NationStates Jolt Archive


Career options for those without a degree

Imperio Mexicano
29-12-2007, 01:18
Surely some must exist. Does anyone here have a decent job (i.e., able to live reasonably well and support a small family) but not a degree? Or know of such a job?
Neu Leonstein
29-12-2007, 01:19
If you're happy to travel, go to the mines in the Aussie outback. They're desperate for people and pay utterly ridiculous salaries.
Brutland and Norden
29-12-2007, 01:19
Be an entrepreneur.
Imperio Mexicano
29-12-2007, 01:20
If you're happy to travel, go to the mines in the Aussie outback. They're desperate for people and pay utterly ridiculous salaries.

Ridiculous in what sense?
Snafturi
29-12-2007, 01:20
I'm a marketing director and have no degree.
Rubiconic Crossings
29-12-2007, 01:21
I'm a Technical Support Manager...with no degree...
Tekania
29-12-2007, 01:21
Surely some must exist. Does anyone here have a decent job (i.e., able to live reasonably well and support a small family) but not a degree? Or know of such a job?

Most IT jobs do not necessarily require a degree, as long as you have past experience and/or enough in the way of certifications... Though I have a degree, it plays no real part in my job... In fact, I was working in IT long before I had any degrees...
Snafturi
29-12-2007, 01:23
I also made a good liveing in sales with no degree.
Gift-of-god
29-12-2007, 01:24
I know a guy who turned 3 years of experience as a labourer into a job drawing construction details for an architectural company. Night school in some sort of software (CAD?) helped him out, if I recall correctly. Mostly, he worked his contacts.
Neu Leonstein
29-12-2007, 01:24
Ridiculous in what sense?
Ridiculous in the sense that a pretty much unskilled newbie can score salaries of A$70,000+ (~ US$61,164).
Dyakovo
29-12-2007, 01:27
Truck driver
Imperio Mexicano
29-12-2007, 01:31
Thanks, everyone.

Are any of these jobs capable of being performed by idiots? If so, I'll have to look into some of them. ;)
Lunatic Goofballs
29-12-2007, 01:38
The world needs ditch-diggers too. :)
JuNii
29-12-2007, 01:39
Surely some must exist. Does anyone here have a decent job (i.e., able to live reasonably well and support a small family) but not a degree? Or know of such a job?

psst (http://www.education-reform.net/dropouts.htm)... Cyndi Lauper, H.G. Wells, Jimmy Dean, Cher, Ray Charles, Pierce Brosnan, Peter Jennings, Lucille Ball, Patrick Stewart, Charles E. Culpeper, Albert Einstein, John D. Rockefeller Sr... all were drop outs or did not complete their formal education.

and somehow... I believe they did earn enough to support a small family... :p
Call to power
29-12-2007, 01:39
I myself never really thought about it that way, I just picked a job I want to do and fill the requirements out :confused:

if I recall correctly. Mostly, he worked his contacts.

I think this is what it all comes down too sadly

set up crazy house parties and invite bank managers, you will be rich in no time :D

Ridiculous in the sense that a pretty much unskilled newbie can score salaries of A$70,000+ (~ US$61,164).

hmmm seems like if the shit hits the fan I will be running to Australia instead of the foreign legion

whats the catch? mutant cave drop bears?

Are any of these jobs capable of being performed by idiots? If so, I'll have to look into some of them. ;)

try customer services or any job in general

The world needs ditch-diggers too. :)

you need a degree in arts to do that silly :rolleyes:
Dyakovo
29-12-2007, 01:40
Thanks, everyone.

Are any of these jobs capable of being performed by idiots? If so, I'll have to look into some of them. ;)

Well, its been implied recently that I'm an idiot, so yes :)
Neu Leonstein
29-12-2007, 01:42
whats the catch?
Dust, 45°C temperatures, rednecks, drunk Aboriginals, long workhours...

It's in the outback. That just about says it all.
Snafturi
29-12-2007, 01:47
Thanks, everyone.

