Careers Which Don't Require a Degree

I'm completely disillusioned with my current industry and want out. Obviously Saints Web isn't the basis of my careers advice, nether the less I wondered if anyone had any recommendations. I'm a sciencey, technology kind of bloke with A levels in maths and physics.

I saw a list of high paying jobs that don't need a degree the other day but I can only remember air traffic controller and porn star.

I saw a list of high paying jobs that don't need a degree the other day but I can only remember air traffic controller and porn star.

Air traffic controller = statistically the second highest paying job worldwide. You do have to go through ATC training though. It is also very stress-full (and depressing that studying for seven years will earn you less than an air traffic controller).

Commercial pilots earn a very good living.

Qualified welders can make a killing depending on how they specialise (I think underwater is the highest paying, diving off pipelines etc) and electricians and plumbers despite the rep also make a very good living if they know what they're doing.

I saw a list of high paying jobs that don't need a degree the other day but I can only remember air traffic controller and porn star.

That is multitasking!

Get a trade, be good at that trade, work hard, build up a decent client base, make a decent living

Actuary

I too am looking for a job that doesn't really need much in the way of formal qualifications, or indeed any real talent. Furthermore a position that does not require any overt display of enthusiasm (or work ethic) on my part would be ideal. If this job could also pay well, but only involve me in a few hours of actual work a week, would be most agreeable.

So a career in Local Government it is then.

IT if that way inclined. If you are any good and learn skills quickly it is easier to progress than many industries.

Would need to start at entry level though if little experience.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/11010071/Top-10-high-paid-jobs-that-dont-need-a-degree.html?frame=2995455

Damn .... they've updated the ATC pic - when 1st published it showed A Marshaller with high vis vest and "ping pong" bats stood on the apron.

That is multitasking!

We have to do something with all the spare time we get ;-)

I'm a sciencey, technology kind of bloke with A levels in maths and physics.

Rocket scientist

This - Virgin looking for basic GCSE/A levels to train pilots (in Southampton too)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/11196677/No-flying-experience-Come-fly-with-me-says-Richard-Branson.html

Drug dealer?

This - Virgin looking for basic GCSE/A levels to train pilots (in Southampton too)

And Phoenix. I've seen that movie.

If your even a bit techy then start off learning some VBA and SQL, both pretty simple languages used heavily by most businesses. There's always jobs going for data analysis and report developing. Once your in there start learning python, JavaScript and anything else that catches your eye and you can build a half decent career.

Armed forces?

Go to a careers office and get some free advice and try some of those 'what job am I suited to' programmes like this one http://www.careercolleges.com/career-assessment-test and this one http://joboutlook.gov.au/careerquiz.aspx . They probably wont provide 'the answer' but will throw up new ideas for you.

fluffer

Actuary

While you don't technically need a degree, it is basically expected and you won't find many employers anywhere that would take on a student without one. It's a very competitive profession to get in to.

You then also have 15 very difficult exams to pass over the next 5-7 years.

http://www.actuaries.org.uk/students/pages/how-register-student

Waste Disposal Engineer ?

I'm completely disillusioned with my current industry and want out. Obviously Saints Web isn't the basis of my careers advice, nether the less I wondered if anyone had any recommendations. I'm a sciencey, technology kind of bloke with A levels in maths and physics.

Accountancy.

Someone I know started the AAT course a couple of years ago at the local college part-time, and got a bit of voluntary work to go alongside it for experience. Now he's working at a practice on decent wages, and says the course is the best thing he ever did.

Soon after he got the job his boss was telling him how he was chosen over 4 other individuals, all of which had just graduated from university with accountancy degrees. The 2 main reasons were his practical experience/voluntary work, and that the the AAT course (3 years part-time study for approx £4k) is far more realistic/applicable in real life than almost all accountancy degrees (3 years full-time study for approx £30k), most of which consist of theoretical/generic fluff that has **** all to do with what happens in day-to-day accountancy practices.

