Masters vs job?

barry181091

Hey guys,

I have just completed my Bsc in Computer Science. I am just wondering from experienced peoples point of view, what would the benefit of a masters be?

In reality, I know there are many jobs in Software currently and I would get a job in a short time like many of my class mates. I think that is somewhat short sighted though.

I am contemplating perhaps a Masters in some sort of Business discipline would be good for me in terms of a long-term investment. (I.e. It wouldn't pay me initially, but for future prospects, who knows?)

I have been told from experienced people that being technical is great but that will get you only so far (Reach a salary cap etc) and in general you will be encouraged have to diverge into management/business area at some point, if you have potential. This is where a Business/Economics/Finance qualification would be good. At the end of the day, all these companies in the end are interested in money and not how many lines can a person write. Are you a cost centre or a profit centre!

Whats a year really? Also, Currently Masters are not *too* expensive so it would be manageable.

A lot of people do their masters part time these days, while working. It's a good option imo.

bitemeluis

Job - earn your stripes

YbFocus

Part time masters is the way to go, I finished my BEng and am working now and really happy with my choice, I'll do my masters in 2-3 years parttime

Sugar Free

Carl Hollow Stream wrote: »

A lot of people do their masters part time these days, while working. It's a good option imo.

YbFocus wrote: »

Part time masters is the way to go, I finished my BEng and am working now and really happy with my choice, I'll do my masters in 2-3 years parttime

+1, I'm just finishing mine now after two horrible years!

OP, experience is king. Get some now if there are good opportunities available and assess the need for a masters after a year or two at the entry level role.

I'm moving roles shortly and its unlikely I would have been selected were it not for the combination of the masters and the experience. Doing it full time would have meant I missed out on that extra year of experience, not to mention the loss of earnings!

Additionally, in my case as with many others, a masters on top of a degree for a graduate with no experience generally adds way less value to a candidate than doing it after a few years experience. Particularly if it's in a different field and you won't get a chance to utilise what you have learned until you've done a few years of analyst/sr. analyst/team lead etc.

Mrs OBumble

If you walk away from the tech side now, you'll find it a lot harder to get hired into a tech role in a year's time.

And quals without experience are pretty worthless.

I reckon you'll get a lot more out of the masters if you do it after you've got some real life work experience.

makeorbrake

One other thing to consider....

If you end up with a multi national, they may pay for your masters - and thats significant as they don't come cheap!

boobar

Just my 2 cent...

You should start work, get some experience and also you'll be earning and learning.

Concentrate on your current role first and take some time ( could be months, years even) to think about what post graduate qualification if any you want to pursue.

I think a career in IT can be enjoyable and there are many roles from technical to management so I wouldn't be thinking about leaving before you've even started.

hzhang

barry181091 wrote: »

Hey guys,

I have been told from experienced people that being technical is great but that will get you only so far (Reach a salary cap etc) and in general you will be encouraged have to diverge into management/business area at some point, if you have potential.

Could not agree with you on this point. Many multi national companies have very decent career ladder to climb along technical roles.

Salary wise, I know lots of people earn 100k+ these days in Dub. And with the market being more and more competitive, I can easily see these figures go much higher.

My 2 cent, get a job first.

omahaid

I agree with everyone else, get working. I got a good few years experience under my belt and am now doing a masters part time completely paid for by my employer (cost of €5000 to them).

I worked for a MNC who did pay research masters graduates more than taught masters graduates so unless it's a research masters I don't think it will benefit you as much as the experience.

MouseTail

Rare to get such total consensus, and I will add to it. Work, and then part time Masters.

Management place more worth on such a path, they know (mostly from personal experience) the dedication, commitment and sweat that goes into it.

InReality

I'd go for a job. Masters are far less important/useful to a new graduate these days as so many have them and sometimes more than 1.
If your good at the tech side you can make plenty of money.

Do you need a masters?

Mr. Loverman

barry181091 wrote: »

I have been told from experienced people that being technical is great but that will get you only so far (Reach a salary cap etc) and in general you will be encouraged have to diverge into management/business area at some point, if you have potential.

I don't agree with this at all.

As a senior software engineer (or technical architect) with little to no management responsibilities, you can earn around 100k per year.

This is around the same as management, and it is significantly less stressful.

I would advise most IT people to stay away from management. It isn't worth it.