Are any of these jobs capable of being performed by idiots? If so, I'll have to look into some of them. ;)

Well, sales just requires the right personality. But that's not learned. You either have it or you don't.
Call to power
29-12-2007, 01:47
Dust, 45°C temperatures, rednecks, drunk Aboriginals, long workhours...

It's in the outback. That just about says it all.

no women for miles and miles?
Imperio Mexicano
29-12-2007, 01:48
Dust, 45°C temperatures, rednecks, drunk Aboriginals, long workhours...

It's in the outback. That just about says it all.

Sounds physically demanding. Someone who is not physically fit (i.e., me) couldn't handle that. Plus, there's the whole problem of getting to Australia.
Neu Leonstein
29-12-2007, 01:48
no women for miles and miles?
I'd dare guess that the ratio would be unfavourable, yes.

I think most people go there for a few months and then take a few months off to go back home. You've got to be a bit...special in the head to actually want to live in places like Mt. Isa.
The Goa uld
29-12-2007, 01:51
If I don't flunk out of the academy this coming March, I'm set to be a Cop. No degree required, well at least not with the CHP, but you would need one for the higher ranks.
Pan-Arab Barronia
29-12-2007, 02:14
Laboratory Technician. You get to play with chemicals and operate machinery worth more than your year's pay. Awesome job.
Brutland and Norden
29-12-2007, 02:16
Laboratory Technician. You get to play with chemicals and operate machinery worth more than your year's pay. Awesome job.
Yes, and if you destroy the machinery... a year's worth of play without pay! :D
Rubiconic Crossings
29-12-2007, 02:17
Laboratory Technician. You get to play with chemicals and operate machinery worth more than your year's pay. Awesome job.

I am an inveterate presser of buttons...I want your job.

Computers these days just don't have as many buttons as they used to.
Rubiconic Crossings
29-12-2007, 02:18
Yes, and if you destroy the machinery... a year's worth of play without pay! :D

ah crap :(
Pan-Arab Barronia
29-12-2007, 02:21
Yes, and if you destroy the machinery... a year's worth of play without pay! :D

Ha. Only last week I wrecked £4,000 worth of CHN detector detectors by not changing a helium bottle in time. Alright, I left it two weeks - I didn't know how!

But bat an eyelid - they did not. (£4,000 is like...3 months of my pay. That's a looooot of overtime.)
Brutland and Norden
29-12-2007, 02:25
Ha. Only last week I wrecked £4,000 worth of CHN detector detectors by not changing a helium bottle in time. Alright, I left it two weeks - I didn't know how!

But bat an eyelid - they did not. (£4,000 is like...3 months of my pay. That's a looooot of overtime.)
Good thing you weren't fired... or fried... ;)
JuNii
29-12-2007, 02:27
Ha. Only last week I wrecked £4,000 worth of CHN detector detectors by not changing a helium bottle in time. Alright, I left it two weeks - I didn't know how!

But bat an eyelid - they did not. (£4,000 is like...3 months of my pay. That's a looooot of overtime.)

which is a valid excuse. but I'll bet they do more than bat an eyelid should you do that after you had training...
Call to power
29-12-2007, 02:33
Sounds physically demanding. Someone who is not physically fit (i.e., me) couldn't handle that. Plus, there's the whole problem of getting to Australia.

immigrants manage it, just build a raft and they will come :)

I'd dare guess that the ratio would be unfavourable, yes.

I think most people go there for a few months and then take a few months off to go back home. You've got to be a bit...special in the head to actually want to live in places like Mt. Isa.

endless drinking for a few months followed by a long holiday in one of Australia's tourists spots doesn't sound bad at all, its like the military without the discipline or camping

you will be a bit screwed if you ever want to settle down but well worth wasting your youth on

If I don't flunk out of the academy this coming March, I'm set to be a Cop. No degree required, well at least not with the CHP, but you would need one for the higher ranks.

the police force will bend over backwards when that time comes though so you have struck gold

Laboratory Technician. You get to play with chemicals and operate machinery worth more than your year's pay. Awesome job.

what is it your actually supposed to be doing though?

