It's no secret that the US economy is struggling. Unemployment and underemployment rates, while slowly improving, are still high, so with today's competitive job market, it's important to do all that you can to make yourself a desirable job candidate. If you're looking into a Master's degree, you clearly have the ambition and awareness it takes to find a great job and make a decent living. Selecting the right Master's degree program then, is very important, no matter what your field. While many Master's degree programs are designed to offer career placement services to their students, and are invested in helping their students make the transition from school to work, not all services are created equally.
Taking Initiative
When you're investigating a particular school's degree program, check to see what their career services offerings are; a school with an entire program or center devoted to job placement is more likely to give you specialized assistance. Contact your potential school and find out about their student job placement record; they should be able to tell you the percentages of graduates who went on to get jobs after earning their degrees. This article will tell you more about what you can do make the most of career services at your school.
Once you begin your Master's degree program, be sure to fully utilize your career center. Find out which services they provide and use them, whether you work with a career counselor to write your resume and cover letters, or attend job fairs and talk to recruiters.
What to Expect
Most Master's programs will have a list of jobs that are suited to people who are about to graduate, along with a list of companies that have hired their students over the past few years. Career counselors will help you apply for jobs, and will offer services that include resume boosting, cover letter reviewing, mock job interviews, and discussion of potential job options.
In addition, their alumni network will help you get in touch with people who have graduated in the past five or six years. These resources provide the support and contacts you will need as you enter the job market; taking advantage of them might be the key to your employment. Most online programs ofter the same or similar career support as do traditional schools; always be sure to inquire about those services. Take a look at Top 20 Value Online MBA Programs for further reading about the possibility of an online MBA degree.
Career Training
When completing your Master's degree, it is important to keep your future career in mind and focus on honing the skills that particular companies might be looking for. The career placement services at Master's programs can help with this. If you express your interest in working at a particular job or company, the career center will give you detailed information about the company, what that job entails, and how best to mold yourself into a qualified candidate. If your school offers career fairs, research the attending companies and be prepared to present yourself to potential employers.
Many consider their Master's degree the last step before a lifetime of work at their chosen career. Whether you're thinking about going to school or you're already working on your education, be sure that your Master's degree program offers career placement services, and that you take full advantage of every opportunity.