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Having graduated from university as a QS I am thinking of doing a masters to gain an extra edge owing to the immense level of competition at the moment. However, I am not sure whether it will be worthwhile. What do you guys think?

pmk741

A: Sadly I don’t think it is! Unpaid experience is your best bet. Try and get a foot in the door somewhere. A number of my mates who graduated last year and even the year before still don’t have QS jobs.

Steven H

A: Some employers won’t care; they will only want to know how much real world experience you have. This, in my opinion, is what counts.

Others use HR staff who do look at your academic qualifications. They don’t have a clue how you would work, but are comparing qualifications prior to shortlisting for interview.

So if it’s a big company that you want to market yourself to or you just want to prove something to yourself and you have the time to continue at uni, go for it.

Sketch3D

A: The sad fact is there are not enough jobs, especially for graduates. We recently had about 400 applications for four PM/QS graduate places.

The answer is we don’t have the answer! A masters may slightly improve your chances, any experience you can get will be the difference between you and applicant B, C, D, E, F, G … you get the picture.

Steven H

A: There is the other side of this argument. A masters isn’t just about pointing at a pretty diploma on the wall to get you your next job. It is also about become expert in a particular field and allowing you to study in depth an area where your interests lie. So you become a master in this field.

So, yes, a few doors will be opened now, but if you do a masters, your long-term your career will far exceed those of your peers without the additional knowledge.

Undoubtedly worth the cost and effort.

moondoggy

A: An MBA is good if you want to work in management. If you’re willing to put the time and effort into it, then it’s worth it.

Getting a masters may give you a better chance of getting a job if all the other people only have a bachelor degree. It may also give you a better pay than just a bachelor degree.

dereks

A: If you can afford it and there are no other options, why not? But if you can get a job and pick up some experience that would be very useful too, possibly more so.

Bill Goodman

A: In the long term you want to be working towards your chartership - this is where your career will benefit. The APC is undoubtedly worth the time and effort. A masters in QS? We will have to agree to disagree! If you are wanting to be a QS then as long as your BSc degree is recognised by the RICS, a masters is not worth it!

If you however want to do a masters in another field then that’s a different conversation.

Steven H

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