A graduate degree allows you to specialize further in your area of study. For example, an individual who pursued a doctoral degree in psychology and did research in the area of smoking cessation is acknowledged as an expert in the field. An expert can get jobs that require specific knowledge, in this case possibly running a quit smoking school or clinic. An individual that only has an undergraduate degree in psychology would not be qualified for this same position.
Find out if getting a graduate degree will improve your status in your current career. Some positions, such as teachers, receive higher pay once a graduate degree is completed. You may be eligible for promotions or different opportunities within your company as well. Some organizations will pay for you to attend graduate school, which helps make it easier for you to pursue an advanced degree without accumulating debt.
If you enjoy doing research, writing papers and being a part of the academic community, graduate school is may be a good decision. Graduate school focuses on research, teaching and developing skills in your field, so it is necessary to enjoy this type of work to be successful as a graduate student. In graduate school you will have a chance to delve deeper into research and develop your own theories and applications. You have an opportunity to make a name for yourself in the scientific and academic communities by publishing articles and presenting your research at conferences.
Some career paths require that you attend graduate school in order to work in the field. One example of this is college professors at universities. Some schools will allow professors to teach with a master's degree, but most universities require a doctoral degree in order to be hired. Certain credentials are only possible after attending graduate school, such as psychologists or social workers. If you are interested in a certain field, find out whether you have to have a graduate degree before you are able to start your career.