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Undergraduate Careers:
General Management

A concentration in General Management can prepare you for a variety of tasks such as planning and forecasting, staff selection, and motivating team members to reach organization goals. Managers need multiple skill and knowledge sets. Most general manager and top executive positions are filled by promoting experienced, lower level managers from within the organization.

Position Yourself for Success

Management
  • During team projects, seek leadership roles both in terms of assisting the team to function effectively and organizing project management tasks.
  • Join clubs and organizations of interest and seek leadership opportunities. Run for a SMG class officer position or join the Business Leaders of Tomorrow.
  • Seek internships or summer jobs that allow you to gain additional responsibilities in training other staff members, and managing projects or processes. This is another great way to explore your interests such as retail, restaurant, or operations management.
  • There are numerous Management Trainee and Internship programs: be prepared to apply for these positions throughout the year. Some companies that offer such opportunities include Enterprise, Hertz, Walgreen's, and Target.

Sample on-the-job Responsibilities

  • Recruit, hire, and train team associates.
  • Track weekly productivity and generate reports.
  • Plan and conduct weekly team meetings.
  • Complete and provide employee reviews and evaluations.
  • Determine project timeline and monitor status to meet deadlines.
  • Develop strategies that grow the business.
  • Address and resolve employee disputes.

Sample Entry Level Job Titles

Assistant Director
Consultant*
Executive Team Leader
Management Trainee
Operations Manager Trainee Production Coordinator*
Project Coordinator
Sales Analyst*
Management

Possible Employment Settings

Acquis Consulting*
Bear Stearns
Ernst & Young*
Financial Services
Health Care Services
Non-profit organizations
SCORE!*
United Airlines*

* Denotes BU graduates from the classes of 2006 and 2007 with General Management Concentrations

Career opportunities that often require additional experience
or education

CEO
CFO
Bank Manager
General Manager
Division Manager
Human Resource Manager
Project Manager
Recruiter
Small Business Owner

Transferable Skills

Analytical
Communication
Integrity
Leadership
Negotiation
Problem Solving
Relationship Building
Time Management

Web Resources

Careers in Business: www.careers-in-business.com
National Management Association: nma1.org
American Management Association: www.amanet.org

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