Career prospects with no Degree
Discussion
Anybody in the under 30 age category give any advice and experience?
I'm in my early 20's and finding a decent career path seems tough. 95% of the jobs I am interested in require a much higher level of education than I have.
I don't want to join Uni full time as I need to work to pay my mortgage. I want a career, I don't want a dead end job.
I am willing to work hard and am currently on an evening course at the local college as I want to get involved with Autocad and design/engineering as I want to learn some basic skills that give me a platform to improve and grow.
What are my chances of getting on the ladder in a VERY basic/entry level role either before or after my basic college course?
Not sure any of this makes sense, just in a bit of a dark place right now.
I'm in my early 20's and finding a decent career path seems tough. 95% of the jobs I am interested in require a much higher level of education than I have.
I don't want to join Uni full time as I need to work to pay my mortgage. I want a career, I don't want a dead end job.
I am willing to work hard and am currently on an evening course at the local college as I want to get involved with Autocad and design/engineering as I want to learn some basic skills that give me a platform to improve and grow.
What are my chances of getting on the ladder in a VERY basic/entry level role either before or after my basic college course?
Not sure any of this makes sense, just in a bit of a dark place right now.
I was in a similar situation to yourself with no degree qualification. Lucky for me after going for job to job, found a role in a large company gained pratical experience in Project Management, and now the company are willing to fund an external qualification for me.
I would suggest that first decide on an area that you want to work in. Once thats decided look for maybe entry level roles that will provide on the job training to gain a qualification, or stay in your current role and go to night school and gain the qualifications you need, then apply.
A friend of mine obtained a degree in drama at Uni. Started working for a large multinational company and gained an interest for finance. Applied to nightschool, became a part qualified in the area he was interested in and because of that is now a financial analyst in London earning 15K more because he did it off his own back.
I would suggest that first decide on an area that you want to work in. Once thats decided look for maybe entry level roles that will provide on the job training to gain a qualification, or stay in your current role and go to night school and gain the qualifications you need, then apply.
A friend of mine obtained a degree in drama at Uni. Started working for a large multinational company and gained an interest for finance. Applied to nightschool, became a part qualified in the area he was interested in and because of that is now a financial analyst in London earning 15K more because he did it off his own back.
Having a degree isn't all that, unless you want to go for a profession where it is an absolute must.
I don't have a degree. I got into programming about 12 years ago, taught myself then got a job doing basic web sites and moved on from there. It was hard getting my first job with no degree or experience but once I had a couple of years moving jobs was easy. I am now Head of Development and get paid well.
Contact employers in the field that interests you and look for junior roles. When I look for employees now I barely register if they have a degree or not. Are there any industry qualifications you can do? These are often highly regarded and quicker to obtain than degrees.
You will have to persevere and be prepared to be knocked back but it is possible to get your foot in the door and once you have, hard work and persistence will pay off far more than a degree.
I don't have a degree. I got into programming about 12 years ago, taught myself then got a job doing basic web sites and moved on from there. It was hard getting my first job with no degree or experience but once I had a couple of years moving jobs was easy. I am now Head of Development and get paid well.
Contact employers in the field that interests you and look for junior roles. When I look for employees now I barely register if they have a degree or not. Are there any industry qualifications you can do? These are often highly regarded and quicker to obtain than degrees.
You will have to persevere and be prepared to be knocked back but it is possible to get your foot in the door and once you have, hard work and persistence will pay off far more than a degree.
Tough one really OP. I left school with A levels joined my current employer, got a few years experience and they then paid for me to get an undergraduate degree. A few years later they paid for me to do a post graduate degree (all in engineering). In my experience it's a bit of a funny one, there are people with ONC's, HNC's, HND's etc who are either at a similar level pay wise to me but have lots of experience and are really good at their jobs, and I know some people with pHD's and Eng Docs who don't know their arse from their elbow.
