The Rewards (and Demands) of Earning a Masters While Working
It's not for the faint of heart.
It's not easy juggling school and work at the same time. But for many of us, it's the only way we can advance our careers and gain the knowledge we need to either pivot to something new or move ahead in our current organization. Today I’m dedicating this edition of Communication Matters to all my readers who do this Herculean task, particularly the USC students in my two sections of Managing Communication right now.
Even if you’re not pursuing a degree while working, please read on. I promise tips that you can share with others who have chosen this unique pathway.
I've earned both of my advanced degrees while holding demanding full-time positions. In 2002, I earned my MBA at NYU's Stern School of Business while working full-time at an Internet start-up. (Now defunct, but I swear it was not my fault.) In 2012, I earned my EdD at Penn's Graduate School of Education in a unique Executive Doctorate program while also working full-time at Stanford. (Yeah, on the other coast.) Neither of these academic journeys was easy for me, but both were well worth it.
I recently submitted final grades for the students in my Communicating Change and Strategy summer course. This gave me a brief moment to pause and consider both the rewards and the demands of pursuing rigorous degrees in part-time programs while continuing to work full-time. While the experiences shared below primarily reflect my own, I suspect others may be having similar experiences. From both sides of the lectern, I see at least three clear benefits: creating lifelong relationships, applying lessons immediately, and accelerating your career.
1.) Create Lifelong Relationships
In both my degrees, I would place the collegial relationships I gained as the top benefit. (That's hard for me to confess as a faculty member...but it's true.) I now have a cohort of colleagues around the country who form an unofficial "board of directors" to help me navigate my own career and solve vexing problems at work (and home).
There's not just the shared experience of classes and group projects that we enjoy, but we also have a mindset around our careers that connects us. We've attended each others' inaugurations, served on review teams together, and created joint conference presentations. While my MBA colleagues are less present in my life today, they are still just a LinkedIn message away. In all degrees, you make friendships, but I will assert that there's a greater depth and connection when you take on something as demanding as studying while working full-time together. You share a grit and accomplishment few others can fully appreciate.
2.) Apply Classroom Lessons Immediately
When you are working while also learning, there is an inescapable intersection of what you do at work and what you do in class. I've enjoyed the way my students have effectively brought in examples from their "day jobs" to illustrate concepts I'm teaching. In fact, a recent data visualization class was massively improved by examples my students had created or found on the job. One former student shared with me that whenever he was in class on Saturday he was also making lists about what he needed to share with his team on Monday, based on the topic he was studying. When you can assimilate what you are doing at work with the latest research you gain from the faculty, both your peers and your employer stand to benefit.
3.) Accelerate Your Career
Employers recognize the value of an employee motivated enough to juggle school and work effectively and want team members with that spirit.
If I had two candidates with equivalent qualifications and experiences, but one completed a degree part-time while working and the other enjoyed the "luxury" of taking a year or two off to get a degree full-time, I'd take the first candidate. That's the kind of team member I'd see as willing to go the extra mile to get the job done.
To be sure, juggling school and work (and family and social life) at the same time demands a focus and energy not everybody can invest. It's not for the "faint of heart," as they say. Not only must a part-time student budget in time for classes (and sometimes travel) but also time for homework. I didn't do that during my first few semesters at NYU Stern, and my transcript reflects that choice. I soon realized, however, that I needed to block out in my calendar "homework time," just as I had reserved class time.
Beyond that tough lesson, you may have to admit upfront that you cannot do it all. There may be family events you miss. You may have to forgo certain conferences and non-essential work travel to attend class and complete homework. Finally, for those of you who are used to excelling in all that you do, it may be humbling to accept a few B’s along the way when you just didn’t have time to do a class perfectly. (As we often said, “B’s get degrees.”)
In today's work environment, earning an advanced degree while continuing to work is an option that I think more people should consider. Many employers offer a tuition reimbursement benefit that can help defray part of the costs. While full sponsorship of advanced degrees happens less and less these days, supporting employees to get advanced degrees while continuing full-time work should be on the rise. It makes sense for both the employer and the employee.
If it's something you've always considered, now may be the time to move from idea to action. I'm certainly glad I did, and I think you will be too.
JD’s Recommendations: what I’m reading, hearing, and seeing:
Reading: Adam Grant motivates me to read more with The 12 Books to Fire Up Your Brain this fall.
Hearing: This star-studded rendition of The Impossible Dream inspired me to learn more about Broadway for ALS and Aaron Lazar’s remarkable journey.
Seeing: Jeremy Utley’s done it again. Check out his first-ever short vlog about Taking a Wonder Wander to brainstorm alone. I did; let’s compare notes.
Thanks for reading Communication Matters. Please comment below, share this with others and invite them to subscribe. We’re consistently reaching more than 1,500 readers with each issue and would love to see our subscribers top that number, too.
As always, jds
P.S.: You don’t want to miss this event…Whether you are in the Bay Area or around the world, consider registering and joining me on Friday, September 20, for Rugged Elegance Presents…Discovery: Revealing the Power of the Pause. This free event will inspire you with talks given by six change-making leaders who’ve harnessed the power of the pause to achieve clarity before moving forward to catalyze their businesses, movements, and initiatives. More on this next week, but registration is open today.