Responding to Doubts About "Watered-Down" Master's Degree Abroad

"As long as you have money, you can obtain a foreign degree!"

"The one-year Master's degrees of overseas students in the UK are too shallow; how much can you learn in one year?"

"They call themselves international students, but they never even left the country; just staying at home and taking online courses, can they learn anything?"

Every year during the recruitment season, international students often hear many doubts about their education and capabilities. How can international students remove the "watered-down" label and successfully find their desired jobs? The following stories might offer some insights.

One-Year Master's too Brief?

Before we dive into the details in this blog, let us share with you a story that occurred to one of our friends. 

"Why do you only have one year of study abroad experience? One year probably isn't enough to learn anything useful." HR slammed the resume on the table and left the meeting room. Sitting across from the interview desk, Zoe lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes.

"It's not like that at all; although it's just one year of study abroad experience, I've worked very hard, and my grades are good." Zoe wanted to explain, but under the stern gaze of the HR representative, Zoe, who was already introverted by nature, struggled to find the words.

Zoe is a one-year Master's student in the UK, and this is her first time job hunting after graduation. She was full of expectations, but during the interview, she was questioned by HR about the brevity of her one-year experience, implying that her one-year master's program was "superficial." Zoe felt discouraged, and her first job search seemed to have ended in failure.

"Am I going to be labeled as 'watered-down' for the rest of my life?" Zoe felt disheartened. Back at home, she remembered that her cousin was also a one-year Master's student in the UK and is now working for a well-known company. "Maybe my cousin can provide some guidance," she thought, and Zoe called her cousin.

After hearing about Zoe's situation, her cousin comforted her through her own experience. It turned out that her cousin faced the same issue when job hunting. However, her cousin didn't give up and eventually shattered the "rumor" with her own strength.

Her cousin told Zoe to be confident and not fall into HR's "verbal trap." A short period of study does not equate to being "watered-down." As a one-year Master's student in the UK, even though the duration is short, it is a legitimate Master's program. The academic pressure is no less than that of a three-year Master's program in your home country, and sometimes it's even more intense.

Additionally, you can turn your disadvantages into advantages. A short duration of study is undeniable, but precisely because it's short, it can motivate international students to be more eager to learn and diligent.

"Don't be disheartened, Zoe. Believe in yourself, and you'll definitely succeed! Our situation is just an example; in fact, the majority of HR professionals are very professional."

With her cousin's encouragement and support, Zoe regained her confidence. Not long after, she found herself sitting in front of the interview table once more. The HR representative on the other side once again raised doubts about the short duration of her UK Master's program. This time, Zoe didn't back down. She took a deep breath and spoke calmly.

"Thank you for your question, interviewer. Although one year of study is short, it's precisely because of this that I understand the value of time and cherish the opportunity to study abroad even more. While most people have 24 hours in a day, I have pushed myself to extend time limitlessly, working hard, practicing diligently. You can see that my grades and internships have been quite impressive..."

In the end, Zoe won the job offer with her composed and confident responses, a calm demeanor, and her solid and proficient professional skills. She used her strength to dispel the "watered-down" label.

How to Change HR’s Impressions

When international students face doubts from HR, they shouldn't panic. Instead, they can focus on several key points to change HR's impressions.

1. Read Between the Lines

Explore the true intention behind the doubts.

An experienced HR professional once said that when HR questions international students, it's often not about the actual doubts; it's more about observing the students' attitudes, politeness, and ability to handle pressure. For instance, when HR doubts Zoe's UK one-year Master's program, the key issue is not whether it's superficial. At this point, international students need to read between the lines of HR's questions and use facts to convince them.

2. Turn Disadvantages into Advantages

Be proactive in admitting and seek alternative approaches.

One-year Master's programs are shorter than others, which is a fact that cannot be denied. So international students can proactively acknowledge this and seek alternative approaches. HR may lack information about the student's school ranking and field of study. So, international students, while admitting to the short duration, can emphasize their university's rankings and the influence of their supervisors. They can also mention their outstanding grades and scholarships to break free from the interviewer's preconceptions.

3. Short Duration Doesn't Equal Shallow Knowledge

Boost your courage.

International students should help HR understand that a short study duration doesn't mean shallow knowledge. Students can explain that the tight schedule of a one-year program actually increases the academic pressure. Moreover, the shorter duration allows international students to save costs and invest their savings into research. The one-year program offers a fast-paced, intensive curriculum, which demands higher levels of performance from students. Therefore, those who choose one-year Master's programs are indeed courageous individuals who are unafraid of challenges. This kind of courage will also be highly valuable in their future careers.

Struggling with online courses at home due to the pandemic became a "stumbling block" in job hunting?

Lin Miao, who studied in Australia and had to stay put due to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, was forced to switch from offline to online courses. While this change reduced the risk of virus transmission and ensured the health of international students, Lin Miao faced skepticism from HR when looking for a job.

"As a company, although we understand that due to the pandemic, you can only attend online courses, we believe that the effectiveness of online courses is far inferior to in-person ones. You can't even meet your professors online; how can your professional skills be solid?" HR questioned sternly. However, Lin Miao was not disheartened. He understood that HR didn't know him well and was unaware of the benefits of online courses.

Lin Miao pondered for a moment and calmly replied to HR: "Firstly, taking online courses reduces the risk of virus transmission, ensuring the physical health of international students. Secondly, online courses offer a flexible format that allows for repeated learning, facilitating a deeper understanding. Moreover, studying from the dormitory provides more freedom in managing time, enabling us to read more books and improve ourselves. Additionally, living independently abroad, from renting and healthcare to daily necessities, has significantly enhanced our self-sufficiency."

Through in-depth conversation, HR eventually gained a comprehensive understanding of Lin Miao's experiences and was impressed by his emotional intelligence and professional competence. Consequently, Lin Miao received the job offer.

Dealing with Negative Evaluations from HR

In recent years, many international students have had experiences with online courses due to unforeseeable circumstances. During the job-seeking process, they often face negative evaluations from HR. 

In such situations, international students can consider the following approaches:

1. Breaking Down Information Barriers

When facing HR's doubts, the first step is to think about the reasons behind HR's perspective. The reasons usually boil down to either the students' abilities or HR's lack of understanding. Students are the best judges of their own abilities, so the first reason can be excluded. That leaves the second reason. For instance, when it comes to online courses, international students need to explain the specific circumstances and advantages to HR to help them gain a better understanding.

2. Highlighting the Core Role of International Students

When responding to HR's questions, address each question methodically. Most importantly, highlight the core role of international students, demonstrating your most significant competitive edge to HR. Shift HR's focus from secondary factors like "online courses" or "staying at home" to the students themselves.

3. Firm Attitude and Politeness

International students should keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to secure the job offer. Therefore, don't waver in the face of HR's doubts or denials and avoid displaying emotions. After showcasing yourself adequately, reiterate the alignment between your profile and the position. Maintain a determined and composed attitude to demonstrate your commitment and determination. Additionally, pay attention to etiquette during the communication process, remain confident, and be polite.