"Some students are lucky enough to finish their undergraduate degree with all the right things – languages, internship, voluntary work, travel and commercial exposure, combined with a first class degree from a top class university. If you aren’t one of those, a postgraduate qualification can help," says Lucy.
Study and experience
"The only thing you need to worry about is becoming too academic. It is important to balance a postgraduate degree with some practical experience, like an internships or voluntary work.
"Companies have to hire students on their potential, rather than their proven success – the more you can exhibit that you have taken your own initiative to put your learning into practise the better.
"I want an applicant to demonstrate their passion/ambition/need to undertake a further qualification, understand what that means for my business and how they are going to enhance what we do."
Whatever you do, do it for the right reasons and make sure you get plenty of advice. Talk to careers advisers and other postgraduates – this will give you some idea of what you can expect to be faced with. Postgraduate study is too important to undertake half-heartedly.
Find out for yourself
Postgraduate fairs and open days are an excellent way to find out more about what further study involves. Armed with information gathered at these events you will be able to make a more informed decision when it comes to answering the question of whether or not postgraduate study will benefit you.
You will be able to talk to representatives from different universities and attend a number of talks that will give you more information on the world of postgraduate study, including how to fund it.
"Open days offer a great chance to explore a university. Usually individual academic schools will host events throughout the day," explains Michelle Munson, Postgraduate Recruitment Officer at the University of Manchester.
"These often consist of presentations or Q&A sessions and are designed to give visitors a chance to meet academics, administrative staff and, sometimes, current students to talk about the programmes.
"It also gives you time to find out what facilities are on offer to postgraduate students."
Further information
Why do postgraduate study? prospects.ac.uk/links/PGStudy
Postgraduate Fairs and Open Days prospects.ac.uk/fairs
