Careers in business, consulting, and finance offer a wide range of opportunities to use analysis, critical thinking, and leadership to increase efficiencies, maximize profitability, and solve challenges facing organizations in a global economy. We invite you to explore this cluster to determine if it is a good fit for you and leverage our resources to launch your job, internship, or graduate school search.
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Our specialized Business, Consulting, and Finance career coaches will help you launch a job, internship, or graduate school search in your field of interest.
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Mini sessions are designed for quick questions for liberal arts students. No appointment necessary!
For Students in the Carroll School of Management
For individual career coaching, you will be best served by visiting the career services staff within CSOM.
This cluster may be for you if:
You have a desire to solve challenging real world problems
You seek collaborative, engaging, and dynamic work environments
You are analytical, intellectually curious, and outcomes oriented
Careers in business, consulting, and finance are open to students of all backgrounds. If you have preconceptions or doubts that are preventing you from exploring careers in these fields, we encourage you to make an appointment. Let’s dig deeper into these beliefs and engage in a meaningful conversation together.
Key Resources
Explore Opportunities in Business, Consulting, and Finance
Accounting
Accounting is the systematic and comprehensive recording of financial transactions pertaining to a business. Accounting also refers to the process of summarizing, analyzing, and reporting these transactions to oversight agencies, regulators and tax collection entities. Accountants prepare and examine financial records. They ensure that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time. Accountants assess financial operations and work to help ensure that organizations run efficiently.
Types of Positions
- Public Accountant
- Management Accountant
- Government Accountant
- Internal Auditor
- External Auditor
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Ernst and Young
- KPMG
- Deloitte and Touche
Hiring Timelines
- 76% received job offers before senior year
- 19% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 5% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
Professional Associations
Do I need to go to graduate school?
The number of students earning a master’s degree in accounting has increased over the past few years. This growth is largely attributed to the implementation of the “150-Hour Rule” by many states, which requires accountants to earn 150 semester hours of education in order to be eligible for CPA certification. Many accountants earn graduate degrees as a means to fulfill this requirement.
Consulting
Consulting is the practice of helping companies increase their efficiency and profits by addressing the major operational or strategic challenges they’re facing. There are four main types of consulting: management strategy consulting, financial consulting, information technology consulting, and human resources staffing/consulting.
Types of Positions
- Managment Consultant
- Energy Consultant
- Environmental Consultant/Analyst
- Financial Consultant
- Healthcare Consultant
- IT/Digital Consultant
- Marketing Consultant/Research Analyst
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Deloitte Consulting
- Accenture
- LEK Consulting
- FTI Consulting
Hiring Timelines
- 25% received job offers before senior year
- 40% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 25% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 8% received job offers the summer after senior year
Professional Associations
Case Interviews
Case interviews are used by consulting companies to assess your problem-solving abilities. Interviewers in these situations will observe your thought process, test your ability to think logically and organize your answer, and assess your confidence and communication skills under pressure. Resources on our interviewing page will help you prepare.
Do I need to go to graduate school?
A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for most consulting careers, but many consultants have a master’s degree in business administration. Others have advanced degrees in their specialty, such as engineering, human resources, or accounting. Attending an Ivy League school or a college with a top-rated MBA program increases your chances of landing a consulting job.
Consumer Products/Retail
The general consumer products industry produces goods that the public wants or needs. It produces two types of goods: durable and nondurable. Durable goods have a long life span and hold up over time; examples of durable goods are cars, electronics, tools, and washing machines. Nondurable goods, which do not last as long, include such products as food, cosmetics, and clothing. General consumer products are sold in retail stores, door-to-door, by mail order, and online.
Today, retail is a complex and diverse field. It involves the selling of all types of physical goods, such as automobile parts, pharmaceuticals, clothing, health care products, books, and food, as well as services, such as automobile repair or rug cleaning. The retail field consists of supermarkets, department stores, chain stores, specialty stores, variety stores, franchise stores, mail-order houses, online merchants, and door-to-door sellers.
