Coming to the end of your bachelor’s degree signals you are at the edge of a crossroads. At a fork in the road, many graduates have to make a choice: should they continue their studies and get a master’s, or should they try to get a job? Studying for a master’s can be a commitment; after all, this will usually involve putting off starting your career and investing both time and money to advance your academic knowledge. However, studying for a master’s often promises to increase your future earning potential and job choices. If you are considering whether you should start working or study for a master’s, this guide is here to help.
Can You Balance Work with Studies?
One of the first considerations that put people off studying for a master’s degree is the idea that they would have to quit their current jobs when this, in reality, isn’t true. If you do not want to quit your existing job, then you will need to ask yourself if it is possible for you to study for a master’s while continuing to work. There are many master’s degrees, like the Boston College MHA, that have been designed for working professionals who need to balance an academic experience with full-time work. This type of master’s degree setup shows that having a full-time job does not limit your ability to study for a master’s degree.
What is Your Dream Job?
When you are considering studying for a master’s degree, you will need to think about your current working situation and how you ideally see yourself working in the future. If you have a dream job in mind, it can be very useful to do some further research to discover whether a master’s degree would help you to get to your dream work position.
If you do not have a dream job in mind, this might be a sign that it is not the right time to begin studying for a master’s degree. On the other hand, completing some work experience can provide you with useful insights that can help you to more clearly understand the best working position for you.
Do You Need a Competitive Advantage?
Today’s working environment is very competitive and gaining a master’s degree is a great way for you to gain a competitive advantage. If you are interested in working in a competitive industry, then a masters might provide you with the edge you need to win a highly coveted position.
Are You Passionate About Your Subject?
Studying for a master’s degree is not all about preparing yourself for future work; it is also a rewarding endeavor in the short term. You should not just base your decision to study for a master’s degree on your professional future, but you should also consider your relationship to your studies and your subject. If you are not interested in studying or passionate about your subject, then this is a sign that a master’s degree might not be right for you. After all, no matter what benefits a master’s degree might brighten to your professional future, if you do not apply yourself when studying, you will never be able to realize all of the potential benefits.
Rajani Baburajan
