Careers in Business & Entrepreneurship

Assessing Interests and Skills Needed in Business—Discussion Guide

Slide #1 THINK ABOUT IT

Have you ever thought about working in business?

• The business career field has many different career opportunities.
  • Administration and management
  • Finance and analytics
  • Sales and marketing
• Do you think you would enjoy or excel in a business career?

KEY CONCEPTS

Slide #2 Importance of self-evaluation

• Self-evaluation can help you discover whether you have the “right stuff” for a business career.
• There are many skills and traits that help determine whether a person has the aptitude—the natural ability—to succeed in business.
• Using self-evaluation can help you identify your natural abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
  • When you discover your strengths, you can focus on optimizing them and using them to your advantage.
  • Likewise, learning your weaknesses helps you identify what skills you need to improve.
  • Self-evaluation also makes you more aware of what your natural abilities and personal interests are so you can pursue opportunities that you enjoy and will excel at.

Slide #3 Self-evaluation process

Step 1—Prepare to be objective.

• For self-evaluation to be effective, you need to be honest.
• Avoid exaggerating your strengths or overlooking your weaknesses.
• Get ready to make honest observations about yourself and write them down for future reflection.

Step 2—List your personal interests.

• Interests are things that capture your attention.
• They are the things and activities that you enjoy doing the most.
• What do you do in your spare time?
• What subjects do you enjoy the most?
• What activities are you involved in?

Step 3—Write down your abilities.

• An ability is the capacity to perform a certain task.
• What abilities do you possess?
• Think about the special skills you have learned through your school subjects, hobbies, activities, and work responsibilities.

Step 4—Write down your personal aptitudes.

• An aptitude is a natural talent for learning specific skills.
• If you are creative, for example, you probably find it easy to make new, different forms of art.
• What types of activities do you excel at?
• What types of tasks do you find very easy to complete?

Step 5—Evaluate your core business skills.

• Communication, math, computer, and technology skills, in particular, are important for success in the business world.
• Rate your interest and skill level in these areas.
• Use a rating of one if you have little to no interest or ability in the skill.
• Give yourself a rating of five if it is a skill you are highly interested in and excel at.

Slide #4 Step 6—Evaluate your personality traits.

• People who are successful in business have many of the following desirable personality traits.
• Evaluate the following traits and skills on a scale of one to five.
• Use a rating of one if you feel you don’t possess the trait and a rating of five if it’s a major aspect of your personality.

  • Social skills

    • Good “people skills” such as interpersonal and communication skills are essential for business professionals who frequently interact with coworkers and clients.

  • Positivity

    • Since the business world is full of challenges to overcome, a positive attitude can help you face and overcome difficulties.
    • Positivity helps you build better relationships and inspire others.
    • Positive people are often viewed as leaders and are given more projects and opportunities.

  • Creativity

    • A career in business often requires you to use your imagination to generate new ideas, processes, products, etc.
    • Are you good at finding new ways of doing things?

  • Self-confidence

    • Since the business field is very competitive, it’s important to believe in yourself and your abilities.
    • Self-esteem will also help you overcome setbacks, aim high, and achieve more.

  • Analytical skills

    • The complex world of business needs analytical people who are logical problem solvers.
    • Analytical people are able to analyze information and situations to find effective solutions.

  • Flexibility

    • Since companies must regularly adopt new processes, systems, and technologies, flexibility is important.
    • Are you good at adapting to new situations and learning new ways of doing things?

Slide #5 Step 7—Review your notes.

• Read all of the information you have gathered.
• Underline or highlight your abilities, interests, skills, and personality traits that will help you succeed in a business career.
• Do you think a business career is a good fit for you?

Employer Expectations—Discussion Guide

Slide 1 THINK ABOUT IT

Everyone has expectations for you.

• Friends, family, teachers, coaches
• Meeting others’ expectations shows respect and builds trust.
• It’s also important to meet expectations in the workplace.

