Master's Degree

[WolfpackWife]

I'll complete my Master's degree in May of 2014. It's in a more specialized area - Technical and Professional Communication (a concentration of the English MA program). Technical writing and editing jobs are not as plentiful as other positions, and as an applicant, I am someone who has a degree "in progress". It's been hard for me to nail down a technical writing/editing position while in graduate school, largely because I was in the RTP area of NC (very competitive for jobs), and was competing with veterans in the field who had been laid off.

DH keeps telling me that actually completing my MA will make me more marketable, but sometimes I'm not sure.

Do you think a completed MA will help me find a more career-path-centered job, or is it on the job training that would make me a better candidate? I look forward to completing my Master's but sometimes fear that it will end up being as useless as my BA has proven to be (BA in English...I mean really, who does that).

[weeniegeniewife]

Get your masters!! It's such a huge accomplishment, and no one can ever take it away from you.

I've used my masters degree every single day since I earned it 10 years ago. When I finish my PhD in a few months, I may or may not use it; although I readily admit that earning my PhD was purely an academic goal, not a career goal.

[medpedspouse]

Get your Masters since you are so close. DH waited for me to complete mine before he went to med school. It allowed me to earn more while he made nada. Since you are so close, and you seem to still be interested in the field, why not? You will then be competing for those jobs with an actual degree.

BTW - I have two friends that have your educational background. One is a medical editor for a pharm company and the other is recently retired but doing editing/writing for various websites. You could also earn a little extra $ by helping your DH's fellow classmates/residents write their personal statements, CVs, abstracts, articles, etc. because half the residents/students I see could not save themselves by their writing skills.

[SuzySunshine]

I agree, finish it. I can't say whether you'll get hired more easily or paid more but I got my MBA while DH was in med school and it was a good personal accomplishment for me. Not sure I have ever truly used it but I'm glad I did it.

[birdhouse]

I agree get it. My Masters has helped me work from home and having a flexible schedule while Dr. H completed med school and residency. Do it if you can. There will be tons of open opportunities that you are not realizing right now.

[Curegirl]

Finish! You won't regret it and you're so close!

[Thirteen]

Finish! You won't regret it and you're so close!

+1


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[Thirteen]

From one BA in English to another...


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[WolfpackWife]

Thanks for the boost, everyone! I have every intention of finishing, don't get me wrong. I guess I am hoping that a resume with "master's completed" will make me more desirable than a resume with "master's in progress, expected graduation date ___". I am hoping I didn't just choose an unlucky degree path