Management and Entrepreneurship Career Pathways
A management analyst, also known as a management consultant or business analyst, works with a company’s leaders to solve problems. Some consulting firms focus on a single industry like healthcare, IT, or marketing, while others serve many industries or focus on particular issues like regulatory compliance or employee engagement. Duties typically include collecting data, analyzing operations, designing systems and procedures, and identifying ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
HR specialists may manage recruiting efforts, onboard new hires, oversee compensation and benefits, handle training and development, and manage employee relations. Today the business function of Human Resources is often called People Operations, a more progressive approach to managing people by incorporating employee well-being, engagement, and company culture.
Roles in business operations focus on helping a company run smoothly and create revenue. Day-to-day activities often include researching sales/marketing techniques, managing processes like the supply chain, and hiring new employees to meet project goals.
Business Management roles involve the coordination and orchestration of business activities, tasks, and resources to achieve a specific goal.
Visit our business management education/training page to see a comprehensive list of Montana business management training programs.
Consulting
In-demand Specialties:
Cybersecurity
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Sustainability
Information Technology
Education:
A bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, or a related field is usually required for entry-level management consultant jobs. Earning a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) or becoming a certified management consultant may be necessary to move up the career ladder.
High-Growth Jobs:
Emerging high-growth roles in consulting include carbon capture accounting specialist, data scientist, management analyst, and market research analyst. Read on to learn more about these rapidly growing careers.
Suggested Montana Careers
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Median MT Salary: $66,000
MT Growth Rate: 25%
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Median Salary: $73,000 (nationally)
Growth Rate: 23% (nationally)
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Median MT Salary: $76,000 - $128,000
National Growth Rate: 36%
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Median MT Salary: $78,000
National Growth Rate: 11%
Core Skills
Technical Skills
Analytical or scientific software like Minitab
Cloud-based management software like IBM WebSphere
Customer relationship management software like Salesforce
Data mining software like Google Analytics
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software like Microsoft Dynamics
Query languages like SQL to work with databases
Soft Skills
Analytical
Communication
Interpersonal skills
Problem-solving
Time-management
Education:
To launch a career in human resources/people operations, a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, communications, psychology, or a similar field is required to start. Gaining professional certifications through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) can help give you an advantage in the job market and help you advance professionally into management roles.
High-Growth Jobs:
Emerging high-growth roles in human resources include human resource specialist and human resources business partner. Read on to learn more about these rapidly growing careers.
Human Resources
Suggested Montana Careers
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Median MT Salary: $55,000
MT Growth Rate: 18%
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Median MT Salary: $76,000
MT Growth Rate: 22%
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Average MT Salary: $80,000
National Growth Rate: 7%
Core Skills
Technical Skills
Accounting software like QuickBooks
Customer relationship management software like Salesforce
Human resources software such as ADP Workforce Now
Project management software like Microsoft Project or Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Query languages like SQL to work with databases
Spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel
Soft Skills
Active listening
Communication
Decision-making
Detailed-oriented
Interpersonal skills
Problem-solving
Operations
In-demand Specialties:
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Sustainability
Photonics
Education:
Entry-level business operations jobs typically require a bachelor’s degree in business, communications, human resources, sales and marketing, or a related field of study.
High-Growth Jobs:
Emerging high-growth roles in operations include sustainability specialist, project management specialist, logistician, product owner, operations manager, and supply chain manager. Read on to learn more about these rapidly growing careers.
Suggested Montana Careers
-
Median MT Salary: $73,000
MT Growth Rate: 11%
-
Median MT Salary: $76,000
MT Growth Rate: 12%
-
Median MT Salary: $77,000
MT Growth Rate: 28%
-
Median Salary: $81,000 - $165,000
Growth Rate: 10% (nationally)
-
Median MT Salary: $85,000
MT Growth Rate: 22%
-
Median MT Salary: $92,000
MT Growth Rate: 19%
Core Skills
Technical Skills
Accounting software like QuickBooks
Business intelligence and data analysis software like Tableau
Customer relationship management software like Salesforce
Data mining software like Google Analytics
E-commerce software like Intuit MailChimp
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software like Microsoft Dynamics
Project management software like Microsoft Project or Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Query languages like SQL to work with databases
Sales and Marketing software like Google Ads or Hubspot
Spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel
Soft Skills
Analytical
Critical thinking
Communication
Customer service skills
Detail-oriented
Interpersonal skills
Leadership
Organizational skills
Problem-solving
Time-management
Careers in entrepreneurship range from small business ownership to social entrepreneurship like nonprofits and high-growth startups where entirely new products are brought to market. If you are someone who takes initiative, enjoys overcoming challenges, and likes the idea of being your own boss, then a career as an entrepreneur may be the perfect match for you.
Entrepreneurship involves creating a business from scratch, beginning with an idea or a proposed solution to a problem.
Visit our entrepreneurship education/training page to see a comprehensive list of Montana entrepreneurship training programs.
Entrepreneurship
In-demand Specialties
Scalable entrepreneurship
Small-venture entrepreneurship
Non-profit/social impact entrepreneurship
Education:
Although there is no specific education requirement for entrepreneurship, obtaining a certificate in small business management, or a degree in a business-related field can help hone your skills in data analysis, financial management, complex problem-solving, and leadership to ultimately grow your product or company.
High-Growth Jobs:
Entrepreneur and startup executive are emerging high-growth roles in Montana. Read on to learn more about these rapidly growing careers.
Suggested Montana Careers
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Median Salary: $49,000 - $80,000
Growth Rate: 6% (nationally)
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Median MT Salary: $81,000
Growth Rate: 6% (nationally)
Core Skills
Technical Skills
Accounting software like QuickBooks
Customer relationship management software like Salesforce
Data mining software like Google Analytics
E-commerce software like Intuit MailChimp
Experience using social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Meta Suite, YouTube, and Tik Tok
Photo editing tools like Adobe Photoshop and Canva
Project management software like Microsoft Project
Sales and marketing software like Google Ads
Spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel
Soft Skills
Analytical
Communication
Customer service
Detail-oriented
Leadership
Problem-solving
Time-management
Do you have a helpful resource you’d like to suggest we add to this guide? Do you have information you are searching for, or other feedback? The Montana High Tech Business Alliance would love to hear from you. Please reach out to us at communications[at]mthightech.org.