How to Get the Job You Want – Without a College Education ABC Recruitment

How to Get the Job You Want – Without a College Education

Apr 20, 2011 Job Reviews

You dont always need four+ years to get a great job. Depending on the industry that interests you, sometimes you can get a start with just an associates degree, or even just a high school diploma. You have to be realistic if you want to be a doctor, you need a college education (several years of it, as a matter of fact) but that doesnt mean there are no high-paying jobs out there available for employees with little formal education. How do you get this kind of top-paying job if your resume doesnt shine? Check out these tips:

Prove that you have the skills.

You might not be able to get a top-paying job right away if you dont have a college education, but what you can do is get an entry-level position and work you way up the ladder. Even if you start in a minimum wage position, such as working in retail, you can slowly become a shift manager and then a store manager or even a regional manager. If you spend the time gaining experience with a single company and prove that you can do a good job, you lack of formal education wont matter as much.

Line up amazing recommendations.

If you dont have a college degree, network, network, network! the more people you know, the more people who will recommend you for jobs, especially if theyve worked with you in the past. This goes back to my first point if you work in an entry-level position, you can prove that youre good at your job. Even if you dont stay with the same company, if you do a good job, your bosses and managers will be willing to recommend you or be references.

Leverage the skills you do have.

Ok, so you dont have a college education what do you have? Do you have volunteer experience? Do you have security clearances? Do you have a military record? Do you have diplomas or certificates of completion for training programs? Do you have experience as a scout leader or PTA president? These are all things you can include on your resume! Dont overlook your achievements and skills, even if they are non-traditional. Most of the top-paying positions are leadership roles, so anything that shows you have leadership experience is great to add to your resume.

Consider an industry change.

Sometimes, finding a better job is as simple as considering different industries. For example, if you work as a nurse or in another medical position, many of which only require an associates degree or diploma, pay extremely well, since workers in this industry are in high demand. Do some research to find out what is in demand in the area where youd like to live.

Become an entrepreneur.

If youre your own boss, you dont need to have an impressive resume, just an incredible drive and work ethic. Not every business succeeds, but if you do your homework to ensure that you have a solid business plan and take a few classes on entrepreneurship, the sky is the limit as to how much you can earn as a business owner.

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