I would like some opinions on an Associates degree in Business Administration, those of you who have one or are currently pursuing one. Long story short, I graduated high school in 2009, with the intent to finish a bachelors in business, that didnt happen, i went to work, and finished an associates in general studies. I've recently decided to pursue the associates in business. While I know it is nothing close to a bachelors degree, I hope I can secure a better job in the future with it. My current job is absolutely miserable, giving me more motivation to get away from it. I'm curious as to what kind of jobs are attainable with an associates in business, if anyone can give me some insight. I'm aware of entry level management and things like that. Thanks guys.
Associates in Business
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I would get an associates degree in electronics then apply for one of the jobs Mr. Nice posts on here regularly. If that appeals to you.
If you want a degree in business then I would go for a four year degree. The two year associates degree you have now should count towards the four degree.
If you want a degree in business then I would go for a four year degree. The two year associates degree you have now should count towards the four degree.
FWIW I have an Associate degree in Criminal Justice. I always was a trades kind of person, so I did auto body work and eventually started driving a truck because it paid well. I really like truck driving (most important thing is the company you work for). I've been doing tankers for 17 years now. There are so many un-underemployed degree holders I would seriously consider a trade. It worked out well for me.
In my experience, an associates degree in business doesn't really do anything for you. The market is flooded with college graduates with bachelors degrees in business. Just recently I was hiring for an entry level accountant and there was unlimited supply of applications from recent graduates with bachelors degrees from the smaller universities. These applicants were currently working low to minimum wage jobs at Best Buy, Liberty Tax service, or wherever and would take any salary just to get in the door at my company. Just to cut down the pool we targeted applicants from universities with better reputations ( University of Houston main campus being the minimum).
At the same time, we have openings for skilled trade type of positions (electricians, maintenance technicians, operators, etc) that can be much more difficult to fill when they open up.
At the same time, we have openings for skilled trade type of positions (electricians, maintenance technicians, operators, etc) that can be much more difficult to fill when they open up.
What is your future goal? It may help you or do nothing.
Get a four year degree in industrial technology, pick the area you are interested and get additional training. It's not going to be many years where we will have a hard time finding a plumber or and electrician. I think HVAC would be a excellent field.
What are you doing at your current job ?
I have a bachelors degree in Business, but I got that after working a technical job with an associates degree for a long time. I still do field service when we are short staffed, contract management in healthcare is my primary focus.
Certain trades pay good and have opportunity to get into the 'white collar' side of the business down the road.
I have a bachelors degree in Business, but I got that after working a technical job with an associates degree for a long time. I still do field service when we are short staffed, contract management in healthcare is my primary focus.
Certain trades pay good and have opportunity to get into the 'white collar' side of the business down the road.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
I graduated from a community college last year with an associate's in business. It really wasn't that hard to get. Just some business calculus classes were required was the hardest part for me, and they weren't that bad. I'm working on my bachelor's in business right now. Still don't know what I want to do with it.
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I graduated from a community college last year with an associate's in business. It really wasn't that hard to get. Just some business calculus classes were required was the hardest part for me, and they weren't that bad. I'm working on my bachelor's in business right now. Still don't know what I want to do with it.
I'm in the same boat, I didnt know what I would do with it back in '09 and still dont know now. At my current job I cut grass maintain and repair vehicles. Its not the job thats bad, just the boss and co-workers, most clueless people I have ever met.
I graduated from a community college last year with an associate's in business. It really wasn't that hard to get. Just some business calculus classes were required was the hardest part for me, and they weren't that bad. I'm working on my bachelor's in business right now. Still don't know what I want to do with it.
I'm in the same boat, I didnt know what I would do with it back in '09 and still dont know now. At my current job I cut grass maintain and repair vehicles. Its not the job thats bad, just the boss and co-workers, most clueless people I have ever met.
