As I continue my quest to figure out what’s next for me after graduation and improve my chances of finding work in Singapore, I decided to speak to Joey, my senior from SIM-University of London who recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance. Interestingly, I discovered that she’s come back to SIM to pursue a Master of Science (MSc) programme, instead of joining the workforce. Why didn’t she find a job to kick-start her career right away? Here are three reasons she shares:
- A bigger world of job opportunities
Typically, undergraduate degrees only offer a broad understanding of your chosen field of study. MSc programmes on the other hand dive deeper into topics to hone your skills and knowledge in specific industries. This deepened understanding and expertise naturally makes candidates with master degrees more attractive to employers. For example, graduates with an MSc International Business] will be able to accelerate their careers in banking, international marketing, global HR management and more. - Potentially commanding a higher starting salary
An MSc will enable you to jumpstart your career and apply your learnings immediately in the workplace. In a job interview, this means you can stand out easily from the rest and potentially negotiate for a higher starting salary.According to this article, business graduates rank third on the list of top-paid majors among those graduating with a master’s degree in 2019. They also boast the highest expected salary increase, jumping 10.9 percent to a projected $77,347 this year!
- Meeting like-minded professionals
The numbers say it all. Since 2015, more undergraduates have chosen to better their craft by taking up specialised master’s degree programmes. So when you choose this path, you are likely to be in the company of professionally like-minded individuals who are motivated by the same career objectives and life goals – regardless of any differences in cultural backgrounds.
Besides learning and interacting with other eager young minds, you will also gain real-world insights through a faculty of industry leaders. These could be some of the most valuable connections and meaningful networks you can build now to advance your career in the future.
I have to admit, after speaking with Joey, pursuing a Master degree after graduation is starting to make a lot of sense now. If your interest is also piqued, here’s a good place to start getting ideas on course options.
Till the next post,
Beatrice
