Anyone here work fulltime and NOT have a college degree?
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Dorimukyasuto
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Which certificates are the best to go for?
Dorimukyasuto
Member
How would I get into email marketing? You work out of an office, or is more of a free lance thing?
Rhomega Beta
Member
Those are bizzare start and end times. 1455? Why not wait 5 minutes and start at 1500?
I'm a web developer at an ad agency. Mostly front-end work, but I do a bit of everything on the stack. Pretty livable so-cal wage and the work can be fun sometimes.
The industry cares much more about a portfolio of work and performing well in interviews than degrees, in general. I had a bit of a lucky break in landing my first job, but I have standing offers from a couple companies and a comfortable position in mine now.
The industry cares much more about a portfolio of work and performing well in interviews than degrees, in general. I had a bit of a lucky break in landing my first job, but I have standing offers from a couple companies and a comfortable position in mine now.
Biff
Member
I assume Air Traffic Control is one of those fields where time matters to the minute
BladeoftheImmortal
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went to college. got a degree. got great grades. no one gavea shit after i graduated.
Silver_key
Neo Member
Moved from Computer Tech to Senior Analyst over the past 15 years without a BS. Your question is actually really hard so I'll just relay some of my thoughts.
I live where there is a lot of government work. The Department of Defense has guidelines now for the minimum certification required for IT employees/contractors (DoD 8570.01). Most of these are focused around Information Assurance/Computer Security. Luckily, I want to move in this direction anyway so that was a bonus. I've been Security+ certified for about a year. I am currently studying for the CISSP (I wanted to do CompTIA's CASP but it was not part of 8570 at the time I started studying). I'll probably move to the CEH or GIAC Forensics after that. I may consider going back for a BS (in Cybersecurity @ University of MD University College) just because but that would be after I moved into a full Info Assurance job.
When I decided to begin college, I was 24 years old and working full time as an office manager for a construction company. I was making about $15/hr. I went to school part time, taking night and weekend classes, and by the time I graduated I was working at an engineering company doing drafting and industrial automation system development (completely unrelated to my degree, which was in economics). I was making $21/hr. My fiancee was living in another state, as when I finished school I moved to be with her. I took a huge pay cut at my next job from what I had been making. It took me a little over two years after I finished school to reach the point where I was making more money with my degree than I had been making without it.
Strange topic, there are probably billions of people in the world working full-time without a degree. Most of the people I know have done just as well with or without a degree, it depends on your experience and skill level.
I for one would be all for going back to the master/ apprentice type of training. Way too many people walk out with degrees and expect to be paid well with zero experience.
I for one would be all for going back to the master/ apprentice type of training. Way too many people walk out with degrees and expect to be paid well with zero experience.
gutter_trash
Banned
raises hand
i have been working as a CG animator for almost 15 years (last 9 years in games)
not having a college degree makes it harder for me to get work in the US, so I guess I wills stay in Canada.
i have been working as a CG animator for almost 15 years (last 9 years in games)
not having a college degree makes it harder for me to get work in the US, so I guess I wills stay in Canada.
TheWarrior
Banned
I'm in the insurance business. I got started in sales/ customer service and a degree was not needed, after a few years I got in with a great company who cared more about my experience and I'm in a pretty great position now in underwriting. I'm now working on getting several designations that the industry recognizes such as a CPCU, which probably will carry more weight than having a BA.
AbortedWalrusFetus
Member
My best friend makes really good money as a drafter. He took it in vocational school during high school, and then got experience starting out working in a local small business where he worked as a surveyor and then did the drawings of the plots. Eventually he got more into the drafting full time and now works for a company that does designs for electrical substations. You don't need a degree, just experience with technical drawing drafting. Not sure how nice it is for entry level people though.
Nemesis121
Member
How many hours a day are you standing? i was thinking of doing this...
That isn't really true anymore unless the person is like 40+. For the most part if you want to work in IT now you are required to get a degree.
