Are you on the lookout for a high paying job, but don’t want to invest in a four-year or graduate degree? You’ll be lucky to hear that there’s no need to have a college degree to land a good job.
There’s a belief in our society that a college diploma is critical for your professional life. You can often hear people say: “the more you learn, the more you earn.”
However, with the advance of technology and the appearance of a myriad of new collar jobs, the market demand for a college degree is changing. Many employers today place a higher value on skills and experience than on a diploma.
Instead of enrolling in college and spending thousands of dollars, you can get the required skills through vocational training, an internship, or a certificate program.
Here’s a list of 5 different jobs that don’t require a 4-year college degree. These jobs can be found in many industries, are in high demand, and come with a competitive salary.
Software Developer
Only ten years ago, it was thought that a college degree is the best way to secure a high-paid job. But the world has changed. More and more often, we hear of successful developers who dropped out of college or never earned a diploma.
Even kids in elementary school are learning to code, and are taught how to create apps and websites. Many of them will grow up to be self-taught using online resources like StackOverflow.
In fact, one study by StackOverflow in 2016 found that 56% of developers don’t hold a college degree in computer science.
The reality is that you have bigger chances of getting hired if you show the company/staffing agency what you have accomplished. Meaning, a portfolio of projects and experience working with different clients is worth more than a 4-year degree.
So, if you’re considering a career in programming but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a college diploma, you should invest in an associate’s degree or self-learning. You can also obtain a certificate in a specific programming language or attend a Bootcamp.
The options are multiple, and the choice is yours to make.
UX/UI Designer
This is a great career for someone who has a combination of a psychological mind and a designing mind. Their responsibility is to help software engineers develop a software or an app that users will love and like using.
Although software engineers are great for developing software, they can sometimes make the software too complicated to use. The UX/UI designer’s job is to help make a program as easy to use, encouraging users to interact with it.
Companies don’t normally require a college degree to land a job as a UX/UI designer. However, there are several ways of how you can increase your chances of landing a good job:
- Gain experience through doing freelance work, internships, or working with mentors.
- Enroll in a certificate program and obtain a certification in a relevant field.
- Learn from online UX/UI courses and stay active in communities of professionals.
- Refresh your skills often by staying up-to-date with current and emerging tech trends.
You should also consider getting an associate’s degree. Associate’s degrees are more affordable than college degrees and take around two years to obtain.
Social Media Manager
A social media manager’s job involves posting regular content in the form of video, text, and images across various platforms to encourage others to get to know the brand and become clients.
Although a college degree is always a plus, it’s not mandatory. Companies have grown to appreciate skills and experience more than a good old college diploma.
If you’re interested in starting a career as a social media manager, you need to take a few of the following steps:
- Complete an internship.
- Be a self-learner and go-getter. You can learn almost anything online today. From online courses on Udemy to YouTube tutorials, there’s plenty of resources to equip you with the needed knowledge.
- Never stop reading, listening, and asking questions. Join forums and communities of social media managers and learn from more seasonal professionals. Attend webinars and conferences. Network with people and let them be your mentors.
With the right amount of drive, will, and a desire to learn, you can break your way into the marketing industry without a degree.
Computer Support Specialist
A computer support specialist provides help and advice to users and organizations with their computer equipment or software. They might help users who are not tech-savvy with their problems or assist IT employees in a company.
Although some companies will only hire a computer support specialist who holds a college diploma, that’s not always the case. Some companies will hire a candidate who has an associate degree or has just taken computer classes.
Employers and recruitment agencies often look for hard skills such as computer knowledge. But they also look for transferable skills such as people, communication, and problem-solving skills. Some of them will require a candidate to go through a certification program.
The best part is that people who work as computer support specialists often advance very quickly in their careers. They might become network and computer systems administrators, or software developers.
Software Quality Assurance Tester
A Quality Assurance tester is a person who tests a product before it’s released to look for defects or errors. For example, before the software is released, a QA tester will examine the software for ease of use and relevant content. They report any bugs or errors in code to the development team to be fixed.
The requirements for a QA tester vary from company to company. Although some employers or staffing agencies prefer candidates with a 4-year diploma, that’s not always the case. Many companies are after candidates with experience and skills. If you’ve got relevant experience, solid references, or letters of recommendation, it’s possible to get a good job without a college diploma.
If you see yourself working as a QA tester but don’t want to spend four years in college, there are many online courses for software testing that can fast-track your career. Visit the Association for Software Testing (AST) website. Here, you can find many resources, including a link to the AST YouTube channel that features webinars and presentations.
What’s more, consider getting one or more certifications to be more attractive to recruitment agencies or hiring managers. The two most popular software tester certifications are the ISTQB Certified Tester and the Certified Software Tester (CSTE).
Finally, don’t forget to take advantage of free resources like LinkedIn software tester groups, Reddit, and other forums and online communities.
Key Takeaways
Overall, you don’t have to hold a 4-year degree to land a high-paid job. However, you must be willing to undergo some other types of training, including getting a certification, enrolling in an online course, or staying active in forums and communities.
This list is only a sampling of the jobs that you do without holding a degree. There are many more opportunities available. If you didn’t find your dream job on the list, head over to Indeed and review the open positions in your area that don’t have a degree requirement.
To conclude, there are options out there for you! Landing your dream job is possible without accumulating major student debt. The key is knowing where to find these roles and how to prepare for them.
