How high should you try?

The article examines if a postgraduate qualification is worth the work. In a recent survey human resources (HR) directors were asked which of the following aspects of a job applicant with an MBA (master of business administration) is most important: (1) the quality of the school/university where it was awarded; (2) the specialisation; (3) the motivation shown to have achieved an MBA; (4) the applicant´s personal attributes regardless of the MBA. 58% rated personal attributes most important, and 34% chose motivation. Quality of the school and the specialisation, surprisingly, rated very low. This tells us a lot about employers´ attitudes towards postgraduate study. Essentially, they are looking for top level staff who fit their own criteria for doing a good job, indicating that the qualification itself is secondary. A positive attitude towards achieving success in the job and good communication and interpersonal skills top the list of most job interviewers´ prerequisites. This is consistent across all disciplines. This is important if postgraduate study is being considered to improve job prospects. However, it is perhaps not surprising to find that as many as half of candidates in a survey of reasons for studying for a masters or PhD put personal satisfaction ahead of career advancement.