How postgraduate study can help your career

One of the fastest ways to make progress in your workplace is to set yourself apart from your colleagues, but exactly how do you do that?

Nessa studied a Master of Employment Relations with Griffith University, online through Open Universities Australia.

One of the fastest ways to make progress in your workplace is to set yourself apart from your colleagues, but exactly how do you do that?

Psychologist and career expert Suzie Plush says it’s not enough to just be good at your job anymore. To stand out, you need to find ways to be unique, keep learning, and develop a growth mindset. “You can’t afford to remain the same,” she says. “If you don’t keep improving your skills, you’ll become stagnant.Plush says developing a wide, well-rounded skill set is key to progression. “It’s all about diversification. The more ability you have, the more valuable you are to your company,” she says. “Part of that is developing a high EQ, or emotional intelligence. It’s really useful to be able to read a situation and react well, while also being adaptable and flexible.”As well as boosting these kinds of soft skills, Plush says the more hard skills and knowledge you can gain, the better. “Postgraduate study is a fantastic way to push ahead of the pack,” she says. “It broadens your mindset, enlarges your network and helps you gain knowledge and credibility – all of which are vital if you want to get noticed and move forward in your career.”When Melbourne-based Nessa wanted to do just that, she undertook Griffith University’s Master of Employment Relations online through Open Universities Australia (OUA) so she could study while balancing work and time with her family. Since completing her course, Nessa has been promoted to general manager of people and communications at Merri Health, and is aiming to become a CEO of a health and service support organisation.Nessa says gaining the qualification that led to her promotion was possible because she was able to study online, in her own time. “[OUA] fitted my lifestyle,” she says. “I couldn’t afford to actually take time off work to [study] on-campus…where I wouldn’t be able to work full-time. Having children, it’s very helpful in terms of trying to accommodate that juggle as well, because it means I can study at any time of the day.” Suzie Plush’s Top 3 Tips For Standing Out At Work: 1. Get into a growth mindsetBeing open to learning and continual improvement is priceless. Make sure you’re questioning your thinking, getting out of your comfort zone and taking on new challenges. You don’t want to stand still - the workplace is changing and you’ll be left behind if you do. You need momentum and you need to keep moving forwards. 2. Harness your strengthsSometimes we play into our weaknesses too much when we could be building up areas in which we’re naturally gifted. Zoning in on your strengths can be a very powerful tool, so identify what comes naturally to you and find ways to add competency in those areas, such as through practical experience or education.If you want to study but don’t want to commit to a full postgraduate degree then you might want to consider taking OUA's online postgraduate single subjects. This option enables you to undertake just one subject at a time with Australian universities, allowing you to focus on developing very specific areas of knowledge and increase your value as an employee. 3. Develop your personal brandFind out what makes you different – whether it’s your work style, your skillset or your network – then cultivate it and make it part of your personal brand. Whatever that difference is for you, it’s already setting you apart, so helping your unique attributes flourish is guaranteed to help you stand out even more.