Ask 10 graduates the most important thing they learned from business school and you’ll get 10 different answers.

Whether it’s gaining leadership skills, the ability to understand a balance sheet, or learning the ins and outs of marketing, the experience of obtaining a business degree is as individual as the graduates.

But there is one thing most can agree on – a business degree does wonders for your career.

Even during a pandemic, you’re well positioned to accelerate your career with a business degree. According to Randstad, a global HR firm, four of the Top 15 jobs in 2021 are business related: accounts payable and receivable personnel, accountant, HR manager and financial advisor.

Of course, making more money is always nice and the knowledge you gain from the courses themselves provides the foundation for career advancement, but there are also several intangible benefits to a obtaining a business degree that can set you up for success.

Continuing Education

Simply the act of returning to school sets you apart from the rest. That’s because companies invest in people who are willing to invest in themselves, no matter where they are in their educational journey. Returning to school shows employers that you take ownership of your goals and are willing to work hard to achieve them, that you aren’t afraid to take on more responsibility and that you’re a lifelong learner.

Add to that the top three reasons recruiters report they’re confident in business school’s ability to prepare graduates to be successful in their organization – strategic thinking, communication skills and versatility – and a business degree provides you with the skills that are desirable in the job market.

Networking

Along with the industry-specific, practical knowledge you’ll gain by taking a business degree, there are other, “softer” skills that can prove invaluable to career advancement as well.

While you might not learn it in class, networking is the secret ingredient to job success. In fact, according to a study published on LinkedIn, a whopping 85 per cent of all jobs are filled through networking. And what better way to network than with a ready-made group of like-minded people?

And while networking can do wonders to help you land a new role, connecting with others in your industry can provide much more than that. By staying closely connected to others in your field, and to those you learned with and from, you can stay on top of changing industry trends, create opportunities to attend and learn from industry-relevant events, and be introduced to potential future employers and colleagues.

Mentoring

As it turns out, business professors and instructors know a thing or two about business, with most of them advancing in the fields they’re now teaching. Having access to their lived experience is hugely beneficial and gives you an opportunity to develop them as mentors.

Mentors can guide you through your career, provide you with advice, insight and feedback on your professional decisions, and help to set you up for success in the future. From a career advancement perspective, there are unmatched benefits to having someone in your field who has been there, done that.

So, if you’re ready to turbocharge your career – and get your resume to the top of the pile – a business degree may just be the fuel you need.

The University of Lethbridge’s Calgary Campus provides evening and weekend blended undergraduate and graduate degree programs for working adults.  
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