Is it possible to become successful with no qualifications

[sashypants]

Just having a few musings. I've not long started a job that is cleaning (my first job in years due to having children)
Yesterday I was given 1 months notice that I will no longer be required

It made me sit and look on my life, how at 25 I have absolutely nothing to show. I left school due to bullying so I have never sat any exams. I feel like a complete failure, I would like to have a successful career like a dr or a teacher or even auxiliary nurse but I just feel like I'm aiming too high!

I want to do something with my life now, my brother is at uni and it constantly gets thrown in my face about what he has done with his life. Meanwhile I've become the tear away with too many kids, on UC it is just so upsetting!

Is it possible? I notice there is a higher education course at my local college, would that be enough to gain maths and English grades?
I feel like a fish out of water! And would going to college affect UC?
Thanks for any advice

Can you as a start finish school by studying at home/online?
And I think you need a visit to your local college as they would be the best to advise you on the requirements for their courses.

My old schoolmate didn't pass many exams he was dyslexic. He's now owns a multi millionaire salmon business from Miami. So yes it is possible!

If you don't have gcse maths and/or english those should be available free at a local further education college. You would need to check if you could do these alongside a level 3 vocational course such as Btec Health and Social Care or as part of an apprenticeship, or an Access to Nursing course.

Well like I said there is a course that says further education or higher education I can't remember, that has no entry requirements. But it doesn't say it goes towards English and maths so I'm not sure!
I will contact them but they are a pain for getting back to people, I've applied for 3 courses before and never heard back!

Yes it is possible but you have to be willing to work very very hard with NO excuses. I left school with no qualifications and have risen to a senior management position on a very good salary. I’ve never had a day off sick and never been late for work.

Why were you given a months’ notice?

There are exceptions when people have succeeded by luck or entrepreneurship or money etc

However, getting qualifications doesn’t just help with you finding a job or a career it helps with your social skills.

I expect there are online courses you can access for free if you are being assisted with living costs etc.

You can do it if you apply yourself and set a great example to your children by doing so.

You absolutely can of you are hard working and committed. If you have no children, you can easily study in the evenings and weekends. I did most of my uni degree via evening and weekend classes while working full time.

My dh did do a degree but works in a trade he is self trained in. He took about 2 weekends worth of classes and learned the rest from meeting other tradespeople and the internet. He made about £25k full time to start 6 years ago and probably over £60k this year. You absolutely can earn a good living without needing qualifications but you have to work hard and you have to be quite clever about setting yourself up (probably as self employed) and in a field where there are low overheads and a lot of demand.

Try to find out if your local colleges or learning centres have open days coming up, most will at this time of year as they will be trying to fill remaining places. Then you can go in and chat face to face or contact the National Careers service online for advice.
It's never too late, I left school with zero quals, now have a degree and Post grad quals and a reasonably good job!

I don't mean successful in the sense of being CEO or anything, just to have a proper steady job.
I'd feel like I made it then.
The place is closing down

I’ve done pretty well for myself considering I only have GCSE’s and an irrelevant BTEC Diploma.
If you want to set up your own business then no, you def don’t need to waste time or money on qualifications however for the careers you mentioned you’d obviously need to.

I don’t have any GCSEs undiagnosed Dsylexia and Dsycalculia but I worked my ass off from age 15 and worked my way up through that and sheer cheek when younger. Somehow did manage to pass some professional qualifications when someone gave me a chance and did end up with a degree, now in a small profession plus my own online business which is doing ok. I think it was easier though when I started out 30 years ago. How determined are you? In your position I’d work any job to build a CV whilst undertaking some study, their is also funding available if you have a business idea via corporations such as the Princess Trust for your age.

I got GCSEs but nothing else - left school 6 years ago and am now middle-management.

I did a part time receptionist job for 6 months, then a full time (incredibly low paid) admin/customer service job, then moved to my current company. Started at the very bottom (admin/customer service but better paid) and got 3 promotions in 3 years.

Everyone's saying you need to work hard but there's also a lot of luck involved. You need the right people to leave at the right times and to have the right managers above you, but it's doable.

Good luck OP

Hiya OP. I was expelled from school, no qualifications and had two DC at a very young age. Was on full benefits for a few years ect. I finally found what I was good at and loved doing, so I rang up the nearest uni and spoke to them about how to get in. The uni was super helpful, found a course for me ect.

I did an evening course whilst running a school kitchen, got my level 3 in youth work and then started uni two years ago at the age of 29! Have one more year left doing the degree that I absolutely love and have the perfect job that is also classed as my placement.

I was very lucky with childcare (youth work is mostly an evening job) and that because my DC were older they weren't a hassle for my nan or my mum to have.

However, not having an English GCSE was a huge barrier in my grades. I didn't know how to write an essay, hadn't taken an exam since year 6 sats. My grades are high 60s but I could get in the 70s and achieve a first if I could just sort my grammar out! I wish I had sorted that out before starting the course.

My uni also does level 3 qualifications to gain access to courses (with experience) and mature students are really well supported. Student finance whilst a loan is really manageable to live on with a part time job.

Hope this helps you. If I can do it so can you.