What is the best way to gain experience in Business Operations without a degree?

Obtain hands-on experience in Business Operations, even without a formal degree, by engaging in internships, entry-level positions, online courses, certifications, networking, freelance work, self-directed learning, volunteering, honing soft skills, pursuing personal projects, and showcasing accomplishments on your resume. Emphasize practical competencies, foster a mindset of continuous improvement, and cultivate a strong professional network.

Courses can be a great way to signal your interest in breaking into a business operations role and stand out among other new-to-the-function applicants. Most of those I know in a Biz Ops role fell into it as strong generalists with a diverse toolkit and hustle who caught the eye of an exec (primarily the CEO) as a valuable IC to add to their stable of direct reports. In the absence of strong referrals or candidates with direct biz ops experience, I'd take a closer look at a candidate who had invested time into online courses through reputable platforms.

I don't understand why I was chosen to answer this stupid question and I'm starting to wonder what the point is, other than wasting our time.

Gain experience in Business Operations without a degree through internships, entry-level positions, online courses, certifications, networking, freelance work, self-education, volunteering, soft skills development, personal projects, and showcasing results on your resume. Emphasize practical skills, learn continuously, and build a strong professional network.

Without a degree, gaining experience in Business Operations requires a proactive approach. Seek entry-level positions in operations, administration, or customer service roles to learn foundational skills. Take on internships, apprenticeships, or volunteer opportunities to gain exposure to different aspects of business operations. Utilize online resources, such as courses, tutorials, and forums, to self-educate and develop relevant skills in areas like project management, data analysis, and process optimization. Networking with professionals in the field can also lead to mentorship or job opportunities. Demonstrating initiative, eagerness to learn, and a strong work ethic can help compensate for the lack of a formal degree.

Volunteering for a nonprofit is a fantastic way to double dip on your investment of time by contributing to a cause you care about and bolstering your professional toolkit. When millions of dollars are on the line, and investors expect outsized returns, the high bar to entry to get a business operations role in a corporate setting may mean months of frustration in applications that yield little result. Developing a quantifiable business operations track record in a nonprofit setting could be a much more fulfilling and faster means to accomplish your for-profit career goals.

In my experience you want to work with a charity, non-profit or a voluntary organisation. Especially one that doesn’t have too much structure, you need to have the freedom to do things and immerse yourself in the activities. Plus you want the opportunity to make meaningful decisions that will have an impact. You will get experience, but you will also be able to make mistakes and learn from them (fail forward). Even though the idea of working for a big, well-structured organisation is appealing.. They generally already have policies, procedures and organisational structure, this limits your opportunities to make decisions and have a real learning experience.

Volunteering for nonprofits or startups gives you hands-on experience in business operations. By bringing you access to diverse challenges to problem solve and learn about different aspects of business operations. It also allows you to network, get leadership opportunities and use that to build a resume. It provides a flexible, entrepreneurial environment to explore various roles, receive feedback, and make a difference while gaining practical skills, without needing a degree.

Outra maneira de ganhar experiência em operações de negócios sem diploma é ser voluntário para uma organização sem fins lucrativos ou uma startup que precisa de ajuda com suas operações. O voluntariado pode lhe dar a oportunidade de aplicar suas habilidades em um ambiente do mundo real, trabalhar em projetos significativos e fazer networking com profissionais e mentores. Você pode procurar oportunidades de voluntariado em sites como Catchafire, Idealist, VolunteerMatch ou AngelList. Essa experiência prática não só enriquece seu currículo, mas também pode abrir portas para futuras oportunidades de emprego.

Integration Projects: Take on integration projects involving open-source and free trial tools like Notion.com and Slack.com. This will help you understand how different platforms interact and the role of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) in this process. JavaScript and Scripting: Learn JavaScript, as it's a valuable skill for business operations. Practice by adding Google Analytics to a website using Google Tag Manager and setting up events. API and JSON Understanding: Dive deeper into APIs and JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) to comprehend how data is exchanged between applications. Many online resources and tutorials are available to help you grasp these concepts.

In my opinion creating your own project or starting a small business is like diving into the deep end – challenging, but immensely rewarding. It's a hands-on journey where you not only learn the ropes of business operations but also get to shape something uniquely yours. Plus, the experience and lessons gained are priceless. Give it a shot!

In my experience , building your own business is the best way. I am personally undergoing this change. I started my own business in consulting and I had to learn, hone and make tactical changes. Not only will you learn business operations, you get practical experience in marketing, Business Development, Sales, Strategy, Finance. Although one may struggle a lot, but it is probably more rewarding and knowledgeable journey, one can ever take!

I believe that building your own project or business offers invaluable experience, as it involves handling virtually everything right from day 0. This includes everything - from registering the business, purchasing domains, paying for servers, hiring and firing staff, handling regulations, and developing processes and internal workflows, among so many other tasks. It helps you become a jack of all trades, an essential quality for the agile mindset required in operations roles. Also, it fosters independence, along with the ability and mindset to solve problems on your own and devise creative solutions to challenging issues, often without expert guidance. It is a tough path, but a rewarding one!

