Are you considering returning to college or staying on for a bit longer after completing your bachelor’s degree? If you’re considering earning an advanced degree such as a master’s degree but are unsure whether or not it is the right move for you, then don’t worry – you’re certainly not alone. Everybody has their own reasons for wanting to return to or continue their education, and there are certainly many different reasons as to why you may be contemplating getting your master’s.
We’ve put together some of the best reasons to enroll on a master’s program – if one of your reasons is listed here, then you’re probably a good candidate for furthering your education.
#1. Improve Your Hiring Prospects:
Gaining a master’s qualification from an accredited university or college can do wonders for your career. It can make your resume stand out, improve your chances of being offered a job interview, and provide you with more leverage for negotiating the terms of your employment, such as your salary and benefits.
In addition, masters’ graduates also tend to enter the job market with a greater sense of confidence and additional understanding and mastery of their chosen field. The experience that you will gain when studying for a master’s program, in addition to the enhanced networking opportunities that are often provided to those studying at this level, can make it much easier for you to land the job that you really want.
#2. Facilitate a Career Change:
Have you been feeling like you made the wrong career choices recently? If you’re feeling stuck in a career that you’re no longer interested in or no longer enjoy, then studying for a master’s degree can be a great way to get yourself out of that rut and switch to doing something that you love. Perhaps you are looking for something that’s more challenging than your current role, or something with better growth potential after being stuck with no progression opportunities for some time.
If you’re looking to jump into a new field, then you’re likely going to need different knowledge, skills and experience. Switching careers is easier than ever with online degree programs, like this masters degree in logistics and supply chain management online from Kettering University, which allows you to gain a new qualification while working full time thanks to its flexible, self-led nature.
#3. Move Up the Career Ladder:
Maybe you are already working in the career of your dreams, but feel that you’ve been stuck in the same position for long enough. Your bachelor’s degree may have landed you in a great entry level position, but you may have found that the opportunities for advancement within your company or your chosen career field are limited if you do not have an advanced degree.
Opting to study for a master’s degree in your chosen career field can become a natural career boost, allowing you to be in with a better chance of qualifying for a raise, gain more status by taking on more responsibilities at work, or apply for a promotion within your company.
And thanks to online master’s degree programs, you will not be required to take any time out of work while you study. Your employer may even be willing to fund all or part of your master’s degree if it will be a mutually beneficial move.
#4. Improve Your Job Security:
If you’re working in a career and a position that you enjoy at a company that you love, job security is likely going to be something that’s very important to you. However, a master’s degree qualification can still be extremely beneficial for both yourself and your organization. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, having a master’s or equivalent professional degree can improve job security by substantially improving your standing compared to those with a bachelor’s degree alone.
And in addition to better standing with your current employer, statistics show that master’s degree holders tend to earn an average of $200 more per week, with an 11% greater chance of employment.
#5. Satisfy Your Learning Cravings:
If you’re itching to learn more and feel that you haven’t been in a position to do this for a while, then taking a master’s degree can be one of the best ways to further and update your knowledge. This is especially true if you gained your bachelor’s degree some years ago and work in a field that is constantly changing and evolving such as business, IT, or technology or a combination of all these.
With the speed at which today’s modern technology is moving, it’s unsurprising that some courses of study can easily become outdated and old-fashioned almost overnight. As a result, earning a master’s degree can not only satisfy your need to continue more, but also help you to keep up the pace in your field and gain new, relevant current knowledge and skills.
#6. Contribute to Research in Your Field:
Bear in mind that studying for a master’s degree doesn’t always need to be about improving your current or future career prospects. In fact, if you are passionate about the field that you are in, enrolling on a master’s program can give you a unique opportunity to contribute to relevant research. Through a master’s degree program, your love and passion for your field can give you a real chance to bring new insights to the area and conduct real and meaningful research that may not only be helpful for yourself, but for current and future students and professionals in the industry.
The graduate degree world is abundant with opportunities for exploration and discovery, regardless of the field that you choose to study, and it’s in every way possible to be able to contribute to breakthroughs that make a real, positive difference in the world.
These are just some of the best reasons to take the plunge and enroll on a master’s degree program. But even if none of these reasons sound like you, remember that there are plenty of other benefits you can enjoy from gaining an advanced degree.
