Career Information for Leadership Majors |
|
It is important to understand that employers hire people, not degrees. The skills and knowledge you develop as a result of your education, as well as in your work and community activities, have the greatest impact on hiring decisions. Listed below are some key skills and knowledge you will acquire as a result of your university education and your focus on Leadership.
Specific Knowledge Skills
Valuable Transferable Skills
Some Career Options for Leadership Majors
Potential Employers
Additional Study
Websites
Specific Knowledge and Skills
• An understanding of the complex, interdisciplinary and contemporary problems and issues faced by leaders of organizations
• An understanding of organizational theory, how organizations operate, and their role within society
• The ability to apply leadership theories and principles that result in effective teamwork across functional areas in organizations
• An understanding of the role of ethics, moral principles and codes in organizations
• Application of scientific research methods in organizations
• Knowledge of strategic planning and project management principles
• An awareness of the human resources function and how it fits within organizational structures
• Knowledge of the connections between leadership, organizational culture and organizational change
• Effective communication and public speaking skills
• Multicultural competence including an understanding of managing a diverse workforce
Valuable Transferable Skills
Information-gathering and Communication Skills
• The skills required to identify and access a wide range of relevant information and resources
• The ability to compile and organize facts and information and to comprehend and apply new and/or unfamiliar information to different situations and settings
• Skills in preparing interesting, creative and informative presentations which target diverse audiences
• The ability to develop effective reports, presentations and materials using current technology
Thinking, Planning and Organizational Skills
• The ability to learn, understand and interpret information and apply knowledge to new situations
• The ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and effectively plan/manage time, data and resources
• Problem-solving skills and the ability to make well-reasoned decisions, think creatively and search for, identify and consider all sides of an issue
• Skills to effectively analyze and interpret a wide range of information and data to discuss, support and/or reject ideas, opinions, reports, theories and proposals
Teamwork and Management Skills
• Skills enabling you to work effectively as part of a team by identifying your role and contributing, through leading, teaching, motivating and/or encouraging others, to the success of the team
• An understanding of how to successfully identify, plan and contribute to the goals of a project
• The ability to oversee, supervise and/or contribute to a project from beginning to end; including determining outcomes, planning details, making decisions, assigning roles and completing tasks
Some Career Options for Leadership Majors
| Administrator | Account Executive | Community Relations Specialist |
| Buyer | Bank Manager | Customer Service Manager |
| Career Planner | Branch Manager | Economic Development Specialist |
| Grant Writer | Brand Management | Educational Administrator |
| Administrator | Commercial Banking | Employee Program Coordinator |
| Lawyer | Credit Specialist | Entrepreneur / Business Owner |
| Politician | Event Planner | Development Coordinator |
| Hotel Manager | General Manager | Government Services Worker |
| Hospital | Production Manager | Human Resources Specialist |
| Volunteer Coordinator | Insurance Claims Adjustor | International Business Manager |
| Program Coordinator | Management Consultant | Organizational Change Consultant |
| Project Manager | Management Trainee | Organizational Strategy Analyst |
| Public Relations | Marketing Specialist | Market Research Analyst |
| Recreation Coordinator | Mortgage Loans Officer | Program and Policy Analyst |
| Hospitality Management | Office Manager | Sales Representative /Manager |
| Special Events Coordinator | Operations Manager | Outreach Coordinator |
| Training Specialist |
Potential Employers
| Non Profit Organizations | Non Government Organizations | Corporations |
| Consumer Products Company | Educational Institutions | Consulting Firm |
| Government Agencies / Offices | Banks and Credit Unions | Companies |
| News Media | Marketing Firm | Insurance |
| Public Relations Firm | Hospital | Law Firm |
| Long-term Care Facilities | Hospitality Industry | Political Parties |
| International Organizations | Recreational Agencies |
For more career options and job descriptions, visit the following sites:
Career Cruising - www.careercruising.com. Please contact the Career Centre at 519.884.0710 ext. 4495 or careercentre@wlu.ca for the username and password.
Career Insider (Vault) - Access through the library website at www.wlu.ca/library. Click ’Find Articles and More’, click ’Databases by Title (A-Z)’ and then ’C’ - Career Insider (Vault). You need to access this resource from a Laurier computer or through the library’s remote access service.
National Occupational Classification - www.hrsdc.gc.ca/noc
Additional Study
Leadership
Human Resources
International Business
Business Administration
Public Administration
Public Policy
Industrial Relations
Labour Studies
Law
Websites
Canadian Public Relations Society
Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations
Human Resources Professional Association of Ontario
Canadian Fundraiser
Canadian Event Perspective
Canadian Special Events Society
Charity Village - Canada’s supersite for the non-profit sector
Professional Marketing Research Society
Federal Government Careers
Ontario Government Careers
The Institute of Public Administration of Canada
International Leadership Association
The Centre for Global Leadership