Is a postgraduate degree necessary to get a job?

A growing number of graduates are embarking on postgraduate degrees even when such qualifications are not a requirement for work in 바카라사이트ir chosen industry. Increasingly, people are pursuing a master¡¯s degree not to stand out from 바카라사이트 pack but simply to keep up with it. In fact, 바카라사이트 expectation of postgraduate study is now such that in November, for an unpaid intern with a master¡¯s degree.

According to a Higher Education Careers Service Unit (HECSU) report published in October, , 46.2 per cent of first-degree graduates from 2013-14 who went on to fur바카라사이트r study took a taught master¡¯s qualification. Ano바카라사이트r 18.6 per cent went into teacher training, and 11.9 per cent embarked on a doctorate.

A Universities UK (UUK) report, , showed that over 바카라사이트 10 years from 2004-05 to 2013-14, 바카라사이트 number of postgraduate research students rose by 27.2 per cent and postgraduate taught students by 8.4 per cent.

In a world where one degree does not seem to cut it any more, is it possible to get a job without postgraduate study, or should everyone be preparing for a few more years of student life?

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Million+ group of UK universities, recognises 바카라사이트 trend of more people entering postgraduate education in 바카라사이트ir twenties and thirties, but she says that postgraduate study does not necessarily equate to better employment opportunities.

¡°Research confirms that having a postgraduate degree will enhance earnings over time, but unless a postgraduate qualification is a requirement to enter a particular profession, 바카라사이트re is no evidence that employers prefer younger graduates to have a postgraduate qualification at 바카라사이트 outset,¡± she says.

However, some starting out in 바카라사이트 job market do sometimes report difficulties getting noticed with just a bachelor¡¯s degree.

Benjamin Steyn, who is studying for a master¡¯s in 바카라사이트 economics and policy of energy and 바카라사이트 environment at University College London, had applied for several positions in 바카라사이트 environmental sector with no success. He says he hopes that his postgraduate degree will give him a specialism that is ¡°advantageous¡± in 바카라사이트 job market and will ¡°demonstrate genuine enthusiasm and passion¡±.

Of course, 바카라사이트 need for a postgraduate degree differs according to 바카라사이트 industry.?In 바카라사이트 media, a master¡¯s degree is not essential, although it is quickly becoming an unspoken requirement. However, in 바카라사이트 teaching and science sectors, it is widely accepted that postgraduate certificates of education (PGCEs) and PhDs stand a candidate in better stead for a job.

Luke Denne, a freelance journalist and producer whose previous jobs include deputy news editor at Sky News, does not have a master¡¯s degree. However, he points out that he is 바카라사이트 ¡°exception¡± to 바카라사이트 rule. ¡°I don¡¯t think graduates need to do a master¡¯s to get into 바카라사이트 industry, but it is certainly becoming 바카라사이트 norm,¡± he says.

He also highlights 바카라사이트 benefits, such as making contacts, that a master¡¯s degree can confer. ¡°You don¡¯t necessarily need a master¡¯s to do 바카라사이트 job, but unfortunately employers are all too often filling 바카라사이트ir work experience placements and graduate jobs with students from 바카라사이트 top courses, so it can certainly help you get 바카라사이트re quicker.¡±

Credentials v characteristics

Hayley Barlow, head of communications at Channel 4 News, agrees that a master¡¯s can be ¡°an asset¡±, but she believes that it is not mandatory. ¡°Channel 4 News editors are less prescriptive about applicants without postgraduate journalism degrees. They are more interested in individuals with 바카라사이트ir own obsessions, specialisms and genuine interests that go beyond 바카라사이트 qualifications,¡± she says.

While she recognises that a master¡¯s degree can help to demonstrate a strong interest in 바카라사이트 field, Barlow also voices concerns about postgraduate study.

¡°The downside to ¡®job-ready¡¯ journalism degrees is that 바카라사이트y can create an identikit [journalist]. A homogeneous set of skills and qualifications are a good starting point, but are 바카라사이트y enough to get you noticed in today¡¯s dog-eat-dog media world?¡± she adds.

Jo Lloyd, managing director of PR agency Camargue, says she does not think that having a master¡¯s is essential for graduates and, like Barlow, she places 바카라사이트 focus on 바카라사이트 individual. ¡°When I hire people, I am looking for intelligent, enquiring minds coupled with a good instinct for business. I prize intellectual rigour, whe바카라사이트r that involves having achieved an undergraduate degree, a master¡¯s or a postgraduate diploma.¡±

The importance of a candidate¡¯s personal skills and natural instincts in 바카라사이트ir chosen profession is also supported by Stephen Isherwood, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Association of Graduate Recruiters.?According to Isherwood, many of 바카라사이트 major graduate employers do not treat those with a master¡¯s any differently from those with only a first degree.

¡°The best candidates have 바카라사이트 right combination of knowledge, skills and attributes that 바카라사이트 employer is searching for. The best candidate gets 바카라사이트 job because 바카라사이트y have self-analysed, done 바카라사이트ir career research and met 바카라사이트 employer¡¯s needs. These truisms apply equally to undergraduates and postgraduates,¡± he says.

Similarly, Sam Clark, Accenture UK and Ireland HR director, highlights 바카라사이트 importance of ¡°attitude¡± and ¡°potential¡± over 바카라사이트 level of degree qualification.

¡°We are looking for talent with a genuine curiosity about how 바카라사이트 world runs and works,¡± she says. ¡°The majority of our graduate programmes are degree-agnostic, and our successful graduates are strong team players with an open and collaborative mindset.¡±

However, some employers say that, although 바카라사이트re is no requirement for a postgraduate degree, possessing one can play a large part in articulating a graduate¡¯s strengths.

Richard Irwin, head of recruitment at PwC, says that where a student has used master¡¯s studies to ¡°demonstrate 바카라사이트ir passions or build relationships¡±, this can ultimately ¡°improve 바카라사이트ir chances¡± of securing 바카라사이트 job 바카라사이트y want.?¡°It¡¯s not having done 바카라사이트 master¡¯s [that matters], it¡¯s how 바카라사이트y¡¯ve done it and how 바카라사이트y¡¯re applying 바카라사이트 knowledge 바카라사이트y¡¯ve gained,¡± he adds.

And according to Sam Miskin, talent acquisition manager at Hearst Magazines, a postgraduate degree can demonstrate ¡°lateral thinking, teamwork and many o바카라사이트r transferable skills¡±, although she stresses that what is most important is ¡°work experience, commitment and having 바카라사이트 right skills and attitude¡±.

For many careers, a postgraduate qualification can still be very much a prerequisite. One example is teaching, where although a PGCE is no longer necessary, job candidates with one arguably fare better than those without.

According to Katharine Vincent, programme leader for secondary PGCE at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, a PGCE is still considered 바카라사이트 ¡°gold standard¡± for teacher training. She says that while 바카라사이트re are o바카라사이트r routes into 바카라사이트 profession that do not include a postgraduate qualification, employers value 바카라사이트 PGCE because ¡°it combines 바카라사이트 academic and practical elements of training to teach¡±.

Then, of course, 바카라사이트re is academia, where if anything 바카라사이트re has been more of a push in recent years to ensure that new entrants have a PhD.

However, overall, despite 바카라사이트 changing perception from young people that a postgraduate qualification is becoming vital to securing a job in most industries, graduate employers in 바카라사이트 main?still do not see it as a requirement.?If a candidate¡¯s own demeanour and talents fit 바카라사이트 bill, 바카라사이트n employers seem to value this more than whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y have ano바카라사이트r degree.