The Real Talk | Master's Vs. Job | What to opt? How to decide?

This article talks about the most common career confusions often experienced, by recent graduates to experienced professionals across sectors and industries.

Master's or Job? What to choose?

This is a common question i get to hear from people across verticals, majorly in the experience group of 0 to 6 years. I have experienced it too, to a great level in the initial times which lead me to bigger anxiety in taking the decision.

Also, by this I don't mean that experienced of 6+ years are not confused. They are too!

Why there is so much of Confusion?

And why are we scared to take a step unsaid or unheard in our near premises?

Due to the limited information, beliefs and boundations put by self and the circumstances!

Due to the wrongly programmed minds on the Master's being consecutive to UG Programs for a good job with good salary.

I do not say that's wrong.

But there is no golden rule of Master's being a consecutive option for UG program only.

In fact, it is in India that we see this major wrong belief system being carried as bigger baggage for years.

It is not just okay but awesome to do a Master's after entering into job and being exposed to real work culture.

Also, the fresh grads often complain about the more importance or credits given to people with 2-3 years or more work experience over the new grads. But, this is for real good!

The big reason is exposure! A person exposed to the real system has a bigger understanding of work over the recent graduate. The approach to things will be in more ways of problem statement and solution.

While there are also few recent grads, who carry exposure by studying in good Schools/ Colleges or with the support of parents making it to more privileges, resource accessibility/ Economic background or with a great passion from childhood for learning or any other reason.

However, the proportion of these people is little compared to the majority.

It is a common belief in people that Master's degree only will get a good job.

But why?

So, now!

Let us take an example, a scenario.

Details as in the year: 2012

"Vedant, a 20+ year old, just got graduated with 65% in Bachelor of Technology, Computer Science Engineering, from an Engineering College of B category in a semi urban city. He was not greatly interested in marks but learning new things happening across different fields of technology has always excited him. He is interested in doing masters and currently have 2 offers in hand with CTC of 3.2 LPA."

"He's in a state of bigger confusion what to opt and he did not appear for any entrance examinations yet but likes to opt the Master's."

"He is from a financial background of middle class with an annual income of family lying around INR 2.4 LPA. His father has an autorickshaw and his mother is a homemaker. He also got education loan to be cleared for which interest is already being paid by his father."

Among the multiple options, looking into the priorities, he chose to go as below mentioned.

Note :

• There are many options too, but this is one chosen as per his priorities and responsibilities thus taken, after discussing with a mentor he thought would help, the one from his near family
• Mentors may not be always external, one may look into inner circles first

Let's get into what happened and what's happening now with Vedant-

1. He decided to opt MBA after 3 years of work and in the three years, he planned to invest on his upskilling and strengthening his knowledge and profile
2. He accepted a job offer from a software development company, divided his salary into segments of student loan, home expenses, savings and upskilling
3. He decided to dedicate 15 hours in a week for upskilling and weekends as holiday as he loves travelling
4. In the span of 3 years, he learnt things and added advanced certifications to his profile and by the end of 3 years he was with a salary package of 12.5 LPA
5. With the experience and exposure thus obtained, he decided to do Masters with specialization in Marketing, took a switch of company to consumer product company, worked closely with the product marketing while working on product development
6. He worked good with complete commitment while upskilling for next 2 years, adding to further certifications as needed and reached a CTC of 25 LPA by the end of 5 years, September, 2017
7. As planned, further opted an executive PGP program from one of the top MBA schools and landed a dream job in product marketing with 35 LPA

Now, let us also dig deeper, for the facts!

• He was confused too what to opt as he has many interests but he grounded himself to priority and opted the job he got with a clear focus on learning and upskilling while earning as needed
• All that he had was just clarity of priority, what is to be done at the moment he was in after discussing with his uncle, his mentor!

(Note: While choosing mentor, choose right! A person with right exposure, knowledge!!)

• He first thought 3 years, further the experience and exposure made him extend for 2 more years and opt PGP as per further plan

(Note : It's good to have clear breakdown of year wise target for next 5 or 6 years but it is also okay to not have entire life picture and just start somewhere, keep progressing and plan slowly)

Above all, it's just the need over want that is to be focussed!

&

Forward is Forward : Consistency Counts

Now, why didn't he opt Master's immediately after his graduation?

Simply, his priorities as per the situation. Financial background of family and student loan but his parents were cooperative for anything he wished for. He made the call and finally, he is greatly happy with the decision and everything is going great.

This is just one example and there are so many people on top positions by opting paths as per need of the hour while not killing the dreams.

*Vedant also had other options like going for free education, with 100% scholarship from any of the Top Universities in Singapore, Germany, USA, UK while his father takes care of the interest of education loan and home till he lands somewhere, etc. But as mentioned, purely the priorities that counts!

Conclusion:

There will be always so many options at any point of life and there's nothing as i wish i'd have done this back then. It's just the present and how you respond to the present!

There are customized executive programs for 10+, 15 + years experienced also. It's just the right information and the decision that one takes make all the magic happen

Unlearning is equally important as Learning!

Releasing the heavily programmed baggages of wrong information and beliefs is a big must!!

All the best to all the wonderful souls :)

#TheRealTalk #Careers #Masters #Job