My dad makes over 250k per year with a Business Administration degree focused on Management. He started as a contract specialist and worked up to roles like Senior Contract Manager, Gov Contract Compliance Manager, CCO, and Senior Compliance Manager.
Contracts and compliance sound pretty interesting to me, but I’m finding Accounting tough. I’m not sure I want to stick with all the numbers. If I go for Management instead, is it possible to succeed in this field? Could I still make good money and get hired easily?
Overall, I’m detail-oriented, but Accounting is feeling way too hard right now, and I’m just lost. Any advice?
I majored in Management… You end up knowing a bit about a lot, but you’re not really specialized in anything. It took me a while to find my first job, and I ended up as a first-line manager at a regional retail store.
Not ideal for raising a family, so I left after 10 years and went back for a bachelor’s in Accounting. Later, I got my CPA, which made finding work much easier because I had a specific skill.
But that’s just my experience… maybe it helps you figure things out.
Ty said: @Thorn
Why didn’t you consider moving into a program manager role at some point?
Yeah, about that… The company kept telling me I’d be making way more soon, and I was even a top performer. But the people above me were staying put, and business wasn’t doing great. About a year and a half after I left, the company actually went bankrupt.
Lesson learned: I trusted them too much and ended up stuck. Sadly, a lot of my colleagues who stayed were affected. At least the CEO managed to cover payroll for the final period before the court stepped in and took over, but it wasn’t enough.
Page said:
The career world your dad grew in isn’t the same as it is now.
Look up realistic job options that you could actually land with your degree today. Remember, even a bad job is better than no job.
Truth. My dad only has a high school education but is retiring this year with millions in stocks and 401k after 40 years at the same company. Mom was a bookkeeper and retired 7 years ago.
But those opportunities don’t seem to exist like they used to.
Accounting gives you an actual skill, while Management mostly teaches theories. Almost any job a Management major can get, an Accounting major can too.