Making a Career Change with a Business Degree: Is it Worth It? | Student Reviews & University Rankings EDUopinions

Making a Career Change with a Business Degree: Is it Worth It?

07/04/2022

It can be difficult when you’ve decided you don’t have passion for your career anymore and want to make a change. But making a career change doesn’t have to be stressful – the solution could be to level up your skills with a new degree.

But why should you choose a business degree to make a career change? This subject in particular has job preparation at its core, meaning you’ll graduate with transferable skills and the connections necessary to switch careers.

In this article, we’ll go through why you might consider making a career change, how a business degree could help you succeed, and why it’s worth it.

Are you interested in a business degree?
Find out more

Making a Career Change: Why Do it?

Making a career change is a difficult decision. But you’re not alone – according to research, the average person changes careers five to seven times in their lifetime.

There are plenty of reasons you might decide to make a change. Chief among these is feeling dissatisfied in your current role or industry. For example, you may have progressed up the career ladder as far as you can. Or, you might find you don’t get any enjoyment out of your work anymore.

A career change may also come about if you decide to relocate. Maybe you aspire to live and work in a big city and need to leave your current job to do that, or maybe you want to leave full-time office life for a self-employed role.

Whatever your reasons are for making a career change, you should consider a few things before you go through with it. You should have a think about:

  • How much time will it take you to re-train for your dream career?
  • Can you afford to take time out of full-time work?
  • Do you have the time to study, if that’s required?
  • Do you have a good support network around you to help you with your career change?

How Can a Business Degree Help You Make a Career Change?

Career Prospects

There are many degrees that are suited to people who are thinking of making a carer change. However, perhaps the most versatile degree is a business degree.

A broad degree like a Masters in Management or an MBA will introduce you to a wide range of topics, from marketing to finance. You’ll also pick up a wide variety of skills from presenting and networking to number literacy and leadership. These soft skills are as important as the niche business knowledge, and will undoubtedly boost your career no matter the industry you’re aiming for.

In fact, many people choose business as a way to switch careers. According to Graduate Management Admission Council, 36% of students choose a business degree to switch jobs, and 27% intend to switch industries.

Here are four ways a business degree could be the way for you to make a career change.

It’ll Help You Find a Passion

A business or management degree will introduce you to a multitude of topics. While this might seem overwhelming at first, a broad degree like this is a great way of discovering what subjects you have a passion for.

Some of the subjects you might cover in a business degree include:

  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Accounting
  • Leadership
  • Entrepreneurship
  • HR
  • Law
  • Business Analytics

If you’re struggling to decide which career you’d like to follow in the future, the wide range of options during a business degree will offer you the space to explore many subjects. With a longer degree like an MBA or Bachelors, you may also get the chance to specialise in a subject, leading to deeper knowledge.

You’ll Learn In-Demand Skills

All skills are equally important when it comes to impressing the job market, but some are more in demand than others. These in-demand skills are more often than not taught specifically on business degrees, giving you a higher chance of success later on.

For example, businesses today are looking for graduates to have a higher degree of tech knowledge and analytical reasoning than ever before. As businesses pivot to the cloud, and technological capabilities become more advanced, the workers of tomorrow (and today) need to understand these skills.

Luckily, a business degree will cover cutting-edge topics like fintech, big data, the Internet of Things, and business analytics – all skills that are key for businesses today.

Expand Your Experience

Is your resume looking a little tired? Then a business degree is a great way of increasing your experience as you make your career change.

Business degrees like a Masters in Management or MBA usually include opportunities for an internship, usually taking place over the summer break. This is your chance to get direct experience in the industry or job role that you’re interested in – and could lead to a full-time job offer after your studies.

If you don’t manage to snag an internship during your degree (for example, if your degree is only one year long), there are plenty of other opportunities to gain experience on a business degree. As opposed to other disciplines, a business degree is largely practical, and business schools will integrate other practical experiences into their programmes.

For example, you may get to work directly with a company on your capstone – the end-of-year – project. Or, you may spend a week visiting companies and learning how they really operate. All of this will increase your employability and make you more aware of what a career in this industry might look like.

The Networking Opportunities

Most of all, a business degree is for networking. Business degrees attract a wide range of people from all industries and corners of the world, and the contacts you make could last a lifetime.

This is your chance to find out from your peers what working in other industries is like. Foster those vital business relationships that could lead to a job offer after your degree.

Beyond your classmates, a business school also opens opportunities to network with your professors and alumni. Alumni networks are usually massive, and the careers service at your school will offer ways for you to get in touch with past students for mentorship opportunities. Not only does this give you a better chance of getting a job later on, but it can also help you realise what you want to do as a career.

Need help choosing a business degree?
Get free advice!

Conclusion

A career change is a huge decision. From your finances to your experience, you’ll have to evaluate what it is you want to do and whether you have the skills to do it.

However, no matter the industry you want to work in, a business degree will give you the transferable skills you need to successfully switch careers. From networking to getting valuable practical experience, this degree could pave the way for your dream career.

Featured Content
Written by
Abigail
Abigail is a freelance writer specialising in higher education. She has lived in London and the Netherlands, and has a Masters degree in American Studies.

Recent Posts

Get our experts advice for free.
Contact us.
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Review our Privacy Policy for more details.
Close