Category Archives: Business

Business, Career Exploration, Communications, Government, Majors, Occupations

What Can I Do with a Communication Major?

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This space is inadequate to describe at length the wealth of possibilities a student could pursue with a communication degree.  Though most majors aid students in improving their communication skills, this post will address career possibilities with majors in Baylor’s Department of Communication:

Communication Studies (formerly Speech Communication)

Film and Digital Media

Communication Specialist

It should be noted that the Communication Specialist major combines coursework from Communication Studies and Film and Digital Media.  Students who are interested in the Communication Specialist major would be wise to check out careers that relate to both components of the major.

As I mentioned above, selecting a communication major opens up a wide variety of career options.  Think about it.  Most jobs require a person to communicate effectively, whether it means expressing oneself verbally, in writing, or in other forms.  Some nice starting points for information are the resources on the Career Counseling website related to choosing a major.  Additionally, a podcast is available for each of the three majors listed above.

Some of the more common occupations you will read or hear about in these resources are in business, media, law, social services, nonprofit, government/politics, and education.  Truly, the possibilities are endless, which is a nice feature for students seeking a major and career that offers variety.

Business, Occupations

Calling All Future CEOs!

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There are some people in life who have their sights set at the top from an early age.  Do you dream of life in the C-suite?  If so, you should already be preparing.  High salaries and prestige don’t come easily.  What exactly can you expect from a career guided by the goal of being a top executive?  Try these resources for starters:

Top Executives (Occupational Outlook Handbook)

The New Path to the C-Suite (Harvard Business Review)

Baylor Business Undergraduate Programs and Advising (Hankamer School of Business)

Baylor Business Graduate Programs (Hankamer School of Business)

Baylor’s School of Engineering and Computer Science

Baylor Law School

 

Business, Graduate School, Healthcare, Occupations

Career Spotlight: Medical and Health Services Managers

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Medical and health services managers are also referred to as healthcare administrators or healthcare executives.  There are numerous subcategories within this profession.  Medical and health services managers focus on the business and regulatory aspects of healthcare, including the maintenance and analysis of patient information, managing budgets, overseeing projects, and ensuring that an organization meets applicable legal standards.  Work settings could include hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and outpatient facilities.  For students who are interested in working in a medical environment without an educational background in the hard sciences, healthcare administration could be a viable option

Some medical and health services managers enter the field with a Bachelor’s degree, but a Master’s degree is common in this field.  When trying to determine a relevant undergraduate major at Baylor, business and nursing majors are some options to compare.  A directory of accredited graduate programs in healthcare administration can be found on the website of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.  One particular type of medical and health services manager is a health information manager.  More information on career paths in health information management can be found on the American Health Information Management Association’s website.

For more information on Baylor’s MBA program in Healthcare Administration, click here.

Business, Occupations, Web Resources

Career Spotlight: Investment Manager

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Investment managers are often referred to as portfolio managers. O*NET states that investment managers perform the following tasks:

  • Manage investment funds to maximize return on client investments.
  • Select specific investments or investment mixes for purchase by an investment fund.
  • Analyze acquisitions to ensure conformance with strategic goals or regulatory requirements.
  • Select or direct the execution of trades.
  • Develop or implement fund investment policies or strategies.
  • Develop or direct development of offering documents or marketing materials.
  • Evaluate the potential of new product developments or market opportunities, according to factors such as business plans, technologies, or market potential.
  • Identify group or individual target investors for a specific fund.
  • Meet with investors to determine investment goals or to discuss investment strategies.
  • Monitor regulatory or tax law changes to ensure fund compliance or to capitalize on development opportunities.

Investment managers need to be knowledgeable of economic, accounting, sales, and marketing principles and practices. They also require a strong background in mathematics.

Investment managers possess strong active listening, speaking, and critical thinking skills. They also have the ability to analyze financial data.   

The median salary for investment managers in 2010 was $96,450.

Investment managers often have undergraduate degrees in business. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) can make a candidate more marketable.

A helpful website is: http://www.mbaauthority.com/cc/inv-mgt.html

Business, Majors

Risk Management and Insurance Major

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Preparing students for careers in both financial and non-financial industries, the focus of the Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) major is value protection.  According to the major’s website:

“RMI has traditionally focused on strategies that might be adopted by a firm or individual to manage those risks that are insurable.  Such strategies encompass the management of property and liability risks as well as financial risks related to mortality and morbidity.  During recent years, however, increased volatility of interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and commodity prices have caused firms and individuals to adopt a more holistic, or integrated, view of risk management.” 

The site makes note that the major can be a nice complement to majors in finance, financial planning, and economics.  Additionally, the major’s website details specific credentials that students are encouraged to pursue.  The RMI major is an option on the Bachelor of Business Administration degree plan.  Major courses are outlined here.

Business, Student Organizations

Baylor Business Women

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“Baylor Business Women is dedicated to developing a strong network of Christian women to provide opportunities for personal growth and business relationship development by integrating professional insight, integrity and leadership.”

