Top Courses for 2023 KCSE Finalists Pursuing Corporate Careers

The corporate world encompasses businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to large companies. These businesses compete, innovate, and work towards making a profit.  It's a complex ecosystem shaped by market dynamics and regulations. The corporate world comprises of a range of occupations across a variety of industries, each presenting unique requisites and challenges.

Entering the corporate realm can be an exciting and promising experience, filled with opportunities for personal growth and success. Learning and narrowing down the different types of corporate jobs available and a few key facts about these roles can help you as you prepare for your studies and the future you hope to build.

If you are interested in joining the corporate world, here are some of the top  courses you could consider:

1. Marketing

Marketing is an important tool in the corporate world because it helps businesses increase brand awareness, engagement, and sales with promotional campaigns. Traditionally, marketing can be done through billboards, posters, postal mail, and articles in print magazines or newspapers. Marketing can also be done digitally through emails, social media, digital ads, blogs, and online posts. 

Pursuing a course in marketing can give you a better understanding of how the world of business operates and the specifics of how marketing works. 

Why Study Marketing?

• The Marketing Field Is Highly Competitive and Rewarding.

Various businesses across every industry depend on marketing professionals to create awareness of their brands and increase their products and services. 

• Exposure

As a student studying marketing, you are exposed to a variety of different subject areas and disciplines. For instance, to understand customer behavior, marketers must grasp both fundamental business concepts and some aspects of psychology. Graduates in marketing can use their expertise in many various contexts, including creating websites, producing content, managing consumer research, and/or overseeing marketing strategies.

• Your Skills Will Always Be in Demand

Studying a marketing course may equip you with skills such as communication and creative thinking. Marketing students develop critical research, analysis and problem-solving skills that can be applied to marketing careers in sales, advertising, product development and public relations.

There are a lot of career prospects in the world of marketing, you could hold various roles that include and are not limited to,

• Marketing Assistant
• Social media manager
• Copywriter
• Marketing Executive
• Marketing research analyst
• Marketing Manager
• Advertising art director
• Brand manager 

2. Finance

When you think of the world of finance, you might to tempted to picture people walking in suits in a bank or a stock exchange shouting numbers. Finance is much more than that.

Finance is an important aspect of the corporate world, for instance without proper financial management, a business is like a bicycle without its wheels, Finance helps steer a business toward success. Some may even argue that finance is the lifeblood of a business, given how crucial it is to a business’s operations. 

If you are looking to join the corporate world, then pursuing finance is one of the ways to do so. An organization needs finance to function properly; without it, a business would struggle to prosper.  Having an effective financial management plan in place helps a business make better decisions, reduce risks, and boost profitability. It's not only about making money; it's about making smart financial decisions.

The finance sector has various opportunities that can cater to different skill sets and interests.  The roles you could hold include,

• An investment banker, 
• Actuary, 
• Financial planner, 
• Financial analyst, 
• Auditor
• Brokers and Traders
• Personal financial planners and advisors

3. Business Administration

The planning and managing, of a business or organization's operations is referred to as business administration or business management. A business administrator's duties and job description may include hiring employees, managing the company's finances, holding meetings, handling public relations, negotiating, and more.  

Why Business Administration?

• You Can Work as an Entrepreneur 

Having a background in business administration equips you with the knowledge and abilities required to launch and run your own company. Your educational background can serve as the foundation for your business endeavors, helping you to manage finances and comprehend market trends.

• Job Opportunities

You have diverse career options if you decide to pursue business administration. A degree in business administration gives you the option to enter various fields including marketing, human resource, and management, you can even branch into academia and start teaching a class in business administration. Every if not all businesses require the services of a business administrator so you can work in various and diverse industry sectors.

4. Bachelor of Commerce

If you are interested in the buying and selling of goods or services then commerce might be the course for you. Working in commerce not only provides you with a job in the corporate world but commerce can increase a sector’s productivity or even improve the wellbeing of citizens.

Why Commerce?

• Having a commerce degree can help you land a wide range of positions. You can work in banking, marketing, finance, accounting, taxation, and more. You also have the option of going into international business, managing a large organisation, or working for a small company. Licensure and certification are prerequisites for some positions that might help you grow in your profession and earn more pay. 

• A commerce degree also teaches you how to launch and grow your own company. You will get the ability to think strategically and creatively to launch your own business.

• As a student studying commerce, you will be exposed to various ways of managing your finances and investments. You may be more capable of making wiser financial choices. Students gain knowledge about taxes, accounting, and prudent investing all of which are important for leading fulfilling lives.

• Because commerce involves the exchange of goods and services, almost every industry has something to offer someone who has a Bachelor of commerce. 

Here are a few sectors you could work in if you pursue a bachelor of commerce.

• Accounting
• Auditing
• Tax services
• Financial service
• Business management
• Transportation
• Commercial banking
• International banking
• Insurance services
• Telecommunications services

5. Human Resource Management

Another course that offers you a lot of job opportunities within and outside the corporate world is human resource management. Your role as a human resource manager helps to improve the overall productivity of organisations. 

Key responsibilities and tasks in Human Resources

The following are some of the most common tasks for HR departments:

• Address  the staff's concerns
• Recruit outstanding candidates and manage outgoing employees
• Establish career development initiatives
• Assess each employee's overall performance.
• Resolve disputes and other problems (such as bullying and sexual harassment).
• Create and assess methods to improve employee retention.

6. Public Relations

Public relations plays a vital role in the corporate world. It is a major aspect of brand management and can assist a business in raising sales. It also helps build relationships with people who interact with that particular business. 

Why Public Relations?

 It's no secret that graduates of public relations have diverse job options. Public relations graduates can seek employment in many sectors such as in media, government agencies, non-profit organisations, and even educational institutions. 

With a PR degree, you can work in public relations as a

• Press secretary, 
• Public relations specialist, 
• Marketing Assistant,
• Speechwriter,
• Media planner 
• Social media manager
• Event planner
• Copywriter

7. Project Management

The primary duties carried out by a project manager include planning, organising, and directing a project to completion within a set budget, time, and scope. The project manager's job is vital for any organisation or business. The absence of effective management can result in chaos and loss of projects and finances.

Some of the common duties of a project manager include

• Allocating resources, such as financial, technical, and human
• Ensuring the work is up to the standards 
• Ensuring the project is completed on schedule and budget
• Adapting to project changes 

Beyond personal preferences, there are compelling reasons to pursue a project management course.

• High Demand

Projects are an important aspect of any company within and outside the corporate realm. The need for a project manager with efficient management skills may remain in high demand for a long time.

• Increased Productivity

The knowledge you gain from studying and working in project management is not limited to projects or a classroom. You can also apply your skillset in your personal life and professional life as well. It might even lead to increased productivity in your work and also give you a competitive edge in a job market that is always changing.

Wrapping Up

The corporate world depends on various professions for it to revolve. These professions though diverse in their roles are all necessary. Whether you are interested in joining the corporate world by pursuing public relations or project management your roles provide value in their own way. 

Working in the corporate world presents a myriad of opportunities, challenges, and experiences that may shape you both personally and professionally.