If you have an associates already, see if you can transfer to a 4-year and finish the bachelors in business. Most state universities have articulation agreements
Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
If you have an associates already, see if you can transfer to a 4-year and finish the bachelors in business. Most state universities have articulation agreements
Agreed. What's the point of getting yet another Associate's degree?
If you have an associates already, see if you can transfer to a 4-year and finish the bachelors in business. Most state universities have articulation agreements
Agreed. What's the point of getting yet another Associate's degree?
An Associates in business may not get you much but transferring into a 4 year program may. I have one son who graduated with an Accounting degree and another that tried the HVAC trade here in the NJ/PA region and is going to college to get his degree. My one son is doing pretty well with his degree but I agree, there are a ton of under employed people with degrees so pick a field of study wisely.
As for the trades, I think that it all depends where you're located and what is needed. My son graduated top of his class in HVAC, the instructor really liked him and tried to get him into the commercial end where the real money is made but there's nothing around here. Even smaller residential companies weren't interested ... I would imagine in Florida or other warm states he would have been snatched up.
I work in the medical repair field like Mr Nice and it has been good to me. Unfortunately in my area I see a trend for lower paying jobs or I should say it seems that a lot of the jobs are capped at what I consider a kind of low salary even for a very experienced person.
As for the trades, I think that it all depends where you're located and what is needed. My son graduated top of his class in HVAC, the instructor really liked him and tried to get him into the commercial end where the real money is made but there's nothing around here. Even smaller residential companies weren't interested ... I would imagine in Florida or other warm states he would have been snatched up.
I work in the medical repair field like Mr Nice and it has been good to me. Unfortunately in my area I see a trend for lower paying jobs or I should say it seems that a lot of the jobs are capped at what I consider a kind of low salary even for a very experienced person.
Originally Posted By: mobilaltima
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I graduated from a community college last year with an associate's in business. It really wasn't that hard to get. Just some business calculus classes were required was the hardest part for me, and they weren't that bad. I'm working on my bachelor's in business right now. Still don't know what I want to do with it.
I'm in the same boat, I didnt know what I would do with it back in '09 and still dont know now. At my current job I cut grass maintain and repair vehicles. Its not the job thats bad, just the boss and co-workers, most clueless people I have ever met.
My niece works at Hertz rental car HQ with an associates in business, she goes to school at night to finish her bachelors degree in business. Before Hertz she was a cast member at Disney wearing a costume and taking photos with tourists. Maybe try looking for jobs in bigger cities in your state.
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I graduated from a community college last year with an associate's in business. It really wasn't that hard to get. Just some business calculus classes were required was the hardest part for me, and they weren't that bad. I'm working on my bachelor's in business right now. Still don't know what I want to do with it.
I'm in the same boat, I didnt know what I would do with it back in '09 and still dont know now. At my current job I cut grass maintain and repair vehicles. Its not the job thats bad, just the boss and co-workers, most clueless people I have ever met.
My niece works at Hertz rental car HQ with an associates in business, she goes to school at night to finish her bachelors degree in business. Before Hertz she was a cast member at Disney wearing a costume and taking photos with tourists. Maybe try looking for jobs in bigger cities in your state.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
What are you doing at your current job ?
I have a bachelors degree in Business, but I got that after working a technical job with an associates degree for a long time. I still do field service when we are short staffed, contract management in healthcare is my primary focus.
Certain trades pay good and have opportunity to get into the 'white collar' side of the business down the road.
Same scenario for me. I earned an Associates in Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology right out of high school, then years later had my employer(s) reimburse me for the cost of a bachelors in business management that I earned in 2000.
If it's a 2yr degree on your radar, definitely choose one that has a direct job path. Engineering Tech can be applied to many avenues.
What are you doing at your current job ?
I have a bachelors degree in Business, but I got that after working a technical job with an associates degree for a long time. I still do field service when we are short staffed, contract management in healthcare is my primary focus.
Certain trades pay good and have opportunity to get into the 'white collar' side of the business down the road.
