MBA careers: Who hires MBA graduates?

Sponsored by Nottingham Trent University  

MBA graduates are more in demand than ever. As a result, MBA graduates’ prospective salaries are rising, with a typical MBA graduate earning around $87,966 in 2021 (approx. £66,400) - 11 percent more than in 2020, according to the National Association of College and Employers (NACE).  

Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University (NTU) offers a leadership-focused Online MBA. This MBA programme has been ranked 55th in the world according to QS Online MBA Rankings 2022. The programme aims to provide students with real-world experiences and personalised learning, which can all be accessed online from anywhere in the world.  

Modelled on Nottingham Business School’s in-person MBA programme, the Online MBA offers students the advanced business skills needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive, international and ever-changing business landscape.  

With acclaimed teaching staff, real-world exercises, personalised learning options and connections with over 600 companies worldwide, Nottingham Business School’s Online MBA will open up a variety of career opportunities to you.  

Graduates from MBA courses have gone on to hold positions such as head of procurement, project manager, managing director and finance director. 

If you too aspire to these roles, read on to discover who is hiring MBA graduates, and the types of roles that are available to graduates. 

Roles in marketing 

If you’re considering working in marketing after finishing your MBA, you’ll be pleased to discover that there are marketing roles available across many different industries, including retail, banking, hospitality, media and IT.  

PepsiCo, Unilever, L’Oréal and IBM are just a few firms actively recruiting MBA graduates for top marketing roles.  

Typical job titles for MBA graduates working in marketing include:  

• Senior brand manager: earns an average salary of £58,242 per year 
• Sales manager: earns around £42,110 per year 
• Marketing manager: earns around £45,110 per year 
• Product manager: earns around £53,000 per year 

What do employers look for? 

Employers hiring for marketing roles are looking for MBA graduates who are creative, with refined written and verbal communication skills. You must have the qualitative and quantitative research skills to effectively assess the needs and preferences of consumers.  

To help students gain these skills, Nottingham Business School’s Online MBA offers several core modules focused around marketing and creativity. The Managing Creativity and Innovation module enables you to select, apply and critically evaluate creative thinking techniques as part of the innovation process. Through this module, you will gain a greater understanding of the parts played by design and creativity within the product development process. 

Roles in operations  

Operations is the process of improving the efficiency of a business. In larger companies, this may involve thinking strategically about the business’s systems and processes, whereas in smaller companies it might mean actively working on every aspect of a project.  

Many large international firms are regularly hiring for operations roles, including household names such as Amazon, Wal-Mart, Dell, Procter & Gamble, Fedex Corporation and Apple.  

Typical job titles for MBA graduates working in operations include:  

• Strategic supply chain manager: earns an average starting salary of £39,000 
• Logistics manager: earns around £43,200 
• Project managers: earns around £46,200 
• Operations director: earns around £77,700 
• Global sourcing manager: earns around £69,000 

What do employers look for? 

Because of the challenges and obstacles you will come across on a daily basis as an operations manager, employers will look for graduates with exceptional problem-solving skills who know how to effectively delegate tasks. As part of Nottingham Business School’s Online MBA, you will gain practical skills that will empower you to help organisations achieve their business objectives.  

The NTU Online MBA’s core module in Operations Management will help you develop a wider understanding of the key principles and concepts related to operations management. You’ll learn  how to use these to critically evaluate strategic options. 

Roles in investment banking and financial services  

As an MBA graduate, you will be an attractive candidate for prestigious banking and finance firms, such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, KPMG, Deloitte and Ernst & Young. 

Many MBA graduates start in investment banking or private wealth management, but there are also opportunities in asset management, finance, global investment research, merchant banking, and securities.  

Typical job titles for MBA graduates working in banking and finance include:  

• Financial manager: average salary of £58,200 
• Risk and insurance manager: earns around £47,970 
• Finance director: earns around £99,280 

What do employers look for?  

Employers hiring for finance and banking roles are looking for a strong academic track record, a proven interest in the industry and an awareness about global developments - as well as excellent problem-solving skills.  

Diversity is also encouraged, and employers consider applicants from diverse backgrounds, not just the financial sector.  

For students considering working in the financial services sector, Nottingham Trent University’s Financial Management module gives you the skills to critically evaluate internal and external financial information and use this to appraise corporate performance and strategy. This strong foundation will make you an attractive candidate when applying for financial services roles.  

Roles in technology management 

Since the start of COVID-19, the value of technology companies has increased drastically due to the switch to digital.  

If you dream of working for one of the big tech giants, such as Amazon, Google, Apple or Microsoft, there are a large number of roles you can take on in technology management.  

However, you should also consider smaller tech start-ups, which offer the opportunity to take on more responsibility with the possibility of larger rewards.  

Typical job titles for MBA graduates working in technology management include: 

• Business development manager: earns an average of £41,660 
• System manager: earns around £46,400 
• Data processing manager: earns around £49,200 
• Business analyst: earns around £42,770 
• Technical program manager: earns around £67,550 

What do employers look for?  

Employers in the technology industry look for graduates who can demonstrate deep analytical skills and strategic thinking.  

These roles would ideally suit a graduate with a STEM background who is looking to progress to a management position. 

Nottingham Business School’s Online MBA gives you the skills to become a more effective leader through the Professional and Leadership Development (PLD) module. The PLD module prepares students for management roles through a series of personal and professional post-experience workshops and activities which run alongside the curriculum.  

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An Online MBA from Nottingham Business School will give you the skills and experience you need to further your career in business.  

The business school has both an EQUIS and an AACSB accreditation. These accreditations mean that employers will recognise an Online MBA as a leading certificate of high-calibre learning. 

Throughout the course, students will engage in business simulations and consultancy projects to apply their knowledge to real-life scenarios. This practical learning will prepare students for a wide range of exciting, challenging careers in business.