I work in what was the R&D arm in the nuclear industry and since things were broken up into smaller non-government owned peices, there seems to be more focus on academic qualifications than before for new recruits. In fact last week I learned in our organisation of about 750 people just over 40% have a post graduate qualification, personaly my quals haven't got me any further but they cost me nothing expcept hard work and I'll always have them.
It's annoying as their isn't really a bench mark standard in our company. I got pushed to get chartered (Chemical Engineering)and when I went to find 2 referees struggle to find 2 people in the company with such chartership.
Part-time study is hard work and you may or may not end up with a better job/money at the end of it. I'd start off identifying what you want to do then look at getting a HNC if engineering is your thing. Plenty offered at colleges part-time via night school and take about 2 year part-time. That will make you more employable IMO then you can hopefully look to establish yourself in a role and look to get sponsorship from an employer if you further want to advance your qualifications.
Having a degree isn't the be all, especially with the way fees are. Getting your employer to pay is always the way to go if you can IMO.
I work in what was the R&D arm in the nuclear industry and since things were broken up into smaller non-government owned peices, there seems to be more focus on academic qualifications than before for new recruits. In fact last week I learned in our organisation of about 750 people just over 40% have a post graduate qualification, personaly my quals haven't got me any further but they cost me nothing expcept hard work and I'll always have them.
It's annoying as their isn't really a bench mark standard in our company. I got pushed to get chartered (Chemical Engineering)and when I went to find 2 referees struggle to find 2 people in the company with such chartership.
Part-time study is hard work and you may or may not end up with a better job/money at the end of it. I'd start off identifying what you want to do then look at getting a HNC if engineering is your thing. Plenty offered at colleges part-time via night school and take about 2 year part-time. That will make you more employable IMO then you can hopefully look to establish yourself in a role and look to get sponsorship from an employer if you further want to advance your qualifications.
Having a degree isn't the be all, especially with the way fees are. Getting your employer to pay is always the way to go if you can IMO.
I work as a Design Engineer, yet I don't actually have a degree - I did a HND and luckily did a very good work placement, that led to the first job, which led to the path I'm on now.
I work in the Design office, we have a few lads who work as 'Engineering Admins' or some such - its sounds a bit dull to start with but they do the support stuff for the rest of us.
But they also start using the CAD software, doing draughting, drawing mods etc, and I see no reason why they shouldnt end up in exactly the same job as one of the graduate engineers.
I work in the Design office, we have a few lads who work as 'Engineering Admins' or some such - its sounds a bit dull to start with but they do the support stuff for the rest of us.
But they also start using the CAD software, doing draughting, drawing mods etc, and I see no reason why they shouldnt end up in exactly the same job as one of the graduate engineers.
ever thought of prison?
shelter, food and education. for free. laughing.
(serious mode)
a guy local to us was sent down for 15 years back when we were 18-19. we struggled through life etc having to think twice before going to uni (i only got a HND done before i had to come home so to speak) he's got out recently with a degree, carpentry + plumbing skills too. ah well.
shelter, food and education. for free. laughing.
(serious mode)
a guy local to us was sent down for 15 years back when we were 18-19. we struggled through life etc having to think twice before going to uni (i only got a HND done before i had to come home so to speak) he's got out recently with a degree, carpentry + plumbing skills too. ah well.
MadMullah said:
ever thought of prison?
shelter, food and education. for free. laughing.
(serious mode)
a guy local to us was sent down for 15 years back when we were 18-19. we struggled through life etc having to think twice before going to uni (i only got a HND done before i had to come home so to speak) he's got out recently with a degree, carpentry + plumbing skills too. ah well.
That's weird I too know someone who spent some time in prison. He even got offered a job upon release, something to do with a Bank.... shelter, food and education. for free. laughing.
(serious mode)
a guy local to us was sent down for 15 years back when we were 18-19. we struggled through life etc having to think twice before going to uni (i only got a HND done before i had to come home so to speak) he's got out recently with a degree, carpentry + plumbing skills too. ah well.
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