The thought of going back to school to pursue a Master’s Degree might have crossed your mind, especially if you have been feeling a little underwhelmed with your current job. Let’s face it: more than the desire to learn and to increase our knowledge on the industry, getting an advanced degree increases your attractiveness against anyone else in your field.
Delayed gratification comes to mind. Think of a Master’s Degree not as an instant pay raise, but instead as an investment for yourself. Some might argue that even a bachelor’s degree will not be necessary to acquire financial security. Hold on and get realistic. Experts have confirmed that while getting an undergraduate diploma does not equate to job security, getting another degree in grad school is worth it. Here are a few reasons why.
Proof Of Progress
Whether you are a twenty-something fresh-out-of-college job seeker or a tenured office worker, chances are you have been wondering what it is you are actually eyeing. A graduate degree is concrete proof that you are progressing at something, no matter how vague that something may be.
For working professionals who are suffering from that inevitable crisis of not knowing where to go next, consulting associate Bahvin Parikh recommends the following: devising a short-term plan and networking with members of the university or college. Firstly, looking at the very near future allows you to see a clearer picture of what exactly you need to achieve. Secondly, talking to students and members of the faculty in universities will provide you precious information on life as a graduate student and transitioning from work to school.
New Opened Doors
Getting an MBA will definitely move your career in the corporate industry, but did you know that if you possess such merit, a career as a chief of police is not that far fetched? How2Become mentioned that business schools are a good starting point for those looking into a career in police service as they possess the same qualities, skills, and psychological training.
This example is only one among many new trails to blaze after you’ve gotten your license – a Master’s Degree. This might also be the reason why more and more young workers feel the need to go back to school after feeling pigeonholed into a low tier job with average pay. Being a part of an exclusive community of graduate degree holders exposes you to many different options through networking.
Increased Market Value
The United States Census Bureau reported in 2000 that grad degree holders within the ages 21 to 64 earn an average of $55,242 annually compared to regular degree holders only registering $42,877 per year.
Many companies - including the Forbes 500 - are replacing their minimum requirements of bachelor’s degrees to Master’s Degrees, which is all because of an increased market value driven by a better branding. There is a perception of credibility, intelligence and persistence that comes with another degree in higher education.
Among many other things, the sense of accomplishment and finishing what you have started is all worth the effort. Are you thinking of getting an MA soon? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
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Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.