I have a question for those who are more experienced: should I work or pursue postgraduate studies?
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I would appreciate some advice from those who are more experienced: I graduated almost 4 years ago, with a degree in Chemical Engineering and Technology. I currently work in the field of chemical processing – specifically in urea production – and my annual income is around 50,000 to 60,000. I want to pursue a master’s degree, but I’m worried that I won’t be able to find a good job after completing it. On the other hand, there are too many college graduates in my company, and it’s difficult to stand out there. Could you please advise me: should I prepare for the master’s exams or continue working? Which school to choose? Is it better to apply for Chemical Process Engineering or Chemical Engineering? Or another major? (I don’t want to move away from my field of study.) Thank you!
The original poster earns 50,000 to 60,000 yuan after 4 years of work, which is quite good. I don’t think having many college graduates is a problem; what matters is one’s individual abilities. That being said, there are also many postgraduates these days; eventually, they will face competition as well and will need to prove their abilities. Pursuing a master’s degree is, in terms of specialty and theory, an upgrade, while work helps improve practical skills. The choice between the two depends on the actual circumstances, but one thing is for sure: the number of college students in your company is not a decisive factor
It’s a contradictory issue, an internal contradiction. The purpose of taking the postgraduate entrance exam is to gain some additional knowledge, as I feel I don’t have enough, and also to obtain that diploma. As for work, there’s pressure too, and at the same level, there are too many college students. The only way is to keep improving oneself and enhancing one’s abilities. After all, the purpose of a boss hiring people is to have them do work for him, and do it well—not to hold a beauty contest or compare whose qualifications are the best.
It’s better to find a good job first; you can pursue further studies later on, as the goal of pursuing a master’s degree is also to get a good job!
I think one should take the exam, should learn more* and keep improving oneself. Our company now requires that middle managers must have a graduate degree. So you should still take the exam; as long as you have the skills, you won’t have trouble finding a job. The friend upstairs is right.
Don’t pursue a postgraduate degree at all. In companies, it’s not education level that matters but experience; once you return from graduation, no one will pay attention to you, and you won’t even be able to keep your current position. If you don’t believe me, give it a try – by then you’ll have no time to cry. Unless you pursue a postgraduate degree, you won’t be able to return. But do you really think it’s easy for a recent graduate with a master’s degree to find a job paying 50,000 or 60,000 yuan? Think carefully before making this decision.
If you have been working for a while, pursuing a master’s degree is also a good option. Change the environment, change the way of thinking. Talk to my supervisor at the company; I should have an advantage over other recently graduated postgraduates when I go back. If possible, try to negotiate with your employer to pursue an on-the-job graduate degree. Working this way allows one to balance work and study, though it is a bit tiring. A colleague in our company is pursuing further studies while still working; he receives the same treatment as regular postgraduate students, but he is considered a promising candidate for promotion by the company.
Please discuss more and share your opinions!
The students on the 7th floor have already told you~~~~~ If you think your current job is not bad, but feel some pressure as you move upward in your career, and if you really want to improve your profile by obtaining a degree, then consider pursuing a part-time degree program. At the same time, don’t give up on your own business; after all, your work ability is what sets you apart. I have worked for four years and am now preparing to take the exams; I will spend three years in graduate school. By the time you graduate again, people like you will already have been working for about eight years. Do you think you’ll have more job opportunities just because you have an additional degree? It’s clearly unlikely, and in China, not many graduate students are able to work in their field of study after graduation. In other words, graduate students lack the ability to conduct technical research and development; therefore, quitting one’s job to pursue further studies is not a good idea. Four years later, who could have predicted that the chemical industry would remain as prosperous as it is today? Calculating the cost of lost earnings due to not being able to go to work while attending school, it seems that the losses outweigh the benefits; it’s just fulfilling your own wish after all.