Not necessarily. Employers don’t hire degrees, they hire people and there is no educational program that will guarantee you a job. More education, without more relevant experience, won’t result in finding a job more quickly. Seek out for opportunities to apply what you know in real world situations, in both paid and unpaid positions or in program with an experiential learning component (internship, field placement etc.). This will also help you make contacts and learn more about the fields that interest you the most.

People who pursue further education for this reason are usually the most satisfied with their decision. Taking the time to invest in something that is deeply meaningful to you is a perfectly legitimate reason for pursing more education.

Possibly, but until you have proven your abilities in the workplace, and risen beyond an entry level job, you will not likely see an appreciable difference in your income. Furthermore, many employers offer incentives for their employees to upgrade their knowledge and skills so you may be able to get time off or financial assistance for further education while you are working.

Sometimes a particular occupation does require a graduate degree (e.g. social work, finance) or professional training to advance. By carefully researching the expectations and practices in the fields that interest you, you can ensure you have the qualifications you need to get the kind of job you want, without investing in unnecessary programs.

In a dynamic, knowledge based workforce, you will need to upgrade what you know throughout your career. The days when there was a clear separation between your school life and your professional life are long gone. Life-long learning is the new-normal!

Paying tuition is probably the most expensive unemployment-avoidance strategy imaginable! Taking some time to consider your options and explore the possibilities, is often more prudent than registering for a program you are not particularly interested in because you don’t know what else to do.