Graduates with a strong awareness of business, economics and people management are in demand across a range of sectors
If you want to manage somebody, manage yourself. Do that well and you'll be ready to stop managing and start leading – so goes the saying, one of the many designed to put potential managers on the path to good leadership.
Not every boss can boast of having a degree in how to manage staff, but graduates with management studies degrees will have had a thorough grounding in what it takes to be an effective manager.
As the name suggests, management studies looks at the theory and practice of management, taking in areas such as business and economics, human resources, operations and information systems, as well as touching on topics such as ethics and management in a national and international context.
The degree is usually studied alongside other subjects to give studentsan insight into management techniques and theories in different industries or professions, such as international business, marketing, travel and hospitality, languages, science, engineering and technology.
Graduates emerge with a strong awareness of business, economics and people management, making them highly sought after for graduate trainee schemes in a whole range of sectors.
High-profile graduates include rugby union player Simon Amor who, before going on to captain London Scottish and the England sevens squad, graduated with a degree in management studies from Cambridge University, and Andrew Stephenson, the Conservative MP for Pendle.
What skills have you gained?
You will hopefully have picked up key management skills such as leadership and teamwork, an understanding of the relationship between people, organisations and managers and good business practice. You should also be adept at presenting ideas both in writing and orally, comfortable with negotiating and confident about making decisions and leading projects.
What jobs can you do?
Management studies graduates work in a range of professions including marketing, sales, finance and retail. Almost 65% of 2009 graduates went into full-time employment. Of those, 22% work in the commercial, industrial and public management sectors. Others found work as health professionals (14.8%), in retail (14.4%) and marketing (12.5%).
"Graduate recruiters look for applicants with the potential to progress to leadership or managerial roles, so graduates who have studied management are widely sought across all sectors for their graduate schemes," says Margaret Holbrough, a careers adviser at Graduate Prospects. "Career options exist within the public and private sector, business and finance, marketing, teaching and the media."
The degree can also open doors for those with an entrepreneurial instinct who fancy heading their own companies. "Self-employment or consultancy would be suitable career options for the more entrepreneurial graduates and those who would prefer to use their management skills and knowledge managing themselves and their own resources," Holbrough says.
Postgraduate study?
Almost 6% of management studies graduates study for a higher degree, such as a master's in business or accountancy. MBAs are also a popular choice, allowing graduates to develop expertise in a range of topics such as human resources or operations management as well as helping them hone their leadership and people skills.
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