The job market is highly competitive in most industries today, and most graduates are constantly looking for new ways to set themselves apart from the crowd and encourage employers to stand up and take notice of who they are and what they have got to offer. A university degree from an organisation such as NDNU used to be the one thing that set many people apart from the crowd when applying for jobs, but today, more and more people are attending university, and a bachelor’s degree is often seen as a minimum requirement, rather than something to set you apart from the crowd. If you’re considering getting a postgraduate degree to improve your job prospects, how exactly could it benefit you?
Demonstrate Your Dedication
A master’s degree demonstrates to potential future employers just how dedicated you are to your career. Putting in an extra one or two years of studying after you graduate isn’t always easy, and it’s a sure way to let employers know that you’re really serious about what you want to do. Bear in mind that for a career where a bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement, having the same qualification as all the other applicants isn’t going to make you stand out, while having a master’s qualification will set you head and shoulders above the rest.
Specialise in Your Chosen Subject
Studying for a master’s degree allows you to hone in on the parts of your bachelor’s degree that you enjoyed the most, and specialise in your chosen subjects. A postgraduate degree allows you to really master any aspect of your chosen career, and many are designed to further prepare you for the workforce with carefully chosen work placements that can also provide you with valuable experience to bring to the table when applying for jobs after graduation.
Attend a Better University
Things might have changed since you applied for your bachelor’s degree, and now that you are a graduate, you might be better qualified to attend a better university and improve your CV with a good institution listed on it. University Compare is a great place to start when looking for universities to attend, with plenty of advice on taking a masters degree and choosing the right university for you. But don’t just go by name alone; you might be able to get onto an MSc degree course at a red brick university, but do they have the facilities that you need? Read reviews and visit open days to find a university that suits you best.
Change Your Direction
It’s not uncommon for graduates to decide that they want to do something slightly different after getting their bachelor’s degree. After all, most people apply to uni for the first time in their teens and when you are young, it’s completely normal that you might change your mind about what you want to do once you’ve got some more life experience. But, if your bachelor’s degree isn’t quite what’s needed for the career you want to go for, you might have some trouble landing your dream role. Many master’s degrees can be studied regardless of the subject you studied at the undergraduate level and they offer you the perfect opportunity to focus on whatever you have decided is right for you as a career.
Network
Another great reason to study for a masters is that there are likely to be more networking opportunities for you compared to studying as an undergraduate. Master’s courses are often frequented by job scouts looking for the best talent for their companies, and if you are studying for a business-related subject, you might be provided with tickets to big conferences and networking events as a part of your degree, which can be a great way to meet with other professionals and potential employers to get advice about what you can do with your career. And, don’t forget that master’s students tend to be older and more experienced in the world of work, so you might find that there are opportunities amongst peers.
Extracurricular Activities
Studying for a master’s gives you a further chance to expand and enhance your CV with even more extracurricular activities that will impress potential employers. For example, you may be able to take advantage of studying a semester abroad and picking up a new language, which will certainly improve your employability. Or, you might be able to get even further involved with university societies and events, which can help you build a wide variety of highly-sought-after soft skills like organisation, management, communication and heading up a team. Don’t just think of a master’s degree as a way to build your academic knowledge, but also a great means for improving the soft skills that employers look for in your industry too.
If you want to improve your career prospects, a postgraduate qualification can help you master your subject and make your CV stand out.
