How to choose the best public and voluntary sector postgraduate course for you

Competition for jobs means that graduates are looking to give themselves an edge against other candidates, but in public service it’s not always the case that a postgraduate degree will put you ahead of the pack. So, before you leap into another year of academia, you need to be sure that the investment of your time, money and hard graft will be a rewarding experience for you – and that it will increase your job-hunting success.

The questions to consider if you're thinking about postgraduate study in the public or voluntary sectors

• Is this the right time? Many courses relating to the public and voluntary sectors are designed to help people with considerable experience of these sectors consolidate their knowledge rather than for recent graduates.
• Do you need a professional qualification? To work in areas such as teaching, social work and environmental health you’ll usually need to have a relevant postgraduate qualification behind you, depending on what you studied for your first degree. Other areas such as management or administration don't usually require a postgraduate qualification.
• Would a masters help enhance your existing skills or help you convert to a new area? Studying a transferable subject such as finance could give you the skills you need, for example.
• What work experience and sector contacts do institutions offer? Work experience is essential to show that you're committed to working in the voluntary and public sectors, so a qualification without experience will be of limited value.
• Can you gain the knowledge you're planning to acquire from your postgrad in other ways? Many public and voluntary sector employers pride themselves on the development opportunities they offer and may provide on-the-job courses or support for relevant training and professional qualifications.

A competitive edge

To make the most of further study, you need to work out how it will enhance your skills for the workplace. Employers will be as interested in this as they are in the academic achievement, so seize every opportunity to further develop your career skills at university and think about how your course relates to working life. If you can, back this up with work experience in the field you want to break into: this will pay dividends when you enter the world of work.

Next steps: choosing the right postgraduate course for the public or voluntary sector

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