Different Careers After A Business Management Internship

Updated 9 June 2023

A business management internship helps interns learn the basics of several disciplines, such as project management and sales. These internships provide knowledge about the practical applications of various concepts and help you prepare for a career in business-related fields. If you are looking for an internship opportunity in business management, it is beneficial to explore the different career paths you may pursue after completing your internship and the skills you may learn. In this article, we discuss what a business management internship is and explore career paths to pursue following an internship, and the skills that interns learn.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.

What Is A Business Management Internship?

A business management internship is a programme where participants learn about the basics of business management concepts, such as sales, marketing, project management and analysis, and reporting. These internships provide an opportunity for interns to explore the different career paths available in the field of business management and choose the one they believe matches their personal, and career ambitions. During their internships, interns acquire exposure to the different aspects and requirements of business management, and work on real-world business issues with experienced teams.

Different Career Paths Available After An Internship In Business Management

Here are a few different career paths that may interest you after you complete your internship in business management, including their primary duties and national average salaries:

1. Sales Associate

National average salary: ₹2,71,667 per year

Primary duties: Sales associates usually work in a retail setting. They communicate with customers, help them find the right products or services for their requirements and work on ensuring a smooth sales experience for them. Having strong communication skills is beneficial for a sales associate and you may get the opportunity to improve these skills during your internship.

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2. Inside Sales Account Executive

National average salary: ₹3,34,590 per year

Primary duties: An inside sales account executive facilitates sales from existing customer accounts by using various technologies and telecommunication tools. They also work on generating more sales for a company and building relationships with new accounts. This role requires strong communication skills, high persuasiveness and familiarity with the latest technological tools. You may get the opportunity to work on small-sized deals and accounts as an inside sales account executive during your internship.

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3. Business Manager

National average salary: ₹3,89,074 per year

Primary duties: A business manager oversees and leads the overall operations of a business. They implement strategies and policies to improve efficiency, and productivity for an organisation. They also evaluate the performance of a business in a specified period.

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4. Sales Manager

National average salary: ₹4,07,583 per year

Primary duties: Sales managers are responsible for leading sales teams by providing mentorship and guidance to their team members. They also set sales targets for them and assign sales territories, and key accounts. Additionally, they create sales plans and oversee the overall management of the sales pipeline.

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5. Business Development Manager

National average salary: ₹4,68,313 per year

Primary duties: A business development manager is responsible for the overall business growth within an organisation. They work on developing contacts, attracting new clients and researching market opportunities to help a business progress. They also lead projects within an organisation to improve productivity. Additionally, they manage sales projections and revenue forecasts so that other departments may plan their work according to these projections.

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6. Business Analyst

National average salary: ₹9,83,431 per year

Primary duties: Business analysts are responsible for analysing a business by understanding its processes and systems, identifying the business model, assessing its various vulnerabilities and recommending solutions based on their analysis. They are usually highly specialised and they may work exclusively in a particular domain or industry. This job requires analytical skills, proficiency in computer programming languages, reporting skills, knowledge of databases and other relevant soft skills. You may get basic exposure to data analysis and market research, and analysis during your internship which may be beneficial for a career as a business analyst.

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Skills You May Learn During A Business Management Internship

Here are skills you may learn during an internship that may benefit you when seeking employment in this profession after you complete your internship:

Project management

Project management skills enable you to manage various projects for an organisation to achieve the specified objectives by proper acceptance criteria and by adhering to certain set parameters. These skills enable you to deliver final projects within set timelines and agreed budgets. Interns learn about the basics of project management to prepare them for a career in this discipline.

MS Office suite

Having proficiency in Microsoft Office (MS Office) is beneficial for jobs in almost all industries. During your internship in business management, you are likely to use various MS Office tools. This practical experience in working with this software can help you learn about real-world business applications of these tools. Additionally, you may confidently highlight your abilities in using MS Office in your resume, cover letter and other job application documents, and during interviews following exposure to this technology during your internship.

Data analysis

Data analysis skills help you apply statistical techniques for describing, illustrating and evaluating business data. It is usually beneficial to know algebra, calculus and statistics to perform well in data analysis. If you have a basic knowledge of these subjects, then the education you get during an internship in business management can help you understand the practical applications of your knowledge. You may also consider a career specifically in data analytics if you have sufficient interest in this discipline.

Customer service

Customer service skills are fundamental to building a career in any role that has a customer-facing capacity. These abilities include soft skills such as empathy, patience, persuasiveness and problem-solving. During your internship, you may acquire experience in entry-level responsibilities for customer-facing roles where you get the opportunity to develop your customer service skills in a practical setting. You may also get to learn by observing your colleagues performing their roles.

Market research

Market research involves activities such as looking for more opportunities for a business, analysing market competitors and what they are doing, and assessing the feasibility of the launch of a new product or service. You may learn about these processes by actively participating in market research teams during your internship in business management. Additionally, these skills can be of great benefit to you when you apply for entry-level business development roles following the completion of your internship.

Reporting skills

Reporting skills involve presenting any raw data in an easy-to-understand and professional form. If you are preparing reports for senior management, it is essential that they can understand the most important parts of the information quickly and easily. Thus, it is important that you present your reports in a professional and comprehensible format.

You are likely to get the opportunity to prepare reports during your internship in business management. Reporting is one of the most basic job roles in business and you may prepare numerous reports during your internship. This allows you to learn how to prepare reports in a proper professional setting and helps you develop your reporting skills.