Career description: A Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a member of an organization’s executive team. They handle the day-to-day administration and operation of a business. With the proper training, experience, and skills, an individual can fill this role in a variety of organizations, such as a for-profit business, non-profit organization, government entity, or school. The COO typically […]
Category: Business
Strategic Planner
Career description: Strategic planners participate in the planning of business strategy for medium- and large-sized corporations. Strategic planners must be familiar with all aspects of their employer’s business, as part of their responsibility is presenting strategic recommendations to senior decision makers. Most medium-sized businesses and large corporations employ strategic planners, so it is possible to […]
Operations Research Analyst
Career description: An operations research analyst uses mathematical expertise and analytical methods to help businesses and organizations solve problems and make decisions. They work on teams of people with knowledge in different disciplines to solve complex problems. Operations research analysts advise managers on how to allocate resources, schedule production, and set prices. What it’s like: Common duties: […]
Purchasing Manager
Career description: A purchasing manager is responsible for organizing and managing products to order or sell. Purchasing managers review product specifications, negotiate pricing details with the vendors, evaluate and choose the best suppliers, and assist purchasing agents. Purchase managers are also responsible for resolving order processing issues and analyzing current market trends to determine which […]
Operations Manager
Career description: Part of the core responsibilities of an operations manager include resourcing or staffing, recruitment and financial processes, such as invoicing. This is linked to the budgeting aspects of the role, in which the operations manager must manage margins, costs, budgeting and forecasting. Project delivery functions include delivery assurance, quality assurance, client delivery and […]
Career description: Marketing managers are expected to contribute a great deal to the effectiveness of a company. They identify products and markets, suggest sales strategies and approaches, and measure the results of all of the efforts. They’re also responsible for all efforts of the marketing department and staff. What it’s like: Common duties: Research and […]
Career description: Public relations (PR) specialists communicate with the public on behalf of an entity such as a company, organization, individual, politician, or government. They’re also sometimes called communication, or media specialists. PR specialists spread their employers’ or clients’ message to the public, often using media outlets as a means to do so, to help create […]
Product Manager
Career description: A product manager is the person who identifies the customer need and the larger business objectives that a product or feature will fulfill, articulates what success looks like for a product, and rallies a team to turn that vision into a reality. What it’s like: Common duties: Read and process incoming feedback that’s streaming in […]
Career description: An advertising sales representative sells space in print publications, on websites, and on outdoor media to companies that want to advertise their products. He or she may also sell airtime during radio or television broadcasts. The advertising sales representative must convince advertisers that this is the best way to reach consumers. What it’s like: Common […]
Brand Manager
Career description: A Brand Manager is responsible for adapting a brand strategy for a company’s target market. As the ‘brand guardian’, brand managers maintain brand integrity across all company marketing initiatives and communications, and may manage a portfolio of products. What it’s like: Common duties: Brand strategy, including the setting of style guides, brand guidelines, […]
Career description: A management consultant, also sometimes called a management analyst, helps a company or government entity plan and execute projects with the desired outcome of becoming more profitable or competitive. To achieve this goal, the consultant may recommend a variety of strategies to alter the organization’s structure or operation methods in ways that result […]
Financial Analyst
Career description: Financial analysts provide guidance to businesses and individuals making investment decisions. They assess the performance of stocks, bonds, and other types of investments. Financial analysts evaluate investment opportunities. They work in banks, pension funds, mutual funds, securities firms, insurance companies, and other businesses. Financial analysts are also called securities analysts and investment analysts. What it’s like: […]
Career description: The responsibilities of the credit analyst include analyzing credit data and financial information of persons or companies that are applying for credit or loans to determine the risk that the bank, or other lending or credit-granting institution will not recoup funds loaned. The level of risk is then used to determine if a […]
Career description: An economic consultant is responsible for analyzing data statistics and market conditions that affect the performance of the production and manufacturing processes of an organization. Economic consultants develop business plans to address economic difficulties based on the research and data methodologies. They write reports for the management’s reference and discuss sales forecasts, as […]
Career description: Market research analysts assess consumer preferences to help organizations decide how to shape, advertise, and market their products and services. Many market research analysts work for consulting firms that are hired on a contract basis. Others work directly for employers as part of a marketing team at consumer and product firms. What it’s like: […]
General Manager
Career description: A general manager, sometimes simply called a GM, has broad, overall responsibility for a business or a business unit within a larger organization. The role is particularly common in large global or multinational organizations where businesses are organized along product lines, customer groups, or geographies. The general manager typically serves as the top executive […]
