[Introduction] Some people say that Business is a "multi-functional," and with it, you can do anything. Others might say that business graduates do not have professional skills and can actually do nothing. Is there value in Canadian business majors? We will discuss it in this article. description

Analysis of Canadian business majors 1: Program and curriculum

Introduction

Canadian Business Program Introduction

If you like the stability, professionalism, and systematization of jobs in large companies, then a business degree may be a stepping stone to your high-status, high-paying career in a large company.
The main goal of business programs is to help students gain knowledge of various business operations.
In the learning process, business students will gain soft skills and business knowledge, while preparing for employment in the world of business.
From the nature of the curriculum, graduates will have a smooth transition from “student” to “employee.” Most business courses teach students about both practical methods and theories for problem solving. Thereby providing graduates with the necessary business skills even for careers irrelevant to business majors.

Business related articles: Canadian Human Resource Management Program Rankings and Employment Prospects | What are the jobs like?

Employment Prospects

Employment prospects for Canadian business majors

In today's world, business graduates can be found in companies in almost all departments you can think of. All industries need competent leaders, managers, financial advisors and decision-makers (not to say that you can get these positions as soon as you graduate, obviously).In addition to these management positions, many business school graduates have other employment directions: including careers in the banking and financial sectors, consulting, human resources, and marketing roles.

》 Salary for business graduates: How much money can I earn each year?

The salary you can earn as a business graduate depends mainly on the career you are pursuing. For example, if you continue to be an executive manager of a construction company, your income may be different from the income you received when you chose to become a marketing assistant.

》 Deciding factors of salary for business students

Other factors that determine how much you can earn include (not included in the list):

  • Your education level (such as whether you continue to study for a graduate degree)
  • The industry in which you find a job
  • Type of job you have
  • The size and type of company
  • Where you work
  • Other work experience you may already have
  • Other skills you may have

》 A practical example of income for business students

Let’s talk numbers! Salary for business graduates in the United States: According to theUS Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the United States, business school graduates earn an average of $55,844 in the first year after graduation. （1）
Canadian salary for business graduates: Although we only have salary information for business graduates in Ontario, not the rest of Canada, this is also a good reference. According to theonline data from MacLeans magazine, in Ontario, business school graduates earn an average of $52,276 in their first year after graduation（2）

》 Jobs for business graduates

Everyone knows that business majors are more general in their own right, so many people will choose to takespecialization courses under their business degreeto enhance their skills. Here is a good example:

Whether it is through a minor or post-graduate training, it is not difficult to enhance a specialized business skill based on the chosen business major.

Course Content

What can we learn in Canadian business programs?

There are many benefits to getting a business degree. Will it help you find a job? ... The simple answer is: Yes!
Why is this? While studying for an undergraduate business degree, you will develop career-specific skills (such as management skills) and a series of "hard skills." Another part of business majors cultivates "soft skills," such as teamwork and planning, which are highly sought-after and are always required with employers. These skills and traits will help you find a career that suits you, so that you can confidently pursue your ideal jobs and have the ability to succeed in them.
However, it should be noted that these “soft skills” valued by these Canadians are based on a proficient use of English. Therefore, many international students studying in business majors are a step behind in acquiring these valuable "soft skills."

》 Three business degrees: college diploma, undergraduate degree, graduate degree

Canada ’s business majors are roughly divided into three levels:

  • College diploma: Because of its balanced coursework, students who perform well in these business courses can access a variety of careers outside of business, and have good chances of being recruited by different types of employers.
  • Bachelor (University): By performing hands-on tasks, such as creating trading plans and conducting market research, business students acquire skills and knowledge, such as how to set up and run a business. Some undergraduate business courses are designed extensively to bring light on critical problems encountered by business people in the real world.
  • Master (Graduate): Examples of graduate programs include the master's degree in management, finance (and those with professional work experience), and the MBA. The benefit of a business graduate degree is that it provides students with many entry-level positions after graduation, while also allowing those who wish to further focus on improving the return on investment in graduate degrees (Please read: Masters Level Graduates May See a Higher Starting Salary).

 

》 What are the employment skills of business graduates?

As mentioned earlier, Canadian business majors not only teach students “hard skills,” but also cultivate "soft skills." So what are these skills?

