Types of Business Jobs and Their Associated Skills

Are you wondering, What jobs to get with a business degree? Or maybe, What type of career in business would I like to pursue?  After completing your undergraduate business program, there are numerous career paths you can explore. These options range from generalist degrees to industry-specific programs like hospitality and sports and entertainment management. If you are already working in the business field, an MBA can offer you the chance to position yourself for possible advancement in your career or to earn a specialization. Below, we'll delve into various business careers and the specific skills that are highly desired in each. 

1. Accounting Degree

Accounting is a way to communicate the financial health of a business or an organization to any and all interested parties. It is a way of evaluating the assets, liabilities and cash flow, or the future of an entity for all current and future investors.

Accounting is crucial for any business. Most businesses must meticulously record each transaction. Accounting degrees can teach you the following skills and lead you toward potential accounting career opportunities. 

Acquired Business Skills

• Auditing standards
• Ethical issues faced by auditors
• Theories and practices regarding income tax preparation
• Job order costing systems
• Budgeting
• Financial statements preparation

What Jobs to Get With a Business Degree in Accounting

• Revenue agent
• Credit analyst
• Accountant
• Tax examiner/collector
• Auditor
• Financial examiner

2. Marketing Degree

A bachelor’s degree in marketing can help you position yourself to compete for entry-level marketing positions in many different environments. Here are some skills you will be taught and potential careers you may pursue after earning a marketing degree. 

Skills Taught Within Marketing Degrees

• Business communication strategies
• Information literacy
• Data analysis
• Business operations
• Legal, ethical and values-driven business practices

What Jobs to Get With a Business Degree in Marketing

• Sales manager
• Marketing manager
• Advertising/promotions manager
• Public relations manager
• Content marketer
• Fundraising manager
• Marketing specialist

3. Finance Degree

With a finance degree, you will be taught to analyze data and information related to money and finances. Most finance degrees focus on how to evaluate investments and determine beneficial alternatives. With a degree in finance, you will study the skills that can help you make decisions to benefit individual clients as well as major corporations. 

Common Business Skills

• Build Modern monetary systems
• Monitor capital markets
• Analyze budget and accounting report analysis
• Create financial proposals
• Look at credit reporting and money lending
• Analyze risks and mitigation strategies
• Create real estate proposals and financing options

Career Opportunities With a Finance Degree

• Relationships manager
• Advisor
• Broker
• Banker
• Loan/credit officer
• Financial analyst
• Operations analyst
• Customer support associate
• Financial planner

4. Human Resources Degree

A degree in human resources can teach you how to achieve long-term business objectives and meet organizational challenges. Human resource management can emphasize a positive and efficient company culture that may embrace innovation. 

Commonly Taught Business Skills

• Design HR for competitive advantage
• Acquire, develop and leveraging human capital
• Enforce Strategic management
• Display Leadership
• Perform Operations management

Types of Careers in Business With a Human Resources Degree

• General manager
• Human resources executive
• Senior human resources specialist
• Training and development manager
• International human resources professional

5. Business Administration Degree

A degree in business administration can prepare you to pursue management roles in many types of business and industry settings.

Skills Taught in a Business Administration Degree

• Finance
• Business planning and development
• Production systems
• Socially responsible business practices
• Business regulation and deregulation
• Labor markets
• Strategizing for best business outcomes

Career Opportunities with a Business Administration Degree

• General and operations manager
• Sales manager
• Production manager
• Administrative manager

Types of Management Degrees

There are many different types of management degrees to choose from to specialize in your given interests. Here are a few management degrees that might fit your goals.

1. Business Management Degree

Business management is a field of study that trains students for managerial roles in technology, retail, education and other sectors. A degree in business management can teach you technical and soft skills that may be necessary to work toward various leadership roles. 

Acquired Business Skills

• Organizational behavior
• Servant leadership
• Human resources management
• Accounting
• Finance and marketing

What Jobs to Get With a Business Degree in Management

• Business development manager
• Project manager
• Business analyst
• Marketing manager
• Supply chain manager

2. Sports and Entertainment Management Degree

Sports and Entertainment Management careers may require both specific knowledge of the sport and generalized business skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. Sports and Entertainment Management is not specific to any one type of sport, so students with a sports and entertainment management degree may have a variety of options for pursuing employment. 

Desired Business Skills

• Sports event planning
• Marketing
• Sales
• Management
• Finance
• Economics
• Accounting

Types of Business Jobs With a Sports and Entertainment Management Degree

• Guest relations
• Event planning
• Athletic administration
• Sports merchandising
• Sports marketing

3. Project Management Degree

Project management is the act of initiating, planning, executing and controlling the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific criteria. This is another great type of career in business. A graduate degree in project management will teach you the following skills that can prepare you to work toward pursuing these career options: 

Sought-After Business Skills

• Innovation skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Technical skills
• Human skills
• Conceptual skills

Career Opportunities With a Project Management Degree

• General manager
• Director of operations
• Project analyst/manager
• Executive officer

Commonly Desired Business Skills for Many Types of Business Jobs

No matter which type of career(s) in business you’re interested in, you may benefit from cultivating business skills that employers look for, no matter their industry. Business skills such as teamwork, communication and technology skills can be highly transferrable across sectors and industries, which may allow you to begin working on developing them immediately, no matter where you are in your academic journey.

Teamwork

The ability to work efficiently in teams is a top skill employers are looking for.¹ When working on group projects for classes, be sure to identify your strengths, use appropriate communication and follow through with your commitments to your team. Recognizing and acknowledging your skills will help you describe your experiences and expertise to an interviewer.

The Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) projects at Grand Canyon University (GCU) provide opportunities for students to practice conquering the challenges that professionals face in the collaborative workforce.

Communication Skills

Exceptional oral and written communication skills are highly valued by employers in today’s workforce.¹ Consider taking advantage of communication classes to complete your elective credits. These classes can teach you the communication skills that employers may be searching for in prospective employees.

You will be taught conflict tactics, intervention techniques and methods for communication research implantation. Make a point to spotlight these abilities during an interview.

Technology Skills

As the use of technology continues to grow in the workplace, the need increases for business professionals who understand how to use technology correctly and appropriately to improve their organization.² GCU’s traditional classes use a hybrid in-person classroom and online approach to help students become familiar with online etiquette and the use of various online programs.

If you are interested in gaining a specialty in technology, GCU offers technical business degrees, such as the business information systems degree. Whatever degree you decide to pursue, be sure to pay attention to the ways technology is integrated in your studies and highlight your technical abilities to your future employer. 

GCU’s business degrees from the Colangelo College of Business can prepare you for a variety of careers in the business industry. Fill out the form on this page to learn more about our business degree programs.

¹ Indeed. (2023, February 3). Top 11 Skills Employers Look for in Job Candidates. Retrieved August 1, 2023.

² Beer, P. & Mulder, R. H. (2020). The effects of technological developments on work and their implications for continuous vocational education and training: a systematic review. Frontiers. Retrieved Aug. 23, 2023.