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 started straight from school working In a bank working through all the roles, they then paid for professional exams and I became a manager due to the experience I had.
first hurdle is generally customer service skills which I’d had from waitressing from 13 (not really possible nowadays)

My cousin really struggled academically.
Took an apprenticeship as an electrician and worked hard. Now works high up as supervising electrician for a factory of well known car brand. Earns teh most of our generation and the rest of us siblings /cousins all went to uni. He's got a gorgeous detached house in the country, newest Audi and lovely wife and 2 x girls. It's lovely to see as he got some stuck when he was younger from older relatives

One of my children is 21 and decided not to go to uni. He’s been training to be a chef, not at college but completely under some brilliant executive chefs. He’s earning > 35k.
Loves it.
his current executive chef has mapped out the next 5 years development with him.
he had some great uni offers to study software engineering but decided against it.

Hi @smellslikecinnamon im 37. No degree, no levels and mainly Bs at GCSE and earn £65k working in IT. I’ve got kids and could probably be earning more but different prioritises now. I don’t think I’ve necessarily suffered: I’ve been successful in all job applications , and work itself hasn’t been harder because I haven’t had a job. I went to a very good school though and from a young age was surrounded by people who wanted to do a well and were extremely motivated. That definitely helped me. I sort of wish I went to uni though - I would have loved a “uni” group of friends, and opportunites to travel more , gap years long summers etc (although I guess I could have done that inbetween jobs in my 20s)

Not got a degree or any other qualifications after GCSE.

I did well at GCSE - A's & A*s except for Maths which I did abysmally in. My life in education was done by 16 and I wanted no further part in it.

I currently work in the construction industry and earn 52k on 40 hour weeks.

Oh and I'm 41.