How to sell your Master's degree to employers

Your Master’s degree has equipped you with specialised knowledge and research skills, which can put you at the front of the applicant pack, even if a postgraduate degree is not mandatory for a role.

Be prepared to provide specific details about your Master’s programme and how your modules have equipped you with the skills for the job. If your Master’s is not directly related to the role, think about the transferable skills you have gained. Master’s students can demonstrate self-motivation, excellent critical thinking and communication skills, alongside research and organisation skills.

Tailor your application

Any application is fundamentally a sales pitch. If you focus on how hiring a postgraduate can help the recruiter, rather than simply listing modules, this can be much more effective. Similarly, PhD supervisors will want to know how your Master's programme has prepared you for doctoral research.

Use examples which showcase skills from the job description and person specification. Explain any specialist skills you have gained e.g. technical knowledge, research skills, data analysis and so on.

Focus on the skills the employer needs and show how you’ve applied that skill in your Master’s to achieve a particular outcome. Quantify your achievements where you can, to show that you can not only learn, but you can apply what you’ve learnt to achieve an outcome.

Prioritise your postgraduate programme

If you’ve already got a good undergraduate CV, or you have a long work history, it’s tempting to squeeze your postgraduate programme into one line at the top of your current CV. It is much better to edit your current CV (or even start again), reduce your earlier experience and education, and create space to show the benefit of your current postgraduate programme, rather than just adding the name of the qualification.

Use language which will be understood by the recruiter

If you’re applying outside academia, check that the language you use in applications is understandable to recruiters – the first person who reads your CV may not be a specialist in your field. Where possible, translate your achievements into the language of the workplace you are aiming for.

Listen to professional podcasts or read relevant business articles aimed at people in the type of work you want – this will give you an idea of the terminology they might use.

When you have drafted your application, test out your descriptions on family and friends who are not on your course to see if they understand what you are trying to say.

The key thing to remember

When it comes to communicating your message, whether in a CV, a covering letter, a personal statement or an interview, your key driver is “what does that employer want to know to allow them to make their recruitment decision?” Tailor your application to emphasise that you have the skills they are looking for!