Want to explore different options and business careers pathways? We’ve compiled all the information you’ll need to thrive as a graduate of the Edge Hill Business School.
Hear advice from our former students, find useful job resources, and discover our Careers service. We’re here to help you from application to graduation and beyond.
What sectors can I work in with a Business School degree?
Accounting and finance
A business degree can lead you to a career in a variety of roles in the financial sector. Some jobs, such as Accountancy roles, will require additional training. Other roles within the finance sector include Risk Manager, which involves identifying threats to the financial stability of a company, as well as Insurance Underwriter and Corporate Investment Banker.
Business Support
This area of business covers roles such as Human Resources Officer and Training and Development Officer, which sit within the HR department of a business. Lots of organisations also employ Equality and Diversity Officers. In larger businesses, these roles may specialise further, for example Disability or Race Relations. Another role within this sector is the Office Manager. A good level of leadership and communication skills are required for these positions.
Retail
Within retail there are various roles across sales, buying, and merchandising. These include Sales Executive, Retail Buyer, and Retail Merchandiser. Buyer sources new merchandise and review existing products, whereas merchandisers predict trends and decide how much stock to order. Other roles include Retail Manager and Retail Banker.
Travel and tourism
Travel and tourism is a global industry, providing a wide range of opportunities to work both in the UK and worldwide. Positions include Hotel Manager, Tourism Officer, and Travel Agency Manager. There are host of opportunities working in events as a Conference Centre Manager and as a Customer Service Manager.
Analytics
Business graduates can analyse data and identify patterns. As such, they are well suited to roles such as Business Analyst, or – if you are more mathematically minded – Actuarial Analyst or Data Analyst. Similar roles include Systems Analyst – working primarily with IT programs – and UX Analyst, who specialise in website design and user experience.
Marketing
Roles within the marketing sector are constantly growing and changing, with relatively new roles such as Social Media Manager, Digital Marketing Officer and Media Planner becoming increasingly popular within organisations. Common roles within the sector include Marketing Executive and Communications Officer. You could also become a PPC Specialist, with responsibilities including planning and monitoring online advertising campaigns.
Management
A strong understanding of business and problem-solving skills is required to be an effective manager. Roles in this area include Management Consultant, specialising in helping a business to improve and change in order to grow; and Product Manager, working with a business to ensure their products meet the needs of their customers. Other roles include Project Manager and Logistics and Distribution Manager.
PR and advertising
Roles within this sector include Advertising Account Executive and Advertising Account Planner. Both roles require high levels of communication skills and creativity. Advertising Copywriters are responsible for writing slogans or straplines for adverts. Public Relations roles, such as PR Officer, involve reputation management and working closely with clients.
Graduate schemes
Graduate Schemes are increasingly popular with the business, finance and marketing sectors. These are a great way to learn and progress whilst on-the-job. Business related Graduate Schemes are offered by companies such as Unilever, Barclays, RBS, Network Rail and IBM. Graduate Schemes are famously competitive, so if you decide to apply, our dedicated Careers team can help you prepare for assessment centres, interviews and psychometric tests.
You can do pretty much anything with a Business related degree. Many employers take graduates from any subject area. Work experience within a business will also add to the list of skills and qualities that make you an employable graduate.
Business graduates highly valuable as they are:
- analytical and critical thinking
- good at making decisions
- have a creative approach to problem-solving
- are generally good with numbers and data analysis.
These problem-solving and analytical skills are high transferable and relevant in just about any industry, making business graduates highly desirable for recruitment.
There is a strong demand for skilled and qualified workers to enter the finance profession. Two-thirds of jobs in the financial and professional services are located outside of London, with hotspots including Leeds, Manchester, and Birmingham.
What skills do I need to succeed in business?
A degree from our Business School will equip you with the relevant skills you need to find employment in the business sector. This includes:
- interpersonal skills
- organisation
- problem solving
- commercial awareness
- adaptability
- ability to work under pressure
- time management
- attention to detail.
What else can I do with a Business School degree?
Approximately 70% of graduate vacancies are aimed at graduates of any degree subject. You can therefore use your degree to enter a wide range of sectors including:
- teaching (school, college, adult education, and university)
- legal service professions
- leisure, sport, and tourism
- hospitality and events management
- public service
- research.
Hear from our Business School graduates
Our recent Business School graduates have secured employment with larger organisations such as Unilever, BAE Systems, Softcat, Doris IT, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and Barclays Bank.
Need further information and guidance?
Our Careers team are here to help.
Ask Careers a question Book a Careers appointmentSeptember 1, 2023
