Upon graduating university, each of us is left with a challenge and a choice: To resume our education and get an additional degree (Masters or PHD), or to seize the closest job opportunity and start working immediately to get experience.

There is no right or wrong when it comes to picking the option that is more of a priority to you; there’s only weighing your options, and we’re merely here to familiarize you with the pros and cons of both courses of action and then you’ll be left with making the decision on your own. It all depends on your situation and the path you want to take for your future.

So, here’s the gist of things. Everyone knows that to get a job, you need experience; but to get experience, you need a job. And to someone who’s spent their entire life getting a proper education and studying, it’s intimidating to get out of your little university bubble and start making major decisions regarding what you’ll do with the rest of your life. It even puts some kind of pressure on you especially if you don’t have that much experience and you need to prove to an employer that you’re as competent as someone with experience.

Some companies overlook the whole Master’s degree concept when it comes to experience. Put yourself in their shoes; if you’re an HR manager and two people come to apply for the same position of the job; one of them doesn’t have any kind of experience but has a Master’s degree, and the other has two years of experience and an average Bachelor degree, which one would you hire?

You might choose the latter, but the truth is: It depends.

When it comes to the work environment, some firms will be looking for the person who knows how to work best in a team, knows the nature of the job, and has been faced with the everyday challenges and customary pressure. But then again, a Master’s degree gives a glimpse at how well-educated and knowledgeable one is about a particular field, and the wide scope of topics he or she is aware of as a result of their studies.

It’s not often that you find a job ad requiring someone with a Masters degree in engineering or literature per say, but they will definitely require a specific number of years of experience, and will disregard anyone who lacks that.

A good solution to this conundrum would be to juggle both a job and an education at the same time. However, not everyone will have the time and demanded effort to balance both and be obligingly productive, so that’s not always a practical panacea for most people. So, how can one wisely and composedly make up their mind about what to do?

Here are a few steps to help you out:
1- Research your major’s field and the job vacancies requirements.

The requirements for a Medicine graduate would indubitably be different from those for a business administration graduate. On that account, thoroughly explore all openings and positions available near you and their statutory qualifications, so you can have enough background information to determine a suitable approach.

2- Time management.

Time management is meticulously arranging your schedule and time, and controlling activities correspondingly.

Can you simultaneously study as well as work? If no, which is more of a priority to you? Are you looking for a part-time or a fulltime job? What amount of time are you willing to dedicate to your desired objective? Perhaps you have other things on your list to do; answer these questions, review your own preferences and take an extensive, detailed look at your current and future plans, your resources, and then decide.

3- Coordinate and enrich your résumé.

Try to give as much proof that even though you have experience but not a degree (or vice versa), you’re still adept and can professionally get all tasks done. Give them a strong reason as to why they should hire you. How are you any different from other applicants?

There are many ways to prove how skillful and qualified you are, like online courses or classes in your local universities that are equivalent to a degree but with less time constraints and land you a decent certificate as well. Try joining some of those, and make sure to include them in your CV. Aim to impress, whether that’s by the amount of courses you took, your GPA, internships, actual previous experiences, accomplishments, or even by being amply sophisticated during the job interview.

Don’t leave anything out.

4- Even the best-laid plans go astray.

Sometimes you arrive at a decision but, simultaneously, the universe decides to upset your plans for no apparent reason. In that case, don’t stress it! When one door closes, countless others open. Don’t dwell, maybe it’s just not meant to be.

But the thing is, you’ll never know unless you try. So whenever an opportunity offers itself to you, take it!

Someone tells you a company is hiring? Send in your CV and go for the interview. Your university is offering a scholarship for a course/Master’s degree, and the idea seems appealing to you? Sign up! Don’t sit there waiting for something to happen; get moving, make it happen yourself.

You don’t want to regret what you squandered later on; Life’s too short.

With that being said, remember that there is no wrong choice, and whatever it is you go for, no matter how doubtful you are about it, will surely lead you somewhere great.

By: Menna Mahdy

EDITOR: Sarah Shalaby