Masters Degrees - Are they worth it?

[Gman]

I did an Msc for my computing degree managed to get a distinction but in the short term I'd say what I learnt compaired to my Bsc degree was minimal to be honest. In fact some areas I did more in-depth in my bse compared to my Msc.

Long term, who knows but when going for interviews it DOES get you noticed more in terms of actually getting through to the interview stage.

 

[manic_man]

But if I start in a job a year before him, I'm more likely to get promoted first from the bottom level you start at to a manager. Then I'd always be one promotion ahead.

The point is there may come a time where suddenly your lack of qualifications will mean you can no longer be promoted any higher (the police force is a good example of this, the majority of those at the top will have an MSc minimum, a lot have PhD's)

At this point, the person who took the time to do the MSc will go sailing past you on the "climbing ladder of life"

Oh how I do love the corporate ladder, its really great its all we aim for in life isnt it? (soapbox)

 

[[TW]Fox]

But if I start in a job a year before him, I'm more likely to get promoted first from the bottom level you start at to a manager. Then I'd always be one promotion ahead.

20-25 years into your career it doesn't work like that.

 

[daven1986]

How many employers are going to be interested in a masters degree in a subject like computing when it's 25 years out of date, none of the languages are used anymore, and has very little information relevant in todays world?

languages are not the issue - if you can learn one you can learn them all. it is instead the principles of good programming, optimising your programs, all the behind the scenes stuff that you don't learn just by reading a book about java and learning it.

 

[MickeyFinns]

standard computing masters, haven't chosen to specialise in anything - like to keep my options open

[on topic]
the reason i am doing the masters course is because they give us 6 months in industry, this means that hopefully before i graduate i will have a permanent job offer.

I was wondering how the placement is done in our department like how does they help out as opposed to you getting your own internship?

 

[cleanbluesky]

20-25 years into your career it doesn't work like that.

We're lucky to have you here to dispense career guidance learned from your 20-25 years on the job...

 

[daven1986]

I was wondering how the placement is done in our department like how does they help out as opposed to you getting your own internship?

they dont really. you have to apply yourself etc. the only time they help is when you are getting close to the deadline and you haven't got a placement yet. as long as you are a decent student and good in interviews you will easily get a placement.

i think they also get in contact with the placement organiser to get things sorted for you. but they dont help at all really!!

 

[craptakular]

TO THE OP

I did Environmental Earth Science and graduated from University of East Anglia in 2004 with a 2:2.

I now work for the Environment Agency in water resources planning. I know of PHD people that have jobs in the same office on the same money as me!! which i find really funny as they spent 3-5 yrs extra at uni for nothing (and shed loads more money).

Having said that I am considering doing a masters in 08/09, but it will be in a slightly diff field, either Engineering Geology or something with the oil industry in mind. I have realised there is zero money to be made in the enviroment game.

Think long and hard before deciding to do a masters, research the types of job u wanna do and see if they require a masters. I would say anything to do with environmental planning, conservation, etc etc does not need a masters. Oil/gas/mining industry it woud be to your advantage.

Thats my experience anyway.

 

[Alex_6n2]

A couple of the management consultancy jobs I've been looking at REQUIRE masters... so...

 

[[TW]Fox]

We're lucky to have you here to dispense career guidance learned from your 20-25 years on the job...

So you are saying that a single years experience is more important than a masters if you've got a 20-30 year career behind you and are going for a senior level position?

 

[hittman]

I don't think they're worth it, personally. They're just too expensive and most grad jobs are available with a simple bacherlors - it's rare that you'll require a masters. Many companies will pay for you to do one if they feel it's necessary as well. The only reason I can see to do one is if you get a 2.2. I've got friends who went to Exeter, Bath and Birmingham and ended up with 2.2s and did masters and they're all struggling to find employment. Personally, I'd rather spend the year travelling, doing an internship and earning some money.

I am in the same sitution as your friends. Finding it difficult to apply for the decent grad jobs, as they ask for min 2.1. Although I got a masters, gradaute employers do not ask for a masters as a minimum requirment unless it's a specialised field. In that case, a masters is necessary.

