Why do so many jobs require masters degrees in this area?

[Anonymous]

Every time I see a posting for a non-specialized job (e.g., that requires a masters degree in order to apply, it makes me angry. How the hell does having a masters degree making someone more qualified over experience? It certainly helps, and I think its a great thing to have and to advance your education, but I find it odd that jobs that really don't require a masters degree to do well, are requiring one anyway.

[Anonymous]

Because the metro DC area has the most graduate degrees.

http://www.governing.com/blogs/by-the-numbers/graduate-professional-degrees-for-metro-areas.html

[Anonymous]

It's called "credential creep," and it's happening everywhere and in all fields.

[Anonymous]

It's everywhere OP.

I've seen secretary positions that want one. Crazy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every time I see a posting for a non-specialized job (e.g., that requires a masters degree in order to apply, it makes me angry. How the hell does having a masters degree making someone more qualified over experience? It certainly helps, and I think its a great thing to have and to advance your education, but I find it odd that jobs that really don't require a masters degree to do well, are requiring one anyway.

Just get a master's degree. It's not that hard. Tons of people at my workplace get one through Strayer.

[Anonymous]

Does it say it's REQUIRED or just preferred? Some places allow substituting years of experience for education.

I might avoid places that doesn't seem to be in tune with the requirements of a job and might be an indicator of their culture.

I have worked with some people who really tout their doctorates, ie introduce themselves as Dr. so and so, have it in their signature lines, etc. But then find out that they're not really cut out for the job and some of them are let go pretty quickly. Or end up bouncing around between different organizations. It actually seems like this happens to the people who tout their doctorates more, or maybe they're just more noticable. (there are others that do amazing work who I sometimes forget are doctorates until I see a reminder on their wall) But people with doctorates still hold more cachet in the organization and also the level of degree determines the ceiling you hit.

But I do appreciate what degrees bring. Where I've noticed or assume that people with degrees are more well rounded than some people without. So are able to grasp and pick up concepts quickly and expand on it. This is mostly in regards to two and four year degrees. Don't know if this applies to masters degrees and higher.

If it's a job that you're really interested in, I would suggest trying to apply for the job anyways and say something along the lines of how your years of experience can be considered as a substitute for a masters degree. You might find a manager who is willing to take that into account and it has worked for me in the past for some organizations. Some of them mentioned how the job posting description was created by the people in HR without their opinion or input. So it might not necessarily be the hiring manager's requirement.

It's also possible that your application never makes it past the HR system due to not meeting the checkboxes of requirements. And as mentioned before, you'd probably have to think about if you really want to work at a place that doesn't seem to be in tune of the real requirements of a job.

Also some of this might require you to really evaluate your position and the type of jobs you are looking for. Most of what I said above is based on the description of your original post, which I believe based on what I've seen. But it's possible that the positions you're looking at really do require a masters degree or higher. And if that's the case, you might want to look into making the time and money investment in pursuing a higher level degree.

And I originally wasn't going to say something along the lines of what the poster from 9:52 said. But kind of agree with this, that their are many diploma mills out there nowadays. But again, it goes back to the point if you really want to work for a place that's not in tune with the real requirements of the job. And knowing that some diplomas/degrees aren't as meaningful as others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every time I see a posting for a non-specialized job (e.g., that requires a masters degree in order to apply, it makes me angry. How the hell does having a masters degree making someone more qualified over experience? It certainly helps, and I think its a great thing to have and to advance your education, but I find it odd that jobs that really don't require a masters degree to do well, are requiring one anyway.

Just get a master's degree. It's not that hard. Tons of people at my workplace get one through Strayer.

At my job, I work with people with MBAs from Harvard, among other elite schools. We get paid roughly the same and do similar work. I am considered a high performer on my team, and perform just as well or better than most of them. Why should I be blocked out of better opportunities b/c I didn't pay for paper (in theory)?

At this point in my career, I am too locked in on family stuff to attempt to go back to school in my mid 30s at this point (3 kids, 3 aging parents with dementia). When I started in my field, having a masters was not a requirement for advancement. And for what? Why should I pay $70-150k for a degree I don't need to do the job? I get an employer wanting a preference for a masters. But to require, when its not needed, to me is confusing.

The solution for my situation would be to move to NYC, since I have way more connections there, and many jobs in my field up there don't have such requirements for advancement. But unfortunately thats not in the cards in the near future family wise. I have been working my networks down here, so I personally am not too worried, but to me the notion just angers me. Its unnecessary. Even on Wall St, while they do mainly hire newly minted MBAs, contrary to popular belief, its actually not a requirement to make it on the Street. If you have the skills, network, and track record, they will bring you in regardless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it say it's REQUIRED or just preferred? Some places allow substituting years of experience for education.

