Who Needs College?

We’ve all heard the statistic that someone with a college degree will make $1,000,000 dollars more in their lifetime than a non-degreed person.  Nevertheless, recent reports have caused many to question the necessity of a college degree.  What are those reports?

• Many college grads cannot find work in their field … or work at all!
• Some students graduate owing tens of thousands of dollars in student loans
• Still others find that after four or more years of advanced education, they’re not ready to face the “real world”

Maybe you’re just starting out or are thinking about a career adjustment.  Do need college to be a success?  Here are some things you might want to consider.

1. Your own business.  If you have that entrepreneurial spirit, you might want to start at the top as your own boss.  Landscaping and housekeeping service come to mind, but there are many other options.  “Find a need and meet it” is a helpful approach.  But be careful.  Being the boss isn’t a 9:00 to 5:00 proposition.  Your own business will require a lot of hard work -- not to mention some start-up costs.
2. Sales.  Car sales, insurance sales, company representative -- it takes a special person to be able to endure the rejection that is sure to come in the sales field, but those that can handle it can make six-figure incomes.  Note here that we are not talking about the minimum wage dweeb who is put-off when someone in the store asks for help; we’re talking about professional sales people who want to make this their career.
3. Repair work.  We live in a “disposable society” where people are inclined to throw an item away rather than have it repaired.  But there is still a big demand for someone who can repair a car or computer or copier or any other machine.  If you can work with your hands as well as your head, this might be an area for you.
4. Learn a trade.  A US Labor Department statistic says that 2 out of 3 jobs require on-the-job training.  You might want to become an “apprentice” to develop the abilities necessary for a trade.  Construction work, upholstery, plumbers, HVAC -- these are among skilled trades that always in demand.
5. Company worker.  There are those, unfortunately, who disparage some jobs such as shelf-stockers and hamburger-flippers.  Others point out that these are “entry level jobs.”  Many companies promote from within.  That means with hard work and dedication, a shelf-stocker can rise to store manager or more.

These are among the many “real world” jobs that don’t require a college degree.  But remember, they do require work!