In an
increasingly competitive world, a high school
diploma or basic college
diploma will not help much in the area of career advancement. This is why
many college graduates take the next step to pursue a Master’s degree. Getting a
Master’s degree is much tougher than getting a Bachelor’s degree. It’s important
to weigh the decision seriously. If you want to get a Master’s degree, you have
to be prepared to put in long hours of study and sacrifice some of your personal
time, nevertheless, a Master’s degree will certainly expand your career
horizons.
For some professionals like doctors, college professors, or judges, a
graduate degree and even a doctorate degree is a requirement before they can be
considered for employment. It’s not practical to just enroll in a Master’s
program until you have a clear understanding of your career goals, a Master’s
degree can prove to be limiting in the future. In this case, it’s better to put
off your graduate studies until you are absolutely sure a Master’s will help to
advance your career, or you will just be wasting time and money.
Statistics show that Master’s diploma holders enjoy higher incomes than
college grads. A long time ago, high school diploma holders made up the top 5%
of the American labor force. This was in the 19th century. Today,
high school diplomas are virtually worthless as more and more people graduate
from college. The U.S. Census Bureau of 1998 shows Bachelor’s degree holders
earned an average of $40,000 a year, while those with Master’s degrees earned
$11,000 more. Doctorate-degree holders earned the most, with an average salary
of $77,000 every year. The higher salaries enjoyed by those who have taken up
further education is one of the top reasons why more and more people are trying
to get a Master’s degree.
Many obtain their Master’s degree to stay ahead in their field. Although not
many firms require their workers to hold a graduate degree, they most certainly
prefer applicants who have advanced technical knowledge and skills. In short, a
Master’s degree will make you more marketable for career advancement. If you
want to get a Master’s degree for job advancement, you have made a wise
decision.
In the case where you are opting for a career change, a Master’s degree can
be very helpful, especially if you lack education and training in the specific
profession you are looking to move into. Getting a Master’s degree in the new
field makes good sense as you will be arming yourself with the advanced
technical knowledge needed to start up a new career.