Sarah
What is the most beneficial business degree to have? What are the most successful jobs that go with said degree?
I am a sophomore in high school and I am trying to figure out what major and career interests me. I am interested in some type of business degree, but I do not know which one- accounting, finance, etc.- fits me. I want to learn more about what the differences are between the different types of majors. Also, I am interested in knowing which job fits with said majors and which jobs have the best salaries. #business #finance #accounting
5 answers
Megan McGregor
Megan’s Answer
There is no one major or career that generates the most success. Success means different things to different people. To me success is when you truly enjoy going to work every day and can make a difference in people's lives. Making money doing what you love is an added bonus! That being said you will have to find out what makes you happy and what aspect of business you find the most interesting.
A finance degree can take you down so many different roads. If you are an introverted person who likes reading or numbers, a research or analyst position might interest you the most. If you are an extroverted person with good communications skills, portfolio management, client services, investor relations, financial planning or advising position, might suit you better.
To me, your options are more limited with an accounting degree but you will find out very quickly if you like it or not. Most business schools require you take at least one class in each subject so you will have a chance to experiment a bit.
I would recommend browsing some easily accessible publications like Money Magazine and Forbes and see what kind of articles interest you the most. That might give you a clue.
Gary Petito (Veteran)
Gary’s Answer
Hi,
That is a great question...there are a lot of answers and research that you can do into business careers, majors, salary, etc.
To get you started, here is a link with some information - once you find some areas you are interested in, you can research salaries and other information online. good luck!
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers/college-majors/business-majors-the-basics
Business Majors: The Basics
A degree in one of the many available business majors can offer limitless opportunities. You’ll be prepared to work in a variety of settings in business, government, nonprofit organizations and more. Whatever your interests, a major in one of the following areas will give you the knowledge and skills to work in a setting or industry that is right for you.
Luke Kelly
Luke’s Answer
Depending on your level of interest in pursuing graduate school down the road, finance and accounting degrees can offer great job opportunities immediately following undergraduate studies. Specifically, my experience in accounting helped me to land a job with great experience immediately upon graduation, and paved the way for my role at Zynga. Best of luck!
Brian Mason
Brian’s Answer
Agree with others that you won't find one degree that will be significantly better than others but general management (so perhaps business administration) and finance will give you the ability to get into strategy roles within a company and those pay well. That being said, whatever undergrad degree you get, you'll likely want to follow it up and get an MBA. An MBA is very desirable in the business world and opens the door to higher paying jobs.
James Constantine Frangos
James Constantine’s Answer
Choosing the best business degree for you isn't just about picking one at random - it's about aligning it with your personal interests, skills, and career dreams. Each business degree opens up unique opportunities and can pave the way to success in a variety of fields. Let's dive into the details of some popular business majors and the potential careers and earnings that come with them.
First off, it's super important to think about what you enjoy and what you're good at when choosing a business degree. If you're a numbers whiz who loves delving into financial data and has an eye for detail, an accounting degree might be just the ticket. Accounting programs usually cover things like financial reporting, auditing, taxation, and managerial accounting. As an accounting graduate, you could find yourself working as an auditor, tax accountant, forensic accountant, or financial analyst. These roles often come with solid salaries and plenty of room for growth.
But maybe you're more into understanding how businesses make financial decisions, handle investments, and evaluate risk. If that's the case, a finance degree could be a better fit. Finance programs often explore topics like investment analysis, financial markets, corporate finance, and risk management. With a finance degree, you could work as a financial analyst, investment banker, financial manager, or personal financial advisor. These roles can also come with appealing salaries and opportunities for advancement.
Beyond accounting and finance, there are other popular business degrees like management, marketing, and international business. A management degree gives students skills in leadership, organizational behavior, strategic planning, and human resource management. Graduates often end up in roles like operations manager, human resources manager, management consultant, or executive leader. Salaries for these positions can vary based on things like industry and experience level.
Marketing degrees zero in on consumer behavior, market research, advertising strategies, and brand management. If you have a marketing degree, you might work as a marketing manager, market research analyst, advertising executive, or sales manager. Your earnings in marketing can be influenced by factors like industry demand and individual performance.
International business degrees get students ready to tackle the challenges of global trade, cross-cultural management, international finance, and global marketing strategies. Graduates might work as international trade specialists, global supply chain managers, international business consultants, or international marketing managers. Salaries in international business can be influenced by things like language skills and regional expertise.
When it comes to making sure this information is accurate, it's crucial to consider the credibility of the sources used to gather this information. Using trustworthy sources like educational institutions' websites, top-notch business education publications like the Harvard Business Review or Forbes Business School Rankings, and other authoritative sources related to career guidance and education statistics can help ensure the information is spot on.
To sum it all up:
The best business degree for you depends on your own interests and career goals. If you're great with numbers and detail-oriented, accounting might be a good fit. If you're interested in financial decision-making and risk assessment, consider finance. Management degrees offer leadership and organizational management skills, while marketing focuses on consumer behavior and brand management. International business degrees get students ready for the complexities of global trade.
Top 3 Trustworthy Reference Publications:
Harvard Business Review
Forbes Business School Rankings
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Take care and best of luck in your studies!
James.