Entrepreneur
Career description: Entrepreneurship is one of the resources economists categorize as integral to production, the other three being land/natural resources, labor and capital. An entrepreneur combines the first three of these to manufacture goods or provide services. They typically create a business plan, hire labor, acquire resources and financing, and provide leadership and management for the […]
Payroll Coordinators
Career description: Payroll Coordinators are responsible for managing all aspects of payroll processing. They collect and verify employee data, compute wages, and ensure employees receive correct payment. What it’s like: Common duties: Collecting and verifying employee and timekeeping data Computing wages, deductions, commissions, benefits, etc Reviewing computed wages to ensure accuracy Issuing and distributing paychecks […]
HR Manager
Career description: A Human Resources generalist, manager, or director plays a wide variety of roles in organizations. Depending on the size of the organization, these HR jobs may have overlapping responsibilities. In larger organizations, the HR generalist, manager, and director have clearly defined, separated roles in HR management. What it’s like: Common duties: Recruiting Hiring Training Organization Development Communication Performance […]
HR Assistant
Career description: A human resources assistant (HR assistant) supports a company’s or organization’s human resources specialist or specialists. They tend to clerical tasks such as writing correspondence, answering telephone calls and scheduling appointments. HR assistants may also help with the recruiting process. This could including posting job announcements, pre-screening applicants, administering assessments to candidates and informing people of their […]
Career description: The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a company has primary responsibility for the planning, implementation, managing and running of all the finance activities of a company, including business planning, budgeting, forecasting and negotiations. The CFO job description should also extend to obtaining and maintaining investor relations and partnership compliance. What it’s like: Common […]
Career description: A real estate agent is a person whose business is to arrange the selling or renting of houses, land, offices, or buildings for their owners. While that is a technically accurate definition of a real estate agent, it doesn’t give an accurate description of what a real estate agent does every day. Each […]
Career description: A venture capitalist (VC) is a private equity investor that provides capital to companies exhibiting high growth potential in exchange for an equity stake. This could be funding startup ventures or supporting small companies that wish to expand but do not have access to equities markets. Venture capitalists are willing to risk investing in such companies […]
Career description: Insurance agents sell and negotiate life, health, property, or other types of insurance to match the needs of their clients. As an insurance agent, you may work for an insurance company, refer clients to independent brokers, or work as an independent broker. What it’s like: Common duties: Attend meetings, seminars, and programs to […]
Career description: A financial advisor helps create strategies for eliminating financial risk and building wealth over the long term. They give their clients a game plan that puts them on track to achieve your financial goals. Simply put, financial advisors help with all types of financial planning. What it’s like: Common duties: Help with debt management […]
Career description: Investment bankers raise funds for corporations and government agencies by structuring the issuance of securities such as stocks and bonds. They also advise corporations that are contemplating mergers and acquisitions. Careers in investment banking require strong quantitative abilities combined with excellent sales skills, a willingness to work hard, excellent people skills, and a competitive […]
Career description: Corporate bankers are like retail bankers, but they deal with companies rather than everyday people. Their clients range from small and medium sized companies to huge conglomerates. The products they offer include treasury services, loans and credit, trade finance (such as letters of credit) and employer services (such as payroll). What it’s like: Common […]
Tax Accountant
Career description: Accountants that specialize in the laws, rules, and regulations for the preparation and calculation of federal, state, and local taxes are typically known as tax accountants. Tax accountants provide a range of tax-related services to both individuals and businesses, which can include preparing and filing tax returns. What it’s like: Common duties: Preparing […]
Internal Auditor
Career description: An internal auditor is a company employee who independently and objectively evaluates the organization’s operations. The role of an internal auditor is to gather relevant and objective information about the organization. An internal auditor essentially serves as the eyes and ears of the company’s senior leadership and board of directors. Their assigned work […]
Budget Analyst
Career description: Budget analysts help organizations big and small stay on track with their finances by maintaining a balanced budget. They help to keep company finances organized by running regular financial reports, collaborating with executives about funding needs and assessing budget decisions about special programs or one-time expenses. What it’s like: Common duties: Work with […]
Accounting Clerk
Career description: Accounting clerks use accounting practices procedures to support the financial operations of a business. Accounting clerks make sure the company’s daily accounting functions run accurately. Tasks include updating financial records, generating financial reports and reconciling bank statements, and using accounting software programs to process transactions related to the company’s business dealings, like accounts […]
Accountant
Career description: The primary task of accountants, which extends to all the others, is to prepare and examine financial records. They make sure that records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time. Accountants and auditors perform overviews of the financial operations of a business in order to help it run efficiently. […]