastings Borough Council

PR Officer

 

 

Retail sector:

 

Ikea

Business & Accounting trainee

Waitrose/John Lewis Partnership

Retail Management trainee

Toys-R-Us

Direct Marketing Assistant

Next

Management trainee

Tesco

Management trainee

 

 

Tourism, Sports & Leisure sector

 

Leisure Centre

Coaching Supervisor

Mark Warner Holidays

Account Manager/Assistant Manager

Hilton

Banqueting & Conference Sales Advisor

 

 

Transport & Logistics Sector:

 

P & O Ferries

Category Planner

Avis Rent-a-Car

Graduate trainee

Royal Mail

Graduate Operational Management

 

 

Further study:

 

University of St. Andrews

MA Finance

University of Kent

MSc Management & Marketing

University of Kent

MSc Management with International Business

University of Kent

MSc Management with Marketing

LSE

MSc Operational Research

University of Kent

BSc Anthropology

University College London

KTP Research Associate

CAREER PLANNING

WHICH CAREER?

HOW DO I GET A JOB?

GRADUATE DIRECTORIES

USEFUL LINKS

 

Last fully updated November 2009