Probably many of us can relate to this piece of parental advice – study hard, enter university, graduate, get a job. From kindergarten days to primary study to secondary/higher education and finally college/university, we were constantly reminded of this advice until it literally becomes a part of our subconscious. This subconscious program planted in us over the years guided many of us through 4 years of challenging and/or exciting college life. We survived and earned that first-degree. What’s next?
The obvious choice for many of us is to enter the workforce – the very reason we diligently pursued a tertiary education. Remember, that parental advice? And so, began the ‘rat-race’ phase of life. The alternative is to continue learning and pursue a postgraduate in MBA or whichever preferred discipline of study. Of course, the third option is to completely close our mental faculty to further bombardment of notes and lectures, except for the normal reading pleasure without the stress of exams.
As a headhunter, I am often approached with this question. Should I continue my postgraduate study or first gain a year or two of work experience? I am sure there are 2 schools of thought on this matter. No right or wrong. Simply, it is an individual decision. My advice is to do whatever pleases you.
However, if you find yourself still caught in a dilemma – not knowing which way to go, I hope the following reasons may guide you in the right direction. You will have your personal justification for wanting to do it now, later or not at all.
3 reasons
why I would pursue an MBA immediately after obtaining my first-degree.
- A postgraduate qualification is definitely a plus in job hunting. It sets you apart from the thousands of first-degree holders that graduated annually. In this competitive job market, a job seeker needs to build his/her profile and having a postgraduate degree certainly add value to his/her credential. And, should you pursue the option of a part-time study, this profile may include part-time work experience garnered in the course of completing the MBA. In fact, the former Education Minister of Malaysia Maszlee Malik was quoted in the Malay Mail dated 15 October 2019 as saying: “Nearly 60 percent of first-degree holders and above remain unemployed after one year of graduating”. That alone is a good enough reason to pursue an MBA and give yourself that competitive advantage over the next job seeker.
- Financial consideration is another reason. Colleges/universities do offer financial assistance to their qualified students to continue a postgraduate course in the same university. In fact, some institutions of higher learning will consider partial financial support and readily accept graduates from other colleges/universities. All these financial sponsorships ease the considerable burden as postgraduate education can be a costly affair.
- Many would have graduated with a first-degree in their early to mid-20s. At a time when the body and mind are still in an ‘engaging’ mode, the continuation of a postgraduate course is perceived to be a good decision. Many believe that the passion for the study will gradually fade away after a few years’ immersion in the ‘rat race’ and work life.
3
reasons why I would pursue my MBA after gaining a year or two of work
experience.
- Undergraduate study is mainly theoretical and book-based. Work experience molds the mind of postgraduate students to the reality and challenges of business or industry. Therefore, students are able to articulate and present solutions that are relatable to marketplace demands as opposed to ideals that are often misconceived as perfect. The marketplace is constantly evolving and businesses must resonate with these changes in order to exist continuously. History has recorded many companies, even the establishment of a hundred years' existence, collapsed for failing to change with times.
- A break from the academic environment does wonder for the mind, body, and soul. To be refreshed and recharged before taking on the new challenges of a postgraduate study especially after 4 years of ‘burning the midnight oil’. No doubt, a couple of years’ reality immersion in the working world also raises the level of maturity. It is often said, stepping into the working world is akin to stepping into adulthood. It gives the much-needed dose of reality.
- Finances are a key consideration in either scenario. For those who may not qualify for financial assistance from colleges/universities, the few years of working allow for sourcing of the much-needed funds instead of obtaining a study loan to finance the postgraduate course. Regrettably, many caught themselves in a debt situation due to a study loan. As mentioned earlier, a postgraduate course can be a costly affair. As such, saving to finance your postgraduate study while working for that couple of years may be a blessing in disguise.
There you go. 3 reasons for doing it now or later, respectively. Ultimately, you may even choose not to do it at all. This is only one of the many crossroads we will face in our life journey. Whatever the decision, make sure your heart is at peace.
Wishing you the best, be it in your pursuit of a continuous education or taking the first step toward building a successful career!
Disclaimer: This article is the personal opinion of the author. It is in response to the many occasions the author was asked of the question: “Should I continue my postgraduate study or first gain a year or two of work experience?”. It is not intended to encourage or discourage the pursuit of a postgraduate qualification or continuous education. Neither is the author suggesting that success in work/life is solely dependent on the attainment of a postgraduate qualification.
