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1. Expand your career opportunities
Perhaps the most obvious reason why a masters degree can benefit your career is the fact that it can greatly expand your career opportunities. While having just a bachelors degree will allow you to apply for a number of roles, it will limit you when it comes to applying for roles where a masters degree is a requirement, especially senior-level roles.
Postgraduates are more likely to be employed in senior-level roles than those who don’t have a masters degree. According to the UK government’s Graduate Labour Market Statistics 2018, 76.5% of postgraduates in the UK were employed in high-skilled roles, such as managers, directors and senior officials. This rate was significantly higher than graduates (65.4%) and non-graduates (22.9%) who were employed in high-skilled roles. By gaining a masters degree, you’re opening yourself up to a wealth of senior-level opportunities that you would otherwise be unable to apply for.
2. Boost your income and financial security
The rationale here is simple – the more senior your role, the more money you’ll make. And, the more money you make, the more financially secure you’ll be. The Graduate Labour Market Statistics 2018 reported postgraduates earned a median annual salary of £40,000 – compared to the median graduate and non-graduate annual salaries of £34,000 and £24,000 respectively. So, while gaining a masters degree is a financial investment on your part, the extra income you’ll earn as a result can far outweigh your initial investment. Not only can it set you up for a comfortable financial situation in the years ahead, it can also give you the safety net you need when you’re looking to change jobs and need a buffer while you take the time to find the right role.
3. Expand your knowledge, skills and expertise
Furthering your studies to postgraduate level lets you delve deeper into your area of interest. A masters degree will teach you the advanced knowledge and skills you need to become a subject matter expert in your chosen field. As an expert in your field, you’ll be able to establish yourself as a trusted authority in your field among peers in the industry as well as employers. This will help you to not only become a valuable part of a global industry network, but also to gain the leverage you need to be in-demand with recruiters, headhunters and leading organisations in your field.
4. Take on more challenges
Being stuck in a rut when it comes to new challenges at work can take a toll on both your career development and your sense of job satisfaction. The advanced knowledge and skills you gain from getting a masters degree will help you take on more exciting challenges in your career. Not only will this help to boost your job satisfaction, but it will also ensure you keep challenging yourself professionally and developing yourself even further in your career.
5. Stand out from the crowd
It’s no secret that today’s job market is a highly-competitive one. With more and more graduates entering the job market each year, a bachelors degree is often not enough when it comes to securing your dream job. According to The Guardian, the number of people in England studying postgraduate programmes rose by more than 16,000 to 90,600 in 2016/17, with figures expected to rise even further. “With almost half of all young people in England obtaining undergraduate qualifications, many are turning to postgraduate degrees to set themselves apart in a very competitive climate,” said Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute in the UK, Nick Hillman.
If you want to gain a competitive edge in today’s job market, having a masters degree to add to your CV will give you the advantage you need to stand out from the crowd.
If you want to stand out from the crowd with a masters degree from a TEF gold-standard university, Falmouth Flexible has a range of flexible online courses that can help to boost your career opportunities.
