Starting a master's vs. starting a career


A lot of students who go to college don’t know what they want to do with their lives. They know what they’re interested in, but aren’t sure what route to go down with their future careers. Unfortunately, that uncertainty is still present as they near the end of the degree. Now, the pressure to make a decision is much greater than it was a few years earlier, and they’re not sure what to do. Do they stay on and do a postgraduate degree, or do they take the plunge and find a full-time job?

Landing a better job

One of the most significant reasons for doing a master’s is to help land a better job. Some companies won’t even consider you if you don’t have a postgraduate degree. It could take years of working your way up the ranks to a position you might have landed straight away if you’d just spent that extra year or two on a master’s. However, it all depends on the industry you’re looking to start a career in. You might want to research jobs on the market right now and see what they ask for. If only a few of them are interested in you having a master’s, is there any point in doing one?

Photo: BURST

Needing that extra something

Education doesn’t seem to be so important these days. That’s because employers are more interested in what you can bring to their company that no-one else can. It’s all well and good if you’ve been a straight-A student at school and college, but how can that help you in the workplace. In this respect, it might be best to shoot for a career as soon as possible. You might have to work part-time jobs while you look for something, but the experience this gives you could be more valuable than a master’s degree.

Having that commitment

Doing a master’s requires a lot of work. You have to truly commit yourself to the degree, and it’s that commitment that can look good on a job application. Even if an employer hasn’t explicitly asked for candidates to have a master’s, they’re not going to look down on you for having one. The qualification shows you’re not afraid of hard work, and that’s something they’ll look for in an employee. It also demonstrates your passion for the industry and tells your prospective boss that you’ll be dedicated to the job. They want to know that you’re not going to get bored after a year and leave.

Dealing with money

Doing a master’s will probably earn you more money. If a job requires a certain level of experience and understanding, then chances are it will pay better than jobs that don’t. However, you have to consider that college isn’t cheap, and spending another year in education is only going to make your financial situation worse. You’ll need to have a job on the side to pay your way through the degree, giving you virtually no free time to actually enjoy life.

Photo: BURST

Getting essential experience

As we’ve said, experience is essential for starting a career these days. However, getting it can be difficult when no-one’s willing to hire you. Why won’t they hire you? Because you have no experience. It’s a catch-22 situation that’s getting a lot of students down. However, having a master’s could be all the experience you need. Records show that the employment rate for postgraduate students is higher than regular graduates. You might not land your ideal job straight out of college, but you’ll likely be earning money a lot quicker.
Only you can decide whether a master’s degree is the right thing for you. A lot of the time, it merely depends on whether it’s necessary for the job you want to do, and if it’s something you’re passionate about. There’s no point doing one for the sake of it because all you’ll do is leave yourself with a lot of unnecessary debt.

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