To ask what you (or grown up children) do for a job if you have no formal qualifications

[Susiebluesy]

My son will probably leave school next year with no qualifications. Despite a lot of support from his dad and I, plus the school, he has behavioural problems as well as being a school refuser.

I was talking to his dad earlier about what his options are (I know they are limited obviously), he can work for his Dad, but ideally we’d like him to make his own way in life (possibly working for himself / have a trade).

I’m interested if anyone here has managed to carve a career from not doing well at school, did you maybe go to night school and resit? - or if anyone has grown up children where school wasn’t for them and they’ve managed to get a job?

Anyone got any positive stories?

Sorry, I can’t disable the voting

My brother failed his A level equivalents but then trained to be an electrician. He did that for years, worked in Paris and South Africa with one company. Then he came home and got a job in a pharmaceutical company as an electrician and has worked his way up to management. He earns over €60k.

My brother did very poorly in his GCSES-he got 1 D and the rest E/F/G grades. No behaviour issues or anything he just really struggled academically and was bullied a lot at secondary school so didn't ask for help

Due to being an August birthday he was only 15 when school finished. He spent 18 months working in a local factory and then joined the army. Literally the best thing he could have done! He has gained skills, qualifications, has been promoted twice and is set for a third, travelled and has many good friends. He is married now with two children and he is still in the army.

It's not a life that everyone wants/can cope with but certainly worth considering for some.

I left school with a few GCSE’s, got an F in maths, no A levels, 2 NVQ’s.
I was promoted to financial director at the age of 36, before we broke up for Christmas. I still have no accounting qualifications, but I do have 20 years experience of working in accounts and have worked for my current employer for 7.5 years.

I have old school friends who did brilliant in their GCSE’s, A levels and also degrees, they now work in poorly paid jobs.

I would say the behavioural problems will be more of an issue than the qualifications.

If he does’t mind starting at the bottom and working hard then he can make something of himself. But it has to be self motivated. Is there anything he will do?

DH’s mum cut an advert out of a newspaper for an entry level job at a local engineering place after DH had failed all of his A-levels. With hard work he’s now 34 and on £55,000 and fully qualified.

Thanks all, I’m feeling better already.

Belle, yes I agree, I think his behavioural issues are maybe more of a concern as he’s also lazy and lacking in motivation. However, I’m really hoping a lot of this is immaturity and he will grow out of it once he realises his dad and I will not be a cash machine for him.

My husband has done very well in computing. He didn’t go to night school/ retrain or anything. He just loves computers so he spent a lot of time teaching himself things.

(I, on the other hand, have two degrees and work in a shop )

Belgian 😂

What about Agriculture? Specifically livestock. Lots of people who work in my industry are better with animals than people! Also you can earn well and have a decent standard of living if you want but alternatively you can work for one of the big firms who have a career structure.

I think something more hands on may be the answer, so a trade of some sort perhaps?

Thank you flowery, that’s a good suggestion I hadn’t thought of that. He does like animals too which is obviously a benefit!

Lipper yes, definitely something with his hands, he says he wants a ‘trade’ such as builder, electrician- but you’ll need qualifications to get accepted on an apprenticeship to learn these skills- and I understand apprenticeship places are generally sought after.

My dp left school before sitting his GCSEs. He's a mortgage advisor, but he went into retail first before doing his qualifications, and he paid for them.
It's different now though. He's going to need some GCSEs to even get a look in at a job, and to get on an apprenticeship he'll need maths and English. I have two family members like your son, but older, one considerably so. Despite their mum being on her backside skint, neither of them are in any hurry to study, work or even sign on. Don't kid yourself that he'll suddenly grow out of it.

