Introduction
It is important to note that identifying key issues in one’s field of interest is critical in order to be able to effectively manage and resolve them. In business administration, one of the main challenges is knowing where to apply the acquired knowledge and skills. The two major problems include deciding where to use the associate’s degree and planning when I should start my own business.
Starting Business After Graduation in Business Administration
The first primary issue is trying to decide what I want to do with my associate’s degree when I obtain it because there are many options. A study suggests that “students do not equally value or understand the purpose of the associate’s degree” (Cortes-Lopez & Taylor, 2020, p. 61). In other words, the abundance of options is as paralyzing as the lack of them. One arguable side is deciding on a standard path of becoming an administrative assistant mainly focused on operations. Another arguable side is to go into sales, such as sales supervisor and consultant, because it can be highly lucrative if one has the necessary skills.
The second major issue is deciding when to start my own business. All people studying and working in the business administration field tend to have plan to start their own businesses at some point in their careers (Boone et al., 2019). However, this requires deliberate planning ahead in the longer term since the relevant experience needs to be accumulated and funds secured. One arguable side is to do it within five years after graduation because I have the resources needed, and the failure experience will be valuable for my career. The other arguable side is postponing it and focusing solely on a career to accumulate as much experience and knowledge as possible.
When it comes to deciding the future career option used for my associate’s degree, my decision lies with administrative responsibilities and operations management. The first reason for such a choice is a mere self-awareness of my strengths and weaknesses as an individual. I have a more analytical mind and operate well under conditions of precision and accuracy. Secondly, sales require a masterful ability to interact with customers, which mandates the presence of human skills, such as being an effective communicator. Therefore, opting for administrative positions might have a better use for my skills and knowledge and my limited experience. However, it is critical to be flexible and adaptable to new pursuits, which is why I am not fully rejecting the alternative. I do not know whether I would enjoy sales since I did not work in the field. Thus, realistically I will go for administrative career paths but will be open to new opportunities offered by my associate’s degree.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I decided to postpone starting my own business even if I am fortunate enough to have access to the resource to start the business with some degree of safety. The decision is based on a lack of experience and competence. It would be better to acquire the latter needs in a safe and reliable environment of employment. The availability of an opportunity does not necessarily mandate reckless use of it. Therefore, I will focus on growing and developing my career of choice. My topic is important and meaningful because it showcases the criticality of long-term planning and self-awareness of one’s limitations and strengths.
References
Boone, L. E., Kurtz, D. L., & Berston, S. (2019). Contemporary business (18th ed.). Wiley.
Cortes-Lopez, E., & Taylor, J. L. (2020). Reverse credit transfer and the value of the associate’s degree: Multiple and contradictory meanings. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 44(1), 61-77.