What business career is right for me?

Since business is a part of every single industry sector, it’s no surprise that business jobs are constantly in high demand. The area of business is one that is vast and comprises many different career paths. It can be tricky to narrow down which one you ought to travel. You’re in luck because we’ve made it easier for you to explore each of the different categories of business to carefully consider when choosing post-secondary study. 

At Fanshawe’s Lawrence Kinlin School of Business, one thing that we pride ourselves on is ensuring you have the right academic pathway to get you where you want to go. Many of our programs begin with common first-year courses in a variety of areas that allow you to sample some of the career paths that this blog will go through. There are also plenty of laddering opportunities that allow you to start in one credential and transfer the credits you earned toward a more advanced credential if you choose. Lastly, we provide graduate options to further specialize your skills in order to get the most of your education and enhance your career opportunities.

Entrepreneurship

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Interested in starting your own business or launching your own products or services? You may want to start pursuing a career in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of identifying, creating, and seizing opportunities to innovate and bring new products, services, or processes to the market. It embodies the spirit of taking risks, often with limited resources, to build and grow a business venture.

• Skills you'll need: You’ll need a breadth of strong foundational business skills and you’ll likely want to specialize in skills specific to your industry.
• Entry-level earning potential: ~$35,000 (source: Entrepreneur - Talent.com)
• Job opportunities: sole proprietor, small business owner, customer service representative, sales associate
• Programs to take:
  • Business Fundamentals - Entrepreneurship
• Read more on business foundations and entrepreneurship

Business Leadership and Management

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Leadership in a business environment requires a unique set of skills, from a good sense of finances to understanding how best to communicate with your colleagues and employees. In a business management role, you’ll efficiently organize tasks, solve problems and motivate teams to reach their shared goals, all while ensuring operations run smoothly.

• Skills you'll need:  Business Leadership and Management professionals need a breadth of skills including financial management, communication, empathy, critical thinking and analytical skills, creative problem-solving and leadership practices.
• Entry-level earning potential: ~$75,000 (source: Business Manager - Talent.com)
• Job opportunities: store or office manager, sales manager, project manager, construction area manager, business analyst, business executive
• Programs to take:
  • Business - Entrepreneurship and Management
  • Business (Co-op)
  • Business Administration - Leadership and Management
  • Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Management)
• Read more on business leadership and management careers

Sales and Marketing

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Thinking about a career in sales and marketing? This type of business career is all about connecting customers with products and services. While marketing is typically focused on creating awareness and demand, sales is more about directly interacting with customers. In marketing, people tend to be creative and forward-thinking and in sales, people are typically outgoing and energetic. Both environments tend to be fast-paced and provide the opportunity to combine creativity, communication and analytical skills. 

• Skills you'll need:  To be successful in this field, you’ll need to be proficient in communication, analytics and relationship building, as well as foundational knowledge of traditional and digital advertising, copywriting, market research and planning, sales fundamentals and sales technologies.
• Entry-level earning potential: ~$55,000 (sources: Entry Level Marketing - Talent.com, Entry Level Sales - Talent.com)
• Job opportunities: marketing manager, public relations manager, sales manager, Salesforce administrator, social media assistant, content marketing manager, market research analyst
• Programs to take:
  • Business - Marketing, Diploma
  • Business Administration - Marketing, Advanced Diploma
  • Honours Bachelor of Commerce - Digital Marketing, Degree
  • Marketing Management, Graduate Certificate
  • Customer Relationship Marketing and Sales Management
• Read more on sales and marketing careers

Supply Chain and Operations

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A career in supply chain management and operations is all about the smooth flow of goods and services from the initial stages of production all the way to the customer. Effective supply chain management keeps costs down, businesses competitive and customers happy. Supply chain management and operations ensure businesses have the necessary materials and supplies to deliver completed orders to customers on time.

• Skills you’ll need: Supply chain managers source materials, manage inventory and foresee risks while supply chain operators manage supplies within the warehouse, planning production and continuous improvement. Essential skills include an understanding of workflow, project management purchasing and negotiation skills.
• Entry-level earning potential: ~$60,000 (source: Supply Chain - Talent.com)
• Job opportunities: purchasing officer, procurement coordinator, logistics coordinator, warehouse supervisor, operations manager, supply chain analyst
• Programs to take:
  • Business - Supply Chain and Operations
  • Operations Management
  • Supply Chain Management - Logistics (Co-op)
• Read more on supply chain and operations careers

Insurance and Finance

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A career in finance and insurance focuses on securing the financial well-being of individuals and businesses. Finance professionals manage money, investments, and financial risks, ensuring businesses and individuals have the resources to thrive. On the other hand, insurance professionals protect individuals and businesses from financial losses due to unexpected events. By managing risks and planning for the future, finance and insurance professionals ensure financial security and peace of mind for their clients.

• Skills you’ll need: To excel in insurance and finance, you will benefit from skills in customer service, underwriting, claims investigation, risk analysis, financial management, tax planning, insurance, investments and estate planning.
• Entry-level earning potential: ~$47,000 - $60,000 (sources: Insurance Agent - Talent.com, Financial Advisor - Talent.com)
• Job opportunities: insurance customer service representative, claims adjuster, insurance agent/broker, investment advisor, financial planner
• Programs to take:
  • Customer Service Fundamentals - Insurance
  • Business - Insurance
  • Insurance and Risk Management
  • Business - Finance
  • Finance and Wealth Management
• Read more on insurance and finance careers

Accounting

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Good accounting is an integral part of any financially sound organization. Accountants are needed for all sorts of organizations, helping to collect and analyze financial information to support decision-making, identify cash flow issues and more. Skilled accountants ensure the accuracy and transparency of financial records, from tracking income and expenses to analyzing financial data and they also help monitor cash flow and make recommendations. Their expertise helps businesses make informed decisions, maintain compliance with regulations, and achieve long-term financial goals.

• Skills you’ll need: Success as an accountant hinges on a strong understanding of finance and financial regulations, including taxation. Beyond number-crunching skills, analytical thinking and decisive judgment are crucial. Proficiency in accounting software is also essential.
• Entry-level earning potential: ~$58,000 (source: Staff Accountant - Talent.com)
• Job opportunities: staff accountant, accounting analyst, bookkeeper, accounts payable and receivable clerk, tax practitioner
• Programs to take:
  • Business - Accounting, Diploma
  • Business Administration - Accounting, Advanced Diploma
  • Honours Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting, Degree
  • Professional Accounting, Graduate Certificate
• Read more on accounting careers

Human Resources

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Human resources professionals are the bridge between an organization and its workforce. HR professionals are skilled in navigating labour laws, managing benefits, and building strong relationships – all to empower employees and achieve the organization's goals. Human resources professionals understand employment policies and employee needs to ensure the company runs efficiently and employees feel valued.

• Skills you’ll need: You'll need to understand labour relations, compensation, benefits, recruitment and training. Communication skills and empathy are also important.
• Entry-level earning potential: ~$45,000 (source: Human Resources - Talent.com)
• Job opportunities: human resources generalist, recruiter, compensation clerk, training and development assistant, human resources manager
• Programs to take:
  • Business - Human Resources, Diploma
  • Business Administration - Human Resources, Advanced Diploma
  • Honours Bachelor of Commerce - Human Resources Management, Degree
  • Human Resources Management, Graduate Certificate
• Read more on human resources careers