Business, management and administration are arguably the most wide-ranging of all possible graduate careers, with many functions across almost all industries and services. A natural career option for many economics and business students, it is also open to candidates of any discipline who meet the criteria.
Think of business functions and you immediately think of positions such as management accountancy and human resource management (HRM).
Management accountingManagement accounting uses principles of accounting and financial management to provide management with information for the purpose of planning, decision-making and control. It is a fashionable career sector with the potential to earn salaries way above the graduate average. Entry is highly competitive. Management consulting (sometimes called strategy consulting) is concerned with improving a company's performance, looking at issues such as profit-making ability, management and market position.
Human resource officerTheir job is to manage the needs of the employees of a company. They provide administrative services for recruitment and employment of staff, analyzing skills and qualities required for each position beforehand. HR officers also maintain personal records of employees such as wages, EPF and training. They would also take care of staff concerns and grievances.
Consultancy Consultants often have wide expertise and graduates often get involved later in their careers and are able to draw on wider expertise. New graduates entering as trainees will:
- take responsibility for gathering, collating and processing data for presentation to the client?' senior management
- interview 'key' eople in the organisation to help compile recommendations
- carry out research.
Consultants work in high-pressure environments and to tight deadlines. Travel, overseas assignments and long hours can be part of the job, although many consultancy firms are concerned with providing the right work/life balance for their employees.
