time to declare business concentration

[donnyj08]

Hello, Guys I've been going to school for a few years now at night and its finally time to declare a concentration within the Business department. Starting this coming 2014 spring semester i am officially enrolled in the Kelley School of Business. I've narrowed my choices down to two concentrations. Management or Economics and public policy with the option to double major and pursue both for 12 extra credit hours.

What are your guys thoughts? Are there any Management or Economics Majors here that could give some insight or perspective as graduates? Thanks guys!

 

[raytseng]

you should be asking this question to people at your school and department, or ask for advisors or mentors.

Taking business-track career advice from people who spend their time on oil and oil-related info rather than using that same time and effort on something bigger and more meaningful is a bad move.

 

[NMBurb02]

Depends on what you want to do with your life. If you want to be an economist or public policy wonk, go with econ. If you want to do something business related but with no particular field in mind, go with management. My BAdmin is in Entrepreneurship, but looking back on it now (8 years later), management may have been a better route as I am looking at a career in senior (and potentially executive) management in a Fortune 500 company. A management concentration will probably get you an education along the lines of an MBA, but without the graduate degree prestige.

 

[Barkleymut]

My major is in management with minors in advertising and marketing. If I had it to do over I would major in econ or accounting. Job opportunities in my area are few and far between with a management degree without management experience.

 

[dparm]

A degree in management will probably let you slide into a variety of different roles since it is somewhat more "generic" (though I don't say that to diminish its value). You will definitely want some sort of minor(s) or dual-major to go along with that.

But as someone else suggested, talk to the career center & counselors for some guidance.

Congrats on Kelley, that is an excellent b-school.


BTW, I have my BSBA in MIS from Eller, the Univ of AZ's b-school.

 

[donnyj08]

Thanks for the input guys. I have talked with my adviser. He said both fields show low percentage of unemployment from other students that have graduates from Kelley. He advised me to do some research on each concentration and talk to others in each field to get and idea of which one i think i want to declare starting out.

I'm not missing out on guidance advising, i'm simply asking for input from professionals here that are working in their perspective fields of study.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: donnyj08


I'm not missing out on guidance advising, i'm simply asking for input from professionals here that are working in their perspective fields of study.


Good on you, always nice to see the other side of the coin and not just eat what the school tells you.

So, in essence, you want a well paying job wearing a suit, and it doesn't really matter the industry?

I'd try something with a sales arm when you get out, someone who can bring money in gets bumped up the ladder quickly. B2B sales particularly. Wife used to work for an engineering/ environmental consulting firm and there was $$$ to be made helping other businesses out of jams. There are lots of businesses out there that just sit around waiting for the phone to ring... if you can haul in measurable new work the world is your oyster.

 

[99Saturn]

First thing I'd recommend is doubling and doing both, if you can squeeze it in in the standard amount of time/credits. Not sure if you know what type of job/career you want to have in the future, along with the industry and culture of the industry you are looking at? Asking yourself that should shed some light on the choices, as well as what type of background you have now.

IMO, Economics opens up better doors in a specific set of jobs, while a management degree probably opens up a wider degree of choices with a less specific skill set. Still, a lot is going to do with prior experience (if any), and ultimately what the person sitting across the table values too.

FWIW, my background is in Economics and Political Science and I returned for an MBA concentrating in Supply Chain.

 

[donnyj08]

My current background is in general contracting and energy efficiency. I have 4 years of Weatherization experience as a crew supervisor for a contracting company. Over the last year I have been working in the commercial and industrial rebate field promoting lighting,HVAC,and other energy star rebates including residential Weatherization programs. The company I work for is promoted and funded by the utility companies in Indiana.

I am looking at continuing in the energy efficiency field/and or utility company work. I also am considering some form of entrepreneurship as I come from a family of entrepreneurs. It would seem both concentrations would help me fair well within these fields. Majoring in both would be ideal if I can stand to spend the extra time in school.

 

[hattaresguy]

I have a management degree. Generally with business unless you have a specific job in mind that requires a specific degree it doesn't really matter.

What matters more are the contacts and friends you make at business school, than your going to want to join a country club, yacht club, rotary club, or charity afterwards to keep in touch.

If you want to rise up the ladder being very good and competent at what you do is essential, but not enough. Their are a lot of very good and competent people pigeon holed into middle of the road jobs. The same holds true for people with very good degrees, they just make you a bit more desirable to hire. You need to play politics and swim in the same circles as the big boys, so set up a T time at a good club when your VP plays, etc.

 

[raytseng]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
I have a management degree. Generally with business unless you have a specific job in mind that requires a specific degree it doesn't really matter.

What matters more are the contacts and friends you make at business school, than your going to want to join a country club, yacht club, rotary club, or charity afterwards to keep in touch.

If you want to rise up the ladder being very good and competent at what you do is essential, but not enough. Their are a lot of very good and competent people pigeon holed into middle of the road jobs. The same holds true for people with very good degrees, they just make you a bit more desirable to hire. You need to play politics and swim in the same circles as the big boys, so set up a T time at a good club when your VP plays, etc.


Agree with this guy. Network for business is the best decision to further your career. My advice was the corollary that people who have this kind of alpha attitude are least likely to be found using their time on an oil website and debating the details of oil

. They alpha MBAs pay to get their service done and then are out for a networking lunch.

As far as getting a job, my advice is don't try so hard to maximize based on statistics and trying to chase a job

check out this article:
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324139404579016662718868576

 

[hattaresguy]

I find websites like this that discuss mundane things to be relaxing. Can't be "on" all the time.

But yes your right working on cars is generally a waste of time. Or as my dad always said don't waste time fixing it, go make a lot more money and buy a new one!