I wished I worked a little harder towards my degree as I just missed out on a 2.1. Although my masters will no doubt be useful in the future for long-term promotions etc, in the short term, you be will treated like any other graduate. The reason I choose to do a masters was because of the fact I thought my degree grade was not good enough and wanted to differentiate myself from all the other people who have degrees, which I find does not always work but I am glad I did it and worth the long-term investment.

hope that helps anyone considering deciding whether to do one.

 

[Kmodo]

So you are saying that a single years experience is more important than a masters if you've got a 20-30 year career behind you and are going for a senior level position?

LOL @ FOX

If in this hypothetical world where for those 24 years both held the exactly the same positions, in the same companies, doing identical work ... then yeah I guess you are right

I think it is obvious it was what you done in those 24 years that counts

 

[Psyk]

How many employers are going to be interested in a masters degree in a subject like computing when it's 25 years out of date, none of the languages are used anymore, and has very little information relevant in todays world?

There's a lot of stuff in the fields of computing/computer science that won't go out of date any time soon. I'm pretty sure most of the theoretical concepts will still be relevent in 25 years time, even though different languages will be used. Sure they'll change a bit, but it will be mostly ideas built on top of current ones.

 

[[TW]Fox]

LOL @ FOX

If in this hypothetical world where for those 24 years both held the exactly the same positions, in the same companies, doing identical work ... then yeah I guess you are right

I think it is obvious it was what you done in those 24 years that counts

Exactly - so a Masters could come in useful whereas that extra year working at the beginning of your career is less likely to make a difference

 

[cleanbluesky]

So you are saying that a single years experience is more important than a masters if you've got a 20-30 year career behind you and are going for a senior level position?

Where can either of us draw our conclusions from, given that neither of us are 20-25 years into our careers?

I've not met many company heads, either private or public sector. I did meet a deputy MD and I don't think it was his qualifications or experience that got him there, it was a combination of the fact that he was obsessive about his job and that he was in the right time at the right place.

My advice to anyone reading this thread is to stop thinking "what will make me more attractive to employers" because if you don't already think you're valuable then why would they recognise you as such. If you're trying hard to please them, they wont ever need a reason to give you anything you want.

If you want to do a masters because you'd enjoy it, then do it because of that - regardless of how you think it would look to other people or whether it would make employers like you.

 

[Haircut]

So you are saying that a single years experience is more important than a masters if you've got a 20-30 year career behind you and are going for a senior level position?

The difference between one extra year or experience will likely make no odds when you're at that level, but to be honest the fact that you have a masters won't make an awful lot of difference either.

Far more important will be the things you have actually done during your time working, how you come across in an interview and the networks you have built up during your career.

Certainly the companies I've worked at wouldn't favour someone with a masters, even for very senior positions.
There will always be differentiators that will come ahead of that criterion.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Where can either of us draw our conclusions from, given that neither of us are 20-25 years into our careers?.

Have a look at the qualifications held by board members of very large companies

If you want to do a masters because you'd enjoy it, then do it because of that - regardless of how you think it would look to other people or whether it would make employers like you.

Very good advice.

 

[Haircut]

Have a look at the qualifications held by board members of very large companies

I'd be willing to be that many board members with lots of letters after their names have done things like MBAs during their careers.

 

[Nullvoid]

Hey guys ive been trying to weigh up whether or not to do a masters degree in my current field. Im currently doing Human Geography at Leeds. The one question I've been asking myself over the last few weeks is "is a masters degree worth it?" Ive been told to speak to others regarding the matter but its actually harder than you think finding someone who has one. So from anyone on this board who has one, who knows more than I do, are they worth it and what are their main advantages?

Have you yet decided which field you want to work in?

 

[cleanbluesky]

Have a look at the qualifications held by board members of very large companies

http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/ourcompany/board.html

I checked through the first half and only one seems to have even a degree, or else the rest have chosen not to disclose their education in their bio. Even if they did, there would be no guaruntee that a masters was decisive in getting them there, I think it is also the policy of companies to encourage study of people who are already in senior management positions.

Not that I'd particularly want to be any of that lot.