KEY CONCEPTS

Slide #2 Desired personal characteristics

• Employers’ expectations differ among industries, companies, and even specific career positions.
• Although each job requires different skills, there are certain characteristics that most employers desire their employees to possess.
• If you want to be an exceptional employee, work to develop the following personal characteristics employers seek in their employees.

Slide #3 Positive employee traits

• Open-mindedness

• • • • Employers seek employees who are open-minded because they are coachable—they follow given instructions and adopt preferred company practices.
      • They are also more flexible and accepting of change.

• Reliability

• • • • Managers prefer reliable employees because they complete assigned work and projects to the best of their ability.
      • When obstacles occur or deadlines change, they can still be counted on to get the job done.

• Self–motivation

• • • • Employers value hard-working employees who motivate themselves and find ways to eliminate problems on their own.
      • When employees complete their work independently, there is less need for managers to actively supervise them.

• Cooperativeness

• • • • Cooperative employees follow colleagues’ instruction and advice, and contribute their own best ideas and effort to achieve company goals.
      • Effective team players also create positive environments by valuing and praising the work of others.

• Enthusiasm

• • • • Enthusiastic employees approach their work with can-do attitudes that make them a pleasure to work with.
      • They are able to maintain a positive attitude during difficult situations, tackle challenging projects, and promote a good team spirit.

• Ethics

• • • • Employers value ethical employees because they are honest, treat others with respect, and follow codes of conduct.
      • When an employee acts with integrity both inside and outside the company, s/he enhances the company’s brand and helps build a good company image.

Slide #4 Effective workplace actions

• Developing desirable personal traits helps you build positive relationships, be effective in your job, and build a professional image.
• How can you develop these important traits? Take action.
• Regularly follow these important workplace tips to succeed in the workplace.

  • Show up.

    • Arrive to work on time—and be ready to work as soon as you arrive.
    • Avoid missing work unless you have a valid reason.
    • You should also schedule your vacation time wisely to avoid being absent during crucial times or near important project deadlines.

  • Manage your time.

    • It’s important to avoid distractions, maintain focus, and prioritize your work to optimize your productivity.
    • You should complete the most important activities first and avoid spending excessive time on low-priority tasks.

  • Stay organized.

    • Keep your work area neat so you can effectively complete your tasks.
    • Keep physical and electronic files well organized so that you can quickly find important files and share information with others.

  • Follow company policies and procedures.

    • When you follow workplace policies such as a professional code of conduct or safety policies, you create a more positive and safe work environment.
    • Following recommended workplace procedures such as the proper process for responding to customer inquiries will help you conduct business in an effective manner.

  • Meet deadlines.

    • Since your supervisors and coworkers depend on you to complete your tasks, you should take deadlines seriously and work to complete projects on time.
    • When work priorities or deadlines change, be flexible and willing to adjust your schedule.

  • Maintain a positive attitude.

    • It’s important not to become discouraged or negative at work.
    • A negative attitude can affect you, your work, and that of your colleagues.
    • Staying positive helps you maintain the right attitude and energy needed to complete your tasks.
    • A happy disposition also helps you build better relationships with your coworkers.

  • Be flexible.

    • When company priorities change, be ready to adjust your own schedule, deadlines, and workload to accommodate them.
    • If there is a big change within the company, you should willingly accept new responsibilities or even a new position or role.
    • You should also be prepared to adapt to changing technologies and software programs.

Following Company Policies—Discussion Guide

Slide 1 THINK ABOUT IT

Rules are necessary

• Your school probably has rules about proper student behavior to create a safe learning environment.

• Companies also have policies that help employees understand what the employer expects from them by defining professional workplace behavior.

• Learn why following workplace guidelines can help you be successful in your career.

KEY CONCEPTS

Slide #2 Types of workplace rules

• The rules that companies implement fall into three different categories: policies, procedures, and protocols.
• A policy is any guideline explaining how employees are to act.
• A procedure is a step-by-step process employees follow while performing a specific task.
• A company protocol is defined as the established set of rules that govern behavior within an organization and typically includes all of the organization’s set policies and procedures.

