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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder if it's possible to have a decent job without a degree?

44 replies

Mindsthelimit · 26/04/2017 12:30

I'm currently a sahm, I have a degree in a subject/area that I don't want to go back to. Financially I can't afford to fund another degree.

Are there jobs with decent money and prospects without holding a related degree?

I don't mind retraining through my local college or even online, I feel like a teenager again deciding on what I want to do!

Please come and tell me all about your job

OP posts:

siblingrevelryagain · 26/04/2017 12:41

Pre-children I had what I think of as a 'good job'; left it 10 years ago to have children, was on £50k plus car/bonus/benefits package. I was training mgr for a logistics company (no training qualifications, was a good manager for them and applied for job within).

I was at uni but only for 9 months so left without graduating. I started as an assistant mgr in a pub (whilst deciding what to do with my life), then applied for other jobs and worked my way into managemebt role quite quickly.

I think it's do-able; my sister has a medical degree so us using that in her role, whereas my brother is senior management for a large company that has nothing to do with his degree. Doubtless it got him higher up in the company from the outset though.

Original poster

Mindsthelimit · 26/04/2017 12:43

Do you miss it sibling?

I'm not really looking for a high powered, lots of hours/lots of money type job...just wondering if the only opportunities I'll have now are entry level retail jobs.

OP posts:

GrapesAreMyJam · 26/04/2017 12:45

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

MatildaTheCat · 26/04/2017 12:48

Can you analyse the skills you have from your precious degree and role to work out where you could apply those skills into other areas?

So for example, nursing or teaching need great organisational and people skills which could be used in loads of other professions.

It may well be worth using a career consultant to have a look at where your strengths lie and where you might enjoy working and progressing up another career ladder.

Moanyoldcow · 26/04/2017 12:49

Depends on your idea of 'good' and the transferable skills you have - I'm a PQ Accountant without a degree and Husband works as an analyst - neither have degrees. I'm on nearly £30k for 3 days a week, DH earns about £55k. Both of us have opportunities to grow and develop and a degree has not been a barrier to our relative success. We'll never be high flyers but we're very happy as we are and have enough money for nice things, savings etc.

steff13 · 26/04/2017 13:01

I don't have a degree, and I have a good job. I make $75K. For comparison, the average household income here in the US is $51K.

Original poster

Mindsthelimit · 26/04/2017 13:08

Thanks for the replies

By good job I suppose something that has the opportunity for progression, above nmw and the possibility of part time hours.

I've been thinking about my transferable skills and they are;

leadership and management
organisation
communication/ people skills.

Those of you who have nice jobs without a degree did you start at the bottom and work your way up?

I've only ever worked in my field and it's quite daunting starting out again especially as I don't really know what I want to do.

OP posts:

Chocmudpie · 26/04/2017 13:12

How pretentious. Of course you can have an amazing job with no degree. There are a millions jobs out there that have been obtained or worked up to with no degree. In most cases these days being a graduate is useless anyway (unless it is actually required to do a specific job) all these poor kids coming out of uni with potentially 40k of student debt for a potentially meaningless degree, i feel for them.

Original poster

Mindsthelimit · 26/04/2017 13:14

Sorry you feel that way mud, I can assure you I didn't set out to be pretentious.

OP posts:

Crankycunt · 26/04/2017 13:14

I spent 15 years in retail management. I am now at the bottom in an office environment in customer service.

I'm playing the long game now. No degree, but I do experience.

YerAWizardHarry · 26/04/2017 13:14

DS's dad is in the police and makes good money after a couple promotions

chopper23 · 26/04/2017 13:15

I have an amazing job, with no further qualifications past my GCSE'. Good salary, yearly bonus, flexible hours, car, fuel card good annual leave, free lunches..... I never forget how fortunate I am though.

My talent; gift of the gab (sales!)

floraeasy · 26/04/2017 13:16

I work from home and am content without a degree.

But I always thought the advantage of getting a degree was that it did open doors to certain jobs, despite the degree not being directly relevant? So I wouldn't think you would need a second degree unless you wanted to do something where you absolutely needed to train in that area - medicine, law, etc.

UppityHumpty · 26/04/2017 13:17

I don't have any degree and have an analytical position that pays six figures. You are a graduate though so you would probably hit the brief with HR for whatever graduate job you apply for.

The main concern here would be lack of recent work experience.

Original poster

Mindsthelimit · 26/04/2017 13:17

Cranky I think that's the kind of thing I'm hoping to find. Something where I can start out at the bottom with part time hours etc for when the kids are young but where I'll be gaining skills and experience to move up.

OP posts:

Original poster

Mindsthelimit · 26/04/2017 13:18

Flora, I think with the majority of degrees you can do that but mine is pretty specific and a pile of shit tbh.

OP posts:

UppityHumpty · 26/04/2017 13:19

Management consultancies will usually take anyone with a goodish degree. Some like Deloitte have a back to work programme for stahm - you should apply and see what you can get. A lot of the analysts I've worked with through them have degrees in arts or humanities subjects

floraeasy · 26/04/2017 13:19

Ah, I see, OP!

What about OU then? They have a great reputation and are well-respected by employers. I believe they have an interest-free payment system to spread the cost and you pay for each module over the course of that module - not the whole lot upfront.

Original poster

Mindsthelimit · 26/04/2017 13:20

Uppity, at the moment I haven't officially been a sahm for very long, that's what's pushing me into preparing to return to some kind of work. I know the longer you're out of things the harder it is time get back in.

OP posts:

pinkdelight · 26/04/2017 13:29

Course it's possible, but you do have a degree! That puts you in line for lots of professional roles whether your degree is related or not. I used to work in careers advice and it never ceases to stun me how much women focus on what they haven't got instead of focusing on all their strengths. It's a good step that you're identifying transferrable skills, but as a baseline try not to see yourself as someone who needs more bits of paper to prove that they have something to offer. Of course if something needs study, like dentistry, then you need to re-train, but generally a degree is a degree and what counts from there is all kinds of experience.

pinkdelight · 26/04/2017 13:32

Just saw your update about your degree being a pile of shit. Well, you might think or even know that, but I bet it isn't common knowledge. Maybe you need a sesh with a career coach to help you see yourself differently. No axe to grind here, I don't work in that field any more, but it was remarkable how much people, esp women, belittle their own achievements and can't see how much they've got to offer the world.

ComtesseDeSpair · 26/04/2017 13:36

I have a degree although have never actually put it on my CV / applications since my first job, so employers never know about it. Which is essentially the same thing. I have a great job with lots of possible career progression.

In my field it seems more usual not to have a degree than to have one. If they're ever mentioned on person specifications then it's usually in the form of "degree educated or qualified by experience" and the latter is considered more important. Of my most recent three Chief Executives only one had a degree, so it doesn't prevent people getting to the top either.

user1489179512 · 26/04/2017 13:38

It's soooooo easy to tell which posters do not have a degree. Lol

floraeasy · 26/04/2017 13:40

It's soooooo easy to tell which posters do not have a degree. Lol

Yeah, they'd be the ones saying they do not have one. Like myself .

gillybeanz · 26/04/2017 13:42

I am educated to Masters level and work in a contact centre (new term for call centre)
There are lots of people with degrees and management experience.
We work 4 hours for min pay but get to see our kids and not take work home.

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