To: Potential Graduate Students

From: Emma Bryans, Leader of Research

Date: June 20, 2017

Subject: Recommendation for Masters Program Research

Summary

The problem this research proposal is addressing is whether it is best for an individual to continue

onto graduate school immediately after receiving their undergraduate degree, or rather, gain work experi-

ence in between their undergraduate and graduate education. The program deemed necessary to accom-

plish this proposal is through both primary research via interview as well as online secondary research. I

am qualified to conduct this research through my current life position as someone who will be graduating

with my bachelors in a month. My similar circumstance to that of my audience will make my research

more relatable and thus useful for those who read it. I plan to complete my research and paper by June 30,

2017 with no expense due to my all online research and interviews. Through my research I will help my

audience who, like me, are looking for opinions, research, and advice prior to making a decision that will

affect the next years of their lives. I will provide an answer that will give each reader a better idea on what

is best for them based on their career goals and aspirations.

Purpose

The purpose of my research is to outline the advantages and disadvantages of obtaining a mas-

ters degree before or after gaining real-world work experience. Through both primary and secondary re-

search I want to provide my audience with the knowledge to make the decision they believe will provide

them with the best foot forward going into the next stage in their life.

Introduction

What is Wrong?

In today's business world a bachelor's degree is not as valuable as it once was and there is increas-

ing pressure for employees to further their education to graduate school. Although, I have heard from dif-
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ferent individuals with years of business experience that a graduate degree is more valuable if work expe-

rience is gained after a one's bachelor's degree and prior to graduate school. I want to investigate if, in

fact, there is a consensus that a graduate degree is more valuable if work experience is gained prior to

starting a graduate program. As an individual who is extremely interested in graduate school I find this

research subject interesting and personal as I have now decided to enter the work field for a few years

prior to getting my master's degree.

What is Lacking?

Credible information about the different opinions on the matter from well-respected individuals in

the business community. In addition, information such as 'how much work experience is necessary' are

not clearly answered. Furthermore, a more well written and researched place for students to go to gain

and understand all the information necessary for them to make a well informed decision is also lacking.

What is Unknown?

Unknown information includes the opinions of those individuals whose jobs are specific to hiring

and looking over resumes. Also, how much of an advantage those who have work experience prior to a

graduate degree have over those who do not.

What is the Felt Need?

This information will be extremely valuable for individuals, like me, who are close to receiving

their bachelor's and are looking into the next steps in their life. Deciding between working and applying

for and attending graduate school is a big step and I think by researching the subject I could help clarify

what is best for them.

History of the Case

The masters is now the fastest-growing degree among students in the United States. The number

awarded, about 657,000 in 2009, has more than doubled since the 1980s, and the rate of increase has

quickened substantially in the last couple of years. Statistics show that two in every 25 people age 25 and

over have a masters, about the same proportion that had a bachelors or higher in 1960. With more and

more individuals entering the workforce with degrees higher than a bachelors, competition is becoming

much more intense and expectations of applicants are becoming higher.

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Those interested in obtaining their masters have more to consider than just which school to at-

tend. Students must think of how their resume will look to potential employers and if they should gain

work experience prior to going back to school to advance their degree and achieve their masters degree.

There are pros to both waiting and jumping into graduate school right after finishing their undergraduate

degree. When attending graduate school immediately, a masters degree will provide a student with the

foundation of a field of study and can thus give him or her the edge once the real-world experience is

gained. Some fields, specifically science and health, place more emphasis on learning in the classroom

before being able to apply the skills in the real world.

Alternatively, waiting until one has work experience will allow the student to discover what areas

of business might be of particular interest to him or her. Masters degree courses can get very specialized,

and once a student has attained a title in a specialized area they may feel pressure not to change to another

area of study. Because graduate courses can be a financial burden, a student should have a strong sense of

his or her long-term goals prior to jumping in to further their education. In addition, a student who has

obtained real-life work experience prior to attended graduate school will presumably be better prepared to

grasp the concepts taught in the classroom.

Research Method

Task One

In oder to effectively and thoroughly collect data I conducted interviews of those whom have

years of experience in the field of business. One individual included Kevin Bryans, Country Manager of

Indonesia at Detmold Packaging with over 36 years of experience working all over Asia.

Task Two

I will be interviewing Jerome Hewlett, Vice President of Operations of the Invention Science

Fund at Intellectual Ventures, with more than 25 years of experience in multiple nations worldwide.

Task Three

I will be talking to Sean McNamara, Senior Managing Director at the technology company Ac-

centure, with 29 years of experience in both Ireland and the United States. These three resources provided

me with valuable personal opinions that, as of now, are not offered online. I chose these three individuals
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to interview for my research because they have the most upper-level business management in the most

amount of different cultures than anyone else I know or have access to. All three have valuable knowl-

edge and experience that I am now able to pass onto my audience. By interviewing these experienced in-

dividuals I obtained useful, relevant information that will provide my audience with a new insight on the

problem at bay.

Task Four

I conducted extensive secondary research using various sources in order to get a variety of opin-

ions to add to my paper. Such resources included the New York Times, Devex, and Investopedia which

provided me with interviews with professors at various universities around the world. The mixture of both

primary and secondary research allowed me to create a comprehensive and in-depth answer to my re-

search question and help my audience in their decision making process.

Task Five

After conducting both forms of research I filtered through each source to analyze and organize

their suggestions and advantages and disadvantages of each course of action. My primary goal was to

condense all information from each source into a paper that is much easier and less time consuming for

my audience to read. A decision of this level is hard for an individual to make and is not usually made

without gathering research and opinions on the matter from those around them who are knowledgable.

