 By Graham Trickey, Editor, Prospects. An increasingly crowded graduate labour market and more and more courses being developed with a vocational slant are prompting postgraduate study despite financial pressures. The number of Masters and PhDs awarded to full-time UK-based students multiplied by two and a half times over the five years to 2001. The pursuit of the more humble diplomas and certificates and study part-time have also expanded but more slowly. These increases come as many postgraduates hope that a further qualification could get them noticed. Careers adviser Elizabeth Wilkinson at Manchester University and UMIST says: ‘For some occupations doing a Masters degree, particularly a vocationally based degree, is becoming almost a prerequisite. For example, if you want to get into human resources you’ve either got to be very lucky and get excellent work experience during your undergraduate degree, get one of the very few graduate HR vacancies or, more likely, go and do a Masters degree in human resource management.’ Non-vocational courses are also important in a few career fields, apart from being rewarding in themselves for sufficiently committed individuals. For instance, a PhD is strongly recommended for anyone wanting a career in pharmaceutical research and is essential for an academic career. In the eyes of employers, relevant further study could prove a candidate’s determination to succeed in a chosen career. Two telling points are that employers have always favoured highly motivated candidates and, in a recent development, are also emphasising the merit of graduates who show their preparedness to undertake future training. Further into working lives, choosing the postgraduate option can also offer career rewards. The many people who come from employment to part-time study with the support of their employers will have made a convincing case to their managers of the advantages. But Elizabeth Wilkinson points out that the benefits of postgraduate study are more doubtful where graduates are using it to avoid decisions. ‘If they want to buy themselves some time to decide what they want to do or to revamp their CV so that they can get the jobs they want, that’s OK. But they’ve got to realise that if they wish to get one of the sought-after graduate trainee jobs, then employers start recruiting for those in October,’ she says. In such cases graduates will have only gained a couple of months rather a whole year. Elizabeth also warns graduates not to assume that employers will necessarily see a higher degree as preferable to a 2:1. It depends on both the employer and the intended career. More definitely, a Masters will not have the effect of turning a 2:2 into a 2:1. If you are thinking about postgraduate study, the general advice is to consider where you want to get to and then, probably with the help of a careers adviser, consider whether a postgraduate qualification will help you arrive there. Double check your decision by asking employers whether they value your planned studies. The expenses associated with postgraduate study are considerable, so going into it for the wrong reasons could be a costly gamble. Fortunately, the converse also applies. Where people have thought carefully before deciding on postgraduate study, they could be making a sound investment for their future. Related topics
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