Still on the fence about pursuing a Master’s Degree? We debunk 5 common myths about it below.
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27 Jan 2022
5 Min Read
Ailyn Low (Editor)
Still on the fence about pursuing a Master’s Degree? We debunk 5 common myths about it below.
Whether you’ve recently graduated from your undergraduate degree or have been working in the industry for a long time, pursuing a Master’s Degree is always an option that would help you in your career growth. Despite this, the reality is that many of us reason with ourselves to immediately head into the work-life, giving a multitude of excuses to not venture into the road less taken.
Resonating with the statement above? Check out these 5 common arguments set against pursuing a Master’s Degree and the truth behind them.
If you’re a fresh graduate from your degree, you may be thinking that a Master’s Degree wouldn’t be able to fulfill that one requirement we’d often see in job postings — experience.
While it’s somewhat true that it doesn’t give you immediate experience, a Master’s Degree allows you to gain added experience and specialise in a particular field, whether related to your degree or not, giving you the added edge over others.
It may not give you direct experience, but it helps you to further increase your knowledge, both technical, critical, and creative, useful and needed in the working industry.
On one side of the coin, you’ve fresh grads longing for experience. On the other, you’ve many experienced workers afraid of venturing back into the unknown, scared that it may be too late to start studying again.
However, going back into a Master’s Degree can actually accelerate your career and personal growth.
If you’re looking to climb the ladder in your field, a Master’s Degree, alongside your work experience, equips you to become a thought leader and provides the stepping stones to promotions and pay raises.
While a Master’s Degree in the field you’re currently in helps you to be more up-to-date and master the field you’re in, it can also be useful when considering starting fresh and entering a different field altogether!
There’s no doubt that there’s a mismatch of graduates where many graduates are working below their level of education over the past couple of years.
However, it’s prudent to note that majority of this mismatch is tied to those with a Bachelor’s degree or diploma.
In fact, employers are actually acknowledging the importance of a Master’s Degree when hiring which lowers the chances of an individual suffering from unemployment. Besides, it also reduces the possibility of having a lower monthly income compared to those without a PhD or Master’s degree.
For many, pursuing a Master’s programme is akin to starting a career in academia. While this does act as a stepping stone for those interested in furthering their PhD, having a Master’s Degree doesn’t solely equate to academic life.
In fact, going through a Master’s programme provides a platform for better career opportunities and widen knowledge while keeping up-to-date with new things. Aside from what you’ll be learning, you’ll also be able to network with different like-minded people taking the same course.
You may wonder, “What’s so different about this from degree life?”
While you may have also been able to expand your network in your undergraduate years, undergoing a Master’s programme allows you to connect with others from different fields, levels of experience (which also means you’d get to learn from a lot of real-life experiences), and would have more exposure to industry partners.
Forking out more money immediately after your undergraduate years or even after years of working while having different financial commitments may be a major setback for some. However, the cost now is worth the investment for the future. On average, a Master’s graduate in Malaysia is able to earn about 29% more than someone who holds a Bachelor’s degree.
If you’re feeling the financial pinch, consider taking up a part-time course instead. Unlike a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s Degree is generally more flexible in allowing you to plan your timing around your schedule.
Whether you’re in the consideration stage or in the planning stage, don’t let your excuses and fears prevent you from doing something that can help you advance both in your professional and personal life. And if you still have doubts and questions over deciding this stage in your life, talk to professionals who can help and guide you in making the best decision!
