Pros and Cons of Organizational Management Careers
Organizational management is concerned with the supervision of resources, like workers, time and funds, in order to increase efficiency in companies, agencies and other types of organizations. Common career paths in this field include management consulting, operations research analysis, administrative services management and human resources (HR) management. Consider the following pros and cons to determine if an organizational management career is right for you.
| Management Consultant | Operations Research Analyst | Administrative Services Manager | Human Resources Manager | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career Overview | Management consultants propose tactics to increase efficiency and profits. | Operations research analysts conduct statistical analysis to help companies resolve issues. | Administrative services managers provide organizational supervision and support. | HR managers oversee an organization's hiring and staffing procedures. |
| Education Required | Bachelor's degree/master's degree | Master's degree/doctoral degree | Associate's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Program Length | 4-6 years | 6-8 years | 2 years | 4 years |
| Certification | Voluntary certification, like the Certified Management Consultant credential, is available. | N/A | Voluntary certification is offered through the International Facility Management Association. | HR managers may earn the Human Resources Management Professional credential. |
| Job Outlook (2012-2022) | Faster than average 19% growth compared to all occupations, 133,800 additional jobs* | Much faster than average 27% growth compared to all occupations, 19,500 additional jobs* | Average 12% growth compared to all occupations, 34,200 additional jobs* | Average 13% growth compared to all occupations, 13,600 additional jobs* |
| Median Salary (2014) | Roughly $80,880* | Roughly $76,660* | Roughly $83,790* | Roughly $102,780* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Management Consultant
Management consultants, or management analysts, provide contracted services for businesses and organizations. They generally propose improvements to increase revenue, cut costs and eliminate problems or inefficiencies. Consultants also observe workers and conduct interviews, and they prepare reports and provide ongoing communication and evaluation for management professionals.
Requirements
Many positions require a bachelor's degree in business administration, while other jobs require a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Your academic background should include topics such as accounting, economics, marketing or information science. Obtaining consulting positions generally requires years of specialized experience of increasing complexity. Since you will most likely be employed by a consulting firm, extensive travel may be required in order to visit businesses throughout a wide geographic area.
Here are some real job postings for management consultants from December 2012:
- A San Francisco technical consulting firm seeks an environmental consulting manager to provide analysis and compliance consulting for land use, transmission, public affairs and permitting. Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in environmental science or a related field plus ten or more years of experience managing environmental review projects.
- A consulting firm seeks a turnaround management consultant who can travel extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada. Applicants need ten or more years of experience in the management of pre-bankruptcy, liquidations, wind downs and operational improvement.
- An insurance carrier seeks a vendor management consultant with a bachelor's degree and five to seven years of progressive experience in vendor management, strategic sourcing and contract management. Preferred qualifications include an advanced degree.
Standing Out
Successful applicants for management consultant positions possess extensive and increasingly difficult experience. Specialized industry training and experience, such as in business or environmental preservation, may be useful. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a growing need for management consultants will be seen in the public sector between 2012 and 2022 as well as for businesses wishing to implement green initiatives or sustainable energy transformations.
Additionally, management consultants can demonstrate their competency in the field by obtaining the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) credential offered by the Institute of Management Consultants USA. CMC certification is offered at three levels for professionals with experience ranging from as little as three years to more than 20 years.
Operations Research Analyst
Operations research analysts provide problem-solving services for businesses by using statistical modeling, simulation and optimization. They use their findings to make recommendations for resource allocation, production schedules or supply-chain logistics. Many of these workers are employed in the technical and scientific services industry, and other employers include the federal government and consulting services.
Requirements
Positions in this field require extensive training in computer database management and statistical analysis. Many jobs require a master's degree, while some require a doctoral degree with training in quantitative analysis. In fact, O*Net OnLine reveals that, as of 2011, 56% of these professionals held master's degrees and 11% possessed doctoral degrees.
Here are some real job listings for operations research analysts from December 2012:
- A Virginia national defense contractor seeks a part-time operations research analyst with a Master of Science degree plus at least ten years of experience in engineering or technical operations analysis.
