Professionals who have built careers through experience may face barriers to advancing from their current role to the one they want. Earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) can help professionals break through those barriers.
An MBA program prepares students for in-demand leadership roles across industries, including healthcare, finance, technology and government. Those interested in enhancing their career prospects may want to explore the AACSB-accredited online Master of Business Administration program (MBA) from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), which can be completed on a flexible schedule in as few as 12 months. This article covers MBA competencies, and career paths MBA graduates commonly pursue.
What MBA Skills Do Employers Value?
The 2025 GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey found that 99% of employers are confident in the ability of business school graduates to perform, a signal that the MBA skill set maps directly to what organizations need from people in leadership roles. Problem-solving and strategic thinking rank as the top two skills recruiters seek globally, according to GMAC, followed by communication, adaptability and leadership.
The survey also found that 56% of global employers now consider graduate business skills more important in today’s hybrid and remote environments than in traditional settings. This shift puts MBA holders at a distinct advantage.
SIUE developed its MBA curriculum in direct collaboration with the region’s top business professionals, many of whom continue to serve on the program’s advisory board. That process ensures coursework stays aligned with actual employer needs.
The program addresses both the technical demands of management and the behavioral and human factors that determine whether a leader succeeds. Core competencies the program develops include:
- Decision-making and problem analysis
- Financial literacy, corporate finance and quantitative analysis
- Managerial economics and information systems
- Marketing strategy and brand management
- Leadership, communication and interpersonal effectiveness
What Jobs Can You Get With an MBA?
MBA graduates pursue leadership positions across every major business function including operations, finance, marketing, sales and human resources. Specific titles vary by organization and industry, but the common thread is strategic thinking applied where the decisions carry real weight.
Per GMAC, 90% of global employers planned to hire MBA talent in 2025, a higher rate than those planning to hire bachelor’s degree graduates. The following roles represent some of the most common destinations for MBA graduates, and four carry a Bright Outlook designation from O*NET (all but CEO), indicating stronger-than-average projected job growth.
Chief Executive Officer
The chief executive sets organizational policy, directs overall strategy and ensures the entire enterprise operates toward a coherent goal. They are also the primary link between an organization’s governing body and its day-to-day operations, translating board-level direction into executive action. According to O*NET, the median annual wage for chief executives reached $206,420 in 2024, and 46% of those currently in the workforce hold a master’s degree.
Sales Director
Sales directors plan and coordinate how products and services reach customers, establishing territories, setting performance goals and overseeing teams for sales organizations or divisions. They study customer behavior and market trends to sharpen targeting, improve conversion and keep revenue growth on track. O*NET reports that sales managers earned a median annual salary of $138,060 in 2024, with 49,000 job openings projected through 2034. Since performance-based commissions and bonuses are common in sales roles, earnings can increase beyond a fixed salary.
Marketing Director
Marketing directors develop pricing strategies and oversee brand positioning, product development and campaign coordination across teams. They also evaluate financial aspects of product decisions, from budget allocation to return-on-investment (ROI) projections, making the role as numbers-driven as it is creative. According to O*NET, the median annual compensation for marketing managers in 2024 was $161,030, with 34,300 projected openings expected between 2024 and 2034.
Human Resources Director
Human Resources (HR) directors plan and direct the full range of workforce activities including recruitment, compensation, labor relations, and employee engagement and development. They also serve as the organization’s frontline on compliance, negotiating labor agreements and ensuring workforce practices hold up against legal and regulatory standards. Per O*NET, the median annual salary for HR managers in 2024 was $140,030, with faster-than-average job growth projected through 2034.
Finance Manager
Finance managers direct an organization’s financial activities including budgeting, investing, banking and financial reporting. They evaluate cost data to inform planning decisions and maintain the financial relationships that keep an organization operating and positioned for growth. According to O*NET, the median annual compensation for financial managers in 2024 was $161,700, with 74,600 job openings projected through 2034. Finance managers have among the strongest growth profiles of any management-level role.
Qualify for Leadership Roles With an Online MBA From SIUE
Every leadership role outlined above calls for the same core capability: leading with both analytical precision and people-centered judgment. SIUE’s online MBA program develops those competencies and more through its rigorous, practice-oriented curriculum.
GMAC found that 62% of global recruiters consider employees with a full graduate degree more likely to succeed than those holding only micro-credentials. The full degree carries real weight, and SIUE delivers it efficiently.
Learn more about SIUE’s online MBA program.