Slide #3 Common workplace policies

• Some workplaces have a formal code of conduct that explains professional behavior employees are expected to use when interacting with coworkers, supervisors, and customers.
• There are many common policies that companies put in place.
  • Dress codes inform employees what type of attire is expected or required.
  • Social media and Internet policies specify how and when employees may use the Internet and social media.
  • Disciplinary policies outline how employees will be punished for breaking rules.
  • Leave policies describe the amount of leave employees are entitled to.
  • Discrimination and harassment policies are designed to keep employees and customers safe from unfair and hurtful behavior.
  • Health and safety policies protect employees and customers from physical harm.

Discussion #1: Ask students to share other examples of workplace policies they are familiar with.

Slide #4 Workplace procedures

• Procedures are the key to smooth operations.
• Companies have a variety of procedures that help business run smoothly.
  • Employers commonly implement disciplinary procedures, recruiting/hiring procedures, and human resource procedures for handling employee complaints and requests for leave.
  • Emergency procedures such as safe evacuation routes explain how to handle crisis situations.
  • Procedures that directly impact business operations on a day-to-day basis include phone procedures for handling and transferring calls effectively and customer inquiry procedures detailing how to handle specific customer requests.
  • Employees also regularly use opening and closing procedures which include steps for unlocking doors to open for business and securing company property at the close of business.

Slide #5 Benefits of company guidelines

• Company guidelines benefit companies, their employees, and their customers in many ways.
  • A company’s policies and procedures help reinforce a company’s values by making employees and customers aware of its mission.
  • Strong policies create a positive work environment by reinforcing the importance of ethical behavior.
  • Adherence to company policies also keeps employees and customers safe from harm and ensures that the company is complying with laws and regulations.
  • Additionally, policies streamline processes so work is completed efficiently.

Slide #6 Following company rules benefits you

• When you follow company policies as an employee, you become more confident and efficient in performing your job.
• You’re able to keep your workplace safe.
• You’re able to perform at a high level, providing the best service possible to customers.

Discussion #3: Ask students to explain how following a guideline has benefitted them in their personal life as a student or as an employee on the job.

Slide #7 Tips for adhering to company guidelines

• Study your company’s training materials.
  • If your company has provided an employee handbook or training guide, carefully study and learn the guidelines provided within it.
• Ask questions if you don’t understand.
  • If a certain guideline is unclear to you, ask your supervisors to explain it before a problem occurs.
• Evaluate your actions.
  • To ensure you are adhering to policies and procedures, ask yourself whether you are confident of the proper techniques or procedures.
  • If you’re not sure, consult any provided training materials or ask your supervisor to guide you.
• Hold your colleagues accountable to company rules.
  • If you witness a coworker or supervisor breaking a company rule, respectfully inform the employee about the policy or report him/her to someone with the authority to handle the situation.

Following Chain of Command—Discussion Guide

Slide 1 THINK ABOUT IT

Did you know that organizations have chains of command?

• Companies have different levels of authority.

• As an employee, you will need to follow the chain of command.

• Doing so will make your work life easier.

Slide #2 What is a chain of command?

• Simply put, a chain of command is the flow of authority within an organization.
  • Chains of command help employees understand how their organization operates as well as where they fit within the organizational structure.
  • A company’s organizational structure explains who reports to whom and also identifies the main responsibilities of employees.
• In general, authority flows from top to bottom within a chain of command.
  • This means that each person within the organization reports to the person directly above him/her.
• Businesses of all sizes and industries use chains of command to keep their operations working smoothly and efficiently.

Discussion #1: Ask students to describe a chain of command they are familiar with at school, the workplace, or other settings.