- An agricultural manufacturer in Missouri seeks an operations research analyst who has a PhD in operations research or industrial engineering with at least one year of relevant professional experience.
- A New Jersey clinical research firm seeks an operations research analyst to apply modeling and other optimization methods to interpret information or specify manipulating methods. Candidates must possess master's degrees and experience with a variety of analytical software.
Standing Out
During your graduate studies, you may wish to pursue a specialty in order to gain an advantage over the competition. For example, you might pursue a specialized degree in operations research with advanced study in statistical analysis and quantitative research methodology. Additionally, expertise in a wide array of analytical software, such as LINDO Systems LINGO or Telelogic System Architect, may provide you with a competitive occupational advantage.
Administrative Services Manager
Administrative services managers provide organizational support to businesses and organizations of all sizes. Smaller businesses may refer to these professionals as office managers or facility managers. Generally, administrative services managers are responsible for recordkeeping, facility maintenance, mail distribution, budget planning, supply inventory and the supervision of clerical personnel. Regulatory compliance, including environmental, health and security regulations, is often a function of administrative services manager. They may also be tasked with providing facility oversight, working overtime hours or remaining on-call beyond the traditional workday.
Requirements
A high school diploma is often sufficient for entry-level administrative services positions, though many positions require an associate's or bachelor's degree. According to O*Net OnLine, in 2010, 28% of surveyed administrative services managers held bachelor's degrees. These professionals also tend to have some prior experience in sales, purchasing or management.
Here are some real job postings for administrative services managers from December 2012:
- An engineering firm in Alaska seeks an administrative services coordinator for project support, including payroll processing, recordkeeping, submittals and transmittals. Candidates must possess a high school diploma with two years of experience in field payroll, construction and manufacturing as well as computer skills. Preferred qualifications include a 2-year degree.
- A California hospital seeks an administration services manager to provide support for the hospital president and board of directors. Candidates must possess five years of administrative experience and a bachelor's degree in business administration, healthcare management or a related field.
- A Virginia government contractor seeks an administrative services project manager to manage contract services. The candidate must have ten years of administrative experience with three years of contract services experience.
Standing Out
Professional certification is available for administrative services managers who wish to set themselves apart from the competition. The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) offers the Facility Management Professional (FMP) and the Certified Facility Manager (CFM) credentials. Earning the FMP involves completion of training courses, while the CFM credential requires passage of an exam. Another way to stand out from other administrative services managers is to familiarize yourself with the range of software programs used in this profession, like Intuit QuickBooks, spreadsheets and Oracle PeopleSoft.
Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers are responsible for employee recruiting, interviewing and hiring. They often act as liaisons between managers and employees, helping management enforce policies and direct disciplinary procedures. Some of these workers specialize in labor relations, payroll or recruiting, and they work in a wide range of settings, including education institutions, healthcare facilities and government agencies.
Requirements
Most human resources management positions require a bachelor's degree in fields such as business administration. These workers also need an academic background in areas like labor relations, organizational development or industrial psychology. Aspiring HR managers should also gain experience working with benefit plans and have a firm understanding of employment laws.
Here are some real job postings for human resources managers from December 2012:
- A hospital in Washington, D.C., seeks a human resources generalist for recruitment, compensation, development and employment regulation compliance functions. Successful candidates will possess a bachelor's degree in a related field plus two years of experience.
- A Rhode Island financial company seeks a senior human resources business partner to recruit, hire and develop succession plans for strategic leaders. Candidates must have international human resources management experience.
- A Denver, Colorado, cable provider seeks a human resources leader to provide support to executive-level and front-line employees. Requirements include a bachelor's degree plus six to nine years of related experience.
Standing Out
Although the BLS projected only average job growth for human resources managers over the coming years, there may be increased opportunities in technical or scientific consulting. Also, you may choose to pursue professional certification through organizations such as the Human Resources Certification Institute, which offers certification for professionals at a variety of levels. For example, the Human Resources Management Professional (HRMP) credential is available to applicants with four years of HR experience and a master's degree or another suitable combination of education and experience.