Same scenario for me. I earned an Associates in Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology right out of high school, then years later had my employer(s) reimburse me for the cost of a bachelors in business management that I earned in 2000.
If it's a 2yr degree on your radar, definitely choose one that has a direct job path. Engineering Tech can be applied to many avenues.
I agree with much of what was posted above. Here is my own story (Warning: Long).
Part 1
I dropped out of high school and worked for several years. First at a supermarket, then at a quick oil change chain. I finally decided to go back to school at the age of 28. I was not very confident in my abilities and felt hopeless, but I needed to do something worthwhile with my life and at that point I though getting educated would help. With not much forethought I enrolled in the largest community college in Toronto in a Business - Supply Chain, Advanced Diploma program. Which was a 3 year program. Regular Diplomas are two years long (I guess what people in the US call an Associates Degree we call a Diploma.) The first year is basically the same across all Business programs and then in 2nd and 3rd year specialized courses begin. It was at the end of first year when faculty steered me towards the Marketing program. I ended up graduating the 3 year program at the top of my class. Being older and taking my studies more seriously than the kids right out of high school definitely helped.
I can honestly say I learned a lot and was better prepared for a career, but the piece of paper I got from community college means nothing to me now. This is because I saw so many of my classmates graduate who had no business graduating. Borderline illiterates, cheaters, or international students who were pushed through just to make the graduation stats look higher, etc. Very very few from this graduating class have a job worth a darn. Most are working retail or pushing paper at low level admin jobs.
Part 2
After graduating from community college I had the opportunity to transfer my credits to one of several Toronto area university and enroll as a Direct Entry student. I was given two years of University credit for three years of community college. At this point I had moved back in with my parents and thought if I don't do it now. I may never get it done. I feel I had something to prove to myself by getting a University Degree. Again, at University I saw many people get pushed though and graduate with credentials who had no business doing so. After five years of full time study (3 years at Community College, 2 at University) I ended up with a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management majoring in Marketing. To be honest, in my opinion Marketing is the lowest level of Business Degree. It seems those who couldn't cut it in Accounting, Finance, or Business Law ended up in Marketing. Me? I just fell into it I guess. To anyone else I would recommend getting into Finance or Accounting, I just personally am extremely weak in math.
Part 3
Was a University grad looking for full time work in my field. I was lucky enough to not be jobless during the job search since I had held on to a part time job I had at the community college I graduated from. I spent NINE months looking for a job in my field, but I quickly found out people with business degrees, especially in marketing, were a dime a dozen. I was desperate and had started applying for anything, looking at online job posting constantly. I even applied for a job at a department store as an "in-store marketer", which I came to find out was a position responsible for folding clothes and making displays. During the interview I also found out they paid just over minimum wage, demanded full time availability including weekends but only promised up to 27 hours a week. They also asked for a portfolio of displays I had made in the past... They did not hire me...
Two weeks later a neighbour of a friend of mine gave me a clipping of a job ad from a community newspaper for a company located 50km north of Toronto who were looking for recent business grads for a sales position. Within three days of e-mailing them, I had an interview and was given a job offer. Just like that, I had fallen into a great job doing Sales and Marketing for a small aerospace manufacturer with contracts for components for the Ram Air Turbine and Joint Strike Fighter! I even got to go the to Canadian Aerospace Summit in Ottawa where we met the President and CEO of Lockheed Martin Marrilyn Hewson and President of Boeing Military Shelley Lavender. I have been at the company for almost a year and have been given a role in operations.
Moral of the Story: Getting a degree in business can be useful but it is tough finding a job, and like others have said you can end up underemployed and doing a job you would otherwise not need the degree for. A lot of the grads in class are not working Admin jobs, retail or some junk in social media. Though I would not have even been considered for this job if I did not have a degree. I am VERY fortunate to have this job, in an industry I find extremely cool. The things I get to see and be a part of is mind blowing.
