Careers in business

You can expect to find business and management roles in a range of industries and across public, private and not-for-profit sectors (including charities), worldwide. Therefore, it’s important to take the time to investigate the options available. Within business and management, you can also access opportunities to travel and work abroad, a variety of entry points, a varied working life with an immediate high level of responsibility, and opportunities for rapid career progression. Both large corporations and SMEs offer graduate jobs in business and management. 

There are a multitude of career options available within business, and additional career routes are constantly emerging due to advances in technology having a profound impact on how businesses operate. We've outlined below some of the ones likely to be of most interest to LSE students, with links to where you can find more information. If you can, try and talk to someone who's doing the job you're interested in, so you get a real flavour of what it's like.

If your long-term career goal is to take up a senior level / executive or Board level remit in an organisation (ie, C-suite), there are several options available, eg, CEO, managing director, Chief Operating Officer, etc. Given the flexibility within business and management, you may also have the freedom to move around different roles and sectors throughout your career. 

• Management – typically, managers oversee the daily functioning of a team or department, setting goals, motivating staff, solving problems, evaluating results, etc. Roles exist in all sectors, companies and countries and responsibilities vary depending on context. Job titles can vary significantly across different sectors, however. Entry-level positions can often provide early opportunities for understanding key processes and systems, supervising people, and leading projects. The Prospects overview of business, consulting and management is a useful resource, including job profiles ranging from office to retail manager. 
• HR and recruitment – HR support and manage an organisation’s people and associated processes. Great scope for specialism and development within a particular function, for example learning and development or equality and diversity. Some graduate trainees are based purely within the HR department, while other schemes move you across different business areas including marketing and management. Increasing numbers of companies now outsource key elements of their HR functions. As a result, opportunities exist with HR consultancy, particularly for LSE students with a specialist master's degree. The Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) provide a useful overview of different HR career options. Recruitment draws on elements of both HR and sales to source employers for companies of all sizes, and many opportunities exist for graduates from any discipline. The TARGETjobs recruitment consultant job description provides further details.
• Logistics, supply chain and procurement – procures, manages and dispatches goods and services. A logistics professional focuses on four main aspects: supply, production support, distribution, and returns. A supply chain professional oversees the processes which occur within the overall supply chain, including manufacturing and procurement processing. Large global businesses that specialise in logistics include DHL, Maersk, and Kuehne + Nagel. The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport provides a useful overview for graduates.
• CSR – also known as sustainability, responsible business practice, social responsibility or corporate citizenship. Ensures a business's processes, strategies and everyday work follows ethical, environmental and sustainable guidelines. Training schemes specifically around CSR are rare, so gaining commercial awareness in business along with an understanding of environmental or ethical issues will help to demonstrate your commitment. Check out the Allaboutcareers overview of corporate social responsibility.
• Operations and operational research – uses statistical and mathematical modelling to analyse and solve business related problems for clients. Can be employed across a wide range of sectors including manufacturing, transport and logistics, energy, FMCG, and healthcare. The TARGETjobs Operational researcher job description provides more information.
• Sales – works directly with clients, growing profits and working towards targets. Graduates are required across all areas of business, not just within the retail sector. Organisations ranging from BMW to Adidas run graduate programmes, usually open to graduates from any discipline. The Prospects overview of sales will tell you more. 

The range of career options within business and management are so varied that it’s essential you do your research and develop your knowledge and understanding of your chosen area. Roles are advertised directly through employers' websites, general graduate careers websites such as TARGETjobs, and also via LSE’s CareerHub.

With little management experience you can gain a place on a general management graduate scheme, although many people also join a company in a junior position and then work their way up towards a management position. Remember, you can also apply to smaller companies where you may gain more responsibility faster. Consider sending targeted, speculative applications to smaller companies that interest you, and networking with SME representatives during your time at LSE. 

If you are looking to gain experience

As many graduate schemes and entry-level roles are open to students from any discipline, it’s important to differentiate yourself by gaining relevant experience and developing your skills, via internships, volunteering or extra-curricular activities.

Work experience can often help you demonstrate a capacity to develop practical skills, such as team working and problem solving, but also your commercial awareness and an understanding of the challenges that businesses face in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Maintaining your commercial awareness can also be supported by meeting with businesses on campus, regularly reading business focused news sources, such as the FT, and speaking with LSE alumni.

Some businesses, particularly larger organisations, offer formal summer internships programmes. Smaller companies may advertise through LSE Careers, so check CareerHub regularly. LSE Generate run a year-round programme of events to enable you to meet with smaller businesses and entrepreneurs directly. 

If you’re early on in your career

Develop your understanding of the many different options available to you and target your approach to gaining relevant experience. Your focus should be on accumulating evidence for why working within your chosen area of business is the right fit for you. Also, bear in mind that some business and management graduate schemes have early application deadlines (October to December) so if you wish to apply, create a plan so you don’t miss any!

If you have more experience

The best route is likely to be through recruitment agencies and search firms, networking within the sector and applying directly for roles on company websites and via LinkedIn. If you’re changing career, reflect on what your existing skills might add to a business and be prepared to be flexible. LSE alumni who have changed career often emphasise the important of making a number of moves in the first few years in order to gain experience and credibility.This blog from LSE Careers highlights some of the areas to focus on.

Not sure what to do next?

We’re here to talk over your career plans with you. It doesn’t matter what stage you’re at, so don’t feel you have to have it all worked out. You can book a one-to-one appointment with a careers consultant on CareerHub.

Given that business and management is quite broad, with roles spanning almost every sector, industry and location, you can find out about opportunities through regularly checking CareerHub for relevant events, fairs and themed weeks.

General

• The Chartered Management Institute
• LSE Careers Blog

HR and recruitment

• Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD)
• Society for HRM (SHRM)
• World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA)
• Personnel Today
• People Management
• HR Zone
• HR Consulting
• Institute of Recruitment Professionals

Procurement and supply chain

• Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply
• Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply
• Institute of Grocery Distribution
• Women in Logistics UK

CSR

• Guardian Sustainable Business
• CSR Europe
• Windo
• Business in the Community

Operations management

• Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport

Sales and marketing

• Chartered Institute of Marketing
• Marketing Week
• The Marketing Society

General

• CareerHub – jobs board targeting LSE students, including events and networking opportunities. 
• Target Jobs and Prospects for graduate level job vacancies in business and management

HR and recruitment

• PM Jobs
• Simply HR Jobs
• Personnel Today Jobs
• Changeboard
• GreenJobs (HR and recruitment sections)

Procurement and supply chain

• For the latest Aviation & Aerospace Jobs, Logistics/Transportation Jobs, Procurement Jobs, Purchasing Jobs, Shipping Jobs, Supply Chain Jobs, Transport Jobs please visit The GreenJobs Network of Websites.

CSR

• Acre Recruitment
• For the latest Corporate Social Responsibility Jobs and Stakeholder Engagement Jobs please visit The GreenJobs Network of Websites.

Operations management

• For the latest Operations Management Jobs and Production / Operations Jobs please visit The GreenJobs Network of Websites.

Sales and marketing

• Guardian Jobs (marketing section)
• EMR Recruitment

• Emma Mullen (Careers Consultant, Department of Management)
• Bethan Briggs (Careers Consultant, Department of Management)
• Hiba Dabis (Head of CAER, Department of Management)

Book a one-to-one appointment with a careers consultant on CareerHub.