Grad school does not equal jobs

[gezzloume]

For the past few years I have been hearing some of the professors I have been around claiming that university is not a means to finding a job, that instead its just a breadth of knowledge. And recently I have heard the same thing about grad school. That even a career in academia is not the goal of attending graduate school. Instead it was described in terms of skill development that could potentially apply to actual employment.

This is leaving me a little confused since I thought graduate school was training people to assume professional positions (upon completion of study) in their given field. Am I wrong?

[hubris]

That seems to be a bit of "expectation management" of their part, tenure being relatively hard to get etc.

[Jae B.]

Instead it was described in terms of skill development that could potentially apply to actual employment.

This is exactly what I think of graduate school for.

This is leaving me a little confused since I thought graduate school was training people to assume professional positions (upon completion of study) in their given field. Am I wrong?

I am getting an advanced degree in journalism, a professional field, but even I don't expect this to get me a job. Far from it. A portion of journalism employers actually look down on the "poor saps" who get "suckered" into paying to get what experience gives. They think it's an absolute waste of time.

Therefore, if I just wanted a job, I would start looking for one today. Sure, it's different in other fields, where you need a certain degree to get your foot in the door, but there's still no guarantees.

You might end up working outside of your field. Outside forces might cause this, or your studies, interests and opportunities might lead you in a new direction. A number of journalism devotees I've spoken with anticipate this, and feel their personal development and skill acquisition in grad school will help them secure a job in another field, until they find their opportunity in journalism. It might be awhile.

A lot of the people I've talked to in my field expect to freelance after they graduate -- not to nail down full-time employment under contract with benefits.

I am going to graduate school for personal development reasons, and to have time to reflect on my field before becoming totally immersed in it and working a specific medium of it -- and perhaps losing the ability to see outside perspectives. I enjoy the academic environment, and am glad it will be part of my life for two more years. I hope it opens up my opportunities a bit (journalism, new media, web development, community work, teaching, etc.), but I don't expect it to pare them down for me.

To me, education is about critical thinking and acquiring knowledge and skills to enhance that ability. Grad school, in my mind, is about applying critical thinking, knowledge and skills to a specific topic or trade and its circumstances. Finding paths to explore and methods to explore them. Becoming really good at something, not necessarily finding a really good job in it. (Yes, there's some expectation management there!) In this sense, graduate school may even be counter to -- or highly inconvenient relative to -- realistic employment goals. You may learn things that are highly inconvenient for your work flows, career routines and just getting along with people at meetings. You might develop such specific interests it becomes difficult for you to find paid work that expresses them. You might have to settle for something else.

Working as an intern has helped me put work responsibilities in check with my idealism. I expect grad school assignments will do the same -- I hope they help me find a balance between the two. In my field, a lot of discussion circles ethics and legal debates.

For me, grad school is an opportunity to do work in a field I love and still be outside of it. I'll get to work in underserved communities and areas, where I wouldn't be able to find an actual reporting job. I hope I'll get to try new things, be on the cutting edge, but also learn traditional things that are falling by the wayside. In the process, I'll gain skills that will make myself more valuable as an employee -- something I'll still have yet to demonstrate, and hope my work in school will suggest to employers -- but much of what I do will be about becoming the journalist I want to become, not just getting a job.

Edited May 2, 2010 by Jae B.

[coyabean]

Well, the joke is grad school prepares you for nothing but Starbucks during a talent shortage. But, I agree that it sounds like expectation management. Grad school has never "equaled" job in the way that nothing "equals" a job. Maybe this prof was just trying to stress to you the role your own investment, initiative, etc. will play in your getting a job?

But, yes, the training is supposedly to research and/or teach. The actual knowledge acquisition is, I suppose, a personal benefit as well as a tool to do the former. I really wouldn't do it solely for personal gratification. I think that's a luxury only wealthy people have. :/

[joro]

I think it depends on your industry. I spoke with the Outreach Supervisor at a company I dream to work for after graduate school (just hinting at the company with bold). We talked about various things such as the school I will be attending, jobs I could do if I didn't attend, internships, and the jobs I eventually want to settle into. Anyways, he said that 4 out of 5 people in the job I'd like have graduate degrees (MS & PhD) and that I also would make more money with a graduate degree in my industry. I know what I want to do as a career and now all I have to do is make sure my coursework, projects, and research are all geared towards that goal.

Edited May 2, 2010 by joro

[Jae B.]

I am the opposite of wealthy.

I'm sure people can make some really valuable contacts and potential work connections in their fields during grad school. You may be getting to know your future colleagues. But that's another one of those "you have to make the most of it" deals. As in anything. It's up to you.

Pressure.

They said the same thing at my undergrad, to remind us to be competitive, do internships, etc., because actual work experience could be the tipping point. "This is not an employment agency," they'd say.

Should a degree ever really hand or steer someone into a job? Or should it just make them more employable, or valuable as an employee? It should be an asset. But, even with the whole package, you could wind up overqualified and not get the job. Finding the appropriate job could still be difficult and take awhile, and it's fair to have some warning. Jobs just aren't easy to get right now, or much of the time in some fields, whether you've got an MA in Journalism or a PhD in Linguistics.

Edited May 2, 2010 by Jae B.

[Jae B.]

I spoke with the Outreach Supervisor at a company I dream to work for after graduate school (just hinting at the company with bold).

Wow, I totally just got that hint! How awesome!

[pea-jay]

Well my fields of interest, masters are essential to advancement and required in many jurisdictions. I've only worked in rural areas that have to take what they can get but the big job$ in the big cities can be picky. Virtually everyone above me has this form of masters work. Given the fact that the past 14 years of my time in the work force have provided me with a variety of skills/assignments in a the education, energy and public administration fields, my next two years will be spent learning managerial/administrative lessons to tie this all together. Plus i plan on making the professional connections via internships and whatnot to enable the next steps to occur. 90% of the graduating class over the past few years at my school-to-be have gone on to find work and good paying jobs at that. I can live with those odds.

[gezzloume]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I am starting to get a better idea of what university is for (despite the fact that I have already finished undergrad).

I think its important that places of higher education be more up front about the role a university education can play in life with future applicants instead of making it seem like university is a one way ticket to a higher paying job.

Peace & Thanks everyone!