This all being said, if I had to do it all over again I would get into a trade. There are simply too many people being churned out of the education system with the same business degree. Unless you have some sort of prior experience to stand out from the competition (or get lucky) like there is a high chance you will end up in an unfulfilling job cold calling or some other B.S. all while being saddled with student loan debt.
Part 1
I dropped out of high school and worked for several years. First at a supermarket, then at a quick oil change chain. I finally decided to go back to school at the age of 28. I was not very confident in my abilities and felt hopeless, but I needed to do something worthwhile with my life and at that point I though getting educated would help. With not much forethought I enrolled in the largest community college in Toronto in a Business - Supply Chain, Advanced Diploma program. Which was a 3 year program. Regular Diplomas are two years long (I guess what people in the US call an Associates Degree we call a Diploma.) The first year is basically the same across all Business programs and then in 2nd and 3rd year specialized courses begin. It was at the end of first year when faculty steered me towards the Marketing program. I ended up graduating the 3 year program at the top of my class. Being older and taking my studies more seriously than the kids right out of high school definitely helped.
I can honestly say I learned a lot and was better prepared for a career, but the piece of paper I got from community college means nothing to me now. This is because I saw so many of my classmates graduate who had no business graduating. Borderline illiterates, cheaters, or international students who were pushed through just to make the graduation stats look higher, etc. Very very few from this graduating class have a job worth a darn. Most are working retail or pushing paper at low level admin jobs.
Part 2
After graduating from community college I had the opportunity to transfer my credits to one of several Toronto area university and enroll as a Direct Entry student. I was given two years of University credit for three years of community college. At this point I had moved back in with my parents and thought if I don't do it now. I may never get it done. I feel I had something to prove to myself by getting a University Degree. Again, at University I saw many people get pushed though and graduate with credentials who had no business doing so. After five years of full time study (3 years at Community College, 2 at University) I ended up with a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management majoring in Marketing. To be honest, in my opinion Marketing is the lowest level of Business Degree. It seems those who couldn't cut it in Accounting, Finance, or Business Law ended up in Marketing. Me? I just fell into it I guess. To anyone else I would recommend getting into Finance or Accounting, I just personally am extremely weak in math.
Part 3
Was a University grad looking for full time work in my field. I was lucky enough to not be jobless during the job search since I had held on to a part time job I had at the community college I graduated from. I spent NINE months looking for a job in my field, but I quickly found out people with business degrees, especially in marketing, were a dime a dozen. I was desperate and had started applying for anything, looking at online job posting constantly. I even applied for a job at a department store as an "in-store marketer", which I came to find out was a position responsible for folding clothes and making displays. During the interview I also found out they paid just over minimum wage, demanded full time availability including weekends but only promised up to 27 hours a week. They also asked for a portfolio of displays I had made in the past... They did not hire me...
Two weeks later a neighbour of a friend of mine gave me a clipping of a job ad from a community newspaper for a company located 50km north of Toronto who were looking for recent business grads for a sales position. Within three days of e-mailing them, I had an interview and was given a job offer. Just like that, I had fallen into a great job doing Sales and Marketing for a small aerospace manufacturer with contracts for components for the Ram Air Turbine and Joint Strike Fighter! I even got to go the to Canadian Aerospace Summit in Ottawa where we met the President and CEO of Lockheed Martin Marrilyn Hewson and President of Boeing Military Shelley Lavender. I have been at the company for almost a year and have been given a role in operations.
Moral of the Story: Getting a degree in business can be useful but it is tough finding a job, and like others have said you can end up underemployed and doing a job you would otherwise not need the degree for. A lot of the grads in class are not working Admin jobs, retail or some junk in social media. Though I would not have even been considered for this job if I did not have a degree. I am VERY fortunate to have this job, in an industry I find extremely cool. The things I get to see and be a part of is mind blowing.
This all being said, if I had to do it all over again I would get into a trade. There are simply too many people being churned out of the education system with the same business degree. Unless you have some sort of prior experience to stand out from the competition (or get lucky) like there is a high chance you will end up in an unfulfilling job cold calling or some other B.S. all while being saddled with student loan debt.
