If you want to become a Business Manager, you’re probably wondering how you can best achieve that goal. Do you need to get a degree, or are there other options? Earning a college degree has long been a traditional path to this career, however, that has changed in the last few years. A growing number of people are pursuing other options, such as certificate programs and bootcamps, and more and more employers are saying that they are increasingly willing to hire graduates of these programs. Keep reading to learn more about how to become a business manager without a degree.
What is a Business Manager?
A Business Manager is a leader who supervises the personnel and operations of a department or organization. They work to maintain productivity, efficiency, and organization, and to help the company achieve its goals. They also help improve overall performance and find new opportunities for growth and improvement. A small company might have only one Business Manager, while a larger company might have a number of them. Some Business Managers specialize in a specific area such as marketing, sales, or administration.
A Business Manager typically takes responsibility for a wide range of different tasks. These vary depending on the industry they work in and the company they work for, however, in general, this position involves four main aspects. One is planning, which means setting future goals and making a plan for achieving them. The second is organizing tasks and resources so that business plans can be implemented. A third part of business management is leading employees. Finally, Business Managers are responsible for controlling the operations of a business, which means keeping track of how it is performing and making any changes that are needed.
Pros and Cons of Becoming a Business Manager Without a Degree
There are a number of benefits to pursuing a career in business management without earning a degree. One of the biggest is that this method is likely to be far more affordable and less time-consuming than college. Most college degrees require a significant time investment--at least a couple of years, and usually longer--and they cost tens of thousands of dollars. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average price of attending a four-year college ranges from $14,700 to $24,600, depending on whether it is a public or private college. In contrast, the price of a bootcamp or certificate course is usually no higher than $20,000 or $30,000 and most take only a matter of weeks or months to complete.
Another benefit of enrolling in a career-focused program like a bootcamp or certificate course is that these types of classes are specially designed to prepare you for a career in your chosen field. That means they usually include a lot of hands-on work where you can start learning how to apply your new skills to real-life situations. In addition, these programs typically offer many different career services. This can include access to a dedicated career counselor, and advice about finding a job after you graduate, building a resume, and interviewing for a job. You’re also likely to spend time working on a portfolio, which is a collection of your best work that you can use to demonstrate your skills to potential clients or employers. Some schools, like Noble Desktop, even offer a certain number of one-on-one mentoring sessions that you can use for career advice.
Compared to degree programs, career-focused options like bootcamps also offer a lot more flexibility. That starts with the application process. College programs usually run on a quarter or semester system and attendance requires planning in advance. Students also have to meet admission requirements such as a minimum high school GPA, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, or supplemental essays. In contrast, most bootcamps and certificate courses have a much easier application process and offer frequent course openings. In most cases, they also offer a lot more scheduling flexibility including part-time and full-time options, and weekday, weeknight, and weekend classes.
However, while they do have many benefits, career-focused programs may also have some disadvantages. For instance, they typically run in an accelerated format. Students learn more quickly than they do in a degree program, so they need to be ready to keep up. The benefit of this acceleration is that students also graduate more quickly though. Another difference is that most career-focused programs are just that; career-focused. Unlike with a college degree program, you won’t take general education courses. Instead, you’ll focus on learning the skills that you’ll actually need to use in business management. Most people like that they don’t have to spend time on topics that they won’t use in their career, however, if you’re looking for a more broad education, then a career-focused course might not be the right option for you.
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Learning Methods to Become a Business Manager Without a Degree
There are a number of different ways to learn business management without enrolling in a college degree program.
Professional Training Centers
In recent years, more students are making the choice to learn business management through bootcamps or certificate courses at professional training centers. Many professional training centers, like Noble Desktop, offer a variety of comprehensive class options that are designed to give you all of the skills you’ll need to pursue a career in this field but are not as expensive or time-consuming as college. At a professional training center, you’ll focus on learning the skills that you’ll actually use in your job. Most certificate programs take only a few months to complete, and bootcamps may be even shorter. Since these programs have a focus on getting students career-ready, they usually include career support too. This might include help building a portfolio and resume, mock interviews, and even access to internships and professional networks. These courses are often designed for students with busy schedules and may include a variety of flexible scheduling options. They are conducted live, either in-person or in a live online format, which means that you’ll be able to get immediate answers to your questions and feedback on your progress.
