Professional Course vs. Bachelor’s Degree
Let’s face it, the world is changing, and bachelor’s degrees are increasingly becoming less important. Today’s tight labor market continues to be a promising landscape for job seekers, with economists even predicting more opportunities for professionals without a degree. Major companies like Apple and Google are already jumping on the future train. And more are more companies will join them.
Let us quickly explore 5 companies where you can get a job with just the clothes on your back and what’s in your head, without a bachelor’s degree.
Google: I admit it, I may sound cliché by placing them on the top of this list. But Google is such a massive company offering numerous opportunities and the fact that you can get a job here without a degree is simply amazing. You can get jobs that range from product designing to management jobs without a Degree!
Apple: From one heavyweight of the industry to another. Right? Well, there are a host of opportunities and openings available in Apple 24/7 365 Days a year. Some of which do not require for you to have a degree in order to take advantage of them.
IBM: I am aware that so far this list is extremely tech centric but that is the nature of the world we currently live in as they are among the most forward-thinking companies. It is however important to note that with IBM and the others on this list, you don’t have to be a techie to work in these companies as jobs in project management, planning, real estate among others are available.
Starbucks: Finally!!! We are taking a break from tech companies. Starbucks is a major brand in the United States, and of all the companies in this list, it might just be the most equal opportunity and least competitive company to get a job in without a degree.
Amazon: Can we actually call this a tech company? I don’t think so. Amazon is basically a supermarket that is sited online. Nevertheless, it is one of the top 5 companies in the world and yes, you can walk in there and apply for a job in management without a degree. To be fair, not just in management, in basically any opening available. (Ok, not exactly any… But we’ll talk more on that later)
While thinking about all these companies might give you some vestige of hope as a college dropout or high school graduate, it is important to note that not every job can be obtained without a college degree.
Yes, I apologize for the heartbreak and dashing all your hopes of becoming a doctor without a degree. So, let me make it up to you by sharing my top 5 jobs you can get without a college degree. (Spoiler alert, getting a job as an attorney isn’t one of them)
Software Developer
This is one of the best jobs when it comes to not caring what you studied in school. You can forge a career path in a number of skill sets including Mobile App development, UI/UX design, desktop software engineering and work in the best companies in the world without a college degree.
Data Analyst
The world is changing very rapidly, and this is a career path that is slowly becoming recognized. Generally speaking, a data analyst will retrieve and gather data, organize it and use it to reach meaningful conclusions. “Data analysts’ work vary depending on the type of data that they are working with (sales, social media, inventory, etc.) as well as the specific client project. Companies in nearly every industry can benefit from the work of data analysts, from healthcare providers to retail stores to fast food chains.
Graphic Design
This is a broad sector and covers a lot of ground. From fashion illustrators to logo designers. Graphic designing is a very lucrative career path whether you want to be a freelancer or work for Google. A graphic designer is a professional within the graphic design and graphic arts industry who assembles together images, typography, or motion graphics to create a piece of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily for published, printed or electronic media, such as brochures (sometimes) and advertising.
Commercial pilots
Yes, it’s getting interesting now isn’t it? These commercial pilots handle unscheduled flight activities such as aerial application, charter flights and aerial tours. Some, known as corporate pilots, transport company executives. They are also typically responsible for other non-flight duties such as scheduling flights, arranging for maintenance of the aircraft and loading luggage. To become one, you’ll need a degree… just kidding! You will need a commercial pilot’s license and high school diploma. Most commercial pilots complete their training with independent FAA-certified flight instructors or at schools that offer flight training.
Detectives and Criminal investigators
Keeping with the theme of interesting jobs. Do you know you don’t need a degree to become a Detective? They collect evidence and gather facts for criminal cases. They conduct interviews, examine records, observe the activities of suspects and participate in raids and arrests. They typically specialize in different types of crime such as homicide or fraud and work on a case until an arrest and trial are completed or the case is dropped. To become a detective, you’ll need at least a high school diploma, although many federal agencies and some police departments do require some college coursework or a college degree.
While you can get the above jobs without a degree. It’s important to note that you can’t get them without education which is not the same as a degree. As with most high-quality jobs you need a measure of qualification and where experience is not available. Certification should be. And in some cases, certification is mandatory.
I was going to give you a detailed list of jobs you can’t get without a degree but decided I’ll just do this: You can’t get a job in any sector in academia or any sector that requires years of certifications and trainings like nuclear science. But chances are if you’re going into those career paths you already know that.
So, don’t let your lack of a degree hold you back. You have options my friend.
Good luck!