Management Information systems graduate

benji2012

Hi I have just graduated from a management information systems course with a 2:2 degree and i am wondering what my next step should be, whether to do a masters or is there any jobs that i could apply for now, i have no area in the course that i have a preference for. I just really don't know what to do, any opinions?

pinkdiamond

I don't think you can do a masters with a 2.2 degree. There is a lot of jobs in this area such as systems analyst, project manager, business analyst etc., but i'm not sure how great your chances of getting one are compared to the graduates with a 2.1 or 1.1 degree. why don't you start applying for jobs on jobs.ie or eolas.ie and see what kind of a response you get.

starlit

If you wish to do a Masters or specialise in IS or another area then do lots of research. Sometimes work experience should take first priority before considering a Masters but its entirely up to you. Would you consider a jobbridge/internship/grad programme. Give it a couple of months of looking for work if all else fails go to a job coach/recruiter might help but might be worth going to them now if you a bit unsure what jobs to go for.

Take note of your interests, strengths, personality, skills you have. Help weigh out what to go for. If you undecided what area to pursue, then look at your college results, what part did you enjoy the most any part of the course you loved and showed some interest in might be worth considering or doing something similar but in a different area blending it with something else specifically business/IT?

If you have little work experience best to try out jobs and find jobs first that way then you might have an idea what you like to do once you have tried out a few. You have to start somewhere get your foot in the door so its like starting at the bottom of a ladder you work your way up in terms of jobs.

If you undecided then specialise in a Masters rather than having too broad if your degree was quiet broad. Where did you do your degree if you mind me asking? I did a degree similar to yours and have to say I found it difficult to find suitable jobs. I ended up doing further study, I had more an interest in IT than business but now I wonder should I stick with business/IS specifically rather than IT? I did a postgrad h dip in IT and in those regards it has opened up a lot more doors for me than say my degree alone. That is one good thing to come out of the postgrad I did and have had a lot more opportunities and more interviews after my postgrad compared to my degree.

Have you considered doing a short term course say in something you be interested in and take if from there. Depending what Masters you want to do maybe do a short course similar to it, give you feel what to expect from it? Loads of springboard courses, not many FAS course mind but there are specialised courses in business and IT though. There are exams in Business Analysis you could do. Depends what area you want to branch off of?

In terms of project management you aren't going to get a job straight away in it unless you do some kind of training in it be it work experience/course. There are courses specific to Project Management. Short term, long term, postgrads, springboard courses and fas courses. I think you can do an online course in it but if you studied it as part of a module in your degree you would have already done a major exam in the subject area like I did!?

Systems Analysis is a bit different its more IT really and programming. The title could mean different things in terms of a job role. Software development/software design/system design/system analysis maybe databases. You be looking into courses specific to those areas.

You need to go in more in depth with SA but if its software/programming/IT/Operating systems/databases you could learn through online/distance learning or a night course/part time course. IT and programming is something you could do on the side. Focus on finding work if you can. For this area you need to be a good problem solver. You may have to do technical tests?? Which can vary depending on the area focused in such as programming, databases, technical support, networking, social media, cloud computing or multimedia!

You can go into Masters with a 2:2 Degree. You can definitely do a postgrad course anyway before doing a full on Masters. Get a 2:1 in that and you get into a Masters no problem. I got into a postgrad with just a 2:2. The IT's will accept those with 2:2's as entry to Masters. Some Uni's do as well but depends on the course and depends on the area. I know UCC and NUIG are good like that. Unsure about UL but few might in Dublin uni's though.

Depends what Masters, field, where and what college or uni you go too restrictions vary. Majority its a 2:1 requirement to get into a Masters but many of them 2:2 is enough as long as you might have a bit of work experience which can be an advantage they might allow you in.

Research thoroughly though. Have a look into Masters in the UK and abroad. Some springboard courses might have Masters/Postgrads available.

If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to ask.
Best of luck.