But bat an eyelid - they did not. (£4,000 is like...3 months of my pay. That's a looooot of overtime.)

call claims direct and say you got glass in your eye and chemicals that turned you into Mothra
Pan-Arab Barronia
29-12-2007, 02:46
what is it your actually supposed to be doing though?

Playing with chemicals and machines worth more than I am - I work as a Fuels Analyst/Laboratory Technician for npower. I burn things for a living. It's so awesome.

call claims direct and say you got glass in your eye and chemicals that turned you into Mothra

Reminds me of something my friend did. Burnt himself on a stove at his store, admitted it was his fault, then sued the company.

Got £1000. Bastard.

Good thing you weren't fired... or fried... ;)

Well, it operates at 975 deg. C. It's perfectly valid possibility. :p

which is a valid excuse. but I'll bet they do more than bat an eyelid should you do that after you had training...

I'll let you know ;)
Call to power
29-12-2007, 03:05
Playing with chemicals and machines worth more than I am - I work as a Fuels Analyst/Laboratory Technician for npower. I burn things for a living. It's so awesome.

why do I get the feeling you will be leaving this job with some "issues" ;)

Reminds me of something my friend did. Burnt himself on a stove at his store, admitted it was his fault, then sued the company.

Got £1000. Bastard.

thats what they get for having hot stoves!

put some plasters in your KFC and you can get £10,000 :cool:
Smunkeeville
29-12-2007, 03:11
any kind of service job, doing things people don't want to do but will pay you to, maid service, landscaping, nanny, etc. It may not pay much to begin with, but with proper investment of time and capital you can get to a point that you hire out most of it and are basically running the business.
Myrmidonisia
29-12-2007, 03:31
Any trade you can apprentice to... plumbing, electrician, carpenter, HVAC, mechanic. All those earn a pretty decent wage. With experience, comes responsibility and higher earnings. My brother-in-law was a carpenter, now a site superintendent (manager), and he out earns me, a PhD in Physics. He does it with bonuses for early completion and things like that.
Imperio Mexicano
29-12-2007, 03:41
Any trade you can apprentice to... plumbing, electrician, carpenter, HVAC, mechanic. All those earn a pretty decent wage. With experience, comes responsibility and higher earnings. My brother-in-law was a carpenter, now a site superintendent (manager), and he out earns me, a PhD in Physics. He does it with bonuses for early completion and things like that.

Those require driving. I'm disabled and can't drive.
Pan-Arab Barronia
29-12-2007, 03:41
why do I get the feeling you will be leaving this job with some "issues" ;)

Poor University of Surrey...what are they getting themselves into...



thats what they get for having hot stoves!

put some plasters in your KFC and you can get £10,000 :cool:

I should sue KFC anyway. Went down hallucinating for 3 days after having one of their damned ice creams.
Dyakovo
29-12-2007, 03:58
I should sue KFC anyway. Went down hallucinating for 3 days after having one of their damned ice creams.

It's your own fault for spiking it with acid ;)
Imperio Mexicano
29-12-2007, 04:04
do you know much about computers? I had a business for a while hosting websites and doing basic tech support for local small businesses, I really only had to leave the house once a month or so, and that wasn't too bad.

Thanks.
Smunkeeville
29-12-2007, 04:05
Those require driving. I'm disabled and can't drive.

do you know much about computers? I had a business for a while hosting websites and doing basic tech support for local small businesses, I really only had to leave the house once a month or so, and that wasn't too bad.
New Manvir
29-12-2007, 04:15
Truck driver

I agree with this one...my dad and almost all of my uncles had about the equivalent of a grade 10 or 11 education in India and became wealthy truck drivers and owner-operators of trucking businesses...My one uncle doesn't even drive anymore, he just has drivers working for him...

EDIT:

Those require driving. I'm disabled and can't drive.

oh...never mind then...
Conserative Morality
29-12-2007, 04:19
Are any of these jobs capable of being performed by idiots? If so, I'll have to look into some of them.
Well, you could try running for senator if you live in the Us...
Imperio Mexicano
29-12-2007, 04:20
Well, you could try running for senator if you live in the Us...