Slide #3 The benefits of chains of command

• Organizations with effective chains of command tend to have a smoother workflow.
  • Redundancies (unnecessary and repetitive actions) and confusion are significantly reduced which saves valuable time.
  • When employees understand whom they should report to with questions, concerns, or ideas, overall communication is improved and problems and issues are resolved more quickly.

Slide #4 Benefits for Employees

• Adhering to the chain of command can also help you, as an employee.
  • When you demonstrate respect for your organization and its policies, you are more likely to develop strong work relationships and be considered for promotions or raises.
  • When order is maintained in the workplace, you and your coworkers can accomplish your work more effectively and efficiently.
  • Abiding by the chain of command will also help you gain the trust and respect of your superiors which may inspire them to recommend you for leadership roles on important projects.

Discussion #1: Ask students to describe a chain of command they are familiar with at school, the workplace, or other settings.

Slide #5 Consequences of breaking the chain of command

• If you fail to follow the chain of command, it can result in negative consequences.
  • When you fail to follow rules, it reflects poorly on you.
  • You may be passed over for promotions, raises, or leadership positions.
  • Failing to follow the chain of command can also lead to punishments such as the loss of privileges, or even the loss of your job.
  • When you break the chain of command, it creates difficult workplace situations such as creating unnecessary work for others or overriding others’ authority.

Slide #6 Tips for working within the chain of command

• Identify your position within your company’s chain of command.

  • You should fully understand where you fit within the flow of authority, who your direct supervisor is, and what your responsibilities are.
  • If you have anyone below you in the chain of command, you should provide them with leadership and expect them to report to you when needed.

• Report to the person directly above you.

  • You should always report to your supervisor or the person directly above you with any questions or concerns.
  • S/He is the person you should interact with the most on a daily basis.
  • Reporting to your supervisor also means following his/her instructions.

• Avoid reporting to anyone else.

  • If you feel your boss may not be able to help you with a question or task, you should still ask him/her for guidance first.
    • Your boss can easily recommend the right person to consult.
  • It’s inappropriate and disrespectful to bypass your supervisor.
    • Asking less experienced individuals for advice can offend your boss, and seeking help from someone above your manager reflects poorly on you and could get your boss in trouble.

Slide #7 Important exceptions

• Some situations require you to bypass the chain of command.
  • If you witness your boss participating in an illegal activity such as stealing, bribery, or sexual harassment, you should tell your company’s human resources manager.
  • And if your manager asks or pressures you to do something unethical, illegal, or something that makes you uncomfortable, you should immediately report it to your human resources manager.

Employee Rights—Discussion Guide

Slide 1 THINK ABOUT IT

Rights are important

• As a student, you have rights.

  • Safe learning environment

  • Fair grading standards

  • Fair enforcement of rules

• Employees also have rights

KEY CONCEPTS

Slide #2 Employee rights

• Employee rights refer to rights that employees are legally entitled to in the workplace.
• While the government mandates and enforces laws concerning employee rights, employers are legally responsible for treating employees well.
  • Employers must provide a safe working environment and treat employees in fair and equal ways.
  • Ethical employers treat their employees well because it promotes a safe, fair, and positive working environment that helps employees grow and achieve more.

Slide #3 Safe working environment

• As an employee, you have the right to a safe and healthy working environment.
  • The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to train employees how to safely use equipment and chemicals and how to handle workplace hazards such as slippery floors or power failures.
  • In addition, your employer must provide any safety gear such as ear plugs and safety gloves needed to protect you from harm.
  • Additionally, your employer should equip you to handle emergencies by providing formal evacuation plans and identifying locations of safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and first aid kits.
  • If you are unsure of any of these safety measures, ask your supervisor for information and training.

Slide #4 Workplace Violence

• If you experience bullying, sexual harassment, or workplace violence, you should immediately report it to your supervisor or human resource personnel.
  • The law requires employers to handle these types of situations with discretion and professionalism.
  • Your employer must ensure your safety and carefully investigate the situation to maintain your right to privacy.
  • Depending on the circumstances, your employer must discipline, fire, and/or report the offender to local law enforcement officials.
  • If your employer minimizes the behavior, fails to deal with it, or disciplines you for creating a difficult situation, you should report it to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that is responsible for enforcing federal laws against employee discrimination.

