Area

Employer

Information/Strategies

Sub-Area:

Employers:

• Business and industry including:
  • Banks and financial institutions
  • Retail stores
  • Restaurants
  • Hotels
  • Service providers
  • Healthcare organizations
• Local, state, and federal government
• Nonprofit organizations
• Self-employed

Strategies & Information:

• Be prepared to start in entry-level management trainee positions.
• Gain experience through internships or summer and part-time jobs.
• Work at a retail store or restaurant; advance into an assistant manager position.
• Get involved in student organizations and assume leadership roles.
• Demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit, a strong work ethic, integrity, and a sense of independence.
• Take courses in a secondary specialty such as marketing or information systems to increase job opportunities.
• Learn to work well on a team.

Sub-Area:

• Recruiting/Staffing
• Compensation
• Benefits
• Training
• Safety
• Employee Relations
• Industrial Relations
• Organizational Development
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Employment Law
• Consulting

Employers:

• Large corporate entities
• Service industry
• Hospitals and healthcare organizations
• Universities
• Temporary or staffing agencies
• Executive search firms
• Local, state, and federal government
• Labor unions

Strategies & Information:

• Take courses in the social sciences such as psychology and sociology.
• Gain relevant experience through internships.
• Develop strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Learn to solve problems creatively, and build strong conflict resolution skills.
• Develop strong computer skills because many human resource systems are automated.
• Join the Society of Human Resource Management and other related professional associations.
• Be prepared for continuous learning once in the profession.
• Seek endorsements such as the Professional Human Resource Certification (PHR).
• Earn a master's degree for career advancement or a law degree for employment law.

Sub-Area:

• Operations Research Analysis:
  • Business strategy
  • Facilities layout
  • Inventory control
  • Personnel scheduling
• Production Management:
  • Line supervision
  • Manufacturing management
  • Production planning
  • Quality assurance
• Materials Management:
  • Purchasing/buying
  • Traffic management
  • Inventory management

Employers:

• Manufacturers
• Industrial organizations
• Service organizations

Strategies & Information:

• Develop strong analytical skills and a logical approach to problem solving.
• Take additional courses in statistics and computer systems. This is a more technical side of business.
• Develop skills in budgeting and cost management.
• Take additional accounting and finance courses.
• Learn to manage multiple situations and problems.
• Be able to communicate effectively with different types of people in various functional areas.
• Earn an MBA to reach the highest levels of operations management.

Sub-Area:

• Industrial Sales
• Consumer Product Sales
• Financial Services Sales
• Services Sales
• Advertising Sales
• E-commerce
• Customer Service
• Sales Management:
  • District, Regional, and Higher

Employers:

• For-profit and nonprofit organizations
• Product and service organizations
• Manufacturers
• Financial companies
• Insurance companies
• Print and electronic media outlets
• Software and technology companies
• Internet companies

Strategies & Information:

• Obtain experience through internships or summer and part-time jobs.
• Seek leadership positions in campus organizations.
• Work for the campus newspaper, directory, or radio station selling advertisements.
• Become highly motivated and well-organized.
• Develop a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.
• To deliver effective customer service, develop problem solving skills, self-confidence, assertiveness, and empathy.
• Learn to work well under pressure and to be comfortable in a competitive environment.
• Be prepared to work independently and to be self-motivated. Plan to work irregular and/or long hours.
• Learn to communicate effectively with a wide range of people. Take additional courses in interpersonal communication and public speaking.
• Develop strong persuasion skills and learn how to build relationships.
• Some positions in sales, such as pharmaceuticals, require at least one to two years of a proven record in outside sales. Be prepared to start in a different industry before getting a job in pharmaceuticals.

Sub-Area:

• Claims
• Underwriting
• Risk Management
• Sales
• Loss Control

Employers:

• Insurance firms
• Banks

Strategies & Information:

• Complete an internship with an insurance agency.
• Talk to professionals in the industry to learn more about claims, underwriting, and risk management. Many entry-level positions exist in these areas.
• Initiative and sales ability are necessary to be a successful agent or broker.
• Develop strong communication skills as many positions require interaction with others and the ability to explain information clearly and concisely.

Sub-Area:

• Residential Brokerage
• Commercial Sales
• Appraisals
• Property Management

Employers:

• Real estate brokers
• Banks
• Appraisal firms
• Apartment and condominium complexes
• Developers
• Large corporations: real estate departments

Strategies & Information:

• Obtain sales experience through part-time, summer, or internship positions.
• Research the process of becoming a real estate broker through the National Association of Realtors.
• Develop an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Research apprenticeships in appraisal.

Sub-Area:

• Commercial Banking
• Retail/Consumer Banking
• Credit Analysis
• Lending
• Trust Services
• Mortgage Loans
• Branch Management
• Operations

Employers:

• Banks
• Credit unions
• Savings and loan associations
• Financial services institutions
• Federal Reserve banks

Strategies & Information:

• Develop a solid background in business including marketing and accounting.
• Get experience through part-time, summer, or internship positions in a bank.
• Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills in order to work well with a diverse clientele.