Value of a Masters Degree...

[canny]

This is sort of a rant but more of just a frustration vent. I find my self in the process possibly changing careers. Currently I am in sales but I have my BS and MS in Forestry/Wildlife Management. I have applied for close to 25 positions with many of them entry level with only a Bachelors degree required. I have yet to even receive a phone call for any of these. I am beginning to wonder if the extra time and money spent for the Masters Degree was simply money and time down the drain and I would have been better off just getting a grunt type job out of college and going for the experience. I know, hind sights 20/20.

I realize how fortunate I am currently to even have job and I don't want this to come off sounding as whining. I know that having a Masters degree does not guarantee me employment, I would however hope it would increase my relevance in the application process.

Oh well, off to the next position...

[Bowhuntamistad]

Just depends on the field the Masters is in. Teaching, nursing, homeland sec, etc really pay off. I'm currently working on my B. Of Nursing but already planning my Masters.

On a side rant and nothing against/towards you, but I can't stand it when I hear people with non-essential degrees complain about not being able to find a job. I mean really, what did you expect as a history, math, lit, sci, etc major??? As an employer, a history Degree or most any doesn't mean squat to me without real world experience to back up your theory.

[Bowhuntamistad]

But I must state the obvious, any education is better than no education.

[nursejenn]

This is sort of a rant but more of just a frustration vent. I find my self in the process possibly changing careers. Currently I am in sales but I have my BS and MS in Forestry/Wildlife Management. I have applied for close to 25 positions with many of them entry level with only a Bachelors degree required. I have yet to even receive a phone call for any of these. I am beginning to wonder if the extra time and money spent for the Masters Degree was simply money and time down the drain and I would have been better off just getting a grunt type job out of college and going for the experience. I know, hind sights 20/20.

I realize how fortunate I am currently to even have job and I don't want this to come off sounding as whining. I know that having a Masters degree does not guarantee me employment, I would however hope it would increase my relevance in the application process.

Oh well, off to the next position...

I feel your pain! I have a Bachelor's in Business Administration, M.S. in Management. Then back to nursing school because I wasn't able to find a job using that master's degree and I actually got passed over for supervisor positions when I was with CPS for people with more experience...

[Landrover]

U have to package yourself to be desirable! Sounds weird huh.........but I have spent my time recruiting for 2 extremely large and well known global companies. your degree areas are far from my major concern, it is your ability to show competence & fit. Remember, in the new millennium most larger(er) companies have every resume/application pre-screened by a computer. If you cant get pass that phase you are toast. We would get 10,000 applications per MONTH and only 20-30 would be invited to the live interviews held around the country a few times per year. With all that said, spend $20 and purchase the book, "Knock'em Dead 2014'"..........it is worth its weight in gold in getting you the job, career or at least the live interview you are chasing!

[canny]

Just depends on the field the Masters is in. Teaching, nursing, homeland sec, etc really pay off.

On a side rant and nothing against you, but I can't stand it when I hear people with non-essential degrees complain about not being able to find a job. I mean really, what did you expect as a history, math, lit, sci, etc major??? As an employer, a history Degree or most any doesn't mean squat to me without real world experience to back up your theory.

Are you an employer in a field that would cater to more specific degrees such as History? If not then I can understand why it wouldn't mean squat. My original field of study is Forestry/Wildlife Management and the employment positions I am applying for are Forestry and or Wildlife Management positions, wouldn't that make my degree and essential degree for that field.

I understand your point as the degree I have not is not essential to my current employment field. However, I do not see the validity in you making such statement.

[Dakota7493]

Masters in teaching does not pay off. It's like maybe a grand more a year. The only thing it is good for in education is if you desire to go into administration where it's required.

[Cajun Blake]

IMO, education is very important but in the real world, it's all about WHO YOU KNOW and being in the right place at the right time !!

I too have a MS degree , along with 20 yrs experience in my field. I have peaked with my income unless I start my own company.

the ebb and flow of the labor market is forever changing, always cyclical. No one can predict the future much less how your career will be effected.

quick story ..... Some good friends of mine graduated from LSU in 1992 : he in Petroleum Engineering , her in Business/Chemistry double major. She got job right out of college pimping Pharmaceuticals making serious bank. He put out tons of apps and was reluctant to get an entry level position with Texaco. She was the bread winner for close to a decade.

Fast fwd. 20+ yrs. , the Pharma industry went to he77 in a hand-basket as she was let go. He is a PE consultant for Chevron and has the financial means to retire in another ten yrs barring some kind of crash in the oil industry. Those who have changed careers or been let go do to the economy can relate to this story. At times I wish I would have changed careers , but am thankful I have a job today, and can feed my family.

moral of the story .... you just never know what plan God has for you. Work hard, be honest, and hopefully you'll be recognized and rewarded for your diligence.

[Bluesman]

The "grunt" with experience in the field, and an education in the field, will get you an interview with me every time. The exception would be someone applying for an engineering job and waving a anthropology degree around like the planet owed them something.

[Mike D]

I feel your pain! I have a Bachelor's in Business Administration, M.S. in Management. Then back to nursing school because I wasn't able to find a job using that master's degree and I actually got passed over for supervisor positions when I was with CPS for people with more experience...

Ugh! My daughter did just the opposite of you recently. She has been working towards nursing school for a couple of years. She gets accepted to a nursing degree program and decides to change her mind, to a business degree. SMH.

[canny]

Yeah I completely agree with the experience. I made the decision at the time based on low employment opportunities in my field to continue with my education with the hope that it would allow me to be more competitive against those with little to no experience. Its pretty difficult to gain experience in a saturated market of recent college graduates.

[flywise]

I believe a degree of any kind is only worth as much as the available positions.
Meaning, there are degree plans out there with as few as a
Few hundred jobs or less available nation wide.
Get a masters in a career field where there are no jobs available then sure it is a waste of money. Get one in a career field where thousands are available then worth every penny

[Tx_Wader]

My son got his BBA then stayed at college and got his MBA. He is on his second job since grad school and was hired because he had his MBA.

He's doing very well.

[nursejenn]

Ugh! My daughter did just the opposite of you recently. She has been working towards nursing school for a couple of years. She gets accepted to a nursing degree program and decides to change her mind, to a business degree. SMH.

Well, ACTUALLY, that is exactly what I did when I was 21... I was into a nursing program, etc when I was 21 and then decided to go paralegal and business. I completely regret that decision since I've come full circle and I'm back to nursing...

[TradHunter]

It is a trend, education becomes important then less important, and then back to important. I have noticed we are in a experience trumps education trend. That's why a lot of professors are really emphasizing getting your name out there, volunteering, get involved with organizations (Wildlife Society), and do some internships. This is why we have a high unemployment rate but it is coming back down. Many young kids that graduate from college think they are not worth a $15/ hour job bc they have a degree and then complain they can't get a job, not saying this is you, just an observation. All I can say is get out more in the area you want, there are tons of internships at the federal level, and network, network, and network...