Slide #5 Right to form unions

• Employees are entitled to form unions to create bargaining power and express their job concerns with their employer.
• Unions help workers improve their jobs by bargaining for better wages, working conditions, and benefits.
• If your workplace has a union, you may or may not be required to participate in it.
• However, it is illegal for your employer to discourage union participation through threats or discriminatory treatment of employees.

Slide #6 Fair treatment

• • • The EEOC requires employers to treat all employees with fairness.
    • Employers are responsible for creating workplaces free of discrimination or unequal treatment based on age, disability, gender, race, religion, or ethnicity.

• • • This means employers should treat and compensate employees with similar skills and responsibilities the same regardless of any personal differences.
    • In addition, employers should discourage and prevent discriminatory workplace behavior and harassment by requiring employees to treat each other with respect and disciplining them when they fail to do so.

Slide #7 Employee evaluation & recognition

• • • Employees have the right to expect that their employers will fairly evaluate and reward them for their work performance.
    • Some employers conduct formal performance reviews to help employees understand how well they meet the organization’s expectations and to determine whether an employee’s performance merits a pay raise or promotion.

• • • An honest review can help you identify weak job skills so you can seek further training and education to advance in your career.
    • When a review inaccurately describes your abilities, you should discuss it with your supervisor.
    • If you feel a poor review was given to prevent you from receiving a deserved raise or promotion, you should discuss it with a human resource professional, a union representative, or an attorney.

Slide #8 Employee Recognition

• • • When it comes to career advancement, employees with exceptional performance are reasonable to expect they will receive pay raises or promotions.

• • • • There are times when a company cannot advance outstanding employees because there are no positions open.
      • Similarly, when an organization has budget cuts or loss of revenue, it often cannot offer pay raises.
      • However, if you feel a poor performing employee has been promoted in front of you without a good reason, you should discuss the matter with human resources, contact the EEOC, or pursue it with an attorney.

Career Information Sources—Discussion Guide

Slide #1 THINK ABOUT IT

Marcus plans to become a creative art director.

• He’s unaware of the job challenges.

• Research can help him choose the right career for him.

• What are your career choices, and what do you know about them?

KEY CONCEPTS

Slide #2 The benefits of career research

• Effective career research can help you discover industries and careers that are right for you.
• You might discover entirely new fields and industries that you haven’t considered before.
• If you’ve already decided on a career, research will inform you how to prepare for the career.
• You’ll also learn if the job has benefits making it a dream-job-come-true or whether it involves some negative situations you would rather avoid.
• Learn how you can explore the world of careers with the following resources.

Slide #3 Library resources

• School and local libraries have a wide variety of sources you can use to gather career information such as books, brochures, magazines, DVDs, as well as access to online resources.
  • Since magazine articles are a great source for up-to-date current career information, check your library’s periodical section.
  • Other helpful resources your library may have include trade directories and publications by professional societies, trade associations, and educational institutions.
  • The Occupational Outlook Handbook describing hundreds of occupations is a good source for up-to-date career information.
• Feel free to ask a librarian to direct you to the best printed or online sources for your particular area of interest.
• Their expert knowledge and experience can save you time and prevent you from using outdated or irrelevant information.

