Business management

The skills you gain on a business management degree enable you to have a positive and effective impact on your employer's organisation

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Actuarial analyst
• Arbitrator
• Business adviser
• Business analyst
• Business development manager
• Chartered management accountant
• Corporate investment banker
• Data analyst
• Data scientist
• Forensic accountant
• Insurance underwriter
• Management consultant
• Project manager
• Risk manager
• Stockbroker
• Supply chain manager

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Construction manager
• Costs lawyer
• Environmental engineer
• External auditor
• Human resources officer
• Logistics and distribution manager
• Marketing executive
• Mortgage adviser
• Retail manager
• Sales executive
• Systems analyst
• Urban designer

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

A business management degree prepares you for a career in business, which can apply to any sector or industry. Try to decide on the area you want to work in and aim to get relevant work experience.

You can gain experience at university through extracurricular activities, such as club membership or taking a role on a society that will develop your team-building, business or finance skills. You could also try to get a part-time job in an area related to your chosen career. Something that provides commercial skills or gives you knowledge in business functions and how organisations operate will be helpful.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Industries as diverse as chemicals, utilities, fashion, health, grocery and construction all require functional managers with a clear understanding of systems, efficiency and operational issues. Opportunities exist in management and analysis roles with employers in the private, public and voluntary sectors.

Graduate training schemes offered by large employers frequently focus on commercial roles. Many give experience in several departments but others encourage specialisation from the outset.

Find information on employers in business, consulting and management, accountancy, recruitment and HR and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Studying for a business management degree allows you to develop a broad understanding of business organisations and provides you with subject-specific knowledge in areas such as markets, customers, finance, operations, communication, information technology and business policy and strategy. Business issues are often addressed at a European and international level.

You'll gain many transferable skills on your course, including:

• an understanding of organisational behaviour and structure
• analytical and critical thinking
• a creative approach to problem solving
• decision-making
• persuasive written and oral communication
• numeracy and the ability to research, interpret and use business and financial data
• self-reliance, initiative and the ability to manage time, projects and resources
• understanding of how economic and other external changes can impact and influence business.

Further study

Some graduates choose to undertake further study in subjects such as marketing, finance, human resources, computing and international business management, in order to develop their expertise in a particular area of business. Studying for an MBA is another option.

Those combining study with a job often work towards a professional qualification, and this is usually supported by employers. Professional qualifications popular with business studies graduates are provided by organisations such as the:

• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
• Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)
• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
• Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

If you'd like to pursue a career in law, you can take the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) conversion course.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses.

What do business studies graduates do?

Eight of the top ten jobs held by business management graduates working in the UK are related to business, sales and HR, including sales, marketing and related associate professionals, finance professionals, business, research and administrative professionals, HR, training and other vocational associate guidance professionals, business associate professionals and admin.

Find out what other business management graduates are doing 15 months after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate destinations data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Find out more

• Visit the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) for information about careers in consultancy.