Career and Employment Service - are you considering postgraduate study?
Introduction
People choose postgraduate study for a range of reasons. Amongst the most common are –
Career – based:
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To enter or progress in a career |
It is a requirement for the role |
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To enhance their job prospects |
To increase earning potential |
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To demonstrate commitment to a field |
For professional development |
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To develop knowledge of a sector |
To specialise |
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As a point of difference from others |
To build a network of contacts |
Interest – based:
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Interest in/passion for the subject |
To prove their academic ability |
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For prestige |
Knowledge for knowledge’s sake |
However, they could also include:
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To delay entering the job market |
To make up for earlier poor grades |
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Inability to find work |
Lack of clear direction |
Issues to consider
Whatever your reasons it is important to note that -
- Postgraduate qualifications can help you to be more competitive in the job market. They can be an opportunity to develop marketable skills and knowledge
- Some careers require postgraduate-level qualifications and these may have to be in a particular subject field
- In some other career areas postgraduate qualifications are becoming increasingly sought, even if they are not a necessity
- Employers seek academic ability but it will ideally be combined with skills and qualities that include interpersonal and communication skills; flexibility and project work
- You may be offered a higher starting salary for having a postgraduate-level qualification, particularly if the employer sees the value of it. You’ll need to be able to combine it with having the skills sought for the role
- Postgraduate qualifications may not necessarily make up for a poor undergraduate degree
- They will not guarantee you a job
- A PhD is almost a necessity for an academic career, and hugely useful if it is a career in research that you seek.
Given the above, our advice is to carefully consider your options and to choose your study wisely. Ask yourself the following:
- Why are you considering it? What is your goal?
- Will the study you’re considering be useful? Is it right for you?
- Are you academically and personally strong enough for the rigours of postgraduate-level study?
- Is enhancing your work experience a better option for you at this stage? In addition, would your study allow you time for part-time work and/or extracurricular activities – these can be invaluable for your personal and skills development?
- Are you passionate about the subject – this should be a hugely influential factor in your decision making?
- Will the study you’re considering allow you to develop your skills base – particularly presentation; communication; analysis; project work and research skills?
Forward planning
If you are considering postgraduate study for career-based reasons, you’ll need to be sure that the study you choose will give you the competencies needed.
Whether you plan to study in
Network – Contact relevant professional associations. Try to find people doing the types of work that interest you. Explore their educational backgrounds; their route into their careers and any programmes of study they’d recommend.
Talk - to the universities; departments and academic staff. Do you have what’s required to gain a place on the programme and to succeed in it? Try to gain an insight into the employment outcomes of people who complete the programme.
Consider – It’s crucial to consider your options for study. Can you and would you prefer to study full-time; part-time; on campus or at a distance. What will be the financial costs involved; what other commitments on your time do you have and what support systems do you have around you? Will the personal and professional benefits outweigh the costs?
Postgraduate study – pros and cons
Is postgraduate study right for you? That’s a question only you can answer but your decision is likely to be based on your personal and career aims. At this stage however, it is worth looking in more depth at some of the possible pros and cons –
Enhanced career prospects: For some career areas, postgraduate qualifications are a requirement for entry. In other cases they may be an asset rather than vital. They can also boost your earnings potential in the long term; give you a competitive edge over other applicants and allow you to develop more specialist knowledge for a role; profession or sector.
Movement to a new career: Some postgraduate programmes offer students a route into new roles and sectors, for example from arts to science fields or from a general first degree into a more vocational path.
Skills development: Postgraduate study offers the opportunity to develop a range of skills that can be transferred into the workplace and/or into other aspects of your life. These include skills in research and presentation; time management; working with others; self-motivation; communication; project management; critical and lateral thinking and working independently.
Networking: In many countries, there is a significant ‘hidden’ job market. As a result, it is often crucial to build and maintain a network of useful contacts that could help with your job search and with information-seeking. Postgraduate study can give you great opportunities to network – for example, through attending and presenting at relevant seminars; conferences and other events.
Follow your passion: Postgraduate study can be an enormously rewarding way to pursue your interest in a subject, to specialise and to engage with others who share your passion. It can offer intellectual stimulation; challenge; motivation; enjoyment; a means by which you can share ideas and possibly the chance to have real impact upon a research area.
Proceed with caution though: Be wary of choosing postgraduate study simply because the job market is tough or to enhance your employability. There may be other ways of making yourself more marketable to employers and there will be a significant financial and time investment in studying.
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