Becoming A Pharmaceutical Brand Manager
The job of a brand manager is to create a lasting impression among their consumers and to improve their company’s product sales and market shares. These individuals monitor market trends and oversee advertising and marketing activities to ensure the right message is delivered. It’s a fast growing career field with the projected percent change in employment from 2014 to 2024 at 9 percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For consumer goods companies and retailers such as Procter & Gamble, a Brand Manager position makes sense—it’s all about the product, placement, price and promotion—but what about the healthcare industry, in particular pharmaceuticals? Is a job as a Pharmaceutical Brand Manager unique and is it a good choice for MBA candidates? Continue reading…
How To Become A Financial Director After Earning An MBA
The finance industry is among the most popular destinations for MBAs to seek employment following graduation—finance and accounting make up 22 percent of all MBA jobs and more than 84 percent of finance and accounting firms planned on hiring MBA graduates in 2016. Continue reading…
Top MBA Recruiters: BB&T
Branch Banking and Trust, also known as BB&T, is a large, U.S.-based financial service holding company. Based in Winston-Salem, N.C., the company operates 2,196 financial centers in 15 states and Washington, D.C. As a company that offers a range of consumer and commercial banking, securities brokerage, asset management, mortgage and insurance products and services, BB&T is also a prime landing spot for recently graduating MBAs. Continue reading…
MBA Jobs: Corporate Development Associate
Strategy and leadership development are at the core of almost every MBA program. In fact, they’re two of the skills most often mentioned when candidates discuss why they want to go back to school. But when it comes to narrowing down a career path that best takes advantage of those skills, how do you make a decision? If you enjoy mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as well as planning and executing strategies to meet organizational objectives, then you might want to consider a role as a corporate development associate.
With 10-year job growth—through 2022—expected at 41.2 percent, a career as a Corporate Development Associate is an excellent choice for MBA graduates. Continue reading…
Hot MBA Jobs: Program Analyst
If you are passionate about a range of topics, narrowing down a single career path can challenging. This is especially understandable given that the MBA education typically provides a strong and broad base of business knowledge. How can you help focus such a broad education into one career? If you have a strong business background as well as technological skill, you might want to consider a role as a Program Analyst.
With a job outlook that projects 21 percent growth to 2024 (a rate much faster than other industries), a position like Program or Computer Systems analyst could be perfect for someone with strong management skills and experience with technology.
What does a Program Analyst Do?
A program analyst is responsible for the design, development and implementation of an organization’s computer programming. Job responsibilities of a Program Analyst typically overlap with the jobs of a systems analyst and computer programmer. On the systems analyst side of the job, Program Analysts design and create software and computer systems, whereas Computer Programmer skills are used to implement the designs through the actual writing, updating and maintenance of existing programs. Program analysts should be able to stay on top of trends in technology so that an organization’s systems can be kept appropriately up-to-date.
The exact role of a program analyst will vary depending on the organization. Analysts may work with a particular computer system, whether financial, scientific or engineering, and find ways to customize the program for client. Analysts will also typically prepare cost analysis and help management determine how to create a system that is financially possible.
Top Skills for a Program Analyst
Problem Solving: Program Analysts will be required to work alongside clients to understand the need of each organization, and tailor the software to meet these needs. They must then develop software appropriate for each individual client, while also working within financial constraints.
Software Design and Fundamentals: A program analyst must have a strong foundation in software development, as they will be writing new programs, maintaining computer systems and perform repairs when necessary. Analysts must also stay up to date with professional and technical knowledge, often through attendance at educational workshops or participation in professional societies.
Analyzing Information: Program Analysts must be able to analyze many different sets of information, from the needs and constraints of a specific organization to the financial feasibility of the software they create.
Program Analyst and the MBA
A bachelor’s degree is the minimum education required for a role in program analysis, especially in a computer-related discipline such as engineering or mathematics. Mostly, a candidate must prove that they have the technical experience and skills required for the position.
Earning an MBA can be a great way to demonstrate technological aptitude while still revealing a strong base of business knowledge. Entering the field with an MBA can give applicants a competitive edge in the job market, while also proving management skills that may lead to long-term job growth. The average pay for the position in 2015 was $85,800 per year.
Best MBA Programs for a Career as a Program Analyst
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Kellogg School of Management – Northwestern University: At the Kellogg School of Management, data analytics is offered a part of the MBA program. In addition, a number of executive programs are offered with a broad range of analytics-related focuses.
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DeGroote School of Business – McMaster University: The DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University offers a number of classes tailored to students interested in the business analytics field. Last year, the school launched a new Executive MBA in Digital Transformation, which will serve as another option for students looking to focus their education on big data and strategic decision making.
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Fox School of Business – Temple University: The MBA program at Temple’s Fox School of Business offers many facets which focus on business analytics and data interpretation. Each year, the school’s Global Center for Big Data in Mobile Analytics hosts a “Big Data Conference”, along with regular publication of business research.
Grads Praise MBA for Helping Land Jobs, Increase Pay, Expand Horizons
In a survey this past fall of 1,000 business school graduates from the Class of 2016, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which owns and administers the GMAT, found that the vast majority is highly satisfied with the decision to seek an MBA, which helped them land jobs, earn better salaries and advance their careers in ways they did not expect.
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