I'm only 22.
Dyakovo
29-12-2007, 04:22
I'm only 22.

Mayor then, or Town/County Supervisor Don't know how well those jobs pay, but...
Sirmomo1
29-12-2007, 04:31
Why didn't you go to university?
Call to power
29-12-2007, 04:37
Why didn't you go to university?

because full time university is a scam? :p
Dyakovo
29-12-2007, 04:37
because full time university is a scam? :p

:confused:
FDNYFF
29-12-2007, 04:38
You could become a firefighter. The best hours in the world and pretty decent pay. I'm in in the FDNY and right now I have it worked out with my partner so that we both work 24 hours straight and then it's a 3 day weekend. Starting salary is about 40,000 with bonuses and after 5 years you're making between 80,000 and 90,000. Only problem is that we only hire every 4 years and thats not until early 2011. But there are plenty of other big cities that hire all the time.
Call to power
29-12-2007, 04:46
:confused:

part-time/OU is where its at because you can work full time and thus earn enough to live

You could become a firefighter. The best hours in the world and pretty decent pay. I'm in in the FDNY and right now I have it worked out with my partner so that we both work 24 hours straight and then it's a 3 day weekend. Starting salary is about 40,000 with bonuses and after 5 years you're making between 80,000 and 90,000. Only problem is that we only hire every 4 years and thats not until early 2011. But there are plenty of other big cities that hire all the time.

ah but I suspect hes English and thus a career in firefighting earns about the same as the police
Dyakovo
29-12-2007, 04:50
part-time/OU is where its at because you can work full time and thus earn enough to live

Meh, my brother went to school full-time; worked various places when school was out of session, and he now has 2 masters and works for the Casablaca stock exchange. So it is certainly possible to manage, thusly not a scam.
Sirmomo1
29-12-2007, 04:57
part-time/OU is where its at because you can work full time and thus earn enough to live

Depends what your degree is in. If you can get a good degree you'll earn much more by going to a great University and graduating asap. I'd be much happier coming out out of LSE with a degree in Economics at 21 then going through the OU.
Marrakech II
29-12-2007, 04:57
Sounds physically demanding. Someone who is not physically fit (i.e., me) couldn't handle that. Plus, there's the whole problem of getting to Australia.

IM are you good on the telephone? There are plenty of jobs out there that require the telephone to set up appointments. A company sends you the work and you make the calls and send them back appointments or whatever else they may be asking for. For example One of the companies I run we hire outside appointment setters. We will give good leads for appointments and a decent person with the phone should be able to set 50-60% of the calls with appointments. With that our insurance agents have a success rate of 80-95% per appointment. When there is a completed sale we pay out $25 per successful appointment. A typical 8 hrs of work typically nets about $200-$250 for setting appointments.
FDNYFF
29-12-2007, 04:57
ah but I suspect hes English and thus a career in firefighting earns about the same as the police

With overtime that can add up. I have a friend who's a cop in boston and made $130,000 with a $50,000 base salary.
Marrakech II
29-12-2007, 04:58
With overtime that can add up. I have a friend who's a cop in boston and made $130,000 with a $50,000 base salary.

I know Los Angeles Sheriff's dept. police get into that range. Not all police departments are capable of triple digits though.
Pan-Arab Barronia
29-12-2007, 05:00
because full time university is a scam? :p

Well, yeah, but I'm going anyway. Although, I'm pestering for sponsorship. I'll squeeze money from them yet.
Ruskie-land
29-12-2007, 05:01
Fireman, maybe. I don't see any college offering degrees in hose operating. Or a Cop, maybe, I'm not sure exactly what the requirements are for that.
Jeruselem
29-12-2007, 07:49
Council worker? :p
Wilgrove
29-12-2007, 09:22
because full time university is a scam? :p

Only if you get a Bachelor of Arts. *nods*
Pepe Dominguez
29-12-2007, 09:35
Truck driver

I agree with this one...my dad and almost all of my uncles had about the equivalent of a grade 10 or 11 education in India and became wealthy truck drivers and owner-operators of trucking businesses...My one uncle doesn't even drive anymore, he just has drivers working for him...