My brother did reasonably well at GCSE but hated formal education, he got a job as a plumber's mate and went to college in the evening. He was earning good money on site (London) even as a junior, then found he had a talent for some specialist work and blue print interpretation. He's 34 now and I don't know exactly what he earns but he employs others and it's definitely north of 70k and no student loan! Lots of his friends are in trades some didn't even get basic GCSEs and all earn good money 50k plus but we are on the outskirts of London and they all work on news builds sites often commercial or high end domestic. If you're a standard domestic plumber, carpenter or electrician in a northern town the money might not be quite as good, but still a decent stable income well above minimum wage.

I currently do PR and Marketing - no qualifications I just have a knack for seeing a story / opportunity / sales pitch.
Previously set up 2 successful businesses and setting a new third one this year, which will be managing talent.
I have no A levels, rarely attended school, no uni etc but know I’m earning more and more importantly am finding more fulfilment through work than many my age.

There’s a few really cool inspirational books (probably websites too) about people who have achieved great things with little to no academic qualifications, I think the most
Important thing is that he believes in himself! The rest will follow :)

@SassenachWitch - how did you make such progress in finance with an F in Maths? Not doubting you - good on you! - but curious as to where you started and how you moved up the career ladder in that field without qualifications.

I got good GCSE grades but family/me couldn't afford uni, so was pointless going to uni. I fell into a basic office job and did well by working my way through the ranks over the years, but I didnt enjoy it, at all!

Last year I set up my own small cleaning business. Its ticking over nicely with a lot of scope to expand it take it a lot further.

I got a few gcses but then fell pregnant at 17 halfway through my A Levels and dropped out of college. I have no other qualifications but I'm now a technical sales director working for a huge comms company. Hard work and determination are much more useful than qualifications IMO.

@Susiebluesy google agriculture apprenticeships. They can be a good route in.

My ds is very bright but dyslexic and not one for studying, and he never did well in exams. He struggles with motivation and although he scraped into uni he dropped out after a year. After doing a couple of courses that led nowhere but then he got a temporary job in a bank. Just data entry, but he is doing really well and has been made permanent and even been promoted. Hang in there, something will come up for him.

DH did a part time access course for social sciences and healthcare (something like that) in his 30s which included English GCSE and a maths equivalent and then got a funded place at university to do a healthcare degree. Now fully qualified healthcare practitioner (not nursing).

Just didn't know what he wanted to do and has a fairly fragmented education for various reasons.

I believe they may bring back the bursary for at least nursing so he may want to consider this, although 5 years of study is not for everyone (a lot of practical and hands on work though including placements).

@milliefiori I started as an office junior in an accounts department at 16, on the job training in sales and purchase ledger, moved to another company, on the job training in management accounts.

I now work for a small-medium sized family business, and in all honesty I’ve only got to where I am in this job because they appreciate how hard I’ve worked for them, and they actually like me. They know that I don’t have accounting qualifications, and that there are still things that I don’t know, which is what I use our external accountants for, but they’ve given me the chance to play a big part in their business, and I’m very grateful to them.

My son dropped out of sixth form (he has GCSEs), and has no formal qualifications but he is a very busy, professional musician, tours all over the world and is also a computer programmer, self employed and much in demand. I will say there was never any doubt that he was very clever and he chose what he wanted to do and how to go about it.

It all depends on what your son is like really, if he is interested and good at something in particular.

I have known other youngsters who were indifferent at school but later on did some training at a college part time.

I hope your son finds his niche.

I am qualified now, but left school with nothing and haven't worked in ages, but that is through choice.
However, from 16-26 I had my own business in the entertainment industry, was very lucky as what I provided became very fashionable and I raked it in.
I was a higher rate taxpayer and my business was turning over millions. That was not my income It only lasted the 10 years as decided I didn't want to diversify when it became less fashionable, so when surprise ds1 came along, I gave up. Never looked back, but certainly more than held my own, with no qualifications at all.
I now have a PgCE and of course a Degree, and have taught my industry subject up to degree level.

Not everything is possible for people like me and your ds, but I recommend finding what he is good at/ likes the sound of and go for it.
Colleges will take him without GCSE's though he'll probably have to retake Eng and Maths, a level 2 equivalent is accepted in place of GCSE's.