Share this article on...
Contact Us
- Report errors or inaccuracies topmba@qsnetwork.com
- Contribute articles contribute@qsnetwork.com
- Advertise advertise@qsnetwork.com
The difference a Masters makes: The graduate perspective
AINDRILA MItra interviews graduates who have had varying experiences with a Masters qualification and discovers where the true value of such programs lies
In the final part of our three part series looking at the difference a Masters makes, we get the graduate point of view. They’ve survived their Masters degree and are now successfully employed in the workforce, but was the Masters qualification all worth it, or could they be where they are now without one?
Graham Hardy, originally from South England, studied for a Masters in Civil Engineering at Bristol University in the UK. He initially wanted to study architecture but upon finding out the course was seven years, he opted for engineering instead. “I realised that if I kept my maths and physics going, I would have more chance of finishing university. My decision (to study engineering) was based on future employment potential rather than how much fun I would have at university.”
“My degree was quite vocational so my employer knew exactly what management and technical skills they were getting and how I would be suited to the work .”
Success story
He is now employed by Transport for London (TfL) and is getting a taste of the organization through the graduate program. “My degree was quite vocational so my employer knew exactly what management and technical skills they were getting and how I would be suited to the work they had in line for me.”
Dheerin Motwani, an Oxford Said Business School graduate from India, also credits his success to his Masters education. Dheerin now works at American Express Services in London as Business Transformation Manager. He says his graduate degree from Oxford has made him more adept at handling complicated projects. Dheerin came to Oxford Said with work experience from the Tata Consultancy Services where he had an initial training in Six Sigma management, but he believes that his Masters program in the UK helped him with his professional growth curve.
Both Graham and Dheerin have successfully found employment after completing their Masters degrees. As graduates, they are equipped with the knowledge and skills that it seems employers want and along the way have been in an international learning environment, adding to their skill set. It seems that Masters graduates have many advantages over their undergraduate counterparts.
But is this always the case?
Sohini Banerjee, also from India and now based in Aberdeen, graduated with her Masters in Finance from Robert Gordon University in Scotland. She’s now working for a British call centre – not the type of job she had in mind as a Masters graduate. “I fell short in my researching before I enrolled into the Masters course,” she admits. “And I was misguided by my education counsellor.” Sohini wanted specialized knowledge in people management skills, but enrolled herself into a course that was essentially finance related. “Students should always be aware of exactly what they want to learn, before commencing a Masters degree as each qualification is niche and market oriented,” she cautions.
Working within any industry in modern society is going to involve team work and understanding of all the forces in play.
John Slevan, gained his Masters in Engineering specializing in mechatronics from Leeds University in 2005. However, he’s now training to be a commercial pilot with CTC aviation training in New Zealand. A career choice he could have made without completing a Masters. However, despite this career switch, John feels the skills he learnt from his Masters degree have been transferable. “The course heightened my senses to the fact that working within any industry in modern society is going to involve team work and understanding of all the forces in play. The Masters course taught me key professional skills, which I will no doubt need regardless of my choice of career.”
So a Masters is useful, but is
an international Masters even
more beneficial?
As the postgraduate education sector grows more international every year, it seems that not only is a Masters degree next to your name an advantage, but studying abroad for that degree is looked upon favourably as well.
