Management, like any other field, is a skill that you can learn through both formal training and by gaining experience. However, before you can gain on-the-job experience, you will most likely need to obtain qualifications. As most employers expect that managers hold at least a bachelor’s degree before they consider them for a position, it is advisable to opt for a degree program if you want to become a manager.
To enhance your job prospects, you can consider furthering your studies with a master’s program and can also supplement your formal training with professional certification. Here are a few qualifications you can consider if you want a career in management.
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Healthcare Management
The healthcare industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a growth of 14% in job opportunities in the period 2018 to 2028. As a result, a career in healthcare management is a good option. Healthcare managers, also known as healthcare administrators, are professionals who manage the daily operations at hospitals, clinics, and other medical institutions. Daily duties include:
- Hiring, training, and managing staff
- Implementing and overseeing regulations, policies, and procedures
- Managing and planning budgets
- Maintaining high standards and ensuring good services
To become a healthcare manager, you can opt for a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration. Such a program typically offers coursework in subjects like business, marketing, finance, legal and ethical studies, human resources, management, operations, and risk management. Although the minimum entry requirement for finding a job as a healthcare manager is a bachelor’s degree, employees tend to favor candidates with master’s degrees.
Business Administration
A bachelor’s in business administration program teaches candidates financial principles, managerial and communication skills, as well as decision-making skills. Such programs typically offer coursework in core business functions like accounting, finance, information technology, marketing, project management, and human resources. With a bachelor’s in business administration, you could pursue a career as a sales manager, financial analyst, or a business consultant.
However, if you are serious about honing a career in management, you should consider opting for a master’s in business administration. Armed with an MBA, you can gain access to most careers in management. You could, for instance, work as a business operations manager, an IT director, a marketing manager, or a top executive. As it is sometimes challenging to gain admission to an MBA program, it is advisable to use the services of an experienced resume writer when drafting your MBA admissions resume.
Managerial Accounting
A managerial accountant, also known as a corporate accountant, is a professional who directs the internal financial processes of a company by monitoring costs, sales, and budgets. It is a profession that encompasses multiple facets of accounting, including budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and costing.
Managerial accounting should not be confused with financial accounting. Whereas financial accountants provide financial information to external parties, managerial accountants provide the top management of a company with financial reports that assist them in making well-informed strategic decisions.
A bachelor’s in managerial accounting offers coursework in subjects like taxation, business finance, business communications, marketing, statistical analysis, cost accounting, macroeconomics, and management policy.
Project Management
Project management is another field that is experiencing an impressive growth rate in job opportunities, as most companies need professionals to manage their projects and programs. As a project manager, you manage project teams and ensure that projects or programs are completed on time and within budget. Important aspects of project management include defining a project’s scope, obtaining the necessary resources, communicating with stakeholders, monitoring progress, and risk management.
To become a project manager, you can consider a bachelor’s degree in project management. Such a program typically offers a combination of business administration, economics, and marketing subjects. Coursework may include subjects like risk management, organizational leadership, project management methodologies, project planning, procurement, and finance and cost management.
Many project managers also opt to supplement their formal training with professional certification. A popular designation, for instance, is the Project Management Professional (PMP) qualification. This designation is offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and demonstrates that candidates have the proficiency to run well-managed projects.
These are only a few examples of qualifications you can consider if you wish to pursue a career as a manager. As you can become a manager in just about any industry and field, it is advisable to study a general management degree, such as business administration, if you have not decided on a specific area or field yet. However, if you have decided on an industry, it is best to specialize and gain your management qualification in that specific field.
