Mature student-Career change-Does good degree help w/employment??

Hello

I am 32 and have spent the last 2,5 years at home caring for a child.
I have Master's in Public policy from Germany, and before I had a baby I've worked for 1,5 years at medium sized company managing events.

Now I know exactly what kind of job I would be interested in (possibly financial company but not a job in finance! less technical, say Marketing or related) and would probably be good at - but recruiters ignore me completely because of (I think ) my non-UK education and experience. And experience in the UK is just insufficient for the kind of work I am looking for. both in terms of time and most importantly, essence. (event management is not technical or difficult enough - which is what I think they think)

I thought maybe if I get enrolled in one of the good unis and get another Master's (Marketing or Business) - that would make a difference to recruiters??

Is it worth the trouble?
Can I count on student career services to break that wall with recruiters I have now?
Or it will be another lost year plus (or rather minus thousands of pounds) with the same result in the end as recruiters would still look for experience in my sought field?

Thanks in advance

Is the 1.5 years in event management your only work experience? Or have you worked in marketing prior to your masters degree or in Germany? Do you have an undergraduate degree in marketing or similar? I think the advice people might give is going to vary depending on what the answers are. I've got a feeling that marketing is one of those professions where professional rather than academic qualifications matter in the UK. It might be worth having a look at the Prospects (www.prospects.ac.uk) website to check.

I have worked before, but only in international development. I think in UK its referred to as Charity jobs (?).
I was coordinating micro finance programmes (UN and the likes) for poor communities in Central Asia. Before Masters I've worked for 5-6 years (depending on whether to include part time jobs during undergrad. studies).

Thanks for the website advice, I'll look it up.

If the part-time jobs bolster your total apparent employment experience, include them.

However, it's professional qualifications and experience that are most likely to get you noticed in the the UK.

Have you considered applying for jobs at a lower level (risking the overqualified tab - although a different field to yours, I've been slapped with the overqualified tab) then working up within an organisation to build up relevant experience?


Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

I've applied a couple of times for the job of assistant for the role I really want but still no reaction. That's the lowest level I think, maybe receptionist is lower but nobody would consider me for reception as I've no experience at that at all. Can't get through recruiters. Wish I knew what do I need to get through to an interview stage.

But I can keep trying I guess. Thanks for advice.