How to Get a Good Job Without a College Degree

Many people believe a college degree is key to building a great career and gaining financial stability. However, the job market is changing, and employers now focus more on skills, competency, and experience. In fact, Burning Glass Institute’s research on skills-based hiring revealed that, between 2014 and 2023, about 27,000 job roles that required a degree dropped the requirement.

For example, many companies like IBM, Google, Accenture, Bank of America, and Microsoft don’t require college degrees when making hiring decisions. Most of these companies have apprenticeship programs like the IBM P-Tech, which help students develop technical and professional skills that’ll help them enter the workforce easily. 

Sounds amazing, right? In this guide, we will provide practical tips on getting six-figure jobs without a degree. We’ll also share examples of jobs that don’t require a degree. 

Key Takeaways

• To build a career without a degree, learn in-demand skills through internships, mentorships, and apprenticeships to position yourself for opportunities.
• Network actively everywhere possible, including your local groups, industry groups, LinkedIn groups, Slack communities, and Facebook groups. 
• Volunteer to gain experience and build relevant connections in your field of interest.
• Showcase your skills and relevant experience in your portfolio. 
• You can build your portfolio on platforms like Wix, Squarespace, Behance, Clippings, etc. 

Practical Tips On How To Get The Best Jobs Without a College Degree

Whether this is your first-time job-hunting or you want to switch careers, these practical tips will boost your chances of securing jobs without a degree. 

Build Your Knowledge

If you’re looking to get a job without a college degree, learn in-demand skills that are relevant to your field of interest. 

It can be overwhelming to decide on the best skills to focus on, but you can research through job boards like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor. Look through job descriptions for positions you’d be looking to apply for. Then, make a list of the skills that are most frequently required. 

Next, create a learning plan to acquire those skills. You can learn on platforms like YouTube, Udemy, Coursera, and Alison.

For example, let’s assume you’re transitioning from retail sales to a career in digital marketing. Most jobs in digital marketing require skills in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), graphic design, content marketing, copywriting, and pay-per-click (PPC). You can learn these skills through online courses, workshops, internships, or self-study. Google, for instance, has a free Google Ads training course. 

Do Some Free Work

Learning isn’t enough; you must practice what you’ve learned to gain hands-on experience before applying for jobs. Many companies offer internships and apprenticeship opportunities where you can gain hands-on experience. 

Plus, you can offer your skills to nonprofits in your area. This is a win-win situation: you’re gaining valuable experience while giving back to society. You can find volunteer roles for NGOs on Work for Good, Volunteer Match, and Create the Good. 

Create a Portfolio  

A good portfolio can stand without a degree. A portfolio displays your skills and projects you’ve done that are relevant to the role you’re applying for.

When creating your portfolio, capitalize on your skills and showcase your previous experience, for example, taking surveys for money. If you’re applying for a copywriter job, highlight your research skills, SEO knowledge, and proofreading prowess. Then include examples of works you’ve written showcasing these skills. 

A portfolio also works for traditional roles like electrician, plumber, real estate agent, etc. For instance, for your plumbing portfolio, add pictures of your past projects. For each picture, briefly describe the project’s scope and your approach to the work, and share reviews from your clients. As a real estate agent, share homes you’ve successfully sold, sales performance reports, and testimonials from clients and colleagues. 

The best part? You can create a portfolio for little or no charge. Tools like Wix, Squarespace, or Canva have easy-to-use templates to help you create a professional-looking portfolio website. Other portfolio websites for digital roles like writing, graphic, design, and web development include Medium, Behance, Github, and Clippings. 

Note: don’t be tempted to share all your projects; your portfolio should showcase only your best works. Also, building a portfolio is a continuous process. As you grow in your career, keep updating and rebuilding your portfolio. 

Network with Others in Your Industry

The right connections can get you into spaces you may be unable to reach otherwise — even with a college degree. So, put effort into networking. 

Networking can look like attending industry events or joining your industry’s Facebook, Reddit, or LinkedIn groups. You can find upcoming events on websites like Eventbrite, Meetup.com, or industry-specific websites. 

You can take networking a step further by reaching out to experts you admire in your industry. You can ask about their career journey, challenges they faced (and how they resolved them), and advice for getting started. You can reach them by sending personalized messages through Linkedin or email. 

6 Best Jobs Without A College Degree

Not having a college degree doesn’t mean you can’t get the job of your dreams. In the next section, we will discuss six jobs you don’t need a degree for. 

Sales Representative

The average annual pay of a sales representative was $74,742 per year in the United States.

