For the children of Gen X as well as their parents who are supporting them.
Once upon a time in Hollywood
I was working a temp job in the legal department at CBS Studios while trying to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. I was in my 20’s with a Bachelors degree under my belt and considering law school. Not that I particularly wanted to be an attorney but I had burned out on event planning, the job market was in the toilet and I was running out of ideas. Getting a student loan and procrastinating on my future was starting seem like a good idea.
That’s when I got some really good advice. “Do not go to law school. You will be sorry. You will be in debt and you won’t use the degree.” This from my boss at the time, Sam, who was the head of the department and an attorney. He was dead on right. All that time and money spent and, my love for arguing points aside, I would absolutely hate being an attorney.
Now I know it sounds hypocritical of me to say this given I have degrees from two different universities but hear me out. At 37, I obtained my second degree in order to make a job change that would have otherwise required experience or a portfolio. These days I could do that online for a fraction of the cost (see below) but back then it wasn’t as easy.
The point I make now is that those who are not collegiately inclined, or don’t want to spend that kind of money, should not feel pressure to attend. Especially if it means being under the weight of student loans for the rest of their lives. With that said, below are some great alternatives that the world could use more than another educated but broke attorney.
Firefighters and EMTs
These guys will always be in demand. While a career as a fire fighter doesn’t require formal education beyond a high school diploma or a GED many choose to further education in their own time for the purpose of increased employment opportunities and career advancement. Similarly, while some college can be helpful, only a high school diploma is needed to begin studying for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification. Nearly every EMT program provides the education needed to take the required exam before awarding a license. Also similar, there are various levels of education that can be obtained as time goes on for career progression.
Web design & development
Trust me. This is where the work is now. Even if you are just a mediocre hack like me you will be able to find work. As mentioned above, I did happen to get an education but I have learned far more on the job than I could ever have learned in school. In fact, much of what I learned is now obsolete. I find myself taking online courses all the time. Some of the best people I’ve worked with in this field got to where they are by online courses only. It’s all about your portfolio. If you can show a prospective employer your work (ie on Github.com or the like that goes a lot further than a certificate from any school. Some great paid tutorials include Udemy and Code Academy and there are countless free classes all over the internet including on YouTube. Many tutorials even offer testing and certificates of completion.
Blue Collar Jobs
Seriously. These jobs got an unfair bad rap in the past few decades when college was being pushed as the only way to get ahead in life. Not everyone needs to be on wall street. Not everyone wants to sit at a desk all day long. We will always need electricians, plumbers, elevator technicians, gas plant technicians and power plant technicians. Plus, salaries on these jobs are surprisingly high compared to a mid-level white collar job averaging around $65K – $80K annually. Imagine starting out in life with money like that and little to no debt?
Entrepreneur
Got bad grades but good ideas? You’re in good company. Albert Einstein was a horrible student. Steve Jobs was a dropout. Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Rachel Ray and Ralph Lauren are also part of the non-degree club. Save the time, money and energy you would spend in a classroom and be a student of the world. Create a product, provide a service. Get a job waiting tables to pay the rent while coming up with the next Uber. If you fail, keep trying. Just keep your overhead low and your spirits high. What’s the worst that could happen? You get promoted in your day job? A restaurant General Manager can make a fair living…
Hospitality/Restaurant Industry
Yeah maybe you start at the bottom if you have no experience but hard work is quickly rewarded. I worked in the industry for years and I’ve seen the promotions people received. In America especially, a restaurant working can make hundreds of dollars a shift in tips alone. Get a front desk job in the hotel industry, learn all you can on the job and find yourself in management, sales, event planning. So many options there. And those restaurant General Managers I mentioned just above? Their average base salary is $68,000. Not to mention it’s a fun and social job with a lot of perks…
