Masters Graduates Making Your Masters Work For You.

© Career Development and Employment Service

Department of Student Services 1

Masters Graduates Making Your Masters Work For You.



ObjectivesBy the end of the session, students will:- be aware of some key labour market information (LMI)

regarding Masters graduates be able to identify some common myths and assumptions

regarding career opportunities for Masters graduates be able to identify points of “added value” from their Masters

study and understand how these contribute to their employability skills

be aware of the advice and guidance support available from the University’s Careers service


What do Masters graduates do? Source: What Do Masters Graduates Do?, 2007 ” (latest data

available on www.prospects.ac.uk), a national survey of postgraduates six months after completing their courseS

Employed = 69% (63% for 1st degree graduates) Believed to be unemployed = 4.2% (6.2% for 1st degree

graduates)

But, the data for Masters graduates includes part timers, many of whom were already in employment and were combining work and study.

k



TYPES OF WORK FOR 2005 MASTERS GRADUATES WORKING IN THE UK Marketing, sales and advertising

professionals 2.7% Commercial, industrial and

public sector managers 22.0% Science professionals 3.1% Engineering professionals 3.1%

Health professionals 7.1% Education professionals 12.5% Business and finance

professionals 9.0% Information technology

professionals 4.3% Legal professionals 1.2%

Arts, design, culture, media and sports professionals 5.2%

Social and welfare professionals 5.8%

Other professionals 11.9% Numerical clerks and cashiers

0.9% Other clerical and secretarial

occupations 5.8% Retail, catering, waiting and bar

staff 1.7% Other occupations 3.6 Unknown occupations 0.1%

Department of Student Services


Top ten most popular occupations for 2005 Masters graduates

Secondary school teachers General managers Higher education lecturers General office assistants Hospital and health service

managers

Personnel managers Primary teachers Nurses Further education lecturers Social workers



Reasons for studying a Masters degree? I’m interested in the subject and want to find out more I want to improve my job prospects It will improve my salary prospects It will help me to prepare for job hunting I don’t know what to do so this will give me more time in which to

decide One of my undergraduate tutors suggested it I need it for my chosen career I want to do a PhD afterwards



Myths – what a Masters won’t necessarily give me A passport into a job A higher starting salary Better earnings potential in the long term Make me more competitive compared to first

degree graduates Clarity about what career to pursue Practical job hunting skills



Employers’ attitudes to recruiting Masters graduates “Several employers were concerned about a tendency for

first degree graduates to top up their qualification with a Masters because they thought it would help them to get a better job. This was not always a successful strategy, especially where they had a “poor” first degree. ..... We found that employers did not necessarily see it helping them to perform better at assessment centres”.

Source: “The Value of Graduates and Postgraduates”, Council for Industry and Higher Education, November 2009



Employers’ attitudes to recruiting Masters graduates

“A period of work experience was more likely to be the major value-adding differentiator [between candidates] from the employer’s perspective”.

“Masters or doctoral candidates may apply, but in most cases, their additional degree does not bestow an automatic advantage”.




Employers’ attitudes to recruiting Masters graduates

“We found that some graduate recruiters had not thought through the additional capabilities that higher degree candidates could bring to their organisation”.

Where employers have specific needs for certain types of specialist knowledge, “the ability to apply that knowledge in a business context was seen as crucial”.




Added value – what can a Masters degree give me? Deeper subject knowledge A professional qualification eg. MSc for Social Work Deeper research skills and knowledge of research methods Stronger analytical skills, perhaps combined with advanced IT

skills More developed writing and presentation skills Project planning (e.g. for your dissertation) Networking opportunities More time to develop employability and career planning skills



Exercise

Using the added value (AV) suggestions on the previous slide plus any of your own AV ideas, note down evidence for the AV you feel you have gained from your Masters degree so far

For example, if you feel you have developed stronger research skills, your evidence could cite particular types of research methods and why/how you have applied them.




What are employers looking for

in graduates and postgraduates? Strong communication

skills Interpersonal skills Networking Presentation skills Commercial awareness Self awareness

Research and writing skills Time management Self motivation and self

management Numeracy Team working Initiative and taking on

early responsibility


Employers and Masters graduates Although it happens occasionally, job vacancies rarely

stipulate a requirement for a Masters degree Masters qualifications are valued but must be combined with

employability skills and some understanding of the work environment

Masters graduates are part of the graduate recruitment pool so don’t exclude yourself from it

Employers don’t know everything! You need to tell them how your Masters gives you added value and how that’s relevant to them



Making your Masters work for you Realise there is no automatic advantage. You have to work

out what “added value” you have to offer and convey that positively to employers

Identify your specialist and transferable skills and support them with evidence

Develop self awareness and know your strengths Learn how to articulate your skills, strengths and motivation

to employers in applications, CVs and interviews



Making your Masters work for you Develop networks – lecturers, other students, people at

conferences and via professional bodies, on-line forums Commit to developing your employability and business

awareness through work experience, volunteering, internships, industry insights and employer events



This service has a presence at both City and North campuses and offers guidance and support to all students and to graduates for up to 3 years after they leave. This includes:

The opportunity for individual discussion on areas such as career planning and job/work experience search

Workshops on a variety of job search topics

Information on careers events and activities

For more details on the services offered and on how and where to access them please refer to the website:

https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers/

Career Development & Employment Service (CDES)



The University Employment Service provides access to vacancy information for full time and part-time opportunities, vacation work and internships.

For details on how to register go to:

https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers/the-employment-service/home.cfm

CDES Contact information:

North Campus: 1st Floor, Tower Building, Tel: 0207 133 2094

City Campus: 8 Goulston Street, Tel: 0207 320 2380

email: [email protected]

Career Development & Employment Service (CDES)


Masters Graduates Making Your Masters Work For You.

Documents

Transcript of Masters Graduates Making Your Masters Work For You.