Move to Japan to be an English teacher.
It's a fun job in the safest Nation in the world.
It's a fun job in the safest Nation in the world.
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Who are you going to impress with this degree?
What business are you going to get in?
What, aside from a salary, are you in it for?
What business has a problem that you'll solve that you have a unique talent for?
If you can't answer these questions, stop and reassess. Stop spending money on education until you figure out a path.
If I were in your situation I would temp, bounce around, and see what sorts of companies do cool, mentally invigorating work with likeable co-workers and room for advancement then pursue goals towards that company. There are plenty of jobs that are hard to describe and hard to market that get temps-to-hire.
What business are you going to get in?
What, aside from a salary, are you in it for?
What business has a problem that you'll solve that you have a unique talent for?
If you can't answer these questions, stop and reassess. Stop spending money on education until you figure out a path.
If I were in your situation I would temp, bounce around, and see what sorts of companies do cool, mentally invigorating work with likeable co-workers and room for advancement then pursue goals towards that company. There are plenty of jobs that are hard to describe and hard to market that get temps-to-hire.
Originally Posted By: mobilaltima
I would like some opinions on an Associates degree in Business Administration, those of you who have one or are currently pursuing one. Long story short, I graduated high school in 2009, with the intent to finish a bachelors in business, that didnt happen, i went to work, and finished an associates in general studies. I've recently decided to pursue the associates in business. While I know it is nothing close to a bachelors degree, I hope I can secure a better job in the future with it. My current job is absolutely miserable, giving me more motivation to get away from it. I'm curious as to what kind of jobs are attainable with an associates in business, if anyone can give me some insight. I'm aware of entry level management and things like that. Thanks guys.
IMO, this approach to your career is all wrong...
Start with the end in mind: What kind of career do you want? Then, what kind of job would you get to start out that career? Then, what kind of skills, education, and experience would you need to get that kind of job?
So, what kind of job/career do you want?
If you aren't sure, start by looking at the fields that are in high demand now or will be in high demand in the future: Any STEM field (physical science, computer science, engineering, etc.); Health care; Education. If you have the aptitude and/or interest to pursue any of those areas, do it. TIP: You will MOST LIKELY need a 4-year (bachelor's degree) minimum in these types of fields.
If a 4-year degree is absolutely not for you... Learn a trade. There is good money to be made in the trades, if you work hard - HVAC, electrical, plumbing, automotive, construction, etc. Great place to start if one day you want to be a small business owner.
I would like some opinions on an Associates degree in Business Administration, those of you who have one or are currently pursuing one. Long story short, I graduated high school in 2009, with the intent to finish a bachelors in business, that didnt happen, i went to work, and finished an associates in general studies. I've recently decided to pursue the associates in business. While I know it is nothing close to a bachelors degree, I hope I can secure a better job in the future with it. My current job is absolutely miserable, giving me more motivation to get away from it. I'm curious as to what kind of jobs are attainable with an associates in business, if anyone can give me some insight. I'm aware of entry level management and things like that. Thanks guys.
IMO, this approach to your career is all wrong...
Start with the end in mind: What kind of career do you want? Then, what kind of job would you get to start out that career? Then, what kind of skills, education, and experience would you need to get that kind of job?
So, what kind of job/career do you want?
If you aren't sure, start by looking at the fields that are in high demand now or will be in high demand in the future: Any STEM field (physical science, computer science, engineering, etc.); Health care; Education. If you have the aptitude and/or interest to pursue any of those areas, do it. TIP: You will MOST LIKELY need a 4-year (bachelor's degree) minimum in these types of fields.
If a 4-year degree is absolutely not for you... Learn a trade. There is good money to be made in the trades, if you work hard - HVAC, electrical, plumbing, automotive, construction, etc. Great place to start if one day you want to be a small business owner.
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