The quote above is the mission statement for Baylor Business Women, a student organization open to any female student who has an interest in working in business.  Majoring in business is not required.  Members can learn from successful business women who serve as mentors and guest speakers to the group.  Also, members can put their business savvy to use in a generous way through the group’s philanthropies:  Prison Entrepreneurship Program and Christian Women’s Job Corp.

For more information, visit the Baylor Business Women website.

Announcements, Business, Career Exploration, Internships, Student Organizations

Career Events This Week!

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It might be nice if making a career decision and landing a job were as simple as following a sign.  Even if that is not realistic, there are members of the Baylor community working hard to simplify your career exploration and job search.  Here are two events that you can take advantage of this week:

Baylor’s S3 Hosting Spurs Sports and Entertainment – A Broad Look at the Sports Industry

Tuesday, February 21, 7 p.m. in Cashion, Room 309.  Four executives from Spurs Sports and Entertainment will be speaking on the sports industry and the career opportunities available.  If you have ever been interested in working in the professional sports industry regardless of your major, then come out and ask questions, and build your network.

Internship and Career Fair

12:30-4:30 p.m. at the Ferrell Center.  This event is for graduating students looking for that first professional job and for students seeking internships.  Different employers seeking Baylor students in all academic fields will be present.  About 90 companies will be in attendance with entry-level career positions and internships.  While some companies do seek specific majors, the majority of companies are open to all majors.  For a complete list of organizations attending, visit https://www.myinterfase.com/baylor/event_view.aspx?token=ZyD08iMBLeH5k6rBY1FVuQ%3d%3d

Business, Government, Graduate School, Healthcare, Majors, Minors, Occupations

Majoring in Statistics

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The career counselors were recently paid a visit by Dr. Jane Harvill, Associate Professor of Statistical Science at Baylor.  She wowed us with stories of six figure salaries, telecommuting, and a broad range of employers where statisticians can work.  Here are some things to keep in mind if you are interested in applying your mathematical skills to help people make decisions.

First of all, the undergraduate major in statistics is appropriate for those who are strong in math.  That does not simply mean that you prefer math over English.  Statistics majors must take three calculus courses and linear algebra.  This major might especially appeal to students who enjoyed AP Statistics in high school.

Second, the list of fields in which statistics are used is endless, and many students choose to double major.  There is also a statistics minor available.  Dr. Harvill told us that statisticians work in government, quality control, market research, the pharmaceutical industry, academics, law, and the insurance and credit card industries…just to name a few.  Students majoring in biology, chemistry, astrophysics, sociology, and economics might find a statistics major or minor to be a nice complement to their studies.

Students with a bachelor’s degree in statistics can apply for jobs as technicians, but students are encouraged to pursue a master’s degree in statistics.  Two more years of school can lead to significantly higher salaries.  As an example, Dr. Harvill told us that technicians may earn a starting salary of $50,000 per year.  However, statisticians with master’s degrees may have six figure salaries.

Interested in learning more?  You can visit the Department of Statistical Science on the web.

Business, Career Exploration, Government, Majors, Minors, Web Resources

Planning for an International Career

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Many students come to Career Counseling uncertain about their majors and career goals, but confident in their desire to work in other countries or do work that is on a global scale.  Here are a few possibilities to consider:

Majors and Minors

Students who would like a major that is focused on other cultures and countries might want to explore:

Minors are available in Arabic, Asian Studies, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Latin American Studies, Middle East Studies, Russian, Spanish, and World Affairs.

Of course, students in other majors can use their education and skills in other countries or for international organizations, too.

Check out the Meet the Majors podcast series for more information on many of these programs.

Getting Experience Abroad

If you want to work abroad, one of the best things you can do as a student is to acquire international experience.  Baylor offers many study abroad programs, which allow you to live in another country and earn course credit.  Visit this page for more information, and consider attending an information session.

An internship abroad is another option for learning more about working in another country, while beefing up your resume at the same time.  The friendly staff of Career Services can help you explore international opportunities related to your major area of study.

If your schedule limits you from taking advantage of these experiences, you can also add to your experiences by participating in cross-cultural experiences here in the United States.  There are even student organizations and programs devoted to these types of experiences on the Baylor campus!

Additional Resources

Goinglobal is a fantastic resource provided by the Career Services office.  Of particular interest might be the country guides, which explain hiring trends in those countries, as well as links for job postings in those countries.  If you have trouble getting connected to the site, please contact Career Services.

If you are feeling confused about what major might be best for your specific career goals, or you want to discover what international career might be the best fit for you, Career Counseling is available to guide you in your exploration.  We would be happy for you to begin your international journey here!

Business, Healthcare, Web Resources

GPA Calculator

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Before you go telling everyone that you are majoring in business, nursing, or social work, make sure you are in a competitive position for gaining admission to your program of choice.  The grade point average (GPA, for short) is one of the first things that an admissions committee will look at as they review your application.  The GPA is also used by graduate and professional schools, as well as many employers.  Think about it…how else are they supposed to distinguish between the hundreds of applications they receive.

If you don’t know how to calculate your GPA, now is the time to learn.  Thanks to the Department of Academic Advisement, you have some technology to help you out.  Click here to access the GPA Calculator.

GPA not as high as you would like?  Visit Academic Support Programs for suggestions on how to improve your academic performance.