Should I pursue a postgrad degree or look for a job?
Expert tips for a curious cat…
So you’ve earned your undergraduate degree and now you’ve found yourself stumbling upon some crossroads. Do you continue studying and complete a postgraduate degree, or do you continue exploring career opportunities even though you’re not sure what to do?
Whatever your reasons for uncertainty, it’s important not to rush into a decision.
Now we’ve already covered tips on how to work out if postgraduate study is right for you in one of our earlier posts, this blog is more about how to explore your career options, and make the right plan to support your goals.
We caught up with careers expert, Monira Ahmed, who regularly leads workshops on career planning and applying for further study, where she shared the best steps to work out your next move.
Explore your skills, motivations and values
Research shows that spending time getting to know more about yourself is an essential part of choosing your career path. The clearer you are about who you are makes it easier to work out what you want.
There are lots of methods you can use to do this, such as personality tests and development assessments, or even our ‘Making Career Choices’ course which is packed full of activities and exercises to help you explore your motivations.
Be curious about other sectors and roles
Consider looking at roles that you might not have considered before.
Prospects is a great place to look at job profiles, and you can see whether further study is essential or an advantage for that role. There are also lots of articles over on FindaMasters which discuss whether a postgraduate degree will make you more employable.
Once you’ve done some desk research, it’s time to speak to professionals and hear about their different career journeys and ask valuable questions about postgraduate study. We have plenty of alumni and employer events that provide you with this opportunity.
Gain some commercial awareness
Develop your knowledge on what is happening across various sectors and industries, what makes them tick, how they make a profit and what direction it’s moving. This awareness will help you better understand what areas pique your interest and speak to your values and motivations. You’ll also learn more about the skills employers are after, and whether a postgraduate degree would be an advantage — find out more over on our blog on skills to survive and thrive in a post-covid-19 world.
Create an action plan
By this point, you’ll have a better idea of what industries and sectors interest and motivate you and a better idea of what the roles involve and the route you need to take — so now it’s time to create an action plan. This will help you to keep track of your research, ideas and resource. You can create your own, or try out this really handy e-book from jobs.ac.uk.
Get some experience
If you’re still unsure if postgraduate study is right for you, and the application deadline is looming, why not take some time to try out experiences. Volunteer, get some work experience, apply for a placement or internship — there are lots of ways to gain experience that isn’t full-time or permanent employment.
This is a great way for you to assess what you do and don’t want to do and whether you still want to pursue postgraduate study.
If you’re looking to still secure a place for September 2020, check with the relevant admissions department to see if you can still apply. It’s important not to rush things though — and depending on the type of course, you could start in January. For example, some taught Masters and law conversion courses.
Seek support
You don’t have to figure things out yourself. We’ve got lots of resources and workshops to help you make that decision, but you can also seek out one-to-one support by booking a virtual appointment with one of our careers advisers.
Taking time out to develop relevant experiences before continuing your studies is very common — but whatever you decide, remember that Careers Network are here to support you now, and in the future.