Slide #4 Online resources

• Internet research. Internet search engines can easily locate online publications and professional blogs that provide information about every type of career or industry imaginable.
• Databases. Easily accessed databases such as First Search, General One File, and ProQuest allow you to search thousands of published articles by entering specific words or careers within the search tool.
• Career information guides. The U.S. Department of Labor provides resources:
  • The Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/oco)
  • The Career Guide to Industries (www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgjobout.htm)
  • Career One Stop (www.careeronestop.org)
  • O*Net Online (www.onetonline.org)
    • Use these resources to explore all the components of different careers such as expected earnings, working conditions, future job prospects, and education and training required.
• Professional organizations. If you are researching a specific occupation, the websites of professional organizations provide detailed knowledge about careers in the field.
  • The American Marketing Association
  • The American Finance Association
  • The Public Relations Student Society of America

Slide #5 School counselors

• Your guidance counselor can also direct you to information about occupations.
• Many counselors keep career files in their offices to provide students with up-to-date career information and to answer questions about the types of education and training required.
• Your school counselor can also provide information about career days or conferences where you can personally visit with representatives from different occupations, professions, and colleges.

Slide #6 Interviews with employed workers

• Try to arrange informal interviews with people working in your field of interest.
• When you talk to people actually working in the field, you gain valuable insights.
• They can advise you what types of training are important, describe the working conditions, and explain what types of career opportunities exist.
• Ask open-ended, conversational questions that ask them to describe how they landed their first job or what they like the most and the least about their current job.
  • Take notes for any important information they share such as resources, schools, training programs, internships, or companies they recommend.

Identifying Occupational Interest—Discussion Guide

Slide 1:THINK ABOUT IT

What do you want to be when you grow up?

• This question can be difficult to answer.

• Your career choice has a big impact on you and your future.

• Choosing a career helps you plan and prepare for it.

KEY CONCEPTS

Slide #2 Conduct a self-assessment.

• The first step to identifying your occupational interest is self-assessment.
• A self-assessment is a thorough examination of your interests, personality, aptitude, and abilities.
  • Your interests are things that you enjoy doing such as sports, reading, art, or outdoor activities.
    • Think of how you spend your spare time and what school subjects or activities you enjoy most.
  • Your personality includes personal traits, motivational drives such as competitiveness, and attitudes like concern for others.
  • It’s also important to discover your aptitudes—activities that you have a natural physical and mental talent for learning.
    • When you have an aptitude for a skill, you can easily learn and perform the skill well.
  • Abilities are skills you have developed through training and practice.

Slide #3 Select careers based on interests and strengths.

• Choosing careers related to your interests and strengths will help you succeed in your professional life.
  • For example, if you have an aptitude for math, you are likely to excel in a financial career.
  • On the other hand, if you are creative and enjoy communicating with others, advertising or marketing may be best.
  • As you can see, ideal career choices are ones related to your interests, aptitudes, and abilities.
    • However, you may prefer to focus solely on a favorite interest such as the environment and have no desire to pursue the accounting career you have the aptitude for.
  • Your personality can help inform your career choices as well.
    • If you enjoy analyzing information and prefer to work independently, a career as an analyst or researcher may be a good choice for you.
• To begin your occupational search, select a number of professions that match your interests and talents.

Slide #4 Compare and evaluate occupations.

• Compare your selected careers to determine which ones offer the opportunities you most desire.
• There are many job components you should evaluate for each career you are considering.

  • Job outlook

    • One of the most important things to consider is the job outlook—the forecasted change in the number of people to be employed over a set period of time.
    • The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) regularly predicts how much the rate of employment will increase or decrease in various occupations.
    • Before you invest your time and money to prepare for a career, you should evaluate how many job opportunities will exist in the near future.
    • If few opportunities exist, or they are predominately located in one area of the country, you may need to decide if you are willing to relocate.

  • Education, training, and licenses

    • Education requirements will help you decide if you are willing to spend the time and money necessary to prepare for a career.
    • Some careers have entry-level positions requiring only a high school diploma or associate’s degree, while others require a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
    • Additionally, if your selected career requires a license, you will need to meet state requirements and/or take licensure exams, which can vary from state to state.

  • Compensation and working conditions

    • The salary, benefits, and working conditions help determine if the career fits your financial, professional, and personal goals.
    • For example, you may desire a career that offers many advancement opportunities, or one that allows you to work independently from your home office.
    • Other working conditions to consider are whether frequent travel or ongoing training is required and what the business culture is like.
    • Some careers require very formal and professional behavior while others operate in more casual and open environments.

