Success without a degree

[smellslikecinnamon]

I'm hearing that more young people are choosing not to go to uni. Do people have examples of their dc or themselves doing really well without a degree? Maybe people under 35 as life is different now ti say 40 years ago. Can people make it without a degree (or trade qualification) and how? If all the ads ask for a degree?

I have no degree or qualifications. I'm 34. I'm not doing "really well" as I've just started at this business but you can work up to a managerial position without a degree here and earn up to £70k.

My ex has no degree and he is a train driver on £60k. All you need is maths and English GCSE and a driving licence.

Where is the 'here' that you refer to?

No degree - has never held me back or stopped me getting a role I've applied for.
I have a very comfortable salary, am respected senior manager in a large global company and not yet 40.

Worst thing I ever did was going to Uni because I was told that was what I should do.
Put me back 3 years (dropped out twice and never graduated because I was doing full time hours at my part time job!) and I ended up with a student loan. Loan was paid back in full about 10 years ago (but that's when 3 years left you about £10k in the hole - not like now).

But, my sibling went to Uni, graduated and has used their degree to build a different kind of career to me where the degree was needed. We are in very similar positions - so it is absolutely down to the person and the career asperations.

If you are happy to elaborate what kind of industry are you in. Did job applications not ask for a degree as a requirement? What was your path ie what was you first job, second job etc to get you to where you are now?

There's a difference between asking a 21 Yr old now what the job market is like without a degree and asking mnetters mid 30s and old what it was like over 10 years ago

Utilities company.

I didn't get a degree until I was 32, I did it with the OU.

I did ok for myself and was happy, could pay the bills, buy a house and have holidays (teeny y years ago) BUT I decided to do a degree anyway due to FOMO.

I'm pleased I did it as an opportunity presented itself to me, which I took, and in turn it led to my current career. I am now teaching which I couldn't have done without a degree. I have a good career ahead of me and am considering opening my own school.
It opened doors for me but honestly, if I hadn't done it, I am pretty sure I would have done ok for myself anyway.

I'm 34 but I've just started working in a new position 7 months ago so I'm talking about what it's like now.

As a hiring manager, I don't require a degree for any of my entry level roles (appropriate for 18+ with no experience).
We provide training and offer additional qualification routes if this is something someone wants.

I don't think it is harder to get a job now without a degree than it was 10 or 20 years ago. But you have to pick the role / sector.

You can't get a job as a doctor without a medical degree.... you can get an admin role in a manufacturing / logistics / wholesale company (as an example) and work your way up.

No degree, no qualifications at all past a-level and I did not do well in those, just scraped a pass.

Working class parents and no 'network' to take advantage of.

Currently Director level in a global org, Cybersecurity, Governance, Risk & Compliance on a good salary.

I know a 25 year old on £80+ a year, no degree. He works on an off- shore wind farm so is away for 2 weeks and then home for 2 weeks.
Renewables industry seems to be well paid, I’ve just been reading an ad for wind turbine manufacturing, starts at £34k not much required in the way of qualifications (Hull)

I only have GCSE’s, I work in financial services earning 60k + bonus

DS (24) didn't go to uni - he's clever but hated studying. He is however very confident and an excellent networker, and got himself a job via his GF's dad, who worked for a consultancy. He's now trained up as a consultant planning/scheduling manager (in construction), currently working on HS2, and is earning more than me.

Blagged it, cut out a nice career in marketing/media & communications. I truly believe in making your own luck and if you really want something you'll work hard to get it.

maybe you are right but i thought it would be better to hear from people who have reached some level of success over on a good trajectory which would mean they would likely be at least late 20s early 30s

But say 21 year olds would have good info on how they are finding it at that stage for sure.

Wow!! What was the oath to get to where you are?

How??!!!!! How did you get the job?
What were they looking for abd how did you past the first hurdle?

My specific route isn't going to help anyone - it was specific to me, where I was and what was going on at the time.

I've never had a job require a degree. They have sometimes been listed as a desirable attribute, but no one has ever queried it.

Ultimately, it is possible to be successful without a degree. But if someone doesn't want to go to Uni, but also doesn't want to find a job and work hard, they are not going to be successful regardless...

Anyone who is willing to put the work in can succeed in a career.

My partner is a fab example. Did poor at GCSEs, didn't go to uni but now is a train driver.

Most big businesses now ask for a degree as a minimum requirement. Unless in sales and marketing possibly. You place, right time and business invests in training

My DH only has GCSEs, he is in a senior professional role £60k+bonus. I would seriously get my own kids to consider if uni is the right route. I went and it has had minimal help with my career. Nowadays, good employers should only be asking for a degree if it's genuinely necessary for the role, in the spirit of inclusion.

I work for a multinational company, no degree required for most roles, some do require one (data scientists and similar) but most don't.

@smellslikecinnamon it was a very wiggly wiggly path I have to admit.

Started in call centres as a teenager doing telesales, then it went a bit like this:

Customer service advisor > team supervisor > various team manager roles > call centre manager > IT Service Delivery > GRC Manager > Information security and GRC senior manager > Director CyberSecurity & GRC.

Lots of free online courses, reading books, talking to experts, joining forums, attending industry events etc.

I applied for every promotion going, don't worry about meeting all the job spec requirements, as long as I hit 50% I apply then use the interview to convince the hiring manager I can do the job. Call centre manager > current role all happened after returning from Mat leave in the last 10 years.

You could look it the opposite way and think of the people that have degrees but haven’t done well. When I say well, I mean in a job where they are paid well. I know several people that have degrees and they didn’t need to bother. I include myself that. Compete waste of money.

The amount of debt because of the tuition fees etc…. I actually would question whether to bother going to university, unless the job you wanted required it.

Years ago when tuition fees were minimal and even free until the late 90’s, lots of people went for the experience and quite right. I’m not sure £30-35k just for
tuition fees is worth it, especially when you factor in how much the cost of living has risen over the last few years.

House prices are beyond ridiculous and rents aren’t far behind and I feel sorry for the younger generation these days as they’ve got it worse than what my generation had it.

I work in software development in financial services, on 75k. No degree and most of my close colleagues don't either, including my boss who will be on 100k +. One of my colleagues doesn't even have a maths GCSE 😁We've all worked our way up from entry level jobs.

But I'm 36 so started worked almost 20 years ago, I guess times may have changed.