The For-Profit Sector

Companies and organizations that derive a profit from their goods and services and repay investors a portion of these profits, or use profits to increase staff salaries or expand business, fall into this sector. For-profit companies are either publicly held (investors can buy shares in the company and share in the profits and risks) or privately owned (investments, profits, and risks are limited to a family or small group).

Management Function

Business functions are the critical activities or operations in organizations. Functions define occupations and job titles. Functions draw upon individuals' abilities, work habits, and personalities; functions define what people do. When people seek business positions it is in one of the basic 11 functions:

• Accounting/Control
• Personnel/Human Resources
• Information Services
• Research/Engineering
• Advertising/Public Relations
• Sales/Marketing
• Finance
• Manufacturing/Service
• Operations Planning
• Project Management/Consulting
• General Management

Industries

Industry classifications identify organizational activities and goals of a company; functions define workers' responsibilities and duties within organizations. The Standard and Poor's Register of Corporations  defines 9000 industry categories or business activities. These industry categories are referred to as "Standard Industrial Classifications" and can be divided into two major areas, manufacturing and non manufacturing. Knowledge of the nature of an industry, the dynamic relationship of the goods, services, products, providers, customers, terminology, literature, and companies in the industry can be invaluable for the job seeker.

Companies

The size and age of a company often help define the organization's "culture." Smaller firms usually require their employees to perform a greater variety of functions than their counterparts in specialized "departments." Small firms tend to be geographically confined to a few locations and markets while larger companies frequently have regional or international, markets, branches and subsidiaries.

New or start-up companies (frequently entrepreneurial ventures) are often fast paced environments where new employees learn on the job, perform many tasks, and receive pay and promotions for performance as the company strives for a "niche" for its new products or services. Mature companies, on the other hand, tend to have an established recognition and usually have more conservative management policies and training programs. Risks and raises are more predictable in mature and successful businesses. Contracting companies tend, like start-up firms, to require employees to perform many tasks as their "downsized" staffing and declining client base foster a survival or demoralized environment. 

Corporate Information

It is strongly recommended that before going on a job interview, the candidate research a prospective employer's company thoroughly. Find company information: annual reports, financial profiles, press releases, stock exchange information, etc. on the OCS Corporate Information site.

Courses You Need

The Bates curriculum can allow you to explore some of the industries and functions mentioned above. Writing and communications skills, so essential in any job, but especially in advertising and public relations functions and industries, can be honed through various English and rhetoric courses; music and art courses can also be profitably applied in the creative divisions of advertising and public relations firms. Your quantative skills, key abilities in finance, accounting, and information management functions, can be enhanced through math, computer science, economics, or statistical studies offered in many disciplines. psychology, anthropology, political science, and sociology courses offer invaluable training and insights into human behavior, and group dynamics that form the foundation for marketing, sales, and personnel functions. And natural science courses can provide significant grounding in science based industries, health, and engineering functions.

The remaining humanities, social science and interdisciplinary majors can prepare you in many ways for business jobs through their unique exposure to a broad range of skills, industries, and work place issues.

On Campus Ideas

Term-time campus jobs and volunteer positions in the Lewiston Auburn community provide a means to explore business areas and functions. The Volunteer Coordinator's office maintains listings in a variety of human resource and project management areas. The Student Employment office lists paid positions in college offices with management functions: Personnel, Institutional Research, Special Projects, Financial Affairs, Computing, and Admissions. For example, work in Admissions will allow you to develop sales, public relations and marketing skills. If you work on a telethon for the Development Office you have learned sales and marketing techniques. Finally, consider the outstanding management exposure available to you through activities in clubs and special interest groups.

Summer Positions and Internships

The OCS administers a substantial number of business internships and maintains listings of summer management positions from corporate employers.

Check out our resources:

    OCS internship listings
    Tips on getting a summer job

Recruiting Options

The OCS recruiting program facilitates interviews between seniors and employers' representatives. First through third year students are encouraged to attend corporate recruiting information sessions.