I started my entrepreneurial career at the age of 16 with my mothers whole sales license. My first product was bringing Jake Burton's Performer Snowboards to the slopes of Aspen Colorado. It's not about the age but experience helps. What I found is that its best to be a fan first before you begin any business adventure. Learn as much at you can and than share that passion with others be social. Now a days successful sales and marketing is about influencing. Used to be you needed money to make money.. now its about being creative with how you approach your audience or market with any business.

I find building your own business to be not only a practical way to gain experieince in business operations, but also a fulfilling thing to do. Starting a business usually requires that you take up some additional skill(s) especially if you're starting with a small project that you can manage by yourself such as a photo studio, social media content creator, hair dresser or even a foodtruck business. You might need to learn how to prepare a menu, design a customer feedback form, prepare a quotation or how to follow-up on a transaction. Such things will enable you to have a practical feel of business operations.

In my career, specific people have added immense value - either as formal mentors, or informally, in business relationships and thru "lead by example" experiences. In any field, I would focus on connecting with some senior colleagues and learning from their successes - and mistakes.

YouTube and hands on experience like go volunteer to shadow someone at least twice a week always read update your knowledge of the business

Online Platform are impactfully offering amazing courses with free of cost, nominal cost, scholarship sponsored ,one who is zealous to learn, grow & explore has certainly huge opportunity to imbibe self with knowldge & self enhancement.

In my experience online communities have a 101 solutions to the same problem and it is not always easy picking the right solution to what you are looking for, even when in the same industry. I HIGHLY recommend finding a mentor who has been there and done that. While what they do might not adhere to the theory you have learned, what they have done is workable and gets a result. Mentors are invaluable.

Connect with professionals in the field of business operations through online communities, forums, or mentorship programs. Engaging with experienced individuals allows you to learn from their insights, experiences, and best practices, while also expanding your professional network.

Personally, I found a role at a company with a mission and product that I believed in. The role was entry level, but I learned so much about every aspect of the business and how things actually ran. I started building connections with my colleagues who worked in business operations, offering to help with small side projects as needed, and reviewing some of their work to learn the ropes. Then, when a job opened up, I jumped at the opportunity. You don't have to start in the job you want, having another role can let you learn important information and make connections that open access to the role you're looking for.

The most impactful way to learn is through practice and real life experiences. While it’s crucial to have a baseline understanding of business operations, seeing those theories applied in the real world is key. Starting out, be open to opportunities and listen to leaders. Expose yourself to all possible opportunities, and give yourself the chance to learn.

In my opinion the best way to get into Biz Ops is grass roots. Operate in a business. Learn about an industry or organization from an entry level position. Contribute at a high level within your role and then branch out into other verticals or departments within an organization. Don’t get hung up on your title, healthy organizations are developing people and looking for people that bring value and elevate others on their immediate team and beyond. You can fast track your journey with hard work and a growth mindset, but the journey is what builds a strong ops leader. You need to appreciate the challenges and goals of supporting teams and build an internal network and strong team members. Without those things an ops leader is just a title.

You cannot beat experience. I have a Master of Science degree in Management of Operations but I honestly learned more about how things work and fit together through starting at the bottom and working my way up. Theory and academia are great, but you need to understand reality isn't always in line with theoretical best practice. On the ground, at the coalface experience is how you learn to marry best practice with best realistic solutions.

D'après mon expérience, il faut chercher des opportunités dans des petites entreprises où ils pouvent obtenir une expérience pratique dans différents aspects des opérations commerciales en raison de la polyvalence requise dans ces environnements.

We are never "too old" to study further, whether through academic institutions, or internal courses / "on the job" training. Embrace any applicable or relevant opportunities open to you, to grow and expand on existing knowledge.

Firstly, find something you think you want to do, something that will drive you, something you will be passionate about, happy about (for the most part). This may take several attempts, if you are lucky. Learn, learn and learn some more. For most, this will mean starting at the bottom. This is a good place to be. Learn about every aspect of the business. There may be an avenue you never knew about. Learn about it. Never be shy to ask questions, research. No matter at what stage you are in your career, growth in your personnel development is always possible. You just need to be willing to learn and gain real life experience of the role you would like to do.

Your educational background doesn't define your future. I started as a cleaner, rose to C-level without a degree, learning from each role and challenge. Embrace opportunities for growth, value mentorship, and stay adaptable. Focus on continuous learning, ethical decision-making, and balancing personal well-being with professional growth. In business, as in life, the potential for transformation is endless – be ready to seize it.

Find a flight lead in the industry willing to mentor you. Be willing to jump in and volunteer your services—it’s a win-win: the organization gets extra help while you learn skills quickly with firsthand experience… WARNING: Choose wisely who to follow—our time is precious, and we become like those we associate with the most. Throttle UP!™️

Find an interesting company. Focus your interview strategy on why you want to work for them, not why they need you. Throw yourself at every opportunity, especially the things you don't want to do/that scare you. If you aren't chosen to lead, fully support whoever is. Humility. Take guidance from everyone above and below you. Don't dismiss others - assume they know something you don't. Absorb everyone's wisdom. Slowly build a reputation as someone who gets things done. Don't let your keenness damage your relationships. Make peace with the fact that you're never finished learning or taking orders - when you reach the top of your organisation and stop taking orders from above, the orders then come from below. Have some fun.