Before you choose a specific career in business management, it’s a good idea to get a better understanding of what it’s like to do this job. For instance, you may want to research what the typical day is like for a Business Manager, and what kind of tasks they might work on. As with many careers, there are a number of stereotypes about this job, and they are not necessarily correct. This article contains information about the day-to-day life of a Business Manager, so that you can get a better idea of what this career is like.
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.
Why Become a Business Manager?
Business management is a high-paying career and experts predict that it will have strong future job growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a government agency that collects U.S. labor market statistics and releases analyses of those statistics. It reports a strong job outlook for all management jobs. It says, “Overall employment in management occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032. About 1.1 million openings are projected each year, on average, in these occupations due to employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupations permanently.” According to the agency, “The median annual wage for this group was $116,880 in May 2023, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $48,060.”
As a Business Manager, you may have access to a variety of different types of job opportunities in a range of industries, which is one thing that lots of people like about this job. Business Managers work in many different places because most types of business need managers. A Business Manager helps a business create goals and meet those goals, and also helps keep employees motivated and productive. This job can mean the difference between a business that thrives and one that does not.
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Business Manager Specializations
If you want to work as a Business Manager, you can choose many different types of specializations. Your specific job responsibilities will vary, depending on the specialization that you choose. In an article titled, “Possible Jobs With A Business Management Degree: A Complete Guide,” Forbes Advisor explains that every different type of business management specialization has its own unique responsibilities and work environment. It says, “Specializations for business management experts are critical in determining day-to-day responsibilities and work environment. For example, the compensation and benefits manager for a school district in Minneapolis might have to collaborate with a teacher’s union on a weekly basis; meanwhile, the sales manager for a chain of gyms in Miami might contract with local social media influencers to drive up membership rates.” According to Forbes, some popular specializations are accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, human resources, international business, marketing, operations and logistics, project management, strategy, supply chain management, and technology and equipment.
Starting Your Day
Some Business Managers work from home, but for the majority, the workday starts in the office. That means a commute, and then working from a cubicle, a shared office, or their own private office. This job often involves a lot of meetings too, so Business Managers may spend time in a meeting room. In addition, some Business Managers travel, so their day might involve driving or flying, staying in a hotel, and attending meetings at an office in another city.
Most Business Managers stress that in this role, it is critically important to stay organized and on top of their tasks, so they typically start the day by reviewing those tasks and getting a good understanding of what needs to be done that day. In addition, many say that they like to start the day by taking care of a variety of administrative tasks such as responding to emails and phone calls. However, if there are any urgent tasks to deal with, they may start with those instead.
9 AM:
Business Managers are responsible for overseeing the operations of a company, and this includes a large number of tasks. Some tasks need to be done daily, while others are weekly or even monthly. Many Business Managers say that it is important to have a system or a schedule for dealing with all of the tasks that they need to accomplish so that they don’t forget to do anything important. A few of the tasks that a Business Manager might need to work on include:
- Approving expense reports
- Reviewing contracts from suppliers
- Answering questions from employees
- Hiring and training new employees
- Managing schedules
- Monitoring resources
- Resolving company problems
- Entering financial data
11 AM:
Business management also involves leading a team, and an important part of doing so is regularly checking in with that team. Many Business Managers say that they do this daily. By doing so, they can stay up to date on what their team is doing, how everything is going, and whether or not the team is on track with its tasks and goals. Meetings are also an opportunity for communication and collaboration among team members, and for building morale. Team members can include employees, clients, vendors, and suppliers.
2 PM:
In addition to overseeing daily operations and ensuring that the business runs smoothly, Business Managers are focused on helping the company grow. To do this, they will gather and analyze data and make and implement plans for the future. Some specific tasks related to this part of business management are:
- Conducting research on market trends
- Analyzing financial data
- Understanding workflows
- Analyzing customer feedback
- Designing and implementing business plans
- Looking for investment opportunities
5 PM:
Because most Business Managers say that it is vital to stay on top of their tasks, many stress that it’s not a good idea to let too much work accumulate. This means that a Business Manager might end the day by trying to accomplish any important outstanding tasks, and making a plan for things that they need to do in the future.
After Work
Most Business Managers work a regular forty-hour work week, however, overtime is also fairly common if there are urgent tasks to accomplish. This can be a relatively stressful job, with or without overtime, so many Business Managers say it's a good idea to find a way to unwind after work. For instance, some people find a hobby, while others do some type of exercise. Because they spend a lot of time in front of screens, many Business Managers say that they like to find a way to take a break from screens after work.
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.