Five Ways Getting A Master’s Degree Can Help You Get To The Top Of The Corporate Ladder

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Sticking with a company may put your name on the list for new promotions, but it will not ensure that you make your way to upper management. Competition for high-level corporate jobs is steeper than ever, and this means that employees looking to get a leg up should consider these compelling reasons that a master’s degree may be exactly what they need.

1. New Industry Connections

A master’s degree differs from an undergraduate degree in the fact that most students are looking to advance within a very specific career path. This means more industry connections can be made with other like-minded individuals that are looking to make the most out of their career with any help that they can get.

2. A Fresh Perspective

When a group of employees stay within a company for a long period of time, it can be nearly impossible to gain a fresh perspective on the company, its goals, and the industry as a whole. Heading to graduate school often allows students to adjust their mindset and find solutions where they may have believed there were none before.

3. Outside Mentors

A mentor can be an invaluable tool for those that are looking to climb the corporate ladder and there are few better places to find a mentor than graduate school. From professors and department heads to other students, students will have new options when it comes to having questions answered and getting inspired.

4. Horizontal and Vertical Job Placement

Not every employee is going to head to graduate school in order to stay along their current career path or remain in that department. Students can head to graduate school for options such as a master’s in criminal law that will allow them to change jobs horizontally to fit the unique needs of the company. Perhaps a public relations specialist will go on to study project management to work in a different area of the company. There are many opportunities to advance your career, and sometimes that means changing directions a little.

5. Modern Skills

There is no industry that will remain static throughout the years, and this means that owners are looking to promote employees with modern skill sets. From social media management to the use of new devices, an advanced degree will ensure that employees have a good foundation when it comes to modern skill sets that are invaluable in today’s workplace.

Earning a master’s degree will help an employee make the transition from a hard worker to a hard worker that is also working smarter. With a highly competitive employment market, going above and beyond with one’s academics may be exactly what is needed to transition into upper management.

Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO and often writes about education, business and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family when she isn’t writing.