© Career Development and Employment Service Department of Student Services1 Masters Graduates Making Your Masters Work For You.

© Career Development and Employment Service Department of Student Services2 Objectives By the end of the session, students will:- u be aware of some key labour market information (LMI) regarding Masters graduates u be able to identify some common myths and assumptions regarding career opportunities for Masters graduates u be able to identify points of “added value” from their Masters study and understand how these contribute to their employability skills u be aware of the advice and guidance support available from the University’s Careers service

© Career Development and Employment Service What do Masters graduates do? u Source: What Do Masters Graduates Do?, 2007 ” (latest data available on a national survey of postgraduates six months after completing their courseS u Employed = 69% (63% for 1 st degree graduates) u Believed to be unemployed = 4.2% (6.2% for 1 st degree graduates) u But, the data for Masters graduates includes part timers, many of whom were already in employment and were combining work and study. k Department of Student Services3

© Career Development and Employment Service TYPES OF WORK FOR 2005 MASTERS GRADUATES WORKING IN THE UK u Marketing, sales and advertising professionals 2.7% u Commercial, industrial and public sector managers 22.0% u Science professionals 3.1% u Engineering professionals 3.1% u Health professionals 7.1% u Education professionals 12.5% u Business and finance professionals 9.0% u Information technology professionals 4.3% u Legal professionals 1.2% u Arts, design, culture, media and sports professionals 5.2% u Social and welfare professionals 5.8% u Other professionals 11.9% u Numerical clerks and cashiers 0.9% u Other clerical and secretarial occupations 5.8% u Retail, catering, waiting and bar staff 1.7% u Other occupations 3.6 u Unknown occupations 0.1% Department of Student Services

© Career Development and Employment Service Top ten most popular occupations for 2005 Masters graduates u Secondary school teachers u General managers u Higher education lecturers u General office assistants u Hospital and health service managers u Personnel managers u Primary teachers u Nurses u Further education lecturers u Social workers Department of Student Services5

© Career Development and Employment Service Reasons for studying a Masters degree? u I’m interested in the subject and want to find out more u I want to improve my job prospects u It will improve my salary prospects u It will help me to prepare for job hunting u I don’t know what to do so this will give me more time in which to decide u One of my undergraduate tutors suggested it u I need it for my chosen career u I want to do a PhD afterwards Department of Student Services6

© Career Development and Employment Service Myths – what a Masters won’t necessarily give me u A passport into a job u A higher starting salary u Better earnings potential in the long term u Make me more competitive compared to first degree graduates u Clarity about what career to pursue u Practical job hunting skills Department of Student Services7

© Career Development and Employment Service Employers’ attitudes to recruiting Masters graduates u “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 Department of Student Services8

© Career Development and Employment Service Employers’ attitudes to recruiting Masters graduates u “A period of work experience was more likely to be the major value-adding differentiator [between candidates] from the employer’s perspective”. u “Masters or doctoral candidates may apply, but in most cases, their additional degree does not bestow an automatic advantage”. Source: “The Value of Graduates and Postgraduates”, Council for Industry and Higher Education, November 2009 Department of Student Services9

© Career Development and Employment Service Employers’ attitudes to recruiting Masters graduates u “We found that some graduate recruiters had not thought through the additional capabilities that higher degree candidates could bring to their organisation”. u 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”. Source: “The Value of Graduates and Postgraduates”, Council for Industry and Higher Education, November 2009 Department of Student Services10

© Career Development and Employment Service Added value – what can a Masters degree give me? u Deeper subject knowledge u A professional qualification eg. MSc for Social Work u Deeper research skills and knowledge of research methods u Stronger analytical skills, perhaps combined with advanced IT skills u More developed writing and presentation skills u Project planning (e.g. for your dissertation) u Networking opportunities u More time to develop employability and career planning skills Department of Student Services11

© Career Development and Employment Service Exercise u 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 u 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. Department of Student Services12

© Career Development and Employment Service Department of Student Services13 What are employers looking for in graduates and postgraduates? u Strong communication skills u Interpersonal skills u Networking u Presentation skills u Commercial awareness u Self awareness u Research and writing skills u Time management u Self motivation and self management u Numeracy u Team working u Initiative and taking on early responsibility

© Career Development and Employment Service Employers and Masters graduates u Although it happens occasionally, job vacancies rarely stipulate a requirement for a Masters degree u Masters qualifications are valued but must be combined with employability skills and some understanding of the work environment u Masters graduates are part of the graduate recruitment pool so don’t exclude yourself from it u Employers don’t know everything! You need to tell them how your Masters gives you added value and how that’s relevant to them Department of Student Services14

© Career Development and Employment Service Making your Masters work for you u Realise there is no automatic advantage. You have to work out what “added value” you have to offer and convey that positively to employers u Identify your specialist and transferable skills and support them with evidence u Develop self awareness and know your strengths u Learn how to articulate your skills, strengths and motivation to employers in applications, CVs and interviews Department of Student Services15

© Career Development and Employment Service Making your Masters work for you u Develop networks – lecturers, other students, people at conferences and via professional bodies, on-line forums u Commit to developing your employability and business awareness through work experience, volunteering, internships, industry insights and employer events Department of Student Services16

© Career Development and Employment Service 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: Career Development & Employment Service (CDES) Department of Student Services 17

© Career Development and Employment Service 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: service/home.cfm CDES Contact information: North Campus: 1 st Floor, Tower Building, Tel: City Campus: 8 Goulston Street, Tel: Career Development & Employment Service (CDES) Department of Student Services 18