SVIC Facebook Q&A Discussion:
To get or not to get another Master’s Degree?
Question for the group:
*This question was asked to the community last August 19, 2022:
Poll question—a friend of mine is an investment banker at GS, and wants to leave. She wants an operational job at a tech startup. She has an MBA already (Sloan) and undergrad from Stanford, now considering Master’s in Computer Science from Chicago. Should she:
(a) Get the Master’s in Computer Science to broaden career options
(b) Do NOT get the degree, you don’t need it—just look for a new job
Community Answers:
Answer #1: Would it be helpful in getting a new & better job?
“She definitely has a great job and wants to work. Just a question as to whether a Computer Science degree would be helpful in getting a new / better job down the road.” —SVIC Member
Answer #2: You only need an undergrad degree to land in various ops roles
“Why do you need a Master’s degree after getting an MBA for an operational role? I only have an undergrad degree from a fairly mediocre state school and have been chugging away at a FAANG companies in various ops roles for 7+ yrs now.” —SVIC Member
Answer #3: If it’s for fun, challenge, or intellectual fulfillment
“Definitely don’t do the Master’s degree just for money / career development. But if it’s fun, a challenge, intellectual fulfillment they’re looking for, I’d highly recommend. I did mine in my late 20s (after having a tech career for a while), it was a blast.” —SVIC Member
Answer #4: MBA qualifies more for the ops role
“It seems like the MBA qualifies her more for the ops role than a Computer Science degree would. Maybe I’m stuck too much in the hardware world and don’t know what I’m talking about!” —SVIC Member
Answer #5: Do it part-time
“Get the job. If she wants the challenge, she could maybe do it part-time while she works/online. And get part of it paid for by the company.” —SVIC Member
Answer #6: In startup land, your actual experience goes way further
“For an operational role, just get the job. I assume her undergrad was in Computer Science [related] or so? If that’s the case, then she has enough of a base to capitalize on with the GS experience and Sloan MBA—really needs to look at better process / management.
Also depends on which stage of startup—if she is looking at Series B and up—then, definitely not.
I take that back—I don’t think there is anything a Master’s degree would help her in for an early stage role either if she isn’t looking for an engineering role.
If she wants to do the Master’s for the heck of it, and then try her hand at them—probably would be more impressive than similar candidates—although in startup land, your actual experience goes way further.
I had a Head of Growth role before going full time on my own growth marketing firm—I’m a college dropout, just been working with startups since I was 21.” —SVIC Member
Answer #7: If she decides to go get a Master’s degree, apply to a 1-year program
“Not sure if Master’s degree in Chicago is a 2-year program or a 1-year program. If she decides to go get a Master’s, it might make more sense to apply to a 1-year program.” —SVIC Member
Answer #8: Just needs the right connections
“Interesting that you brought this up. I had a person reach out to me who was an investment banker from Goldman Sachs. She wanted to change careers into HR recruiting/operations and I gave her some advice. She was able to land a role at Google and she’s been doing great.
She doesn’t need the degree, just needs the right connections to prove herself at a tech company. IF she aims for the FANG companies she’s going to face brutal competition against thousands of folks who are pure play ops people, so unless she has SOLID connects in FANG companies that are willing to overlook this, I would say she should start with a startup or mid-tier company that’s willing to work with her.
I mean she could land a FANG job, but it might be super jr or the pay might not meet her expectations.” —SVIC Member
Poll Resuts:
(a) Get the Master’s in Computer Science to broaden career options — 1 vote
(b) Do NOT get the degree, you don’t need it—just look for a new job — 80 votes
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