Typical Careers
Retail
Positions in the retail sector are diverse and plentiful. Retail sales in the United States total over $2.2 trillion; therefore, qualified candidates are in high demand. Retailing offers positions within the store environment as well as in the corporate setting:
- Store Manager: Managers have a variety of responsibilities, including customer service, inventory maintenance, personnel matters, and overall store performance. Depending on the size of the organization, entry-level candidates may start as department or assistant managers. Successful managers are promoted to division or regional managers. Individuals in these positions may keep evening and weekend hours.
- Buyer: Buyers select, order, receive, and manage a line of merchandise for a chain of retail establishments. This may require some traveling to find and select products. Analytical skills are required of this career. Entry-level positions may be as assistant buyers.
- Other positions within retailing include inventory control, distribution and logistics, financial analysis, and direct (non-store) retailing.
The Center for Retailing Studies, housed in the Marketing Department in Mays Business School, provides services for students interested in entering the world of retail. The Center offers an internship program, activities with top retailing companies and academic courses in the field of retailing. To learn more about the Center for Retailing Studies, visit their office in 222 Wehner or their web site, http://www.crstamu.org.
Consulting
Providing knowledge, special skills, creativity, or even time and human resources that an organization doesn’t have is the role of the consultant. Consulting expertise, whether provided by an independent consultant or via an individual or team in a consulting firm, is often needed to help organizations in a variety of areas, including process management, change management, operations, and information technology. Consultants, therefore, must be able to define and analyze challenges faced by organizations, develop solutions, and present their findings to management, and many consulting opportunities allow consultants to implement the proposed solutions.
Human Resources
Positions in human resources involve managing the human capital side of a business or organization. Individuals in human resources careers may specialize in one particular area, for example benefits analysis or recruiting, or they may be responsible for all facets of employee recruiting, training, compensation and labor relations. Some positions in human resources may require previous experience or a graduate degree. Participating in an internship or co-op will assist students who are interested in entering this field upon graduation. “Human Resources Careers”, a hand-out published by the Texas A&M Career Center provides more detailed information on the opportunities in this field. These are available in the Career Center (209 Koldus), from the Business Career Services Coordinator (238 Wehner), or from the Management Advisor in Mays Business School (420 Wehner).
Small Business Owner/Entrepreneur
Many students have dreams of one day starting, managing, or owning a business. Entrepreneurs start with an idea and formulate it into a business reality. Strong analytical skills are required to determine the feasibility of the business plan and how best to market the idea to the customer. Entrepreneurs must obtain financing for their business, and the ability to deal with and monitor risk is a requirement. Small business owners must staff their new venture and remain aware of labor laws. Many business owners got their start as a manager for other institutions. Using the skills they gained in these positions enabled them to successfully initiate their business plan.
Skills Needed for a Career in Management
- Ability to deal with change
- Analytical skills
- Computer skills
- Communication skills
- Leadership skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Willing to take risks
- Ability to work as a member of a team
- Interpersonal skills
Average Salary for Management Majors
Average salary for the 2003-2004 school year Texas A&M University Management graduates:
Bachelors Degree: $36,198 Masters Degree: $56,167
Sample of Employers Recruiting Management Majors at Texas A&M
- Aerotek
- American Airlines
- American Express
- Bank of America
- Bed Bath & Beyond
- BP
- Cardinal Health
- Deloitte Consulting
- Ferguson Enterprises
- Gap, Inc.
- Halliburton
- IBM
- Northwestern Mutual
- Office Depot
- Pepsi Bottling
- Protiviti
- Pulte Homes
- SBC Communications
- Sewell Motor Company
- The Gallup Organization
- U.S. Gypsum
- Walgreen
- Wells Fargo
- Zale Corporation
Preparing for a Career in Management
Experiential Education:
Employers are also seeking job candidates who have past work experience. Internships, cooperative education, and summer employment are critical to a student’s future. Not only do they aid in the search for a full-time job, but they also provide a “test-drive” for potential careers. Experiential education provides an excellent opportunity to work in different positions or industries to find a match that is best for you.
Informational Interviews:
Because there are a great number of employment options for Management majors, it is helpful to speak to individuals already in the field in order to get a more complete picture of job options. An informational interview (interviewing an individual to gather information and career advice) can provide students insight into the world of Management. It also provides an opportunity to expand your network of professional contacts. For more information on conducting an informational interview, visit with a Career Center staff member.