Types of Positions
- Client Services/Relations Manager
- Export/Import Specialist
- Fashion Designer
- Product Manager
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Wayfair
- The TJX Companies
- Bloomingdale's
- Walmart eCommerce
- BMW
- Converse
Hiring Timelines
- 13% received job offers before senior year
- 34% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 40% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 11% received job offers the summer after senior year
Professional Associations
- American Association of Exporters and Importers
- American Jewelry Design Council
- Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA)
- Fashion Group International
- National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)
- National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)
- National Customer Service Association (NCSA)
- National Retail Federation (NRF)
- Retail Industry Leaders Association
- Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals (SCAP)
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Many people who want management positions in the export-import field are now deciding to get a master's in business administration (MBA), with an emphasis in international trade.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the process of starting and developing a company, with the aim of delivering something new or improved to the market, or by organizing the means of production in a superior way. This process is principally organized through the formation of a startup company, is managed by entrepreneurs, often under considerable personal and financial risk, and is temporary in duration, as a phase in a business’s lifecycle.
A key distinction between start-ups and other small or young businesses is an aspiration (realized or not) to substantially grow. As companies mature out of the start-up phase, they evolve into sustainable businesses, are acquired or sold to public investors, or decay and may eventually shut down, as new companies start-up and take their place.
Types of Positions
- Engineer
- Product Manager
- Salesperson
- Business Developer
- Marketer
- Account Manager
- Office Manager
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Vettery
- Atlantic Visuals
- Canvas Worldwide
- Drizly
- DraftKings
- Jebbit
Hiring Timelines
- 3% received job offers before senior year
- 9% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 59% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 24% received job offers the summer after senior year
Professional Associations
- Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization
- Entrepreneurs’ Organization
- International Council for Small Business World Congress
- National Association of Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
- National Association of Women Business Owners
- Social Enterprise Alliance
- Small Giants
- Startup Grind
- Venture for America
- Vistage
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Startup and Entrepreneurship Fair
Every Spring, Start@Shea and the Career Center host a Startup and Entrepreneurship Fair for students interested in working in these industries.
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Every entrepreneur, from owners of roadside cafes to global startups, needs to be versed in management, finances, taxes, and other business-related topics. You don’t necessarily need a master’s degree in economics, but an educational foundation in business will certainly help. An entrepreneurship education could mean an actual entrepreneurship degree or a more general business education that will prepare you to meet the day-to-day challenges of an entrepreneur career.
Finance/Banking
Finance is a broad term that describes two related activities: the study of how money is managed and the actual process of acquiring needed funds. It encompasses the oversight, creation and study of money, banking, credit, investments, assets and liabilities that make up financial systems.
Types of Positions
- Financial Analyst
- Financial Advisor
- Financial Services Broker
- Loan Underwriter
- Investment Banker
- Mortgage Banker/Loan Officer
- Research Analyst
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Fidelity Investments
- Citi
- John Hancock
- JPMorgan Chase and Co.
- Morgan Stanley
- Goldman Sachs
Hiring Timelines
- 34% received job offers before senior year
- 26% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 26% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 14% received job offers the summer after senior year
Online Resources
- E-Financial Careers
- Wall Street Oasis
- Investor Words
- Vault Guide to Investment Banking Jobs
- Vault Guide to Commercial Banking Jobs
- Vault Career Guide to Wealth Management, Third Edition
- Vault Career Guide to Sales and Trading, Second Edition
- Vault Career Guide to Investment Management, Second Edition
- Corporate Finance Institute
- Mergers & Inquisitions
- Street of Walls
Campus Resources
BC Bank Week
Every February, we host Bank Week for sophomores interested in learning more about the finance/banking industries. The week features informational sessions, skills workshops, and networking sessions. Sign up for BCF updates to receive information as the event gets closer.
Do I need to go to graduate school?
A master’s degree in finance or business administration can improve an analyst’s chances of advancing to a higher/managerial position.
