Why are you doing a masters?

Is it because you didn't get an internship?
Or you are from abroad and want to get a masters in the uk?
Or were you accepted into a non IB job and wanted to have another chance at it?
Or did you not get a grad job after you graduated?

What ever the reason why did you choose to invest such a large amount o money into a masters?

What are you trying to get out of it in terms Of job prospects?

Reply 1

runlolarun

Cos it beats working for a living :smile:

Reply 2

*Rouge*

Honestly, I have no idea. I've applied and just got the offers I wanted but I think I'm just doing it to buy some time until I decide what I want because I'm scared of being another unemployed graduate. I haven't accepted any places yet and I'm really in two minds as to whether I should. I chose the subject on the basis of what I'd enjoy but I don't know if it's worth anything. My other option is to go abroad and volunteer in various places for a year in the hopes of gaining some life experience but I don't know how realistic this option is either. In terms of employability, I think everybody has an undergraduate degree these days so maybe a master's will give some kind of edge? I'm so confused!! :confused:

Reply 3

Econla

I enjoy studying and challenging myself, need advanced tools beyond the undergraduate and want to live abroad at least for a year.

Reply 4

dgeorge

I want to make more money, which is more likely since i've done a masters in a specialised field

Reply 5

_Student_

So my list of networks on facebook looks cooler :P

Reply 6

sj27

Original post by non

Interesting that none of your options encompass a genuine interest in the field/desire to learn more about it at an advanced level...

Reply 7

non

Original post by sj27

Interesting that none of your options encompass a genuine interest in the field/desire to learn more about it at an advanced level...

i said a few examples for why someone might do a masters and i expected most of the reasons would be to do with job prospects as this is the finance sub group of the post grad forum.

Reply 8

sj27

Original post by non

i said a few examples for why someone might do a masters and i expected most of the reasons would be to do with job prospects as this is the finance sub group of the post grad forum.

You make it sound like people will just slog through something they have no interest in in the hopes of improving job prospects...which I'm sure some people do, but that's pretty sad. (Personally, I find both economics and finance fascinating and challenging subject areas, and that's why I did my MSc in the field....)

Reply 9

non

Original post by sj27

i know i generalising but i'm guessing that most people doing finance masters are doing them because they didn't a job straight of uni in their preferred field. of course they have an interest in the subject but you sound like you are doing it for a different reason. did you get a job straight out uni in your preferred field and you turned it down for a masters?

Reply 10

_Student_

Original post by non

did you get a job straight out uni in your preferred field and you turned it down for a masters?

I had a job offer from the derivatives firm I worked for last summer but wanted to advance my understanding, gain an advanced qualification and have a top tier university attached to my name.

Reply 11

sj27

Original post by non

Hm, my case is slightly more complicated. Yes I did initially get a job in my preferred field and I would have resigned it for a masters if I could have funded what I was then accepted to (accepted about 6 months after starting work) but I couldn't fund the MPhil, so stayed working. I then did my MSc part time a few years later. Not at all necessary for the job/career path by that stage - purely out of interest/wanting to.

Reply 12

bobcr

Original post by non

Good point, people tend to do it mostly to enhance their chances to get a better job post graduation which is a fair and valid reason. In my case I'm doing it out of pure interest on the subject with hopes of maybe completing a PhD somewhere down the line. I didn't go down the route of MPhil or MRes because I am still unsure whether that is the career path that is right for me so the MSc keeps doors open to both the "City" and PhD.

Reply 13

Hanshen

Perceived positional advantage in the job market is my motivation for undertaking postgraduate study.

Reply 14

non

Original post by bobcr

Why does MPhil close more doors than msc?

Reply 15

bobcr

It doesn't necessarily close more doors but personally I feel that a MSc exposes the student to more "real life" applications of concepts, while the MPhil is more about developing the concept. Both are excellent choices but it comes down to your career plans.

I'm pretty sure that a MPhil will get you noticed by recruiters just as an MSc, remember that the degree is only a tiny part of the whole recruitment process.