<p>If I do my masters in a field that in not related to a position at a company, will this help my chances? I know that if my masters was directly related to a position at a company it would help. </p>
<p>So for example, I do my masters in air pollution and I apply for a groundwater job. Lets say there is another guy who has just finished undergrad. </p>
<p>Even though my masters is not related to groundwater directly, would I have an advantage over this undergrad?</p>
<p>i would think you will be at the same level to compete for the job. if the job requires an MS graduate with that particular specialization than you both will probably out of the running. Unless you have sufficient work experience.</p>
<p>In this case I think you won’t be able to ask for the amount of pay the master’s degree deserves compared to just bachelor’s</p>
<p>I would argue that it may actually hurt you since your masters would indicate interest in a different area, and the fact that you have a masters would mean that you would “deserve” more money from the company for no added benefit, while the undergrad guy would have the same qualifications as you while commanding a smaller salary from the company.</p>
<p>Then again, you don’t have to put that masters on your resume if it doesn’t pertain to the job you want, at which point you would look essentially the same.</p>
<p>If the masters is just a little related to a prospective job, then it would be helpful.</p>
<p>“Then again, you don’t have to put that masters on your resume if it doesn’t pertain to the job you want, at which point you would look essentially the same.”</p>
<p>is this really an option? I mean the employer is bound to ask “what did you do for your last 2 years” when he sees a gap.</p>
<p>
Well, as long as you get to the interview you can start discussing it more seriously, while if you put it on at the start you will never get the chance to explain yourself since you will get removed at the first glance due to not being in their target group.</p>
<p>“Well, as long as you get to the interview you can start discussing it more seriously, while if you put it on at the start you will never get the chance to explain yourself since you will get removed at the first glance due to not being in their target group.”</p>
<p>that makes sense but is a grad degree something that ppl keep on thier resume?</p>
<p>For example, if I worked at a air pollution consulting firm and then wanted to apply for a waste management firm I’d keep my air pollution stuff on my resume. The reason for this is such that the employer can see I have some work experience, even though its not in the same field.</p>
<p>Is this not the case for a masters? does it count as work experience?</p>
<p>I have a stupid question. Is air pollution and groundwater really that different at the undergraduate/graduate level?</p>
<p>At the undergrad level, they’re the same. We only take 2 courses on each subject and they’re mandatory. </p>
<p>At the grad level, one huge difference would be whether your research project is on air or groundwater. Normally we take classes that are relevant to our research so if i were do groundwater, i doubt i will be taking many air classes.</p>
<p>
Often employers don’t want overqualified people since they believe that those won’t stay as long as those who are matching the requirements perfectly. And of course that they are more expensive.</p>
<p>The deal is that most of the jobs do not need to be done by excellent people. They just needs to be done. If however they are hiring for some more important place where you will get a lot of responcibility every bit of experience counts.</p>