Is My MSW Degree Worth It? Seeking Advice on Career Growth and Short-Term Courses

Hi all,

I am new to the forum. I have completed a Master of Social Work with a specialization in Labor Welfare & Personnel Management. It's been 2 years since I started working, but my career progress in terms of salary package has not been as expected. Does an MSW degree hold value in the job market? If so, could you please suggest a short-term management course that may help me advance in my career?

I am really concerned about my career as things are not going well. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards, Neha

Dear Neha,

There is no need to pursue another course because you have already completed your HR degree with specialization. Please let me know the industry in which you are working. I am an MSW (HR&IR) graduate and am very satisfied with my qualification and job.

Thank you.

Dear Neha,

MSW has its own merit. It all depends on how he or she presents themselves during the interview or at work. An MBA from a reputed institute will have an edge over us as they come from esteemed institutions and are highly projected. No doubt, these MBA students will put a lot of effort into learning and projecting themselves, showing overall development in their activities. An MSW from a reputable university is also good. However, I have noticed that MSW students often struggle with projecting themselves and may lack communication/presentation skills, appearing shy and reluctant to come out of their shell. They need to make efforts to improve these skills.

I am also an MSW student from the 1974 batch of Bangalore. However, all my learning and skill improvement happened during my career. You will need to put in a lot of effort to compete with students from premium institutes like IIMs (not smaller institutes or part-time MBAs). An MSW degree is far superior to these quick-fix, lesser-known MBAs. Do not underestimate the value of an MSW as a postgraduate degree. I retired as a Vice President - HR from a reputable organization, handling both HR and challenging IR situations. I am currently working as the Head of HR in a respected industry at the age of 61.

Maintain a positive attitude and strive to improve your English, presentation skills, communication skills, body language, and, of course, your subject knowledge. Merely projecting a false culture or image will not get you far.

Regards,

B N Nagaraj