On the Scholar's path

by PostGraduan

A basic tertiary qualification used to be more than enough to secure a good job. But with first degree holders now being a dime a dozen, many graduates are looking to enhance their employability and career prospects with post-graduate qualifications.

The big question is: when should you do it? Is it better to keep up the academic pace and pursue a Master’s degree immediately after a first degree? Or would some time in the ‘real world’ put you in a better position to fully appreciate the rigours of further education? Listen to what those who have gone ahead have to say.

The Post-university Camp Adele Lim, 29, Marketing Manager

What is your first degree and your post-graduate qualification?

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Genetics from the University of Nottingham in the UK . Right after graduation, I pursued a Master of Commerce at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

What prompted you to further your studies before getting work experience?

I felt I wasn’t ready to venture into the corporate world. I wanted to keep my options open – and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do! So to gain more relevant skills and knowledge, I decided to pursue a Masters programme.

As you can tell, my undergraduate and post-graduate degrees are in completely different fields! I felt it was important to gain more relevant knowledge to be accepted for a job, as employers a few years ago placed much importance in matching the degree to the job.

How would you describe your postgraduate study experience?

All my research presentations and participation in conferences enhanced my verbal and interpersonal skills. I’ve become used to writing research proposals, theses and manuscripts. Overall, it was a good experience.

What advice would you give to fresh graduates who are thinking of pursuing a post-graduate degree?

Do it only if you intend to work overseas. In Malaysia, employers still place more importance on work experience than on a post-graduate degree, so I don’t think it makes a difference in employability in the local job market.

Did your post-graduate degree give you any advantages in securing a job?

Yes, but just a little because my degree was in a science subject and the job I initially wanted was a consulting role. So, my Masters helped in that sense.

What advice do you have for someone thinking of pursuing post-graduate studies?

Be ready and committed. Speak to seniors who are pursuing such studies. They will be able to give you a thorough insight into particular courses as every course differs from one college or university to another.

Rezal Seth Saaid, 28, Actuarial Analyst

What is your first degree and your post-graduate qualification?

My degree is a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. I did a Master of Science in Actuarial Science from the same university.

What prompted you to further your studies before getting work experience?

I didn’t feel qualified enough to join the work-force yet. Also, I had a very keen interest to pursue my area of study in a more in-depth manner.

I believe it was a beneficial move as having a post-graduate degree does give you a slight competitive advantage in the job market.

Furthermore, I can now gain some exemptions in professional exams later on.

How would you describe your postgraduate study experience?

Excellent! I was fortunate to have gone to a good university, and had wonderful lecturers and classmates. That really makes all the difference in shaping one’s experience when studying overseas. Also, there wasn’t much adjustment to be made as I was continuing on from my undergraduate studies.

Not only did I gain more knowledge, it provided me with professional credibility, specialist experience and a wide range of skills. On top of that, I established close ties with students from all around the world, which gave me a clearer view of different cultures and countries.

What advice would you give to fresh graduates who are thinking of pursuing a post-graduate degree?

In my field, if you are planning on becoming a fully-qualified actuary, a Master of Science will help a great deal with the exams and practical training. I would say that if you have a passion for a particular field of study and if you have the opportunity, then seize it! You may not get the chance again.

Did your post-graduate degree give you any advantage in securing a job?

In my case, there are not many similar Master of Science graduates, so it did work in my favour. It also made the transition from studying to working much easier as I could apply what I studied to my job.

The Post-work Experience Camp Debb ie Ong, 25, Inventory & Product Developm ent Executive

What is your first degree and your post-graduate qualification?

I have a Higher Diploma in Advertising & Marketing from Institute Advertising Communication Training (IACT ) and I furthered my studies in the same area.

What prompted you to further your studies after joining the workforce?

Doing post-graduate studies was pre-planned from the start. The whole idea was to work for two years, gain working experience and earn enough to further my studies. Initially, I was not sure if I wanted to give up my job to study again, but after long consideration, I knew post-graduate studies would challenge me and, at the same time, be an enjoyable learning experience.

It was hard to quit my job and give up the pace I had already built in my career. But on the other hand, filling the gaps in my business knowledge was definitely useful in terms of my career. On top of that, I gained indepth knowledge and skills to prepare for personal and professional success.

Was it hard re-adjusting to student life?

I wouldn’t say hard, but it was different in the sense that most of the students were younger. Because of the age gap, we did have different view-points. In comparison, it was easier to bond with peers during my college days, so team-work then was better.

Did you see a substantial difference in working life after getting your post-graduate qualification?

Yes. It has changed my mindset and how I evaluate certain things. I feel more confident and prepared to take on challenges. I am able to tackle reallife issues with the help of case studies from my post-graduate course.

Does your post-graduate degree offer any career advantages?

I found that doing a post-graduate degree helped me to learn and grow by taking on challenges. The course covered areas such as strategic thinking, marketing decisions, and evaluation and implementing business strategies. These skills have given me confidence in dealing with an ever-changing business world.

Having team assignments helped me generate ideas, which projected my own working experience. I felt this was tremendously beneficial.

Ashley Lim, 29, Risk Analyst

What is your first degree and your post-graduate qualification?

I graduated with a Bachelor in Industrial Economics from the University of Nottingham, UK . After working for eight months at an equity research firm, I decided to pursue a Master in Finance at the University of New South Wales, Sydney.

What prompted you to further your studies after joining the work-force?

I was already working when a friend suggested the Masters degree, so it was totally unplanned. I gave it much thought, but ultimately the push factor was a desire to fulfil personal goals and expand my horizon. Also, I’ve always had a keen interest in analytical subjects.

Was it hard re-adjusting to student life?

No, it wasn’t hard, but a luxury! I counted it a blessing to be able to go back to studying. But I must admit I didn’t realise I had to study eight hours a day, Monday to Sunday!

In comparison to undergraduate studies, a post-graduate degree requires longer hours, greater effort and responsibility and more KP I (key performance indicators) to fulfil. But overall, the experience was as expected. This was probably because I had the opportunity to speak to many people, some whom had already completed their postgraduate degrees. Listening to their experiences helped pave the way for me.

Did you see a substantial difference in your working life after getting your post-graduate qualification?

Not really. Malaysia isn’t exactly a hub of fast-paced change and dynamism. But having said that, it’s always an advantage to have a greater level of technical skills and field expertise as it can bolster your company’s growth and competitiveness.

Does your post-graduate degree offer any career advantages?

Yes. In general, no one will bother spending that much money and give up two years of their lives unless it’s a matter of pursuing an interest or investing in better dollar-earning potential.

Apart from portable skills, the experience has made me more confident about the future. It has broadened my horizons in areas such as maturity, capacity to argue a point and time management, among others.