The MBA degree, in general, positions graduates for employment as middle-level managers in businesses and organizations, in a wide variety of business disciples. The knowledge and skills obtained from the core courses of the program, usually finance, financial reporting and control, leadership and organization behavior, marketing, technology and operations management, are applicable in any business setting. Graduates who work for consulting firms often have opportunities to make use of their broad range of knowledge.
MBA graduates who specialize in public administration fill positions in government and non-profit organizations. Understanding public policy and conducting relevant public-policy research are often key components of this role. Competition for limited public and private funding of these organizations requires graduates who work as public administrators to have strong public-relations skills to deal with advisory committees, public agencies and elected officials.
MBA graduates with a specialization in finance often work as financial analysts or managers in the financial services, securities and investment banking industries. They oversee and manage the past and present financial well-being of the organization, focusing on strategy and money management. Information produced by financial managers is a key component in the decision making, strategic planning and business development processes of any business.
Graduates of MBA programs who have specialized in healthcare management usually find employment in healthcare facilities as administrators or managers. The main function of such a role is coordination, whether of finances for projects or payment of employee salaries, or of healthcare delivery to patients within their own and partner facilities. In addition to the basic principles of business, such as accounting, budgeting and management principles, healthcare management graduates use their specialist, in-depth knowledge of the healthcare industry to develop and implement business strategies.
The success of any project depends, in a large part, on the skills and knowledge of the project manager. Graduates of this specialization can find employment in any business or industry, where they plan and run medium- to large-scale projects. Project managers are involved in all aspects of a project, from planning and developing the project, through managing the budget and the project team, to working with management and outside resources. Within this specialty, project managers can further specialize in a particular business, industry or type of project.