Is there such thing as having too many degrees?

[Knk]

Does it look bad to an employer if an individual has numerous degrees. I am on my way to earning my third degree and I'm concerned that the fact that I have multiple degrees in unrelated fields will reflect poorly upon me when I'm trying to apply for a job. Will I look indecisive and therefore unappealing to the person hiring me?

I am pretty close to earning a diploma in journalism and early childhood education and soon I'll be attending a school in hopes of earning a degree in international development/business

When I'm applying for a job should I hide some of my academic qualifications from my employer so that I may look less indecisive?

Is there such thing as too many? are four degrees too many?

What is your opinion on this?

[Daffy Duck]

It depends on the person. To some, it might look indecisive. To others, you'll look well educated with experience in many areas. If the question of it comes up in an interview, just have a good answer ready.

[ragtag]

Yes. There are those that keep studying at the university forever and never do anything usefull. Like this one local bum here that studied till he more or less lost his mind, began sleeping in a hole in the ground near the uni and refused to wear shoes even in the winter. Last time I saw him, his feat were black from some kind of disease, so I'm guessing by now he's either dead or at some institute in a wheelchair without his legs. Yet, this guy had lots and lots of degrees.

[Knk]

Yeah. I'm definitely not planning on becoming a professional student. I'll be gradated by the time I'm 24.5 and then I'll be starting my career.

[CoolBee]

Yep and let me tell you, going back to uni to do your PhD when you're pushing 40 actually has the magic effect of 'deleting' all back work experience in the prospective employers mind and is, in fact, almost career suicide (unless it is related directly to your work!)

If I listed my degrees on the front of the CV like normal people - despite the fact I earned most of them while working full time thus demonstrating extreme time-management ability (work has never been enough to stimulate my brain cell) - it would look completely ridiculous so I just write "educated to postgraduate level XYZ University' and if there's something relevant to the job mention it - 'full list available on request'. (Of course, I am not anticipating playing the 'corporate career game' any more so that's all a bit theoretical now.)

No one does request it because frankly, 2 years out of uni and no one cares what degree you might or might not have got (only in terms of 'you have to have a degree to do this job because now every one gets 238 A* A levels, its the only way of picking you apart') because it's what you do at work that counts and we all know having a degree does not necessarily correlate to high performance at work or indeed a single grain of commonsense!

My advice to anyone is - you may need a degree in your chosen profession - in which case do it. Otherwise, do it because YOU want to to satisfy your OWN interests in life. It's unlikely to help your career any.

I even had one professional head who thought a BSc was the most ultimate hard qualification you could get and didn't understand why all these people with BSc were 'bothering with masters in their spare time because - you know - its not like they're as good as BSc'

[Knk]

Hey Cool Bee. That's exactly what I was thinking. That's a good idea to tell your employers only about the qualifications that are relevant to the specific career you're applying for. I was thinking of doing that but wasn't sure if that was considered dishonest. But I guess if you put "full list upon request" then it compensates for the omission.

[BlackFalcon]

No, in fact it's really cool to have many degrees!

[CoolBee]

Only thing Knk is - if you have done all yours full-time, you will have to explain the time away on your cv. So, maybe you were working as well in some capacity - remember to draw that out as well. If you are not working while studying and plan to keep going for a bit longer - start doing some kind of voluntary work or some kind of self-employed work (that you can DEMONSTRATE) alongside it.

I've 'double-tracked' most of my life - running full time work alongside study so I can emphasise the aspect I prefer - eg if the qualification is more important "I studied for my masters and worked as a X to support myself." If the work is more important "I worked as an X - and while doing that studied for my masters."

Re many degrees: additionally you may have to contend with:

. employers who despise them (because its not 'the real world')

. employers who failed their own and are envious/jealous

. employers who think that people who study in their spare time need to 'get a life' - which in the UK is considered to consist of going down the pub 3 nights a week and getting hammered - doing a masters in Astrophysics on Friday nights is definitely in 'space cadet' territory!

. employers who cannot understand why anyone undertakes any course of study not directly relevant to work and which may not result in a pay rise - they will sit there looking at you, shaking their heads going 'but why?' 'dude - because its my hobby and I want to - why is that worse than playing football on Sundays?'