Flickr user Nathan Dunn
Every undergrad student faces this dilemma after they graduate—should they start job hunting right away so they can start earning and pay off their debt, or should they go to grad school?
There’s an ongoing debate: going to grad school means taking on more debt, but advanced degrees will help you earn substantially more money than a Bachelor’s degree. So is it worth it?
If you want to differentiate yourself from your peers in today’s job market, as well as polish and expand upon existing work skills, then you need to at least look into graduate school and get an advanced degree.
Take a look at some of the many benefits of obtaining a master’s degree.
Develop Critical Transferable Skills
In grad school, you will develop and master critical transferable skills that will give you the edge at any job interview. These skills include:
- Interpersonal Skills – The ability to interact and work with colleagues from varied backgrounds is crucial to succeeding in any workplace.
- Communication Skills — Effective communication skills can take you places in the workplace. Good communicators find it easier to work as part of a team, to delegate assignments, to deal with customers, and also to ask for a raise.
- Organizational Skills – Organizational skills spill over in almost all areas, from time management and event planning, to project management and multi-tasking. The better your organizational skills, the more efficient you will be at completing tasks on time.
- Analytical Skills –Developing analytical skills involves gathering and analyzing data, which enables you to identify unique solutions to complex problems.
Higher Earning Potential
There’s no question about it. Employees with a graduate degree start off at a higher salary as compared to their undergraduate colleagues. Employers understand that applicants who have been to grad school have gained advanced knowledge in the field. In addition, they also have the transferable skills that undergrad applicants lack. Both of these factors make graduate students valuable assets to any company, which translates to a higher salary. This is incentive enough to go to grad school.
Accelerated Career Growth
An advanced degree acts as a launch-pad for moving into more senior roles, including leadership and management.
Moreover, in some businesses, medical and technology sector job, an advanced degree is a prerequisite to being hired.
Enhanced Connections and Life-Long Learning
Many industries now encourage their employees to engage in life-long learning and make meaningful personal connections. Grad school allows you to do both simultaneously. Professors are leaders in their field, and many of your classmates may one day be your workmates. Grad school allows you to network lifelong connections with others while allowing you to enhance and hone pre-existing workplace skills.
In today’s increasingly competitive job market, getting a graduate degree will put you way ahead of the competition. You may add to your overall debt by going to grad school. But, with a higher earning potential you will also be able to clear all your loans faster.
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