How many master's degrees should you have on your resume? The risks (and benefits) of overqualification

"A university degree is an essential requirement for companies that have hired recent graduates, unlike a master's degree, which is not perceived as an essential requirement." This is one of the notable findings of the latest report from the Catalan Agency for University Quality (AQU). It is a survey of employers on the training of university students. "One of the fundamental missions of higher education is to promote the employment of graduates," the AQU points out in the introduction to the document. "However, several studies point to a mismatch between university education and the real needs of the labor market, either due to a lack of specific skills or a shortage of graduates in certain fields," it warns.

All of this leads to a question that more and more recent graduates are asking: is it worth doing a master's degree immediately? And yet another: are two, three, or more necessary to have a competitive profile? The UAB Employability Service confirmed to ARA that, although there are no quantitative indicators to support this, they perceive that more and more students are pursuing more than one master's degree. Frequently, they point out, these are students who combine technical training with other management or strategy courses. However, they issue a double warning. "Extending the training period can delay entry into the world of work, and have a curriculum vitae "A person with a wealth of academic training but little professional experience can be an obstacle when looking for a job," they point out. So, what exactly does the employer community look at when choosing one candidate over another?

Beyond the master's degrees

According to the recent AQU survey of employers, only 36.5% of companies believe that university graduates are "fully prepared" to enter the workforce. Although 84% positively value the training they receive, employers detect gaps in key skills for everyday professional life. Among the most sought-after skills, problem-solving, teamwork, and oral communication are the most frequently cited. Other skills include learning ability, autonomy, and time management. These skills depend less on the number of master's degrees completed than on experience and the professional context in which they have been developed.

The UAB's Employability Service insists that, above accumulating qualifications, the most important thing is to have a clear professional goal and choose the training that truly helps achieve it. "We recommend that each person work on self-knowledge, discover their calling, and establish their own professional goal," they explain. This definition process should include both academic training and the required professional skills, and be tailored to each individual case. "If completing a master's degree can open the doors they desire, we definitely recommend pursuing it," they add.

Beyond the number of degrees, experts also emphasize managing expectations. According to the UAB's Employability Service, it is important for young graduates to "adjust their expectations to the reality of the labor market and avoid potential frustrations." Excessive training without a clear focus can end up generating discouragement if professional opportunities don't match what the resume promises. Therefore, they recommend defining a specific goal and thoroughly understanding the real needs of the sectors you want to enter.

Given this scenario, they recommend not making the decision to pursue a master's degree out of inertia or social pressure, but rather starting with a prior process of self-discovery and guidance. "Each person must discover their calling and establish their own professional goal," they insist. Once this goal is defined, it's necessary to determine what training and skills are necessary to achieve it, and whether a master's degree can be a good entry point. And, in any case, complement it with practical experience through external academic internships: a key way to put knowledge into practice, enrich one's resume, and facilitate job placement.