Human Resources
Human resources is the department or division of a business, corporation, or organization that manages all aspects related to its personnel, including recruiting employees, training and career development, overseeing compensation packages, managing benefits plans, and other duties that serve to maximize a company's business and its employees' satisfaction with their jobs. Simply, the function of the human resources industry is to produce competent personnel and to keep employees productive. More than 800,000 people work in human resources and related fields today. (Source: Vault)
Types of Positions
- Human resources generalists
- Employment and placement managers
- Employment, placement, and recruitment specialists
- Employer relations representatives
- Job analysts
- Compensation managers
- Benefits managers
Online Resources
Insurance
The insurance industry comprises companies and people who develop insurance policies, sell, administer, and regulate them. Some insurance companies offer investment products and employ people who develop, sell, administer, or service these products. Insurance is about managing risk, for both the insurance company and its customers. The insurance industry is divided into three main branches: life insurance, health insurance, and property and casualty insurance.
Types of Positions
- Actuary
- Sales Agent
- Broker/Consultant
- Risk Manager
- Underwriter
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Liberty Mutual
- AIG
- Optum
- Aetna
- Harvard Pilgrim
Hiring Timelines
- 34% received job offers before senior year
- 25% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 23% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 18% received job offers the summer after senior year
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Generally speaking, the entry-level roles in this industry do not require a postgraduate degree. There are few that may seek those with a masters in finance, real estate or an MBA. Certification or licensure, however, is required for many of the roles and must be maintained through completing periodic continuing education classes/exams.
Real Estate
The real estate industry encompasses the many facets of property, including development, appraisal, marketing, selling, leasing, and management of commercial, industrial, residential, and agricultural properties. This industry can fluctuate depending on the national and local economies, although it remains somewhat consistent due to the fact that people always need homes and businesses always need office space.
Types of Positions
- Assessor and Appraiser
- Property and Real Estate Manager
- Real Estate Agent and Broker
- Real Estate Developer
- Real Estate Lawyer
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Cushman and Wakefield
- JLL
- CBRE Group
- Corcoran Management Company
- Kingsley Associates
Hiring Timelines
- 15% received job offers before senior year
- 18% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 44% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 24% received job offers the summer after senior year
Professional Associations
- American Institute of Architects
- Building Owners and Managers Association International
- Commercial Real Estate Development Association
- Commercial Real Estate Development Association--Massachusetts Chapter
- CREW Boston
- Institute of Real Estate Management
- Mortgage Bankers Association
- National Association of Real Estate Investment Funds
- National Association of Realtors
- Urban Land Institute
- Wellness for Women in Real Estate
Do I need to go to graduate school?
For most positions in real estate, individuals will need a Bachelor’s degree, along with appropriate training/certification, as an advanced degree (e.g. master’s) is unnecessary for entry-level access.
Sports Business
Sports business (management) is the study and practice of all people, activities, businesses, or organizations involved in producing, facilitating, promoting, or organizing andy sports-related business or product. The sports business industry consists of numerous other segments, some of which are sports tourism, semi-professional sports, recreation, high school and college sports, outdoor sports, and sports-service businesses such as sports marketing firms, sports sponsorship management companies, and sport governing bodies. Essentially, in the sports business industry, there are numerous jobs that combine two interests into one job (e.g. photography, computer programming).
Types of Positions
- Sports Agent
- Sports Executive
- Sports Facility Manager
- Sports Publicist
- Sports Scout
- Sports Trainer
Where BC Graduates Have Gone
- Boston Red Sox
- Athletes First
- New England Patriots
- MLB
- NFL
Hiring Timelines
- 10% received job offers before senior year
- 5% received job offers during fall semester of senior year
- 62% received job offers during spring semester of senior year
- 24% received job offers the summer after senior year
Professional Associations
Sports Business Society Networking Night
Every Spring, the Sports Business Society and the Career Center host a networking night for students interested in working in sports business. Find details in Handshake in the Spring.
Do I need to go to graduate school?
Plan to earn a master’s degree in sport management, preferably from an accredited sports-focused school in sport management, business, or college student personnel for more opportunities and advancement. Work as a graduate assistant (GA) in the athletic department.
Earn a law degree and develop skills in investment management and negotiation to represent players as an agent.
