High School
Union business agents should at least have a high school education. To build a solid background, take courses in business, English, mathematics, public speaking, history, and economics.
Postsecondary Training
A college degree can also be very valuable for union business agents. Many colleges now offer curricula in labor and industrial relations. Additional courses that you will also find useful include psychology, business, collective bargaining, labor law, occupational safety and health, economics, and political science. Some unions may offer to reimburse some of the costs of higher education for union members who are interested in leadership positions. In most cases, business agents will receive additional training on the job while working under experienced union leaders.
Certification
Many colleges and universities offer certificate programs in labor and industrial relations, business communication, leadership, and other areas. Programs typically last six months to a year and are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. One example is the certificate in labor and industrial relations program that is offered by Cornell University. To earn the certificate, students must complete the following classes: Collective Bargaining Foundations, Preparing for Labor Negotiations, Principles of Costing, Handling Grievances, and Arbitration. Visit https://ecornell.cornell.edu/certificates for more information. Contact schools in your area for information about available programs.
Other Education or Training
Continuing education seminars, webinars, and other learning opportunities that focus on labor and industrial relations, business operations, and related fields are provided by the professional associations, unions, colleges and universities, and for-profit online learning platforms. Contact these organizations for more information.
- Accountants
- Arbitrators
- Auditors
- Automotive Dealership Owners
- Billing Clerks
- Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks
- Budget Analysts
- Business Continuity Planners
- Business Development Managers and Directors
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Business Managers
- Buyers
- Career and Employment Counselors
- Career and Employment Technicians
- Chief Customer Officers
- Chief Executive Officers
- Chief Financial Officers
- Chief Information Officers
- Chief Information Security Officers
- Chief Restructuring Officers
- Chief Revenue Officers
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Chief Sustainability Officers
- Chief Trust Officers
- Client Services Managers
- Collection Workers
- Community Health Program Coordinators
- Compliance Managers
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Corporate Community Relations Directors
- Corporate Lawyers
- Corporate Librarians
- Cost Estimators
- Cultural Advisers
- Customer Service Directors
- Customer Service Representatives
- Customs Brokers
- Data Entry Clerks
- Decision Scientists
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Directors of Corporate Sponsorship
- Directors of Security
- Directors of Volunteers
- Document Management Specialists
- Economists
- Employment Firm Workers
- Entrepreneurs
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Event Planners
- Executive Recruiters
- Fashion Models' Agents
- Forensic Accountants and Auditors
- Franchise Owners
- Health Care Managers
- Health Club Owners and Managers
- Health Data Analysts
- Human Resources Consultants
- Human Resources Managers
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Executives
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
- Internet Transaction Specialists
- Legal Operations Specialists
- Loss Prevention Managers
- Management Analysts and Consultants
- Military Recruiters
- Music Agents and Scouts
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- Office Administrators
- Payroll Directors
- Personnel and Labor Relations Specialists
- Product Designers
- Professional Organizers
- Project Managers
- Proposal Managers
- Purchasing Agents
- Receptionists
- Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists
- Retail Business Owners
- Retail Managers
- Sales Managers
- Sales Representatives
- Secretaries
- Space Tourism Managers
- Statisticians
- Stenographers
- Strategy Managers
- Tax Managers
- Temporary Workers
- Traffic Managers
- Typists and Word Processors
- Workplace Diversity Experts