On-Demand Platforms
Another way to learn business management without enrolling in a degree program is to take an on-demand class. These are offered through websites like Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare, and Masterclass. On-demand classes are pre-recorded and do not have a live instructor, however, they are usually significantly cheaper than live options. When you learn on-demand, you can work at your own pace, stopping and starting whenever you need to. You can even rewind or fast-forward the lesson. One of the biggest downsides to on-demand learning is that since you don’t have access to a live instructor, you won’t be able to ask questions or get feedback in real-time. Another potential downside is that these types of classes have the potential to become outdated, since content is pre-recorded. Finally, some students find it more difficult to stay focused without the accountability of a live instructor and peers.
Free Resources
A third way to learn business management is to utilize free resources. You’ll find many different free options online. For example, some schools offer free resources so that students can get a better understanding of the topic before they enroll in a class. YouTube also contains many free, short tutorials on business management. Free resources are a good option if you want to learn a specific skill, get an overview, or troubleshoot a problem. However, if you’re serious about learning business management, you’ll probably need to invest in a paid class where you can follow a comprehensive curriculum under the guidance of an expert. A class also gives you the ability to ask questions and get feedback, which can make the learning process a lot easier.
Can You Really Become a Business Manager Without a Degree?
In the past, a college degree in business management or a related field has been the traditional way to get into this field, but in recent years, a growing number of employers have begun to realize that a college degree doesn’t necessarily equate with the ability to do this job well. Instead, they are finding that some college graduates are not good matches and that there are many people without college degrees who are good matches. Rather than simply looking for employees who have a college degree, many employers have begun to focus on finding people who have the skills and experience that will allow them to get the job done well, whether they have a degree or not. Wall Street Journal reporter Lauren Weber discusses this in a February 27, 2024 podcast. She says, “It's called skills-based hiring, that's what this approach is known as. So that might mean . . . [that companies use] different types of assessments to really try to determine whether someone has the communication skills, or the writing skills, or the teamwork skills, or the technical skills, that you're looking for. So it does change the way companies have to think about their hiring process.” With many companies lessening their focus on degrees, it is definitely possible to get into business management without a degree.
Steps to Become a Business Manager
To work in business management, you’ll need to learn a broad set of skills including finance, communication, and leadership. You’ll also need knowledge of the specific industry you plan to work in. A great way to get this education is to enroll in a bootcamp or certificate course at a career training school. These types of programs are usually both comprehensive and accelerated, with a focus on helping you master everything you need for a career in business management, and doing so in the shortest amount of time possible. They are typically intended to prepare you for an entry-level job in your intended field. Most also include career support services such as help creating a resume and portfolio, and advice about applying for jobs and interviewing. In some cases, you’ll even leave the course with connections to professional networks in your field.
If you want to work in business management, in addition to education, you’ll need work experience, during which you can learn how to apply your knowledge in real-world situations. Experience is also an important part of learning the many intricacies of being a Business Manager. There are lots of different ways to gain experience. LinkedIn has an article titled, “You Want To Get Experience in Business Management Before Starting your Career. How Can You Do It?” where it explains some ways to gain experience in this field while you’re still in school. It says, “One of the most effective ways to get experience in business management is to find an internship or a part-time job that relates to your field of interest. You can search for opportunities on job boards, career fairs, social media, or your network.” Other suggestions are: joining a student organization, volunteering, and starting a side project.
Professional certifications can also be beneficial for a career in business management. Research shows that these often give job applicants an edge over other candidates, and can also increase the chances of advancement or pay raises. The specific certification that you pursue will depend on what field you plan to work in and what type of specialization you’re pursuing. Some certifications that might be useful in business management include Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), and Certified Professional-Human Resource (IPMA-CP).
alysis Professional (CBAP), and Certified Professional-Human Resource (IPMA-CP).
Learn the Skills to Become a Business Manager at Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop is a New York City-based school that offers a wide variety of business classes, both in person--at its Manhattan facility--and in a live online format. Courses include comprehensive, hands-on bootcamps and certificate programs, which are designed to help you master all the skills that you’ll need in order to work as a business manager. Noble also runs a number of shorter courses where you can spend a day or two learning essential business skills like financial modeling or Excel. This school 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.
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.
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 bootcamp option 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.