I asked a friend of mine in recruitment the other day, and she said virtually the same thing.

Accountancy.

 

Someone I know started the AAT course a couple of years ago at the local college part-time, and got a bit of voluntary work to go alongside it for experience. Now he's working at a practice on decent wages, and says the course is the best thing he ever did.

 

Soon after he got the job his boss was telling him how he was chosen over 4 other individuals, all of which had just graduated from university with accountancy degrees. The 2 main reasons were his practical experience/voluntary work, and that the the AAT course (3 years part-time study for approx £4k) is far more realistic/applicable in real life than almost all accountancy degrees (3 years full-time study for approx £30k), most of which consist of theoretical/generic fluff that has **** all to do with what happens in day-to-day accountancy practices.

 

I asked a friend of mine in recruitment the other day, and she said virtually the same thing.

Yes and no, you can go the practical route but it tends to limit your job opportunities further down the line compared to degree candidates. Your earning potential in the profession is pretty poor if you don't have a degree (by the way, I have a degree in the field and I agree about its practical limitations) it's just the way firms operate.

Armed forces?

Pmsl

This - Virgin looking for basic GCSE/A levels to train pilots (in Southampton too)

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/11196677/No-flying-experience-Come-fly-with-me-says-Richard-Branson.html

And the small amount of forking out £109k for your training during the course.

And the small amount of forking out £109k for your training during the course.

I was thinking helicopter pilot would make a good career change, what's the damage on this one?

I was thinking helicopter pilot would make a good career change, what's the damage on this one?

A helicopter engineer told me once that if you have a 30 year career as a helicopter pilot, say from 25-55, you've got a one in three chance of dying in a crash. Took the gloss off a bit.

fluffer

Bottom's dropped out of that market since Viagra

Accountancy.

 

Someone I know started the AAT course a couple of years ago at the local college part-time, and got a bit of voluntary work to go alongside it for experience. Now he's working at a practice on decent wages, and says the course is the best thing he ever did.

 

Soon after he got the job his boss was telling him how he was chosen over 4 other individuals, all of which had just graduated from university with accountancy degrees. The 2 main reasons were his practical experience/voluntary work, and that the the AAT course (3 years part-time study for approx £4k) is far more realistic/applicable in real life than almost all accountancy degrees (3 years full-time study for approx £30k), most of which consist of theoretical/generic fluff that has **** all to do with what happens in day-to-day accountancy practices.

 

I asked a friend of mine in recruitment the other day, and she said virtually the same thing.

I did AAT MANY years ago, and can wholeheartedly recommend it.

I was developing accounting software at the time so it was really valuable to me, but the qualification is much more than accounting. It covers economics, business law, financial analysis, statistics, etc.

If you think that you might find accounting interesting, (if that isn't oxymoronic) then AAT would be an excellent route.

While you don't technically need a degree, it is basically expected and you won't find many employers anywhere that would take on a student without one. It's a very competitive profession to get in to.

 

You then also have 15 very difficult exams to pass over the next 5-7 years.

 

http://www.actuaries.org.uk/students/pages/how-register-student

I agree, Deano.

My son is in the final year of his degree, and he's just secured a position as a trainee actuarial analyst with a local firm for next year.

Knowing how competitive these positions are, you'd have to be pretty fortunate/talented to find yourself even interviewed without a decent degree. Most of his intake cohort were from Oxbridge universities.

Actually Deano, I believe my son's taking an investment route rather than (or perhaps in addition to) the typical actuarial qualifications. Either way, qualifying is going to take years.

Oh, I forgot to mention that to be an actuary you have to be a maths bore too - just like Deano.

x

It sounds to me from the OP that whatever he does, it ought to be for himself. Disillusionment in a job is usually because you're in a job, not working on your own behalf. So finding another employer isn't likely to help.

