Nontraditional Jobs for MBAs

An MBA is a generalist degree. This means it can be applied to a number of fields—beyond the traditional careers of consulting and banking.

US News recently highlighted a few nontraditional jobs where MBA grads can be a perfect fit.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

MBA grads are in demand at many government organizations—from the FBI to the IRS.

MBA grads “can go in and handle tough situations and not need to be trained on the law enforcement side of that, but can really go in and research and analyze well,” Rebecca Cook, executive director of career services at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, says. These government agencies “pay really well and they’re actively hiring MBAs.”

DATA ANALYTICS

Jobs in data analytics can be a perfect fit for MBA grads, who can interpret data to make crucial business decisions.

“Our students are doing a great job developing their technical skill sets,” says Brittany Tyree, managing director of full-time career education and coaching at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas-Austin. “They’re leaning into those types of roles, whether that be in a marketing space, sports analytics or an analytical role in the financial space.”

ENTERTAINMENT

The entertainment industry is ripe with opportunities for MBA grads. Experts say there’s a growing need for MBAs who can analyze the types of products and services that consumers want.

“Each film project is its own small business launch and I dig into my arsenal of MBA tools every day when I consider the target audience, marketing hook, variety of various release platforms and financial viability,” she wrote in an email. “I’m grateful for not only my marketing classes, but also finance, strategy and entrepreneurial business.”

Cara Withers Shaw, who has an MBA from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School and previously held marketing jobs with 20th Century Studios and Disney, says B-schools gave her the necessary quantitative and qualitative skills to identify which types of movies were more likely to become box office hits.

“Each film project is its own small business launch and I dig into my arsenal of MBA tools every day when I consider the target audience, marketing hook, variety of various release platforms and financial viability,” she says. “I’m grateful for not only my marketing classes, but also finance, strategy and entrepreneurial business.”

Sources: US News, mba.com