I work full-time as an Avionics Technician for Lockheed Martin without a college degree. Pay is pretty good for the area (California), and I'm stable financially.I did get a lot of experience and OJT from being in the Air Force for a few years, but, yeah.I'm about a year or so out from finishing a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, but just have no urge to finish it at this point. And what college I've gotten through, had no bearing on me getting a job here. The engineers I work with...I'm just not impressed with what they do, and don't think I have any urge to do their job. They work long ass hours, weekends, and start out making the same pay I do. Eventually they'll outpace me in pay, but is it worth it in the long run if they can't enjoy it?
dapperbandit
Banned
I'm a contract worker for P&G in the UK.
Basically I put complaints about Oral-B products (brushes and toothpaste) into a database. I got the job mostly because I have connections: my mother worked in a different department but with the same people. Not that you need any particular qualifications to do the work but it certainly would have been more difficult.
I was studying at University but ended up quittingfor a bunch of personal reasons.
I much prefer full time employment to education, even with all the drunken joys of being a student on the side. I love that when I finish for the day I'm finished. I don't have the weight of some massive essay and the guilt of my own procrastination looming over me.
Basically I put complaints about Oral-B products (brushes and toothpaste) into a database. I got the job mostly because I have connections: my mother worked in a different department but with the same people. Not that you need any particular qualifications to do the work but it certainly would have been more difficult.
I was studying at University but ended up quittingfor a bunch of personal reasons.
I much prefer full time employment to education, even with all the drunken joys of being a student on the side. I love that when I finish for the day I'm finished. I don't have the weight of some massive essay and the guilt of my own procrastination looming over me.
Keylime
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Didn't finish my degree, and only had my senior year remaining.
My school had a great internship program where you get your 4-year degree in 5-years, but get 1.5 years of work experience under your belt in the process so that when you graduate, you've already got connections and a history in the industry to kickstart your career.
On my second of three internships, I established roots in my company and forged my way into part-time work...and eventually sold them on hiring me full-time in my current role as a Project Manager. Forged my own path within the company and am currently a Program Director doing damn well for myself at my age.
The degree thing continues to loom over my head, and even with my successful career here, I question whether I have value on the open market. My work experience looks great, would show rapid acceleration and heavy responsibility, but without that degree I know I wouldn't pass initial inspection by most employers. The intangible qualities that have allowed me to get where I am (strong drive, networking, problem solving, coordinating, communication, etc) are largely soft-skills that you don't appreciate until I'm in person talking to you or at least on the phone.
I acknowledge fully that my experience is a bit unique and wouldn't really prescribe it as a path for everyone.
Have no desire to go back and get my degree, but my need to get an overseas MBA to continue my career progression shortly. There are reputable MBA programs that don't require a bachelors degree...but not so much in the US.
My school had a great internship program where you get your 4-year degree in 5-years, but get 1.5 years of work experience under your belt in the process so that when you graduate, you've already got connections and a history in the industry to kickstart your career.
On my second of three internships, I established roots in my company and forged my way into part-time work...and eventually sold them on hiring me full-time in my current role as a Project Manager. Forged my own path within the company and am currently a Program Director doing damn well for myself at my age.
The degree thing continues to loom over my head, and even with my successful career here, I question whether I have value on the open market. My work experience looks great, would show rapid acceleration and heavy responsibility, but without that degree I know I wouldn't pass initial inspection by most employers. The intangible qualities that have allowed me to get where I am (strong drive, networking, problem solving, coordinating, communication, etc) are largely soft-skills that you don't appreciate until I'm in person talking to you or at least on the phone.
I acknowledge fully that my experience is a bit unique and wouldn't really prescribe it as a path for everyone.
Have no desire to go back and get my degree, but my need to get an overseas MBA to continue my career progression shortly. There are reputable MBA programs that don't require a bachelors degree...but not so much in the US.
and your major is....?
AdventureMike
Member
Have only graduated from high school. Did a couple years in college but I dropped out before incurring as much debt as I would have if I had stayed the full time.
I have had a couple decently paying jobs the last 3-4 years being a government contractor. I was just offered a position in the federal government that I will be starting on the 1st of July for quite a high pay (close to six figures). Positions are out there, you just gotta try to get into them.
I have had a couple decently paying jobs the last 3-4 years being a government contractor. I was just offered a position in the federal government that I will be starting on the 1st of July for quite a high pay (close to six figures). Positions are out there, you just gotta try to get into them.