Work out your strengths, and what interests you, then figure out how to market that. I lasted a solid three months in employment, went self-employed, and wouldn't have it any other way. A mate of mine has been in medical research for twenty years, he got p*ssed off with every employer after about 3 or 4 years and moved to another. He finally bit the bullet two years ago and started as a freelance. Has as much work as he wants, and can turn down what he doesn't want to do, and I've never seen him so happy. It took him about a year to get back to the income levels he had at his last job, but he's now earning well above that for less work.

I agree, Deano.

 

My son is in the final year of his degree, and he's just secured a position as a trainee actuarial analyst with a local firm for next year.

 

Knowing how competitive these positions are, you'd have to be pretty fortunate/talented to find yourself even interviewed without a decent degree. Most of his intake cohort were from Oxbridge universities.

 

Actually Deano, I believe my son's taking an investment route rather than (or perhaps in addition to) the typical actuarial qualifications. Either way, qualifying is going to take years.

 

Oh, I forgot to mention that to be an actuary you have to be a maths bore too - just like Deano.

 

x

The first 12 exams are all the same no matter what area you're going in to, then the last 3 let you specialise in terms of where you want to go, eg Investments, Life Insurance, General Insurance, Pensions, Enterprise Risk Management.

And it's true, you do have to be a maths bore - just like Bletch's children.

Manager of Tottenham Hotspurs

Manager of Tottenham Hotspurs

He wants a new career, not a casual temp job.

I would say something involving software development / network engineer or something of that ilk.

Pluralsight.com seems like a decent option as it's a monthly subscription for online courses and it has a free trial.

Accountant, ex wife self taught her way through ACCA, now a Director at a Swiss Bank on >£150k pa.

Accountant, ex wife self taught her way through ACCA, now a Director at a Swiss Bank on >£150k pa.

EX? You muppet.

I'm completely disillusioned with my current industry and want out. Obviously Saints Web isn't the basis of my careers advice, nether the less I wondered if anyone had any recommendations. I'm a sciencey, technology kind of bloke with A levels in maths and physics.

Do an ISEB in Business Analysis and become a BA. It's alright, you get to tell people like Pap what to do, and then get a load of techy attitude back

Do an ISEB in Business Analysis and become a BA. It's alright, you get to tell people like Pap what to do, and then get a load of techy attitude back

That takes me back.

This started as the old NCC Certificate of Systems Analysis and Design run under the Systems Analysis Examination Board. I did it over 30 years ago. Then it was a 6 month full-time course followed by written and oral exams.

It's expanded a lot since then and now covers a wide range of IT disciplines.

I would say something involving software development

Porn star it is then!

Depending on age and financial security (no offence intended on either) I'd suggest an apprenticeship. Larger companies will take on a few apprentices every year and pay a decent living wage, half the time will pay for you to do a degree too while working for their company.

Its what's suggested by colleges if you do not want to go to uni. My friend currently works for Rolls Royce, and another works for Quentic Q in Farnborough.

Co-incidentally Twiggy, this has been in the news today

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-30193095

EX? You muppet.

The current Mrs Killers Knee earns more.

That takes me back.

 

This started as the old NCC Certificate of Systems Analysis and Design run under the Systems Analysis Examination Board. I did it over 30 years ago. Then it was a 6 month full-time course followed by written and oral exams.

 

It's expanded a lot since then and now covers a wide range of IT disciplines.

Indeed, I have diploma's in both that and testing. People can get away with not having a degree but just having a qualification like this.

It's now a number of 3 day courses, followed by an exam and an oral.

Do an ISEB in Business Analysis and become a BA. It's alright, you get to tell people like Pap what to do, and then get a load of techy attitude back

Look at Unbelievable Jeff lording it about ☺

Power or not, deep down, he knows his place in the pecking order.

It's now a number of 3 day courses, followed by an exam and an oral.

Interesting!

I'm completely disillusioned with my current industry and want out. Obviously Saints Web isn't the basis of my careers advice, nether the less I wondered if anyone had any recommendations. I'm a sciencey, technology kind of bloke with A levels in maths and physics.

Become an MP!!!