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Many business owners reach a point in their careers when they want to develop a new skill or area of knowledge. This can be for many reasons, but ultimately it is so you can take your business and your career to the next level whilst retaining a level of self-sufficiency that you have come to enjoy. However, when you have managed to carve out the funds and time to turn this desire into a reality, how can you know what course you should study?
Different degrees will give you different advantages, allowing you to develop your skillset in the unique ways required by your specific circumstances. Of course, you could also think about a complete switch in career, as no matter where you are in your life, changing, restraining, and looking to do something else, could also be a consideration. If you’re no longer interested in the ‘rat race’ of life, then you could think about getting something like a medical assistant certificate, with the potential to move up the medical career ladder as time goes on. Construction is booming in North America, so a career in construction could be a great opportunity for you, and online providers like SB Skills Solutions are quite helpful. You could also think about retraining or getting an education in a specialist area of business, like HR, for example. So think about what you truly want to get out of your career, and then it will help you to decide what your best options are.
Some other degree and training courses to think about are:
Business Management
The first and most obvious choice for business owners is a degree in business management. Many business owners may already have this degree, precisely because it has been proven so useful as a way to holistically understand what it takes to run a business. However, if you do not already have this degree, it can be a brilliant way to get back to basics and understand the fundamental structures of your business from an academic perspective, offering you new insight and helping you solve problems with the techniques and information that you will gain.
Economics
First things first, what careers can you pursue with a degree in economics? The first possibilities that spring to mind are purely financial - being an economist, a financial analyst, or an accountant. However, an economics degree is also startlingly useful for any business owner, though many people doing their first degree shy away from it. Any consultant you hire to advise on the financial health and prospects of your business will have a background in economics. Becoming aware of wider economic factors will help you make decisions about where to take your business, and help you avoid risks that you might not otherwise have seen.
Marketing
People who do a marketing degree then move into business have an immediate advantage over their competitors, simply because they have detailed knowledge of how to sell a product to the right audience. For this reason, if your business is stagnating, studying marketing in your return to education could be the magical pill that changes everything. Learn how to frame your business in the best light and attract the right clients, how to stand out in a crowded market, and the success of your business will follow.
Computer Sciences
On the face of it, returning to education for a computer sciences course or degree might feel less applicable to running a business than the previous three options. However, as we have seen over the past few months, businesses are operating online more than ever before, and this is a trend set to continue into the future. IT management firms are making huge profits in helping businesses with their technology. With a degree in computer sciences, you’ll be putting yourself in a brilliant position as you can move forward into the digital age with your own foundation of knowledge behind you, helping you troubleshoot and optimize your business’s performance.