  • Soft Skill – Communication: Undergraduate and graduate business students are taught to read and present information in various forms, such as through reports, charts, graphs and tables. They are taught to speak in a charming and concise way, so that those listening can follow attentively with clear understanding. Learning to listen and ask questions can teach undergraduate business students to understand and appreciate the views of others.
  • Soft Skill – Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Business students learn to thoroughly assess situations, discover problems and differences. They learn how to view problems from different angles and evaluate facts without subjectivity. The education of business students is thorough, so once the solution to the problem is verified, they will take action to create solutions.
  • Soft skill – Teamwork: Undergraduate and graduate business courses teach students to understand, work in different team dynamics, and ensure that the team’s goals are clear. As part of a group, students are taught to show respect and openness to the ideas, opinions and contributions of others. They are taught to lead and support their groups because during various projects and assignments, group members may encounter lack of motivation, discipline, or other problems. In some cases, conflicts within the group may be inevitable and conflicts may arise unexpectedly. In either case, undergraduate and graduate business courses prepare their graduates for management and resolution of these issues when these situations occur.
  • Hard skill – Planning and Execution: Business education provides students with opportunities to develop and hone planning and execution skills. Students learn how to plan; design and implement projects from start to finish. They must learn how to define goals and outcomes, and work within budgets and time constraints. They also learn to adapt to changing needs and monitor progress.
  • Hard skill – Knowledge in Canadian business law
  • Hard Skill – Adaptation to Canadian Workplace Environment
  • Hard Skill – Use of Numbers: Undergraduate business courses teach students how to use appropriate methods, tools and techniques to observe and record data. In their business careers, graduates can use these skills to help them determine the information and data that need to be measured and calculated.

School Rankings

The Best School for Canadian Business Majors

According tolatest Canadian program rankings published by MacLean’s,the following are the top ten universities.
1、University of Toronto（Business Major）Rotman School of Business
2、 UBC（University of British Columbia Business Major) Sauder School Of Business
3、York University（Business Major）Schulich School Of Business
4、University of Alberta（Business Major） Alberta School of Business
5、Western University（Ivey Business School) Ivey Business School: As we all know, Western University is famous for their Ivey Business School because the pronunciation is similar to Ivy, it is also known as a Canadian "Ivy League Business School." Although its rankings was lower in 2017, Western’s business program is ranked first in the hearts of Canadians.
6、Queen’s University（Business Major）Smith School of Business
7、McGill University（Business Major）Desautels Faculty of Management
8、University of Waterloo（Business Major）Faculty of Mathematics
9、Simon Fraser University（Business Major） Beedie School of Business
10、Ryerson University（Business Major)

Analysis of Canadian business majors 2: Employment prospects and job opportunities

Summary: UtoCanada’s views on business majors

Most people object to studying business because they find it hard to find a job after graduation (mainly due to language barriers).
Below is a checklist of actions that will help you effectively transition from being a business student to finding a job in your chosen business career. Remember, the more positive your attitude towards career planning now, the more career options you will have when you graduate.

》 First year of ungrad:

  • Create a resume. If it looks short, don’t worry. It’s normal for most first-year business students to have a short resume at this point;
  • Introduce yourself to the staff of the school employment centre;
  • Use online and offline resources to understand your skills, interests and talents (you can also consult the staff of the school employment centre);
  • Choose your business major by knowing your interests and talents;
  • Find a summer job/volunteer work relevant to your major, andcreate an English-speaking environment for yourself;；
  • Make sure to maintain a good GPA, because many employers will leave internship and employment opportunities to the graduates with the highest GPAs
  • Pick out a suit or outfit for interviews;

》 Second year of undergrad:

  • Update your resume with relevant experiences from your first year
  • Joining a business organization on campus will help you build a network and develop interpersonal and communication skills, as well as soft skills and a good opportunity to improve English;
  • Do some online career assessments;
  • Participate in career seminars, job fairs and other career-related activities;
  • Find contacts for business professionals you are interested in and reach out for a chat. They will provide you with first-hand information about business events you can attend
  • Study any available internship positions, co-op or volunteer opportunities;
  • Through socializing,create more English-speaking opportunities for yourself to improve;；

》 Third year of undergrad:

  • Take on leadership opportunities in student organizations (preferably related to business majors);
  • Update your resume and add all business-related work experience gained during the second year and summer break;
  • Prepare for interviews in business internship positions by attending interview seminars and reading online materials
  • Participate in business and professional events to learn about internships and future job opportunities;
  • If you want to get an MBA, you can research graduate business programs and the schools that provide them;
  • Get work experience in the summer / complete your internship plan;
  • Through various methods,create more English-speaking opportunities for yourself to improve;

》 Fourth year of undergrad:

  • Seek and participate in employment skills training seminars;
  • Finally, polish up your resume and cover letter to reflect all your business work experience and education;
  • Register for a mock interview with your professional resources / service staff;
  • In areas where you plan to live, attend business and professional events (if possible)
  • Research potential employers and job opportunities
  • Gather contacts through friends, family, clubs, professors, etc. to expand your network.
  • If you have had a successful co-op or internship experience, you may already have one or more full-time job opportunities from an employer you have worked for.

(1) Itkin, Dina. “Career beginnings for business majors” United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Winter 2008-2009.
(2) Dehaas, Josh. “The most (and least) lucrative degrees in Ontario” MacLean’s On Campus, Web. November 10, 2011.