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Question from a Veteran about Opportunities with Higher Degrees

Advisor

Erik Schlacter New York, NY

Good Morning ACP Community! We have a question from a Veteran who is seeking advice when it comes to the different sorts of opportunities for Veterans with specific degrees:

"What opportunities are available for Veterans with higher degrees such as a Master's or PhD? How important is it to attain this level of education post military in order to be competitive in the hiring process?"

9 December 2016 7 replies Education & Training

Answers

Advisor

Dan Pierce Cincinnati, OH

I agree that an MBA is not a panacea but I think it is very useful if you are pursuing a career in business consulting or a path to corporate executive leadership. I have hired many former military officers over the years and when you break it down the business problems being solved are fundamentally the same. But the jargon and methods being used are much different.

Some people learn best through observation and discovery and will pick up the new jargon and methods just by being immersed in it. Others learn best through instruction and performing exercises. So I think the answer depends on your personal learning style.

9 December 2016 Helpful answer

Advisor

Katie Tamarelli Newport, KY

Hi,

Thank you for your service.

Any opportunity that would be available to a civilian would be available to a military member with an advanced degree.

Speaking in such generalities is challenging when speaking about advanced degrees. I think the usefulness of advanced degrees depends on what you are looking to do with it.

That being said, it is obviously an easy civilian certification that recruiters/hiring managers can identify. Some military roles can be difficult to translate into a civilian roles and in that case, the advanced degree may be particularly valuable.

Happy to speak offline.

Best,
Katie

14 December 2016 Helpful answer

Advisor

Drew Schildwächter Wilmington, NC

Agree with both answers.

Some careers require degrees (e.g. doctors, engineers, lawyers, etc.). Some jobs require degrees (e.g. business consultant for large firm). Some jobs more-or-less require degrees from certain places (e.g. business consultant for top-rated firm).

An MBA is not a panacea. (I use that as an example because a lot of people get one.) It may not hurt you directly, but spending time, money, and benefits on an education which is not necessary (or not timely) is a waste of resources and could set you back from getting what you do need (maybe experience, as John suggested).

9 December 2016 Helpful answer

Advisor

Neil Serafin Easthampton, MA

Unless you are now a 64 year-old working in a tenured position at a college.... PhD means little. In private industry....experience and the ability to improve the next quarters bottom line is what you need, not a PhD The only PhD path I have seen that makes sense....class room teach for a few years....take principal license....become principal....have district pay for your PhD ..become school district superintendent...You and the county fire head will then be highest paid county employee...retire with a BIG pension.

9 December 2016 Helpful answer

Advisor

John Green Cary, NC

For good paying jobs, its not.

Experience and skillset trump college credentials.

For jobs that are esoteric in nature, like marine biologist, an advanced degree would be an asset.

If your career goal is to earn a good living, check out the salary guide at Robert Half to help point your efforts in the right direction.

https://www.roberthalf.com/workplace-research/salary-guides

Note the better paying jobs focus on technology and skills. Specialization in a particular technology area brings the most reward.

9 December 2016 Helpful answer

Advisor

Carol Lindberg San Diego, CA

Lack of viable employment is one of the biggest challenges faced by veterans when they go home and return to private life. This is surprising, since a substantial number of veterans either have bachelor's degrees or Master's degrees, marks of higher education that are valued by commercial organizations, NGOs and the Federal government. Here are three areas that offer veterans with Master's degrees and PhDs favorable options for employment.

Education:
Teaching opportunities abound for veterans with Master's degrees and PhDs. Community colleges, high schools and universities routinely recruit new teaching staff with these degrees. Veterans also have good chances for non-teaching employment in the academe. PhD holders are valued for their administrative expertise and skills in research and public affairs. Job options in this area may include data analysis about the academic institution and the application of such analysis to institutional problems. In academic affairs, veterans with relevant degrees can take up advising and guidance roles in counseling, social work student career service, and international student affairs.

Veteran Social Work Career Resource: http://socialwork.unr.edu/resources/infographics/social-work-and-the-military-treating-veterans-and-their-families/

Public Sector:
Jobs in Civil Service, government agencies and even local governments are open to veterans who have the necessary training in data analysis, research and communications. The Federal Government is one of the best areas where veterans with higher degrees thrive, with its diverse and numerous branches that offer PhDs with many choices that go beyond the academe. Some examples include jobs in the State Department for those with language and culture backgrounds, data analysis in the CIA and architectural and engineering jobs in the public works sector.

Consultancy:
Veterans with degrees in higher education can enter into consultancy. The military is prime training ground for problem solving and management, two of the most valuable skills needed in consultancy in government, various industries, commercial organizations, and think tanks. Veterans can play important roles in policy-making, policy analysis and administrative management in areas such as IT and business. Other tasks performed include making benchmarks among comparable organizations and devising strategic goals for a commercial organization or an NGO. Veterans with the relevant degrees can even set up their own consulting firms that either serve one specific industry or serve different industries.

Business Goal-Setting: http://projectmgmt.brandeis.edu/resources/infographics/goal-setting-101-why-smart-goals-are-important-to-project-success/

Veterans with degrees in higher education have favorable options for employment when they come home. The government also provides career counseling in order to match veterans with the ideal positions that best fit their degrees or fields of expertise.

Advisor

June R Massoud Burlington, VT

It depends what field you're in. If you want to be a research scientist or research engineer, then a Master's or PhD is a good idea. However, I have known engineers with a bachelor's degree and 25 years experience, continue to learn on the job and become as knowledgeable as PhD's without it.
Many employers don't like too much education without work experience. They much prefer someone with a lot of work experience which shows they can merge with industry and commerce. It all depends where you plan on working. Government scientists or engineers sometimes need more education, however.

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