How to Make Your Masters Count

For many prospective graduate students, improved employment prospects and earning potential are major motivators. But how can you make sure your master’s degree gives a good return on investment (ROI)?

If you want to reassure yourself that studying a master’s degree makes financial sense, there are plenty of studies and statistics around to support this. It seems that overall, graduates with a master’s degree tend to fare better than those with just a bachelor’s degree, who in turn have better prospects than secondary school leavers.

But don’t assume employers will automatically be impressed by an additional line on your CV. In fact, depending on the sector, you may find a year’s relevant work experience holds more value than a master’s degree when viewed through recruiters’ eyes.

Ultimately, the return on investment you get will depend on your ability to choose the right program, make the most of opportunities both within and beyond the course, and – perhaps most importantly of all – to effectively market your skillset to prospective employers.

1. Consider your target labor market

The first step is to consider what kind of role you’re aiming at. You can then research requirements listed in job adverts, typical backgrounds of those already in your desired role, and the skills which are emphasized by companies you admire.

For some sectors or roles – such as those requiring highly specialized knowledge or with a strong focus on research – a master’s degree is (either formally or informally) viewed as essential. In other cases, you may find a master’s degree has simply become the norm, within an employment sector or across an entire society.

If this is the case, to make sure you get a good ROI on your studies, you’ll need to find ways to differentiate yourself from other master’s graduates. This could mean choosing to study internationally and/or selecting a program which focuses on an emerging or high-demand specialization.

On the other hand, you may find your target role is entirely achievable without a master’s degree. Assuming you’re still keen to pursue a master’s, you’ll want to ensure it gives you a good ROI by convincing potential employers of the added value it’s given you – perhaps negotiating a higher starting salary or set of responsibilities as a result.

2. Choose a program with practical experience

One of the most effective ways to ensure your master’s translates into better employment prospects is to choose a program which includes practical and professional experience. This is one of the key messages from the 2014 report “Taught Postgraduate Employability and Employer Engagement: Masters with a Purpose”, published by the UK’s Higher Education Careers Service Unit (HECSU).

The report notes that employers are significantly more likely to be impressed by graduate degrees which incorporate work-related experience – and that a master’s qualification in itself is not enough to make up for a lack of relevant experience.

A growing number of universities worldwide are recognizing the importance of helping students gain professional experience. As a result, it’s increasingly common to find internships, professional projects and other work-based elements incorporated into master’s programs. If your chosen subject doesn’t lend itself so well to this course format, look into local opportunities to gain relevant experience through part-time work, volunteering or internships.

3. Seek out networking opportunities

The HECSU report also highlights the importance of opportunities for students to network with professionals, through initiatives such as guest lectures, networking events and mentoring schemes. As well as helping students build a network of relevant connections, this can also serve to contextualize course content, demonstrating how classroom material will be applied.

While opportunities to connect with professionals and prospective employers are invaluable – in some cases even leading to direct job offers – these are by no means the only networking avenues available. In fact, the richest networking pool may be found among your fellow classmates and the alumni community you’ll become part of.

When choosing your master’s degree, find out about networking initiatives both during and after the course, and try to get a feel for the type of employers involved and the make-up of the student/alumni community. Researching the wider campus life, including popular student associations, could also help you get a feel for the community you’ll be joining: make sure it’s one you’re excited to be part of.

4. Embrace every chance to add value

Having chosen your master’s degree, the next challenge is to do justice to all the opportunities on offer – one of the most effective ways to boost your ROI. After all, there are few times in life when you’ll have the chance to try so many new things, so conveniently and often at no additional cost. Aside from all the fun to be had, the additional skills and experience you acquire may be what sets you apart in the graduate labor market.

Take the chance to learn a new language, or practice an existing one. Assume a position of responsibility within your department or in a student association. Find internships or relevant part-time work nearby. Attend events organized by the careers service.

In short, push yourself to learn and develop in as many ways as you can – without, of course, jeopardizing your academic success. You may discover a new passion, reveal a whole new set of aptitudes, or even meet a future business partner. Who knows which experience, event or new acquaintance could end up being the one that changes your life?

5. Market your skills effectively

The last (but by no means least) of your challenges is to convince potential employers of the value of your master’s degree. Don’t assume recruiters will already know what you learned or gained. In fact, the HECSU report found that many employers are relatively unaware of the benefits provided by postgraduate study, so it’s up to graduates themselves to communicate these.

Ultimately, master’s or no master’s, your employment prospects will ultimately come down to your own self-marketing skills. Crucially, you need to show you’re the best match for the specific role in question, drawing on concrete examples to demonstrate your relevant skills and experience.

Be ready to talk about how the specializations and course modules you completed have prepared you for this exact job. And show how factors such as work experience, extra-curricular projects and international study have added even more to your arsenal, perfectly equipping you for the challenges ahead. Finally, make sure your online profiles, on platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn, present a consistent message; many recruiters will check these out.

To conclude, simply having a master’s degree won’t guarantee you better employment prospects or a higher salary. But the rich pool of experiences, knowledge, skills and connections you gain should give you more than enough material to draw upon when marketing yourself in the labor market. The ROI is in your hands!