Image
How to build a career in Business & Management
This career guide is designed to help University of Portsmouth students and recent graduates explore job options, key employers and entry routes into the business and management sector.
In this guide:
Business and management is a field full of exciting possibilities. As companies face rapid change and increasing complexity, there is the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of areas like strategy, operations, finance, HR and technology.
Working within a management role can shape the success or failure of an organisation, which means that skills such as innovation, the ability to effectively manage resources and people and a good understanding of change management are highly desirable, particularly during a difficult economic climate.
Roles within the sector are varied - you could find yourself in consultancy, recruitment, business development or financial analysis, across industries from tech and healthcare to entertainment and sustainability.
Potential Job Roles
Prospects has a list of job profiles each containing relevant information about key responsibilities, skill requirements, starting salaries, entry requirements, career prospects with links to major employers and current graduate vacancies. Some roles in this sector include:
Professional Qualifications
You may choose to undertake further study in subjects such as marketing, finance, human resources, computing and international business management, to develop your expertise in a particular area of business. Make sure you understand what's required by exploring the qualifications and professional development sections on individual job profiles that interest you thoroughly.
Some examples of professional bodies that accredit qualifications in this sector include:
Gaining Experience
In order to pursue a role within the sector – be it within business management, management consultancy or a role linked to finance – gaining experience can be beneficial in helping you to gain the transferable skills that employers seek.
This could potentially include some part-time work within a business or within sales or retail. Developing administration skills and interpersonal skills, in addition to the ability to work within a fast-paced environment will be invaluable experience and will help to enhance your CV or application.
Types of opportunities
Placements usually last between 9-12 months and can be taken as part of your degree programme. To learn more about completing a placement, you can contact the Placements team in Careers and Employability.
You can also find placements independently through:
Internships may last anywhere between 2 weeks - 6 months. They are often completed during the vacation periods.
Internships in business and management can be found in a number of industries, and can be found at:
Enhance your prospects with hands-on experience through volunteering. Whether you're uncertain about your career path or aiming for professional success, volunteering offers a chance to explore diverse roles. Discover opportunities through the 'Volunteering Bank', on MyCareer, listing roles like:
- Business Development Fundraiser Volunteer with Citizen's Advice
- Trustee Member Volunteer with Hampshire Scouts
- Plastic-Free Funding Application Project Volunteer with Portsmouth Climate Action
Many large companies and financial firms have created their own work experience programmes that are specifically targeted towards students who come from a diverse range of backgrounds; often those who have faced disadvantages or prejudices because of their identity or experiences. Popular schemes include:
Where to find opportunities
Some key platforms for finding work experience in all sectors include MyCareer, HigherIn, Bright Network and Targetjobs.
You could also think about approaching employers directly to enquire of any suitable work experience opportunities. This is called a speculative approach, and can work well with smaller businesses who might not advertise as many opportunities.
Specifically interested in management consulting?
This area of work is increasingly popular amongst graduates, making it competitive to get into. Aside from strong academic credentials, you will need to sell, sell, sell yourself and your skills if you are to secure a place on a management consulting graduate scheme. This means that gaining experience in this area will be essential.
Find out more information about management consulting internship and placement opportunities at the following links:
- Prospects - discover business, consulting and management careers.
- All About Careers - explores options to help you gain experience in this field.
- HigherIn - provides information about consulting internships, placements and work experience and an insight into the industry.
Getting the most out of work experience
Whether you already have a career path in mind or are still exploring your options, our work experience pages guide you to finding opportunities that match your interests and goals. You'll find advice on choosing an industry, broadening your search, and standing out while building valuable skills and experience.
Finding a Graduate Job
We recommend starting your search using our online jobs board, MyCareer. You can also find general online job boards and advice through our Graduate Jobs page.
Job boards for business and management
Speculative applications
Speculative applications involve sending a CV and cover letter to an employer to ask if they have any vacancies, even if the company is not currently advertising for a role. They're a great way to access "hidden jobs" that go unadvertised.
Submitting a speculative application shows your interest in a specific company and your willingness to go above and beyond to develop your skills and understanding of the industry.
Recruitment agencies
Recruitment consultants work with individuals to help them find suitable work to match their skills. Agency Central is the UK's leading recruitment agency directory. An advanced search and filter system finds the agencies which match your needs.
Are you looking for a role in Hampshire? Our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy can help!
If you're in the final year of your degree, you can register for support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy. They work with over 3,000 employers in the local area to place our students into fantastic graduate careers.
Working for yourself
Got an idea you'd like to turn into something bigger?
Whether you're planning a business, side hustle or freelance career, our Student StartUp team can help you build your confidence and develop your plans. Access expert guidance, funding opportunities, workshops and workspace designed to help you move your idea forward.
Keep up-to-date
Here are some key resources to help you find out more about the sector and keep updated with industry news.
- TargetJobs - An online resource with information on careers in business and management, as well as the latest news and up-to-date advice from professionals within the sector.
- Inside Careers - An overview of graduate careers predominantly in the financial sector, but also includes a section on management consultancy. The site offers information on a wide range of opportunities, including graduate jobs, internships, placements, events and insights.
- Guardian Business - Provides the latest trends, news and opinions across the business sector, including economics, banking, retail, markets and the Eurozone.
- BBC Business - Offers up to date news and headlines, including market data and information on global companies and developments in the economy.
- EU Business News - Provides a thorough overview of the world of European business - companies that are driving best practice, and exceeding every expectation
- Management Today - Provides the latest news and articles from the business and management sector.
- Management Consultancies Association is the representative body for management consultancy firms in the UK. The site also offers news and opinion from those working in the business consultancy sector.
Explore more from Careers and Employability
CV writing toolkit
Check out our CV Writing Toolkit, with 6 key steps to ensure you have a standout CV!
Building work experience
Get hands-on industry experience and showcase your knowledge before you graduate!
Graduate job search guide
Learn about the types of roles you will encounter, and how to search for roles.
Enable University alerts
Turn on notifications for critical updates like closures, safety alerts, and urgent service disruptions.