I also agree with this. :) If you have the nerves for it, driving a truck is a great job (once you lose your sense of time, location, and direction, along with your expectations that your directions will be anything near accurate, that is). :p The pay doesn't look great on paper, but once you figure in that it's basically tax-free, supporting a small family is easy enough.

Imperio - about your disability, how bad is it? I was more or less disabled (as in, unable to do much manual labor) due to old injuries, but still did well driving. So long as your arms and legs work reasonably well, you should be fine.
BackwoodsSquatches
29-12-2007, 09:54
You could become a firefighter. The best hours in the world and pretty decent pay. I'm in in the FDNY and right now I have it worked out with my partner so that we both work 24 hours straight and then it's a 3 day weekend. Starting salary is about 40,000 with bonuses and after 5 years you're making between 80,000 and 90,000. Only problem is that we only hire every 4 years and thats not until early 2011. But there are plenty of other big cities that hire all the time.

Rumour has it that you guys WONT be voting for Rudy.
Any truth to this?

Something to do with screwing firefighters over 9/11 money.
FreedomEverlasting
29-12-2007, 10:00
Only if you get a Bachelor of Arts. *nods*

You can't say it's a scam since a person pick their own major. But yea a BFA is like wasting a few years, get yourself in debt, and have a piece of paper that saids no more than a high school diploma.
Similization
29-12-2007, 15:21
Surely some must exist. Does anyone here have a decent job (i.e., able to live reasonably well and support a small family) but not a degree? Or know of such a job?If you spend a bit of money on becoming certified, you can probably get a job pulling obsolete ocean cable. It's pretty hardcore, but it's one of the best paid regular jobs on the planet.

Rig work is also paid pretty well, and since there's nothing to spend the pay on most of the time, you'll accumulate money pretty fast.
Rhursbourg
29-12-2007, 17:02
Run for Parliament
Hydesland
29-12-2007, 17:38
If you're reasonably intelligent and committed, go to your nearest financial center, join a bank at the highest rank you can and climb your way up the tree. Someone I knew left school without a degree, moved to London and got a job in a bank doing some low payed minor job, got friendly with the staff and those higher up and made sure he did a good job of his work no matter how shit and boring it was, eventually getting promoted more and more until he was earning so much he was able to retire by 30!! It may be a risk, but it may be worth a shot if your that kind of person. (The same probably applies to big business firms as well as banks)
Hydesland
29-12-2007, 17:40
Only if you get a Bachelor of Arts. *nods*

And only if you live in the USA and get one (apparently they're less useful there), and only if you don't have good employability to go with it etc...
Ashmoria
29-12-2007, 18:16
Surely some must exist. Does anyone here have a decent job (i.e., able to live reasonably well and support a small family) but not a degree? Or know of such a job?

look up the biggest vocational-techinical college/school in your area/state.

they have programs that will give you the skills to get a reasonably paying job with a minimum time spent in class. they tend to be focused on the kind of jobs that are available in your area that need trained people.

there are approximately 0 jobs available the day you graduate highschool that pay well enough to support you, let alone a family. all jobs require some amount of training, even fry cook at mcdonalds. votech programs give you the training you need to get hired at the kind of job that can support a family (eventually) if you work hard at it.
JuNii
29-12-2007, 19:22
Those require driving. I'm disabled and can't drive.

Some hospitals offer work-at-home transcription positions where you transcribe dr's notes onto the computer.
FDNYFF
29-12-2007, 19:46
Rumour has it that you guys WONT be voting for Rudy.
Any truth to this?

Something to do with screwing firefighters over 9/11 money.
Among other things.
Angels World
29-12-2007, 20:29
A job working from your computer is ideal. Do you write? You could try your hand at freelance writing, novels, etc.

But if you don't write, learning computer code could get you a really good job. But it takes time and practice. A good start would be to create a website or manage a forum for a while and learn the code.