The world of work is struggling with a shortage of skilled workers. This makes the question all the more important: Is a (higher) degree still worthwhile?
When he had his bachelor’s degree in his pocket, there were several job offers, says 31-year-old Roland. One thing in particular was so lucrative that you really mightn’t refuse it. Roland did it anyway. And decided to do a master’s degree in computer science at the University of Vienna instead. “I have never regretted the step. The degree was important to me. And there were also job offers following the Master’s.”
Does it make sense to complete the master’s degree?
Almost every bachelor’s graduate has always had to ask himself the question of whether it makes sense to continue with a master’s – or to go straight into professional life. At least since the shortage of skilled workers has been affecting the domestic economy, it has probably become even more difficult to find an adequate answer: Especially in segments such as IT, companies are downright hungry for workers. So can you save yourself the master’s degree in the meantime?
It is difficult to give a general answer to this question, says Dominik Engel, Managing Director of the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences. Of course, this depends on the living conditions, the financial leeway, personal preferences and also on the respective job offers. But: “If someone is already in a master’s program, I would advise them to finish their studies,” says Engel. There were reasons why you decided to study – and they don’t just go away. “And following that you get a good job.” The argument that you can also finish your studies in a few months or years counts for little for Engel. “The probability that you will complete a degree following you have already stopped studying is significantly lower.” In addition, it might be that the curriculum has changed in the meantime and that some additional services or new ones have to be made. And Engel also refers to the additional qualifications that have to be acquired: “The approach of people with a master’s degree is often more reflected: he or she had to deal with topics more critically and devote themselves to them more intensively and in a more structured way in the course of a master’s thesis. That makes a big difference. “
Of course, it cannot be denied that there is a shortage of skilled workers. “The market craves everything it can get,” says Engel. This is also confirmed by a study published last week by the IT security company G Data CyberDefense: Around a third of all German companies (36 percent) are finding it difficult to find qualified personnel in the IT sector. From the point of view of employees, Engel adds that they should not only think regarding starting a job, but also regarding the years that follow. “Advancing in your job is often the sticking point. It’s still easier with a master’s degree.”