Slide #5 Narrow occupational choices.

• It’s best if you select a few careers requiring similar skills to help you develop a career path.
  • A specific occupational focus helps you begin preparing for your career.
  • It will be easier to select the high school courses, student organizations, and activities to gain the skills needed for success and to meet future college requirements.
  • It will also help you identify the best training programs and colleges.
  • Additionally, it will be easier to pursue valuable opportunities such as internships and part-time work related to your future career.

Careers in Business—Discussion Guide

Slide 1 THINK ABOUT IT

Ever dreamed of running or owning a business?

• If so, you’re headed toward a business career.

• You might find your dream job in business.

• Business has careers in nearly every industry.

KEY CONCEPTS

Slide #2 Types of business careers

• There are many ways to organize and categorize business careers.
• Depending on which sources you consult, you will find them organized in different ways.
• Most business careers, however, can be categorized into one of three main areas—management, finance, and marketing.

Slide #3 Business management careers

• This field includes careers dedicated to performing dynamic business processes vital to the success and ongoing existence of any type of business organization.
• Since every type of business needs people in management and administration positions to keep things running smoothly, these jobs exist virtually everywhere.
  • Administrative services facilitate business operations through a variety of administrative duties such as payroll, record management, and communication tasks that help maintain a functioning office.
    • There are many levels of authority and responsibility ranging from reception to office management.
  • Business information management includes business analysts and business process architects.
    • These professionals align a company’s business and IT (information technology) goals by making sure that business processes function well with the IT structures and software used.
  • General management refers to the planning, directing, and allocation of a company’s financial, human, and material resources to meet company goals and keep a business running smoothly.
    • Employees such as directors and district managers have supervisory responsibilities and make many business decisions.
  • Human resource management careers include staffing activities such as recruiting, hiring, training, and safety of employees.
  • Operations management includes all the planning and coordination of the resources needed to produce a business’s products such as quality control, scheduling, purchasing, and warehousing.
    • Some job titles in this field include master scheduler and supply chain manager.

Slide #4 Finance careers

• This field includes those career opportunities that relate to making strategic decisions to report, obtain, save, protect, and grow the financial assets of businesses and individuals.
• Individuals working in finance must have strong computational, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
  • Accounting includes careers that record, classify, summarize, analyze, and communicate a business’s financial information and business transactions for use in management decision-making.
  • Banking services include cash management, short-term investments, mortgages, loans, credit cards, and bill payment.
  • Corporate finance manages policy and strategy for a company’s capital structure, budgeting, acquisition, investment, financial planning, funding, dividends, and taxation.
  • Insurance careers revolve around the development, implementation, and management of insurance products that protect individuals and businesses from financial losses through the transference of risk.
  • Securities and investments careers support the flow of funds between companies and investors, financial planning, as well as asset and fund management.
    • Careers in this field include bankers, mutual fund managers, financial analysts, and stock traders.

Slide #5 Marketing careers

• The marketing field includes career opportunities whose processes create, communicate, and deliver value to customers and manage customer relationships in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders.
  • Marketing communications include all the marketing activities such as advertising and social media campaigns used to inform customers about ideas and products.
    • Public relation specialists and media buyers are examples of marketing communication positions.
  • Marketing management includes channel management, marketing-information management, pricing, product management, promotion, and selling.
    • Marketing directors and brand managers are two examples of marketing management positions.
  • Marketing research jobs focus on marketing activities that involve determining information needs, designing data-collection processes, collecting data, analyzing data, presenting data, and using data for marketing planning.
  • Merchandising careers involve marketing activities focused on efficient and effective product planning, selection, and buying for resale.
  • Professional selling involves marketing and management activities to anticipate customer needs and respond through planned, personalized communication to influence clients’ purchase decisions.