Leaving the bubble that is university and entering the job market can be a terrifying leap.This leap may be so terrifying that one may seek shelter in postgraduate study.Although a Masters may be an investment in your future, is it an investment that will pay off?
Master's degrees are fantastic opportunities if you have completed a generic undergraduate degree and along the way have discovered an interest in a specific field which you would like to pursue.It can also be an opportunity to get another degree from a better institution to smarten up your CV.
Before choosing to embark on post graduate study, it is important to do some number crunching.Tuition fees are just the beginning of what you will have to pay; living costs, equipment, books, travel and the forsaking of an income have to be taken into consideration.
It is also important to ask yourself why you are embarking on the degree.Does assist you in fulfilling your ambitions? Or are you just trying to bury your head in the sand and avoid having to face the brutality of the jobs market?
Do not expect a Master's to enable you to walk in to a job.They come with no career guarantees.It is important to note that universities are essentially businesses, and so proceed with caution when investigating your courses.You are their customer, so they will tell you what you want to hear.Do not get blinded by impressive academic jargon; take it upon yourself to contact the universities for proof that their course is a worthy investment.Ask directly what sort of careers their graduates have entered, and even push for specific examples.See if you can track down anyone who has completed the Master's you are interested in and ask how beneficial it has been.It is also worth finding out if the course you are interested in has any specific links with the industry you are interested in pursuing a career in.
Try to find a course that is as specific as possible to the career you wish to pursue.Employers will be impressed by your commitment to their field.Courses that offer hands on experience are also highly impressive.
As 370,000 students are set to graduate this summer, the job market will be looking even more competitive.A Master's may be the making of you, so long as you are entering into the course for the right reasons and have done rigorous research into the degree you wish to pursue.
Mona, GRB Journalist