Thus, through my research report I want to provide these individuals with all the information that will

allow them to make a decision that they are confident in.

Results

Task One Interview with Kevin Bryans

1. What is more beneficial, gaining work experience prior to going to graduate school or attending grad-

uate school immediately after undergrad? Why?

A. An MBA is an enhancement to a person's undergrad and work experience. By getting 3-5 years

of business experience the person has the ability to interact and contribute more to the MBA edu-

cational process sharing and pulling from real experiences. This only improves the gains and

knowledge takeaways from going through an MBA program.

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2. When looking at someones resume, does someone with work experience and a masters degree have

a large advantage over an individual with just a masters degree?

B. First, it would depend on what type position is being applied for and what type work experience

the person had. Having work experience that isn't relevant is not much advantage. Having said

that, all else being equal the person with relevant work experience and an MBA post that experi-

ence would be viewed as being more well-rounded and grounded and not just steeped in five

years of educational theory. So, yes, the candidate's resume with relevant work experience and an

MBA would be viewed more positively.

3. Does not having work experience make an individuals masters degree less valuable?

C. Yes, it would diminish the value perception somewhat because of the lack of work experience. It

would be viewed as having one more year of educational theory without having the advantage of

tempering it with solid work experience.

Task Two Interview with Jerome Hewlett

1. What is more beneficial, gaining work experience prior to going to graduate school or attending grad-

uate school immediately after undergrad? Why?

2. When looking at someones resume, does someone with work experience and a masters degree have

a large advantage over an individual with just a masters degree?

3. Does not having work experience make an individuals masters degree less valuable?

A. It all depends so I will answer all three questions together. If the individual is going to a top tier

grad school where there are good internship opportunities, going right after undergrad is ok. The

work experience during the internship is key. That's where you land the job. If it's a lower school

than that doesn't have internship opportunities, having work experience matters.

Task Three Interview with Sean McNamara

1. What is more beneficial, gaining work experience prior to going to graduate school or attending grad-

uate school immediately after undergrad? Why?

A. There is no right answer, but in my opinion you get a lot more out of graduate school if you have

some work experience in something related to the program you will be doing. Someone will have
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spent so many years at school that I think working in between degrees gives a good break. Also if

you have a job, the employer may pay towards your MBA

2. When looking at someones resume, does someone with work experience and a masters degree have

a large advantage over an individual with just a masters degree?

B. Yes, assuming the work experience is relevant"

3. Does not having work experience make an individuals masters degree less valuable?

C. Not necessarily. During the masters program you should get an opportunity to do real work as

part of the projects you are asked to do.

Task Four Secondary Research

One thing that must be considered and researched by the individual is the requirements of the

program at the university of choice. Not all graduate programs have a work experience requirement, but a

majority of the reputable programs do and the requirements will vary. General MBA programs require up

to three years of experience while Executive and Professional MBA programs require upwards of 10

years of management experience.

Regardless of requirements, gaining relevant work experience can still be beneficial even if you

are planning on attending a program with no stated admissions requirement. Some professionals say that

the financial and personal benefits of a graduate degree are greater when real world experience is gained

prior to the program. Having anywhere between one to three years of experience will not only help a stu-

dent in a higher education program, but could also lead to paid-for tuition via your employing company.

Conclusion

Through my various research I have come to the conclusion that work experience prior to receiv-

ing graduate school education is important in order to make ones resume look as best as possible. Obvi-

ously, gaining a graduate school degree will never look poorly in the eyes of employers, but through my

thorough research it is evident that work experience prior to graduate school does look slightly better. In

addition, it better prepares the individual for the topics discussed in the program and allows them to have

a better idea of what they wish to accomplish in the long=run.

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Recommendation

Ultimately, I recommend that the individual who is looking into graduate school should consider

investigating into their specific major and what is right for them. Through a business standpoint, it is evi-

dent that gaining real life experience at a company will not only look better one a resume but will also

provide the student with better foundation in which to learn and apply knowledge in the classroom. In

addition, the student will have a better idea of their long-term goals when attending graduate school after

gaining experience in the different areas of business. By actually working within the industry, a student

has much more knowledge about what areas they may or may not want to pursue.

I believe further research should be done every few years as the standards for employee education

is continuously evolving. Over the last few decades the bachelors degree has grown in popularity im-

mensely, thus ones chances of standing out of the crowd after finishing ones undergraduate education is

much harder. As the rates continue to increase, recommendations for furthering ones education may

change as well, increasing the need for further research.

Work Cited

Bryans, K. (2017, June 19). Personal Interview with K. Bryans.

Dikici, A. (2016, March 24). Master's: Now or Later? Retrieved June 20, 2017, from http://www.master-

sportal.eu/articles/275/masters-now-or-later.html

Europe, S. I. (n.d.). Studying a master's degree vs. having work experience. Retrieved June 20, 2017,

from https://www.studyineurope.eu/aqa/masters-degree-vs-work-experience

Hewlett, J. (2017, June 18). Personal Interview with J. Hewlett.

McNamara, S. (2017, June 19). Personal Interview with S. McNamara.

Nath, T. (2015, April 14). Masters Degree Vs. Work Experience: Which One Is More Valuable? Retrieved

June 20, 2017, from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/041415/masters-degree-

vs-work-experience-which-one-more-valuable.asp

Pappano, L. (2011, July 23). The Masters as the New Bachelors. Retrieved June 20, 2017, from http://

www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/education/edlife/edl-24masters-t.html