If you work in tech, you know that your coworkers come from a wide range of backgrounds. You probably work with people without a degree, have their undergraduate in math, computer science, or a related degree, or have an unrelated degree, such as philosophy. Given the flexible nature of employment by tech firms, you may wonder if earning your master’s in computer science or programming has any benefits for your career.
Paying for Your Master’s
Taking out graduate school loans may not seem very enticing if you are already employed in your chosen field, but these loans have favorable repayment terms and a graduate degree in computer science can change the trajectory of your career. The salary boost you get from earning a master’s alone means that the degree makes great financial sense.
Flexibility in Your Career
While the barrier for entry for a tech career can be low, as long as you are a strong coder, once you are employed you may find you bump up against an invisible ceiling if you don’t have a strong education. An undergraduate degree gives you flexibility, but earning a master’s allows you to qualify for many different positions in Atlanta startup jobs and other parts of the U.S. Indeed, a master’s degree in computer science and programming opens a lot of career opportunities.. As a young programmer, you may think that this is what you want to spend the rest of your career doing, but the fact is, coding can be a pressure cooker. You are constantly required to produce, the specifications of a job may seemingly change overnight, and there will always be more people involved in every decision than you would like.
While these may seem like quirks of the business when you are starting, after years of seeing the same things repeat themselves at different companies and with different projects, you may decide you are ready for a change. Having a master’s allows you to find jobs in specialties you find interesting, such as artificial intelligence, or move up the chain of command and away from the day to day work of coding.
Built-In Respect
If you are a strong coder and love programming, you may think you would never want to switch careers. Maybe that is true, but maybe you want something different. Perhaps you want to work on a contract basis, moving from company to company so you are always working on something you find compelling and you can leave before the office politics start to wear on you. Maybe you want to freelance, taking on projects, and managing them from start to finish yourself. Perhaps you like your job just fine but would like to negotiate the ability to work from home or a more flexible schedule.
All of these desires are normal, and a master’s degree in computer science or programming can help you meet those goals. Earning your master’s allows you to stand out in what can be a crowded field. It shows that you have the focus and skills necessary to conquer a sizable goal. Having that master’s degree can be a terrific asset when you are negotiating for a contact, compensation, or other career-related matter.
