Career and Employment Service - considering postgraduate study? Issues to explore

Introduction

For those who are thinking of postgraduate study, useful questions are as follows -

Is a postgraduate qualification essential or desirable for the career area(s) I’m interested in? Some career areas do require a professional qualification whilst for others a postgraduate qualification, although not essential, will provide a distinct advantage to applicants, particularly when competition for places is fierce. Research the area of work that interests you to identify whether a postgraduate course would be necessary or advantageous.
To what extent do employers value relevant experience more than a postgraduate qualification?
Would having a postgraduate qualification place you ahead of candidates who hold bachelor-level degree qualifications? Those with experience?
Would you receive a higher starting salary with a postgraduate qualification?
Would holding a postgraduate qualification enhance the rate at which you could progress within an organisation?

In addition, it’s important to explore any other reasons that you might have for considering postgraduate study. These might include:

I really enjoy my subject - A very common reason but we’d still recommend that you look at how - and if - your choice of course fits in with your longer-term career plans?
I want to move into a new career area - A postgraduate qualification may well be a necessary - or at least a useful way - of working towards this goal. However, you might also be able to do so through gaining relevant employment.
I don’t know what to do - this will give me more time to decide. Well, yes it may do but only if you use some of the time available to research your options.

Will employers value postgraduate study?

There’s no uniform answer to this. For some employers, the knowledge and skills developed through such study is highly valuable. Furthermore, they may see it as evidence of your determination to succeed in the area and of a commitment to professional development.

A word of caution though! Some employers will place no advantage at all on a postgraduate degree and there are others who are concerned that applicants with postgraduate degrees may be ‘too specialist or too narrow in their interests’. Other concerns might include a fear that the applicant may face difficulties integrating into the workplace and/or might have unrealistic salary expectations.

As a result, it’s crucial to research potential employers as well as career options.

Considering postgraduate study through Massey?

Massey University keeps the New Zealand spirit of discovery alive and is one of the top institutions for postgraduate learning. Our postgraduate programmes are designed to challenge the intellect and to up skill those already in the workforce.