11 Best Careers for MBA Graduates

The best careers for MBA graduates are in vocations where an MBA qualification continues to deliver value over time. Here is a list of eleven handpicked roles for MBA graduates where the degree offers a substantial competitive advantage. For detailed job titles in each career stream, see this article by Mallory.

Account Executive

Entry-level to senior management jobs are available as an account executive. The role involves selling activities where you need to increase the company’s client base, manage existing accounts to ensure repeat business, and find new customers.

Your career progresses as you move towards more significant key accounts, secure strategic leadership positions, and sell more high-value products. You have to be sales-oriented and a clever communicator.

Business Consultant

Appearances matter a lot in the consulting world, and an MBA degree commands a high value there. Your MBA degree helps generate demand for you to give expert advice to clients in management, development, and business administration issues.

To gain the confidence of clients and attract new business in the process, you should demonstrate expertise and ability in the subject you specialized in at university or the graduate business school.

Business Development Manager

As a business development manager, your job is to grow the company. You do this by identifying and capturing new business opportunities. You may be required to take on varied roles, such as that of a marketer, networker, and strategist. Examples of things you might do on a daily basis are to market products, improve your company’s digital presence, tap into new markets, or find new customers.

An MBA degree helps you to develop business strategy skills to add value to your organization. To succeed as a business development manager, you definitely want people to pay attention to what you have to say.

Entrepreneur

You may argue that MBA does not help you to become an entrepreneur. If you have invented a gadget or a new technology with worldwide applications, perhaps you need not bother with formal studies. But you need proper business skills to be an effective entrepreneur, and MBA can be a good idea.

Studying for an MBA allows you to develop key skills, especially with a course geared towards entrepreneurship. Holding an MBA can also help you win the confidence of business partners and prospective investors. An online MBA may be a good option if you want to save time on travel and tuition fees.

Finance Manager

If you enjoy understanding numbers and accounting concepts, this role of a finance manager could be for you. You can use your financial insights to guide business investment decisions. With an MBA degree, people will trust you for your strategic financial management skills.

General Manager

The role of a general manager involves leading people, managing and supervising them – typically when you are senior enough to “manage” other managers. Leadership and general management are core subjects in any MBA program and management principles are a central focus.

Completing an MBA reinforces your commitment to general management skills. Graduate business schools cater well to busy professionals and often design their online MBA programs to be ideal for senior managers.

Industry Specialist Manager

When you reach a quiet point in your career, you may find yourself questioning your prospects for a higher salary or promotion. Generally speaking, management skills and industry knowledge rather than technical skills are the major assets you need to keep progressing.

An MBA can help you grab senior management roles by demonstrating management skills. An MBA program will build your business administration skills to be an influential Industry specialist manager.

Marketing Manager

As you rise the ladder in the marketing profession, you devote more time to planning, leading, and budgeting instead of doing campaign jobs. Marketing is a core subject in almost every MBA program, along with management and leadership. Consequently, an MBA with marketing units is a fantastic booster degree for a career in marketing management.

Operations Manager

As an operations manager, your job is to oversee business operations, typically looking after service delivery or manufacturing processes. An MBA helps you shift from running routine operational activities to taking lead roles. Studying for an MBA better equips you to manage teams and formulate business strategies.

Product Manager

As a product manager, you have to optimize profits by ensuring that your product meets customer needs, is cost-effective, and follows high production standards. An MBA helps you develop business and teamwork skills. You come away better able to work with different people ranging from senior executives to production workers.

Program Manager

Specific activities require a separate budget, distinct from other business aspects. This is where the job of a program manager starts. You have to be adaptable because programs often vary and may be unique. An MBA provides a broad skill set, including business administration and team management skills, essential for program management roles.

Sales Manager

If you can mentor and coach your team to reach higher sales and have a knack for selling, the role of the sales manager could be for you. MBA holders have a competitive edge in recruitment and promotion processes as they have important skills. For example, resource allocation and strategic planning commonly feature in MBA programs and are also required for effective sales management.