The path to business management is different for everyone. Some people start with a college degree, while others find other ways to gain the skills that they need. Experience is also vital to getting into this field, but gaining that experience is a different process for everyone. This article contains more information about the Business Manager Career path, including some ways to get started, details about the different levels of employment, and insights on how to find a job.
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.
Getting Started
If you’re just getting started in business management, it can be helpful to do as much research as you can about what this job is like, the skills you’ll need, and how to find a job. By doing your research, you can get a better understanding of whether or not this is the right kind of job for you, and you can be better prepared for success. Talking to Business Managers and other experts in this field can be a great way to gain valuable insights. Some libraries and colleges offer free classes, which can also be helpful. You’ll also find many different free resources online that can help you learn more about business management. For example, some online 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.
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Do I Need a Degree to Become a Business Manager?
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.
There are actually 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--which is another popular way to prepare for a career in business management--is usually no higher than $20,000 or $30,000 and most take only a matter of weeks or months to complete.
Internships
While education is important, experience is also crucial to getting into the field of business management. Internships are a great way to gain experience and you can build your portfolio at the same time. In an article titled “You Want To Get Experience in Business Management Before Starting your Career. How Can You Do It?” LinkedIn explains, “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.” It says, “You can search for opportunities on job boards, career fairs, social media, or your network. An internship or a part-time job can help you gain hands-on experience in business management, as well as learn from professionals and experts. You can also build your reputation, connections, and references that can boost your career prospects.” Some internships are paid and others are unpaid. Both types can provide valuable experience.
Entry-Level Business Manager Jobs
Entry-level business management jobs help you gain valuable experience and are also an excellent way to learn more about specific areas that interest you or areas that you want to avoid. Entry-level jobs are often focused on a more narrow range of tasks. As you learn more and prove yourself, your responsibilities will increase. Some examples of entry-level positions are Management Trainee, Assistant Manager, Human Resources Assistant, and Entry Level Analyst.
Mid-Level Business Manager Jobs
Mid-level jobs come after you have gained more experience in business management. As a mid-level manager, you’ll have a lot more responsibility than in an entry-level job, however, you’ll still be in a subordinate role. A mid-level manager needs to manage employees, but they also report to, and support, higher-level managers. Some job titles associated with mid-level management include General Manager, Department Manager, and Division Manager. Tasks you might be responsible for include monitoring employee performance, assigning tasks, and implementing strategies created by senior managers.
Senior Business Manager Jobs
Senior Business Managers oversee the operations of the entire business. They have a lot of authority and responsibility. Their role includes making sure that the business is operating in a smooth and efficient manner and also ensuring that it is growing. They oversee a team of people, who help them accomplish these tasks. To become a senior Business Manager you’ll need experience. You may also need to gain a higher level of education or specialization, such as certification.
Another Path: Freelancing
Another way to work as a Business Manager is to become a freelancer. This means that you’ll be self-employed rather than working for somebody else. Freelancers work on a contract or per-project basis, and they may work on multiple projects simultaneously, and for more than one client at the same time. As a freelancer, you’ll have to do some things that you wouldn’t do as a paid employee, such as paying your own taxes. One major benefit to freelancing is that you get to set your own hours and choose your own projects. You’ll also be able to work from wherever you want to, which gives you a lot of flexibility. However, when you freelance, rather than looking for a job once, you’ll need to continually make an effort to find new work.
How Do I Find A Business Manager Job?
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).
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.