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Graduates told to work hard away from postgrad course

Published: Thursday, 04 March 2010   Category: Postgraduate Study

Recent university leavers looking for postgraduate study options have been warned that simply possessing a postgraduate degree is no guarantee of securing a graduate job of their wanting.

Despite research showing that Masters students are more likely to find a job in the recession than those with first degrees, the deputy research direct of the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (Hescu) has told students to not be complacent.

In an interview with the Independent newspaper, Charlie Ball said: "A postgraduate course will not automatically solve your employment issues. A bit of paper is not of enormous value to employers - but what you do with that year is.

"Postgraduate degrees buy time to think about the employment market, make contacts, do some work experience and develop the practical skills you need to get hired."

Mr Ball was speaking in response to figures that showed postgraduate employment is now at 4.1 per cent, almost half the graduate unemployment rate of 7.9 per cent.

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