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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How much difference would having a masters make

35 replies

Hairymcfairyyy · 27/10/2021 23:09

In employment terms?
Is it worth it?
Considering using part of a loan we took out for the house, for some extended study.
Is it really worth it, would I progress more in my field, do employers value masters these days?

OP posts:
PaulaTrilloe · 28/10/2021 04:22

I did a Masters degree (taught conversion course) but I got research council funding so fees and living expenses were paid for.
I would'nt have taken out a loan for it as well as giving up work for a year. Mine coincided with an industry boom & skills shortage so gave me an edge over other candidates and higher salary starting point in private sector.
I'm not sure whether education is subject to the same forces.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/10/2021 06:15

It’s the most useful qualification I have, apart from maybe my driving licence!
It gave me practical skills to use with my BSc, which made me very employable at the time of a skills shortage. Also research council funded.

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 28/10/2021 06:25

My sibling has one in education.
He found it an expensive waste of a year and was very disappointment in calibre of material on the course. 🤷‍♀️

The only reason he thinks it was remotely advantageous is he did it at cambridge.

As he works internationally people are a bit ooh la la so its easier to get interviews now.

Marelle · 28/10/2021 06:28

It can help you get in the door and differentiate you if you’re struggling to get that first job. It can compensate for a poor undergraduate degree. It can be good for changing subject. But if you’re already in a job it’s worse than useless.

ThinWomansBrain · 28/10/2021 06:38

probably make more difference doing it now that you have some experience, rather than a masters following on directly from your first degree - but not that much.
I don't regret doing my masters, but although being very work related, it hasn't really enhanced my career.

PuppyFeet · 28/10/2021 12:42

I did mine as I was changing career and felt it would prove to future employers I was serious about new career, which it did and that afforded me a higher paid starting role and a quicker climb than I likely would have done without it… so yes it helped me.

Merrilee · 28/10/2021 12:58

Have you looked at any job adverts to see what qualifications are listed? In my daughters case, her MSc in a social science made a world of difference to her job prospects as she studied the course named after her role.

justasking111 · 28/10/2021 13:52

Two friends did masters and PhD one in environment the other in science. They were still badly paid but enjoy their work

Stoolpigeon21 · 28/10/2021 14:00

@Hairymcfairyyy

Hmm, doesn’t appear to be that advantageous. I’m in education, so it would link to my degree. I had assumed that prospective employers would look favourably when choosing potential candidates at interviews etc and it would equal higher pay.
I work in the private education sector and a Masters seems to be valued - almost all my colleagues have an MA either specific to their subject or in Education. Several colleagues have PhDS. I would not have got my job without an MA (niche specialism).
LadyJaye · 28/10/2021 14:07

Depends on your age, career and status - my undergrad degree and MSc are only very tangentially related to the field I work in now (IT and information systems), but I'm a senior level subject matter expert and have been in work for almost two decades, in my current field for a decade.

If I'm looking at entry-level new hires and their post-graduate degree is either directly related to our industry, then yes; even if not directly related, then I still give kudos for the additional commitment / intellectual rigour required.

For an older person (particularly at a more senior level), doing a Masters that isn't very industry specific would, I fear, be a bit of a waste of time and money (unless you have the time and money to spend on learning for learning's sake, which is, of course, always a good thing, but not guaranteed to translate into employment).

I would generally recommend that anybody over about 30 or so (assuming they've been the work place for ~five-eight years by that stage) looks at professional qualifications, such as project management qualifications or similar, rather than a very academic achievement.

I do, however, work in a commercial environment, so the teaching profession may take a different view on this.

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