Every business, no matter the size or industry, shares many core principles of operation. Accounting principles, for instance, apply to both small businesses and large, multinational corporations, as do marketing methods and leadership practices. Even the advanced analytics technologies that were once accessible only to companies with extensive capital resources are now available, applicable and scalable — both up and down — for businesses of all sizes across industries. People with the right skill set can transition to virtually any industry they like.
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) program can teach you these transferrable skills. If you’re looking to change tracks in your career, having an MBA can open horizontal and vertical possibilities. A versatile curriculum, a large network of peers, professors and colleagues, and opportunities for higher-paying careers are just a few of the benefits of getting an MBA. Plus, options like the 100% online MBA programs offered by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) give you the flexibility you need to keep working and earning an income while expanding your education and career horizons.
A Shifting Career Landscape
The versatility of an MBA helps explain the power of the degree to increase a graduate’s opportunities in many different fields. Where the worlds of finance and consulting used to be the primary professional tracks for MBA graduates, today’s MBA holders apply their transferable skills to a wide variety of positions across industries.
Specialized MBA programs also evolved to meet the unique professional aspirations of students while satisfying market needs. For instance, the business side of healthcare is a burgeoning field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of medical and health services managers will increase 28% between 2022 and 2032, making it one of the fastest growing occupations in the country. BLS also reports that these professionals earned an impressive median salary of $110,680 in 2023.
If a high-level career in this area interests you, a program like TAMU-CC’s MBA with a Concentration in Healthcare Administration would be an excellent choice.
Get Into Technology and More With an MBA
Jobs at the intersection of technology, information and business operations are becoming more popular for MBA grads. The demand for specialist positions like data scientists and information security analysts — jobs that also come with salaries well into the six figures — is overtaking demand for most other occupations, including those in finance and consulting.
This shift has far-reaching consequences. More jobs in these industries are available for MBA grads, and networking is easier as a result. TAMU-CC’s online MBA programs include core coursework focused on business applications of evolving technologies. Plus, if you want to pursue a specialized career in the evolving tech-driven side of business, you could choose TAMU-CC’s online MBA in Business Analytics to gain the cutting-edge skills and knowledge you need.
All this means that you can explore possibilities in many different disciplines and industries over the course of your MBA education and your career. If you like the idea of flexibility in career movement, you are not alone. Studies show that today’s workforce values flexibility, freedom, work-life balance and purpose. An MBA can give you the skills, versatility and competitive edge needed to command such flexibility in your work.
A Formidable Knowledge Base
MBA programs offer you the opportunity to develop a broad skillset that can apply to virtually any industry. Whether you’re starting your career as a mid-level manager at a Fortune 500 company or launching a new business from your parents’ garage, many of the same principles learned in an MBA program will be pertinent.
Over the course of MBA studies, you will develop critical-thinking and leadership skills. These transferable skills are useful to any employer looking to fill management positions, regardless of the industry. The same applies to skills in accounting, marketing and human resources. Employers in every industry value versatile employees with the transferable skills gained in MBA programs, as evidenced in research like GMAC’s 2023 Corporate Recruiter’s Survey. MBA grads have a distinct advantage over the competition because of their widely applicable knowledge and competencies.
Whether you’re looking to take your career to new heights, explore new industries or start your own business, you can equip yourself with the required skills by completing an online MBA program. During the course of your studies, you will have the opportunity to network with people in a wide variety of industries and find your way toward the place that fits you best.
Learn more about TAMU-CC’s online MBA programs.
