What can you do with a business degree?

Things to consider when choosing a career or considering further study after a business degree

Knowledge and skills

Undertaking a business degree will develop your understanding of business organisations and the markets and frameworks they operate within. You will acquire knowledge concerning customers, operations, communication, policy and strategy and how all of these are connected. An international business degree will see you acquire this information within the context of different countries and cultures.

You will also develop the following abilities:

effective communication, project management, leadership and interpersonal skills through teamworking and collaborative learning opportunities
effective listening, negotiating and influencing skills through interactions with fellow students and university staff members
self-awareness and a sensitivity to the diversity of people, cultures, business and management issues
research and analytical skills with the ability to create, evaluate and assess options and apply ideas to a range of situations
organisational and time management skills, making sure that all your commitments, including social ones, are completed on time.

Career options

15 months after graduating*

95% of our business graduates are in work or further study

74% of graduates agree that their current activity is meaningful

86% of business graduates in highly skilled work said their degree was a formal requirement or gave them an advantage

Studying business at the University of Plymouth will open a wide range of career choices for you. With the skills, knowledge and commercial awareness acquired through a business degree programme, careers in accountancy, project management, consultancy, banking, analytics and many more are open to you.

You may however wish to explore other pathways that will make use of a more specific knowledge and skills set that you have developed. Maybe you have a passion to support, motivate and encourage people in the workplace, and so a human resources role might suit you. The public and charity sectors will take on business graduates to harness their commercial awareness and business acumen for public/charitable benefit. Some graduate schemes to consider are The Local Government Graduate Development Programme or the Civil Service Fast Stream. Or, maybe your outgoing personality will help you soar as a sales executive.

Since specific career paths may be less obvious it is important to use your research skills to explore the range of opportunities and to consider your personal interests, motivations, values and strengths. Also, don’t forget that some employers will accept applications from graduates with a degree in any subject.

*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys covering the three years of 2019/20 – 2021/22. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.

Researching your career options

Given the diversity of career options open to business graduates, it is important to research and explore these fully so that you can make informed decisions about your future.

The following websites provide helpful information on options with a business degree, including professional bodies:

Employment opportunities

Below is a snapshot of what University of Plymouth business graduates told us what they were doing after 15 months from graduating; for some graduates these roles served as a stepping stone by providing relevant work experience.

Account Manager
Accountant (Training for ACA Chartership)
Aquisitions Surveyor
Assistant Branch Manager
Assistant Buyer
Bid Writer
Business Consultant

Business Management Trainee
Business Secondary Teacher
Conference and Events Coordinator
Data Analyst
Digital Marketing Assistant
Employee Relations Advisor
Graduate Management Trainee

HR Account Manager
Investor and Day Trader
Mortgage Advisor
Operations Specialist
Sales Analyst
Trainee Document Technician

Employers

Admiral
Babcock International
BT
Capita
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Frazer Nash
GE Aerospce

Hays Recruitment
IBM
London Metropolitan Police
Maverrik
Ministry of Defence
New Look
NHS Business Partners

Oracle
PFK Francis Clark
Plymouth Community Homes
Redbull
The Range Home and Leisure (CDS)
Toyota GB
University of Plymouth

Things to consider when choosing a career or considering further study after studying a business degree

Discover employment and further study opportunities that you could consider once you graduate with a business degree and learn how you can stand out to graduate employers.
We encourage you to:

undertake career planning and research
build your networks, meet employees and graduates
gain essential work experience during your course
attend career fairs and events
continually develop your skills and knowledge
get involved with relevant clubs and societies
visit the Careers Service for advice.

Further study

Some of the careers chosen by business graduates will require or benefit from further study, so this should be considered carefully. The University of Plymouth offers the following postgraduate study options related to business:

You should consider the financial implications of further study as well as selecting a programme that suits your interests, learning style and future career direction. The following websites are a good starting point for exploring postgraduate options, but you may also benefit from talking to a careers consultant about your particular situation.

Some useful websites to help you find a suitable postgraduate programme:

It is also worth investigating what

further study options the University has to offer

as you may find the perfect course for yourself in an institution you already know. There are also sometimes financial benefits of staying on such as a fee discount to Alumni –

find out your funding options

Careers Service support

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier, come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the

Student Hub

or access

24/7 online resources

There is a wide range of support available from skills workshops to events, placements and internships advice, 1-2-1 appointments and help getting started with LinkedIn.

Our bite-sized skills workshops can give your career the boost it needs. Choose from a range of topics:

effective career planning
job hunting techniques
finding part-time work
CVs and interviews
mastering LinkedIn
and more.

Workshops are delivered by the Careers Service, however they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

Connect with graduates

Build your network and job sector knowledge using LinkedIn's alumni tool. This will allow you to see the career journeys of graduates from your programme, the qualifications they completed, the skills they developed and employers they worked for. You can then ‘connect’ with people of interest.

search LinkedIn for ‘University of Plymouth’
select ‘Alumni’
filter the results by subject, sector, company or location.

For more information about the alumni tool select the LinkedIn alumni tool guide. If you are looking for help to set up or learn how to make the most of your LinkedIn profile, select the LinkedIn guide for students or

come to one of our workshops

Other advice and guidance

Gain work experience

Undertaking work experience in your first and second years will help you stand out from the crowd when the time comes for you to complete applications for graduate employment and further study. Work experience develops valuable skills and qualities that employers are looking for and is essential for many roles. It can also help you to confirm or rule out career choices. Furthermore, experience in the workplace can bring you into contact with people who may be able to assist you at the beginning of your career.

You will want to acquire experiences that immerse you within commercial environments where you are exposed to business functions and operations. With so many businesses to choose from, decide which industry/sector you want to work in and then find a relatable business to acquire experience from. This could be through a part time role whilst studying, or you could apply for a placement year. Alternatively, you could approach organisations directly to negotiate short periods of work experience. Some organisations offer paid internships over the summer or for one year’s duration.

The University of Plymouth Students’ Union also offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities.

Clubs and societies

Engaging in a sport or society shows employers you are engaged and seek out opportunities, it also helps you improve your teamwork, communication and negotiation skills. Committee members can develop leadership, diplomacy and organisational skills and will gain experience of meetings, handling funds, and society/club promotion.

You may choose to join a society that is specifically linked to your degree or take the opportunity to explore the huge range of clubs, societies and sports, all of which can help you to broaden your horizons and explore new interests.

Tutor and academic support

Your tutor and other academic staff are an excellent source of support for your career development. They will have experience and contacts across industry and academia, so do approach them for advice and insights into careers you are considering. Your tutor will ultimately be writing references for your employment or further study applications, therefore establishing a positive relationship with this person is invaluable.