Career Path in Business Management

As late as the 20th Century, many career progression choices were made based on gender, tradition, family, and socio-economic status. As such, majority of individuals made career choices based on career professions of their parents or limitations of tradition or beliefs. However, the later years after the 20th Century, this form of career trajectory ended as individuals begun taking greater control of their careers. This trajectory was favored by the restructuring of organizations and the shift from manufacturing to knowledge based economies. As such, the creation of a new paradigm in which individuals determined their own growth in career by taking charge of their career choices and their level of professionalism. In line with these developments, individuals have the duty to take control of their careers by choosing careers that will enable them to excel in life.

The choice of a career field comprises a difficult but essential process in development of an individual. According to DeRosa (30), nine out of ten students do not know exactly what they want to do in life and how to choose a career. In the process, many young people are misguided into a career or end up following others blindly (Itkin). In my case, it was not also a simple process. From an early age, I had found interest in the field of arts. This was mainly driven by the popularity of individuals dealing in creative arts such as music and acting. However, when I read the book, Millionaire mind, I begun having a focus on the business field. In particular, I centered most of my attention in the field of business management. In order to learn more about business management, I spoke to Jack Bolton, a family friend, who has had a long and successful career in the field of business management. I asked him to tell me about his career as a business management major.

He explained that the work is difficult as it involves a lot of creativity and innovations due to the changing trends in the business world. But he said that making your company gain a competitive advantage over other businesses is quite rewarding. However, he said “You have to be ready to work more hours than you get paid for if you want to retain growth in your department or face the probability of being fired. In the field of business you have to work to always be the best as being the best is what assures you of career development and job security.” This statement caught me by surprise as I thought just the normal working hours can result in a successful career. However, I gained more interest in the career from the discussion.

One of the things that made my interest grow in the career choice was the number of careers available. As a business management major, I can work as a business consultant, financial analyst, advertising and promotions manager, financial examiner, insurance sales agent, budget analyst, and very many other career options (BLS, 32). Furthermore, Jack assured me that my skill with numbers and the internal drive to success would make me a great individual in attaining success in a career as a business management major. In addition, he brought to my knowledge that my skill of teamwork would assist me in bringing people together towards achieving a common organizational goal. However, to graduate with a major’s degree at CSM, I have to take twenty-four units each semester.

Furthermore, I have to achieve a grade C and above for each course in order to progress after each academic year. The institution offers courses such as accounting procedures, organizational behavior, supervisory management, introduction to business, and a selection of twelve units from other selective courses. I specifically look forward to the course in accounting procedures, specifically the topics on accounting cycle, bank reconciliations, financial statements, and accounting cycles, as I believe the core of business lies in knowing how to work with numbers. However, the marketing course will probably not appeal to me as I prefer working with numbers as opposed to studying issues in consumer behavior.

Given a choice, I would choose to also undertake the course at University of Pennsylvania, Wharton. At the university, the major constitutes five credit units. One credit unit may come from the management Core courses such as MGMT 610, MGMT 612, while the remaining credits can be obtained from the other departmental electives. Furthermore, the university has an acceptance rate of 19.2%, which nears that of University of Chicago at 23.5% placed the top university among the business schools (Hess). Furthermore, the major offers students the opportunity to develop skills suitable for the roles of business advisor, general management, and leadership. As such, based on reputation, student diversity, and location, the University of Pennsylvania would serve as my alternative. This is because they have a higher absorption rate in the market and rank among the top schools in the US in the field of business.

Challenges in Career Path

Challenges As a business management major, the business world offers a multitude of career paths. An ONet reveals twenty occupations that match a career path for an individual majoring in business management. However the website reveals that an individual willing to serve as a management analyst must “Interview personnel and conduct on-site observation to ascertain unit functions, work performed, and methods, equipment, and personnel used” . I had not realized that I would have to interact with so many individuals at different levels of the production and marketing cycle. Furthermore, I would have the responsibility of sometimes cutting down on personnel based on the performance of the business. This is the section of the profession that I feel uncomfortable with. Furthermore, even Jack expressed his concern in my unwillingness to let go of people that do not add value to my life. As such, he indicated that I was to have some challenges in dealing with people who do not keep up to the standards expected at the workstation.

However, if I find dealing with individuals problematic, I have the option of majoring in accounts. According to ONet, the career has the tasks of preparing and entering journals, reviewing accounts, establishing table of accounts, and analysis of account records. As such, the career path offers diverse opportunities to practice hence I can easily relocate and change professions using the same major in business management. However, I still have to undertake the courses that do not focus on accounting such as the supervisory management (MGMT 235). The course has an average of 48-54 hours per semester and deals with aspects such as work delegation, problem solving, labor relations, and communication which do not appeal to my skills. Furthermore, the course also has more hours on assignments (96-108) which will prove difficult to me as most of them will be theoretical in approach. On the other hand, I face the challenge of how to secure the required finances to facilitate my stay at the institution. The average cost is about $65, 000 (CSM)

Overcoming Strategies

In order to tackle the problem of the course, I intend to make friends with more confidence in theoretical classes. Furthermore, I have begun taking early research into the course to have insight into the course and reduce incompetence. As such, I will put more effort in these theoretical courses to ensure I get a grade above the minimum C required. On the other hand, to boost the required cost of education I have the opportunity to apply for federal grants such as the federal pell grant of $6,095 and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) of $4,000 (Federal Grant Program). According to the US news, the rates are $5,500 for dependent undergraduate and $20,500 for professional or graduate students. Furthermore, students have access to student loans at different rates depending on the bank. This are grouped as either school channel loans or private loans. These student loans have a substantial higher interest rate in comparison to government grants and vary depending on fluctuations in the economy.

In conclusion, even with the challenges that come with the course and letter practicing as a business manager, I believe that with determination and good strategy, nothing will deter me from reaching my goal. For instance, to support my education needs, I will look for employment opportunities during periods I am not in class. One of the things that I have committed to is to have link with a number of mentors in this line of profession who will keep on guiding me at various stages.

Work Cited

CSM, MGMT 235 Supervisory Management. CSM 2018. https://webschedule.smccd.edu/schedule/collegequery_subj_csm.php?SubjCode=MGMT&CrseNumb=235. Accessed 26 November 2018.

CSM. Major in Mnagement: Business Management, CSM 2018. https://collegeofsanmateo.edu/management/degrees_business_aa.asp. Accessed 26 November 2018.

DeRosa, Michele. ""How to Build a Nontraditional Career Path: Embracing Economic Disruption."" Career Planning and Adult Development Journal 31.1 (2015): 11.

Dockery, Doug, and Laureen Knudsen. ""Modern Business Management: Creating a Built-to-Change Organization."" (2017).

Federal Grant Program. Federal Students Grant Programs. Student Aid (2018). https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/federal-grant-programs.pdf. Accessed 26 November, 2018

Hess. A. The 10 best business schools in the US. CNBC, 20 March 2018/. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/20/the-10-best-business-schools-in-the-country.html. Accessed 26 November, 2018

Itkin Dina. Career beginnings for business majors, 2008-2009. BLS. https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2008/winter/art03.pdf. Accessed 26 November, 2018 ONET. Management Analysis 2018. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1111.00. Accessed 26 November, 2018.

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