Hi all, been lurking and I've noticed that there has been discouragement regarding pursuing Business/Management Degrees or an MBA. People are saying it's a dead-end choice which isn't true at all. A quick look at the Skilled Occupation List shows that there are plenty of choices available for those with such degrees. What's important is you choose the right field and build experience in it through placements/internships. If you can, utilise the graduate visa and gain professional experience if you have none in the area you want to use for the PR application.
The above degrees are relevant to areas such as Finance and Accounting, Human Resources, Sales & Marketing, PR & Advertising, Operations, Procurement, IT and Legal. You can go into one of many industries that require skills and expertise in any of the aforementioned business functions. In fact, business degrees can be easily tailored. For example, a Master of Commerce will let you specialise in a particular area later on in the program. MBAs also allow you to specialise in a particular function (MBAs generally increase employability as well). All you need to do is look at your options carefully, research on upcoming industries (Australia is shifting from manufacturing to service-oriented), and plan your pathway accordingly. Believe me, there are so many options if you take up Business: Accountancy, Insurance, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Arts Management, Project Management, Market Research... the list goes on! If what you're interested in falls under a Provisional visa, don't be discouraged. It's still an opportunity you can take and it will bring you a step closer to your ultimate goal.
Basically, I don't think people should be discouraged from pursuing a business program if that's their preference. It's the farthest from a dead-end option. Look into analyst, consultant, adviser, and specialist positions on the occupation lists. Filter realistically based on your experience/skill level, then filter by business function. I'm sure you'll find something that you can work toward.
Just my 2 cents. Goodluck, everyone! Now I'm back to lurking đŸ˜‰