An education is a valuable experience that will only benefit you in life. It can help you land a job, and it’s a great way to increase your confidence and self-esteem. But when you start interviewing for jobs, you’ll be competing against others with the same educational background as you. To stand out, you’ll have to offer something they don’t.
Today’s society is full of entrepreneurs with products and services to share with the world—but if they don’t know how to handle the business side of their work, they need someone to do it for them. That’s why many forward-minded students pair their major with a business minor. If you want to be one of those students and give your skill set and future career a boost, here are five of the best college majors to pair with a Business minor.
1. Health and Medical Science
A degree in Health and Medical Science can open a vast array of doors for you. The health care field is ever expanding. It will always be essential, and employees with Health and Medical Science degrees are coveted. This degree lets you choose your preferred career path. You’ll find opportunities in diagnostic testing, rehabilitation, pharmaceuticals, and many other areas. Additionally, many graduates find employment as nurses, medical assistants, or physical therapists. When paired with a Health Science major, a Business minor will be a great asset to you. If you enter the administration side of health care, potential employers will be impressed with your business skills. And if you decide to start your own company, you’ll be able to handle the business side of things yourself.
Related: How Can I Properly Evaluate the Quality of a Health and Medicine Program?
2. Advertising and Marketing
Today’s Advertising and Marketing majors have a wealth of job opportunities never seen before. Technology has provided increases in job opportunities and the ability to work remotely—geography no longer prevents you from applying for a position on the other side of the world! In the advertising and marketing industries, people often study consumer behavior, and they use their research to develop ads for products and services. A Business minor can help you understand the world of commerce. With a strong business sense, you’ll be eligible for positions such as market research analyst, brand manager, or advertising analyst.
3. Social Work
For those with a passion for helping others, a major in Social Work is a good choice. With this degree, graduates get to choose their focus based on their preferences working with many different types of people; from child welfare to senior assistance, thousands of jobs will be open to you. These areas allow you to help individuals get the aid they need to survive and, eventually, thrive. In school, you’ll learn about state and federal laws regarding assistance, but once you’re in the field, you’ll get the priceless feeling that comes with helping others.
Pairing a Social Work major with a Business minor will give you the opportunity to move behind the scenes and work on the red-tape end of the field. As you complete your fieldwork training and gain real-world experience, you’ll see the importance of this. There's an enormous need for caring, competent individuals to cut through the bureaucracy. Those who require assistance are often stuck waiting because of paperwork, but you can be the change they need by developing skills in business to make those processes easier for people.
4. Accounting
A major in Accounting provides an easy segue into the business world. Those who graduate with this degree are able to find jobs in almost any industry. After all, every business needs a financial expert on their team. As you study, you’ll learn about tax laws, ethics policies, and auditing and budgeting requirements. Math is an important aspect, but much of the work today is done through computer programs. If you already have an Accounting degree, a Business minor can make you even more attractive to potential employers. You’ll have a knowledge of accounting and you’ll know what it takes to run a business. This gives you the full picture of how a business operates.
5. Business Administration and Management
Of course, a major in Business Administration pairs seamlessly with a Business minor. The minor will get your foot in the door of a company, but the major will put you near the top of the ladder. Businesses need people with skills to solve existing problems and predict future ones. You and your team will work to develop systems that help the company reach its goals.
You’ll also need to know how to implement policies that focus on workplace diversity and eco-friendliness. This aspect of your job will be just as important as your profit and loss analyses, and you’ll have to juggle them. A Business minor will help you understand how all of these pieces come together to form the whole puzzle and help you refine specific skills outside of what the major offers. As you make decisions that’ll affect the company (along with its customers and employees), this knowledge will come in handy.
Related: List: The Experts’ Choice: Great Places to Study Business
Ultimately, a Business minor is beneficial in any field. Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, a hands-on person or a hands-off one, minoring in Business gives you a wider selection of career paths and an adaptable set of skills. With a Business minor, you’ll already be on the road to success, no matter which major you choose!
Haven’t picked a major yet? Find out what your colleges of interest offer using our College Search tool!