Guest Posts

Something for Everyone? The Power of the Business Management Degree

Nowadays there is an almightily fine line within degrees. You have the specialist ones, which lead to a specific job that offer little flexibility – with one example being that of an architect. Then, there is the varied solution, something that covers a bit of everything but has very few direct career paths – with psychology being our chosen example here. The big issue for students is finding something that falls right in between and as the title of our post suggests, a business management degree could offer exactly that.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be an aspiring Bill Gates or Sir Richard Branson to venture into this type of education. The business management degree advantages span far and wide, and mean that it’s a path that can be appropriate for a wide range of individuals. Here, we take a look at just what it offers and why it could be so powerful for your career.

The flexibility is second to none

In our eyes, this is the prime benefit associated with a degree of this type. The name might hint that it’s solely related to business, and anybody who pursues it should be thrown straight onto the management ladder of a FTSE 100 firm. However, nowadays especially, this couldn’t be further away from the truth.

This is a degree which is probably one of the most flexible out there. While the corporate scene does apply to a lot of graduates, it’s not the only option. Because of the variation in modules that are taught in this degree, and the fact that business managers just always “expect the unexpected”, graduates in this discipline are always attractive for any industry. It’s one of the few degrees out there which teaches flexibility – and this can allow you to embark on multiple career changes which is something that some people just don’t have available to them.

Take networking on tap

It’s a well-known fact that universities attract some of the most respected individuals in each different industry. However, within the business management sector, many of these individuals have a lot more practical experience than other disciplines. They are regularly outsourced in consulting roles by organisations; and the fact that you can not only receive lectures but tap into their knowledge at your free will is a huge advantage. In fact, it hasn’t been unheard of for their links in the “real business world” to result in job recommendations for students. As the old saying goes, it’s not “what you know”…

Learn from (other people’s) failures

If you have ever read a self-help business blog or book, you’ll have probably heard that dreaded cliché of learning from your mistakes – and how each failure can make you stronger. While this is certainly true, the beauty about sitting down and “learning business” is that you can also learn from other people’s mistakes. Ultimately, when you are given the chance to study exact case studies, it can make the real world a little easier for you and considerably less costly.

James Hendrickson

James is an internet entrepreneur, blogging junky, hunter and personal finance geek.  When he’s not lurking in coffee shops in Portland, Oregon, you’ll find him in the Pacific Northwest’s great outdoors. James has a masters degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland at College Park and a Bachelors degree on Sociology from Earlham College.  He loves individual stocks, bonds and precious metals.