Regarding your general question about doing the masters, I think it is a good idea. I have a masters in computer science and I loved doing it.

If you really do want to go into IT management (don't!) you should do an MBA or MBS in technology management. You'll probably have to work for a few years before they'll accept you into the course.

Boskowski

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

I don't agree with this at all.

As a senior software engineer (or technical architect) with little to no management responsibilities, you can earn around 100k per year.

This is around the same as management, and it is significantly less stressful.

I would advise most IT people to stay away from management. It isn't worth it.

Regarding your general question about doing the masters, I think it is a good idea. I have a masters in computer science and I loved doing it.

If you really do want to go into IT management (don't!) you should do an MBA or MBS in technology management. You'll probably have to work for a few years before they'll accept you into the course.

That may be true for some companies but for some others it may not.

Unfortunately in the multinational I'm working for the technical ladder is significantly shorter than the managerial one and generally speaking technical roles don't get half the appreciation. Also very technical senior positions you can count on one hand in there.

But thats not me making a case for the masters here only saying all companies are different.

In fact I think the significance of these masters courses are vastly overrated. In my experience real world work experience goes over theory all day long.
A masters means you should know about x, y and z. Two projects on your CV means you DO know about x, y and z and have actually delivered with it.

Mr. Loverman

Masters impress HR and senior management types. That's their value. It's not really about learning.

TimeToShine

This may not go with what everyone else is saying but once you leave study and work for a few years you'll struggle to get back to the hustle and bustle that is college life - especially if you choose to do a challenging masters course. Part-time could be different but if you do a full time masters alongside people fresh out of undergrad don't be surprised if you find yourself struggling - especially if you pick a more technical masters. Deadlines in work and deadlines in college are two completely different kettles of fish and difficult in their own way, and adjusting to one or the other takes time.

Also on the multinationals paying for your masters note - you'll be tied down to a three year contract and usually in the long term you would have been better off without it, so unless you can't get the money to pay then try and avoid it.

Just my 2c.

barry181091

Thanks everyone for the replies. Pretty unanimous I suppose.

The main thing I was think was to get it out of the way now instead of in a decade when I'm not used to study and have other responsibilities. If it isn't worth as much,then not much of a point.

Mr. Loverman

I did my masters at night when I was 30ish.

It was grand!

Especially working in IT where you are used to reading all the time, it wasn't hard to do the study.

TimeToShine

Also note if you want to work in the US or equivalent a B.Sc from Ireland won't do you any favours.

Smoggy

Job.

In IT, time served in the industry is worth multiples of education. I have seen a masters as being a negative.

Eoin

barry181091 wrote: »

I have been told from experienced people that being technical is great but that will get you only so far (Reach a salary cap etc) and in general you will be encouraged have to diverge into management/business area at some point, if you have potential...

This is sort of true - however, the ceiling is generally pretty high (and a good few years off) before you have to move out of a technical role to keep increase your earnings.

Mr. Loverman

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Masters impress HR and senior management types. That's their value. It's not really about learning.

The first part of your post may be true but I learned a massive about from mine that I've taken forward into my career.

ted1

Just finished a part time three year MSc. In my thirties and was stuck on a rung on the career ladder. I am just after walking in to a new job with a good increase in pay.
Get some experience and do a part time masters in a few years.

MouseTail

ted1 wrote: »

Just finished a part time three year MSc. In my thirties and was stuck on a rung on the career ladder. I am just after walking in to a new job with a good increase in pay.
Get some experience and do a part time masters in a few years.

congrats Ted, both on completing the MSc, no easy task juggling, life, work, family and study, and on the new job 😊

starlit

It experience is more important for IT, a masters is handy but I'd suggest to work and do one part time or as a night course. What masters you thinking of doing? Marketing ones and BIS ones are good or a general Business one. Business and IT go well together when looking for work but what career you looking into and what are you good at all adds up. If you could do a course with a placement or good project in it then be worth doing. Its all about adding to your CV and what you show as potential to employers! Masters and Experience stand to you as well as work experience. A combination of IT and business might be worth looking into even if it just a Postgrad hdip or level 9 but not a Masters or a springboard course? Best of luck in your decision.

ted1

MouseTail wrote: »

congrats Ted, both on completing the MSc, no easy task juggling, life, work, family and study, and on the new job 😊

Thanks. It was hard work, well worth doing when the kids are young. They go to bed at 8 and I want to the study