As a general rule, I think that if you can manage to get a little experience under your belt your lack of a degree won't matter so much. Getting that experience in the first place can be difficult. It helps to be a little bit lucky, and it also helps if you pursue something in your own time. Having a small business of your own definitely makes a difference, even if it's very small.
Learn a marketable skill
College/university is great for this. So is the internet. Your mileage may vary depending on the subject material.
Work on a portfolio
Again, YMMV depending on the type of work. That being said, the idea is to hone your craft, even (read: especially) in your spare time. If you can show off projects that you've worked on that demonstrate your skill set, that's a foot in the door.
Find employment at a place that could use your marketable skill
And I mean any employment. I'll use myself as an example. If you want to be a programmer, then make sure you work for a tech company that employs programmers, even if it means you come in as a Level 1 Technician that does no coding.
Continue to work on your skill set, and be assertive in volunteering to work on things above your pay grade. Particularly on things that might lead to your desired profession. Also, don't be afraid to jump ship if a better/more promising opportunity presents itself.
None of these things are easy, but it's all possible. I've dropped in and out of university for over a decade. I barely have an AA degree at this point. I wanted to get into software development, so I worked on those skills in my spare time. I started at a small tech company a few years ago as a temp, made it to full time as a support tech, moved into the networking side of things, into R&D, and when a position opened up, I applied for a software developer position.
On paper, it was a level 2 position, where they were requesting 3-5 years of professional experience in various technologies, alongside a BS in Computer Science. I had the experience, but it certainly wasn't professional or documented, and I certainly didn't have the degree. I applied anyway. I was vetted and tested alongside all the other outside applicants, and from a dozen candidates I managed to test/interview in the top two. My boss basically sat me down and told me, "it's a coin flip between you two, but I'll take the employee I know before the one I don't", so I was hired.
I'm certainly not the only person to make it happen without a degree. It's hard work, but it's possible. The key is not to tie your ongoing education to your attendance at a university. Keep plugging away with every avenue you have (read: the internet), and hone your craft. Work hard to put yourself in a position to have your skills recognized. You can work your way up.
College/university is great for this. So is the internet. Your mileage may vary depending on the subject material.
Work on a portfolio
Again, YMMV depending on the type of work. That being said, the idea is to hone your craft, even (read: especially) in your spare time. If you can show off projects that you've worked on that demonstrate your skill set, that's a foot in the door.
Find employment at a place that could use your marketable skill
And I mean any employment. I'll use myself as an example. If you want to be a programmer, then make sure you work for a tech company that employs programmers, even if it means you come in as a Level 1 Technician that does no coding.
Continue to work on your skill set, and be assertive in volunteering to work on things above your pay grade. Particularly on things that might lead to your desired profession. Also, don't be afraid to jump ship if a better/more promising opportunity presents itself.
None of these things are easy, but it's all possible. I've dropped in and out of university for over a decade. I barely have an AA degree at this point. I wanted to get into software development, so I worked on those skills in my spare time. I started at a small tech company a few years ago as a temp, made it to full time as a support tech, moved into the networking side of things, into R&D, and when a position opened up, I applied for a software developer position.
On paper, it was a level 2 position, where they were requesting 3-5 years of professional experience in various technologies, alongside a BS in Computer Science. I had the experience, but it certainly wasn't professional or documented, and I certainly didn't have the degree. I applied anyway. I was vetted and tested alongside all the other outside applicants, and from a dozen candidates I managed to test/interview in the top two. My boss basically sat me down and told me, "it's a coin flip between you two, but I'll take the employee I know before the one I don't", so I was hired.
I'm certainly not the only person to make it happen without a degree. It's hard work, but it's possible. The key is not to tie your ongoing education to your attendance at a university. Keep plugging away with every avenue you have (read: the internet), and hone your craft. Work hard to put yourself in a position to have your skills recognized. You can work your way up.
i work FT without a degree, and i'm not a janitor or a burger flipper. hard to say what exactly it is i do, but i guess an "engineer associate" would suffice. it didn't just land in my lap though, i had to spend several years getting my hands dirty as a technician.
i definitely regret not finishing college and wouldn't recommend people take the path i did... but at the same time, things worked out. so it comes to show there's ways around college
i definitely regret not finishing college and wouldn't recommend people take the path i did... but at the same time, things worked out. so it comes to show there's ways around college
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