I might avoid places that doesn't seem to be in tune with the requirements of a job and might be an indicator of their culture.

I have worked with some people who really tout their doctorates, ie introduce themselves as Dr. so and so, have it in their signature lines, etc. But then find out that they're not really cut out for the job and some of them are let go pretty quickly. Or end up bouncing around between different organizations. It actually seems like this happens to the people who tout their doctorates more, or maybe they're just more noticable. (there are others that do amazing work who I sometimes forget are doctorates until I see a reminder on their wall) But people with doctorates still hold more cachet in the organization and also the level of degree determines the ceiling you hit.

But I do appreciate what degrees bring. Where I've noticed or assume that people with degrees are more well rounded than some people without. So are able to grasp and pick up concepts quickly and expand on it. This is mostly in regards to two and four year degrees. Don't know if this applies to masters degrees and higher.

If it's a job that you're really interested in, I would suggest trying to apply for the job anyways and say something along the lines of how your years of experience can be considered as a substitute for a masters degree. You might find a manager who is willing to take that into account and it has worked for me in the past for some organizations. Some of them mentioned how the job posting description was created by the people in HR without their opinion or input. So it might not necessarily be the hiring manager's requirement.

It's also possible that your application never makes it past the HR system due to not meeting the checkboxes of requirements. And as mentioned before, you'd probably have to think about if you really want to work at a place that doesn't seem to be in tune of the real requirements of a job.

Also some of this might require you to really evaluate your position and the type of jobs you are looking for. Most of what I said above is based on the description of your original post, which I believe based on what I've seen. But it's possible that the positions you're looking at really do require a masters degree or higher. And if that's the case, you might want to look into making the time and money investment in pursuing a higher level degree.

And I originally wasn't going to say something along the lines of what the poster from 9:52 said. But kind of agree with this, that their are many diploma mills out there nowadays. But again, it goes back to the point if you really want to work for a place that's not in tune with the real requirements of the job. And knowing that some diplomas/degrees aren't as meaningful as others.

Good points. The jobs they are posting now require a masters degree. It doesn't even specify what kind of masters degree. This is a new trend. Outside of Lawyers and Phds, very few of the people above me have masters degrees, or ones worth talking about. If you don't have the connects, this trend it essentially freezes mid-career professionals w/out a masters like me out of the market.

You are right about re-evaluating my career. I have been doing that lately. It seems a change of industry for me would result in a budget-crippling drop in pay that our family could not withstand at this point in time financially. In a sense, I feel a bit trapped.

I am thankful to have a good paying job. Just disappointed that uncessary barriers are being created to make it more difficult for me (and others like me) to advance.

[Anonymous]

I get what you are saying OP. I am a Managing Director of a retained executive search firm. Usually that is a guideline when it says Master's Degree (it's just a way to whittle down the number of potential candidates). Most of my clients would never hire a PHD unless its for a research role. They don't think PHDs can do well in a normal function.

DC is crazy. It is crazy to me that people want someone with a degree to be a receptionist when someone in high school could manage.

As others have said, it is pretty easy to get a grad degree if you can afford it. Many reputable schools now have online programs. (Please don't go to a for-profit university...those are scams). Get some dumb degree that takes minimal effort (like online PR or something like that).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Good points. The jobs they are posting now require a masters degree. It doesn't even specify what kind of masters degree. This is a new trend. Outside of Lawyers and Phds, very few of the people above me have masters degrees, or ones worth talking about. If you don't have the connects, this trend it essentially freezes mid-career professionals w/out a masters like me out of the market.

You are right about re-evaluating my career. I have been doing that lately. It seems a change of industry for me would result in a budget-crippling drop in pay that our family could not withstand at this point in time financially. In a sense, I feel a bit trapped.

I am thankful to have a good paying job. Just disappointed that uncessary barriers are being created to make it more difficult for me (and others like me) to advance.

pp again.

Well just don't forget the part about what I said that if it's a job that you're really interested in to try to apply for it anyways and really try to sell yourself and your experience.

Admittedly, I probably haven't been back in the job market more recently, we might be in different fields and industries, and I might eventually find myself in a similar position as you in the future. Although as mentioned I've already encountered ceilings and opportunities where I couldn't even be put into consideration due to degree requirements. Although I haven't seen anything as widespread as people are describing.

But don't give up hope. Again without really seeing what's out there, I would hope there are still companies out there that have what we consider more reasonable requirements for their candidates out there. It sounds like a lot of us in this thread might be in midcareer and started before this degree creep started to become a trend. And I would think many hiring managers out there started out before the degree creep as well. So would be willing to look past the education requirements. As mentioned, in talking about the education requirements in the interview some of them said they had no say in that description and blurb and it was put in by HR.

