Why you should look for work before pursuing a postgraduate degree

After finishing my undergraduate degree, I decided to work instead of enrolling in a postgraduate degree right away. 

I did so because I wanted to break free from the monotonous routine that I had been stuck in for my academic life. 

I wanted to move away from the cycle of stressing over passing exams for a while. Also, I was eager to see what professional life was like. 

Almost everyone I knew discouraged me from taking this break. Nonetheless, I stuck to my decision and went on to work for a reputable newspaper. 

After nearly a year of working there, I can confidently say that I was right, and I am glad that I did not listen to them at the time.

Here’s why I believe I made the right decision and why I think it might be a good idea to work before doing a postgraduate degree. 

To begin with, it has enabled me to hone my communication skills. I used to be hesitant to start or continue a conversation with anyone. As I had to interact with my colleagues and conduct interviews for writing articles on a daily basis, I’ve grown accustomed to communicating with people from all walks of life, and I can do so with more confidence.

Second, prior to working here, I struggled a lot to meet deadlines because I was terrible at time management. 

However, one year later and after working through hundreds of tight deadlines, I no longer struggle with time management, even when I have to multitask.

Third, I had to be a part of and/or lead a team to complete assignments on several occasions. This significantly improved not only my ability to work in a team, but also to lead one when necessary.

Fourth, for the first time in my life, I was able to feel what financial independence was like. With this freedom, it became a necessity for me to learn some real-life skills such as budgeting and paying bills. 

Fifth, it allowed me to reinvent myself as I could spend time outside of the academic world and figure out on my own what things I was truly interested in and what things I didn’t want to waste my time, effort and money on.

For instance, I finished my undergraduate studies in law. I was passionate about pursuing a career in this field. I could never have imagined at the time that I would be pursuing an alternative career later on. 

However, after a few months of working at the newspaper, I realised that I was enjoying my work as a journalist, and thus, I now want to work as both a lawyer and a journalist.

Last but not least, I met a lot of people who later helped me get many opportunities to work and also supported me in my personal life. 

Choosing to work instead of pursuing a postgraduate degree immediately after finishing an undergraduate degree was a life-changing experience for me – one that helped me build my own identity, one that challenged how I viewed a lot of things and thus broadened my perspective. It has helped me acquire some skills that will undoubtedly help me do better in a postgraduate programme and also in any future jobs. 

These are the benefits I’ve gained from working for almost a year after finishing my undergraduate degree. 

However, I have discovered after talking with some of my other friends who have done the same that there are many more.

Some have seen dramatic improvements in their ability to read, write, and critically analyse, while others have gained valuable practical experience in their field of interest. 

Likewise, some were relieved that they were able to get their lives back into a routine and thus find time to practise healthy habits, whereas others were pleased that they were able to save a significant amount of money.