The Benefits of Furthering Your Education
If you’re reading this, then you’re already contemplating as to whether or not you should pursue further studies, either by getting a Master’s degree or perhaps even taking a different undergraduate college degree. To start, let’s discuss the perks of furthering your education, in the hopes that they’re enough to convince you why it’s a good idea to do so.
First off, having a master’s degree or even another Bachelor’s degree can help you broaden your horizons and open yourself up to more career opportunities. Next, and perhaps the most common reason behind pursuing further studies is that you’ll be able to make more money and increase your chances of landing higher and better-paying positions. And, specifically for Master’s degrees, you can potentially become a sought-out expert in the field and even increase your job satisfaction and security.
And while it’s evident that further education can significantly benefit you, the next (and arguably the hardest) question you need to ask is if it’s the right time to do so. To help you determine whether or not it’s high time for you to do so, it’s best to ask yourself the following questions:
#1 What Do I Want?
A lot of professionals encounter this crossroad in their careers where they question their current choice of career path, and whether or not they should pursue it any further. Know that you have a lot of options when furthering your education and that you don’t have to get a degree that’s related to the job you have or the college degree you graduated from. Although it would be more ‘convenient’ for you to do so, you should reconsider getting a master’s degree in line with your current educational background and job experience if you don’t find personal and professional satisfaction it. Some professionals and fresh college graduates who start in one field end up studying another field as soon as they realize what they want.
#2 Can You Afford It?
This isn’t only a question of money, but also of time. Can you afford to balance your current job and your studies? Are you financially stable or prepared to pay for the tuition and other school-related fees? It’s best to make a financial audit of sorts to see if you’re able to support yourself through your academic pursuit, and also to review your current schedule to determine if you can juggle the demands of your job and your school. If you’re confident with your mental capacity and time management skills, but you’re having doubts due to the financial aspect of your chosen degree, you can take advantage of scholarships or even ask your current employer if they have programs that help their employees in covering their tuition. For example, if you’re looking to pursue an MSBA in business analytics in Singapore, there’s a good chance that your current company may even sponsor you as they’ll also benefit from what you’ve learned in the program.
#3 How’s the Job Market?
You have to remember how much time, effort, and money you’ll be putting into your degree. So you have to make sure that you choose one that can benefit you in terms of job opportunities. It’s best to be practical about which program to choose that’s also in line with the career or field that you’d want. Research the demand for jobs that require those degrees to see whether or not it’s worth pursuing now, or if it would be a waste of money and effort doing so.
The Takeaway
Regardless of what motivates you to pursue further studies, whether it be for improved earning potential and opportunities or career satisfaction, you need to know if it’s the right time to jump into it to minimize risk and avoid any regrets due to poor foresight and planning. So, before you send in your applications and sign that tuition check, make sure that you ask yourselves all these questions first.