So your next step might have to be changing fields, unless it's something that you were already considering due to other issues with the field you're in. It's about having to wait for the right opportunity to come around.

I know some organizations have a schedule where they reevaluate the requirements and duties of a job, sees how it falls in line with other jobs in the area, and compare and adjust salary ranges as necessary. So for a secretary job, they might not want to pay what someone with a masters degree might be expecting. But again there is the question about the quality and worth of some degrees out there now. One organization that did a good job with this (some organizations that go through this process wasn't really meaningful in my opinion) was also one of the better places that I've worked at. Although they also tended to pay on the low side of the salaries too and probably did this as a way to make sure they weren't paying people too much. But either way I would have to believe there are still organizations out there with reasonable expectations and do this type of evaluation.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Does your employer have tuition reimbursement?

[Anonymous]

It's just a way to reduce the number of applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does it say it's REQUIRED or just preferred? Some places allow substituting years of experience for education.

I might avoid places that doesn't seem to be in tune with the requirements of a job and might be an indicator of their culture.

I have worked with some people who really tout their doctorates, ie introduce themselves as Dr. so and so, have it in their signature lines, etc. But then find out that they're not really cut out for the job and some of them are let go pretty quickly. Or end up bouncing around between different organizations. It actually seems like this happens to the people who tout their doctorates more, or maybe they're just more noticable. (there are others that do amazing work who I sometimes forget are doctorates until I see a reminder on their wall) But people with doctorates still hold more cachet in the organization and also the level of degree determines the ceiling you hit.

But I do appreciate what degrees bring. Where I've noticed or assume that people with degrees are more well rounded than some people without. So are able to grasp and pick up concepts quickly and expand on it. This is mostly in regards to two and four year degrees. Don't know if this applies to masters degrees and higher.

If it's a job that you're really interested in, I would suggest trying to apply for the job anyways and say something along the lines of how your years of experience can be considered as a substitute for a masters degree. You might find a manager who is willing to take that into account and it has worked for me in the past for some organizations. Some of them mentioned how the job posting description was created by the people in HR without their opinion or input. So it might not necessarily be the hiring manager's requirement.

It's also possible that your application never makes it past the HR system due to not meeting the checkboxes of requirements. And as mentioned before, you'd probably have to think about if you really want to work at a place that doesn't seem to be in tune of the real requirements of a job.

Also some of this might require you to really evaluate your position and the type of jobs you are looking for. Most of what I said above is based on the description of your original post, which I believe based on what I've seen. But it's possible that the positions you're looking at really do require a masters degree or higher. And if that's the case, you might want to look into making the time and money investment in pursuing a higher level degree.

And I originally wasn't going to say something along the lines of what the poster from 9:52 said. But kind of agree with this, that their are many diploma mills out there nowadays. But again, it goes back to the point if you really want to work for a place that's not in tune with the real requirements of the job. And knowing that some diplomas/degrees aren't as meaningful as others.

Good points. The jobs they are posting now require a masters degree. It doesn't even specify what kind of masters degree. This is a new trend. Outside of Lawyers and Phds, very few of the people above me have masters degrees, or ones worth talking about. If you don't have the connects, this trend it essentially freezes mid-career professionals w/out a masters like me out of the market.

You are right about re-evaluating my career. I have been doing that lately. It seems a change of industry for me would result in a budget-crippling drop in pay that our family could not withstand at this point in time financially. In a sense, I feel a bit trapped.

I am thankful to have a good paying job. Just disappointed that uncessary barriers are being created to make it more difficult for me (and others like me) to advance.

Not sure what "worth one talking about" means, but in my field (I'm an engineer) at my current job, lots of my colleagues have master's or above. But I haven't really seen a lot of job postings at my work that explicitly required a Master's or PHD or one that didn't allow you to substitute relevant work experience. However, if you have the credentials, then some promotions and pay raises can be accelerated.

At another research lab I worked at, very few people had Master's or PHDs in my department.

I say - if you can get your employer to pay for your Master's, you should suck it up and just do it. You'll have very little social life for 2-3 years if you're working at the same time, but it definitely helps out with job promotions and salary increases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does your employer have tuition reimbursement?

Yes, a small amount can be reimbursed. But my points still stand. I'm mid-career prof with a busy job and very busy home life caring for multiple kids and parents. Not trying to be snarky, but how the hell do I float a PT masters program on top of that both time wise and financially? I would love to hear suggestions on this honestly. Have some of you done this with these kinds of constraints?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's just a way to reduce the number of applicants.

I get that. Mission accomplished.