There are many different paths to becoming a Business Administrator. No matter which path you plan to follow, you’ll need to gain certain knowledge and skills. Some people decide to do this by earning a degree. One of the most common types of degrees for Business Administrators is one in business administration, however, many other business degrees can also be beneficial, depending on the specialization you want to pursue. Keep reading for more information about what is involved in being a Business Administrator and how to become one, with or without a degree.
What is a Business Administrator?
A Business Administrator oversees the day-to-day operations of a company. They are responsible for a number of different management and organization tasks, with the overall goal of supporting the growth and productivity of the company. Business Administrators reorganize employees or hire new ones, and also train, support, and evaluate employees. They are also responsible for managing finances and resources, which includes setting budgets, making financial goals, and negotiating contracts with vendors and suppliers. In addition, this role includes setting goals for the future, as well as implementing goals set by upper management.
Business Administrators work in many different industries including finance, healthcare, marketing, and construction. Some work for small organizations, where they are more likely to handle administrative tasks for the entire organization, while others work for large companies, where they are more likely to focus on managing a specific department such as human resources or sales.
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Do I Need a Degree to Become a Business Administrator?
Some people get into business administration by earning a degree, however, a degree is not a mandatory part of becoming a Business Administrator. There are other ways to gain the knowledge and skills that you’ll need to work in this role. For instance, you can get a business administration education without attending college. In recent years, bootcamps or certificate courses have become an increasingly popular way of learning. These are accelerated programs that are designed to cover all the skills that you’ll need to work in business administration. Most include lots of hands-on training too, and they are designed to get you career-ready as quickly as possible, usually in less than a year. They usually cost a lot less than a degree too; less than $20,000 to $30,000 on average.
If you don’t want to get a degree, another thing that can help you break into the world of business administration is experience. Experience will give you a real-world understanding of this field and will help you develop the knowledge and skills that you’ll need to succeed. There are two parts to gaining experience. You’ll need management experience, since business administration involves management. In addition, you’ll need experience in the specific industry where you plan to work so that you can gain an understanding of things like policies, regulations, and best practices in that industry. You can start getting experience by volunteering or taking an internship. You might also be able to find an entry-level job. As you develop real-world experience, it’s also a good idea to create a portfolio, which showcases that experience. You can use your portfolio to demonstrate your mastery to potential clients or employers.
Common Degrees for Business Administrators
The path to being a Business Administrator is different for everyone, but for those who choose to attend college, there are a number of common degrees that work best for entering this field.
- Business Administration. This is the most common type of degree for Business Administrators. To earn a degree in business administration, you’ll probably need to complete a number of general education courses, and also classes that cover business fundamentals. Many schools also allow you to choose an area of focus within business administration, such as accounting, marketing, finance, or business analytics.
- Accounting. If you’re more interested in the financial side of business administration, then an accounting degree might be a good choice for you. When you study accounting you’ll learn about preparing financial documents and working with financial statements. You’ll also learn about accounting systems, auditing, and taxes.
- Finance. Another path to business administration if you want to focus on finance is to earn a degree in finance. Some of the things covered in a finance degree include economics, accounting, investments, financial analysis, and business.
- Marketing. Some Business Administrators start by earning a degree in marketing. This allows them to specialize in marketing within the field of business administration. A marketing degree might cover things like consumer behavior, marketing strategies, consumer research, and marketing communications.
Tips for Starting a Business Administrator Career Without a Degree
Professionals offer a number of tips about how to break into business administration without earning a degree. One tip is to earn a certification, which is a credential that verifies your knowledge and skills in a particular area. Research shows that credentials often give job applicants an edge over other candidates, and can also increase the chances of advancement or pay increases. In an article titled “How To Become a Business Administrator (With Tips and Steps),” Indeed suggests pursuing a professional certification. It explains, “Though not all business administrator positions require a certification, it may be helpful for candidates to have one to enhance your qualifications.” It suggests Certified Administrative Professional (CAP), explaining, “This certification is specifically for individuals pursuing an administrative role. It tests a candidate's ability to apply their knowledge of administrative duties in project management, business writing, records management, technology, communication and operation functions.” It also suggests Certified Project Management Professional (CPMP) for people who are interested in managing projects or a Salesforce certification for those who want to specialize in data.
Another suggestion is to strategically choose an internship that could turn into a job that you want. In an article titled, “Major: Business Administration and Management,” College Board advises, “Although not a requirement, an internship is an excellent way to get your foot in the door.” It says, “Consider applying strategically to internships at a company you would like to work at once you graduate. The intern experience fosters trust and begins the working relationship: network and do your best. This is an opportunity to showcase your personality and skills to people who may be future colleagues. You’ll also get a sense of whether that company’s workplace culture is a fit.”
Learn the Skills to Become a Business Administrator at Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop is based in New York City and offers many different business classes. You can learn in person at its Manhattan facility, or in a live online classroom. At Noble Desktop, you’ll find a number of short classes that only take a day or two, where you can master essential business skills like Excel or financial modeling. You’ll also find a variety of comprehensive, hands-on bootcamps and certificate programs, where experienced instructors will guide you through all the skills you’ll need in business administration, getting you career-ready in less than a year. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department.
- One popular Noble Desktop option is the “MBA” Business Certificate. This course is an “MBA-style” program and it includes some of the skills taught in MBA programs. In this class, you’ll learn tools and strategies for finance, project management, marketing, and data analysis. You’ll also learn about the practical applications of generative AI, and will get access to a self-paced class that covers the basics of business insurance, employment law, and business law. This class includes the option to take electives that match your specific area of interest. Finally, it comes with eight one-on-one mentoring sessions.
- Noble Desktop also runs many different business-related bootcamps. The Project Management Bootcamp is a popular option. This class is designed for students who want to learn more about project management. It is a combination of the school’s Level I and Level II classes and is offered at a discount. When you take the Project Management Bootcamp, you’ll learn the five phases of project management and will receive a slide deck that contains a variety of exercises. You’ll also learn about Waterfall, Critical Path, and Agile methods of project management, including popular Agile frameworks. You’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end of the class.
- Another popular certificate program is the Data Analytics Certificate. In this course you’ll learn about gathering, wrangling, analyzing, and visualizing data, and you’ll work on a number of real-world projects. Both predictive and prescriptive analytics are covered, in addition to Python, Excel, Tableau, and SQL. All students also receive eight one-on-one mentoring sessions, which can be used to work on challenging concepts or for resume and portfolio advice.
- One of Noble Desktop’s newest offerings is the Chat GTP & AI for Business Bootcamp. This course is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to utilize AI in your daily business tasks. You’ll learn how to create effective prompts, manage conversations, and use advanced features like memory settings. You’ll also learn about the ethical considerations of AI. In addition, the course focuses on ways to use AI for task management, communication, and project planning. You’ll learn about automating repetitive tasks, optimizing schedules, and improving collaboration and administrative workflows.
- Noble also offers many shorter classes focused on a number of different business skills. For example, it has a variety of short Excel classes: Excel Level 1,Level 2, and Level 3. Level 1 is focused on getting familiar with the interface, entering data, using essential formulas and functions, and creating charts. You’ll also learn how to format and print. Level 2 covers splitting and joining text, adding data validation, named ranges, database functions, adding logical statements, and using Pivot Tables. In addition, you’ll learn to use statistical functions and create advanced combo charts. In Level 3, instructors cover advanced concepts including cell locking, auditing, hotkeys, formatting for calculating dates, advanced functions, advanced analytical tools, Pivot Charts, and advanced database functions.