A sales representative identifies customer needs, promotes products and services that can fulfill those needs, and convinces customers to buy them. Depending on the industry, a sales representative can go by different job titles like sales associate, account manager, sales development representative (SDR), sales engineer, car sales agent, etc. 

Sales roles don’t always require a college degree. HubSpot’s research confirms this: 17% of salespeople in different career levels never attended college. What does this mean for you? A career in sales is great if you’re interested in meeting new people, finding solutions to their problems, and convincing them to pay you for these solutions. 

Without a college degree, you can take courses and get certifications to learn and give you a solid footing. E.g., the Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP) by the National Association of Sales Professionals and the Certified Inside Sales Professional (CISP) offered by The American Association of Inside Sales Professionals (AA-ISP).  

Electrician

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, the average salary of an Electrician is $61,590 per year. High earners can earn up to $104,180!

If you’re looking for six-figure jobs that don’t require a degree but will always be in demand, consider being an electrician. Electricians work on various tasks like lighting and wiring homes and troubleshooting industrial electrical systems in factories and hospitals. They also install security systems, set up home automations, and repair electrical equipment in commercial buildings.

How can you become an electrician? You have two options: attending a trade school or an apprenticeship. 

On the other hand, apprenticeship combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction, where you can earn a wage while gaining experience. Some apprenticeship programs are the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and WACO ELECTRICIANS JATC.

Regardless of your learning route, you’ll receive technical instruction on blueprint reading, electrical theory, electrical code requirements, mathematics, and safety. You’ll also learn soldering, elevator systems, fire alarm systems, and communication. 

Most states require electricians to pass a test and obtain a license. However, these requirements can differ from state to state. You can get more information on your state’s requirements through the National Electrical Contractors Association’s website.

After completing an apprenticeship or graduating, electricians can specialize in different areas like residential wiring, commercial installations, or industrial maintenance. With experience, you can become a master electrician or even start your electrical contracting business.

Web Developer

The average annual salary of a web developer is $84,960. However, top earners make up to $135,043 annually.

If you’re fascinated by how apps and websites work, consider becoming a web developer. There are three types of web developers:

• Back-end web developers, who create a site’s structure and write its code
• Front-end web developers, who design the part of a website that page visitors can see
• Full-stack web developers, who do the work of both back-end and front-end developers. 

Web developers are responsible for the technical aspects of the web, like the speed, capacity, and how much traffic the site can handle. And the best part? Web development is one of the jobs that don’t require college degrees. 

To become a web developer, learn the necessary core development languages (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) through coding camps and online courses. YouTube is also a great resource.

A good example of a learning platform to help you grow is FreeCodeCamp, where you can learn web development, coding, and computer programming. There’s also Codecademy filled with free interactive courses and CSS Battles where you learn CSS through a variety of online challenges. 

Real Estate Agent 

Real estate agents’ average salary in the U.S. is $99,000 per year or $47.60 per hour. Experienced agents make up to $115,000 per year. 

A real estate agent helps clients buy or sell properties. Agents usually earn commissions, so earnings can vary depending on individual performance. 

There is an uptick in real estate demand as more people shift toward remote work. So, real estate agents are not running out of customers anytime soon. If you’d like to become a real estate agent, do the following:

• Research your state’s requirements to become a real estate agent 
• Take a pre-license course
• Get a real estate agent license to practice in your state
• Consider joining the National Association of Realtors (NAR)
• Join a brokerage 

Car Mechanic

The average annual pay for car mechanics in the United States was $68,285 per year.

Car mechanics help repair and maintain cars. They also fix or replace worn or damaged car parts, like brake pads, wheel bearings, and sensors. To become a car mechanic, you’ll need to have a high school diploma and complete a specialized training program or apprenticeship. 

To start as a car mechanic, get into a training or apprenticeship program. Examples of apprenticeships to consider are The Automotive Apprenticeship Group and Guilford Apprenticeship Partners. 

After building your skills, take the ASE certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. The certificate will give you an edge when you apply for jobs. To become certified, you must have at least two years of experience (or relevant schooling and one year of experience) and pass the certification exam. 

Plumber 

The average salary of a plumber can differ based on experience, education, and location. Generally, a plumber’s salary is $61,138 per year. 

Plumbers install, maintain and repair plumbing systems. These systems include pipes, fittings, and tools that allow gas, water, and waste disposal to move around the house easily.

A plumber’s primary duties range from installing and connecting fixtures and appliances like water heaters, irrigation systems, and toilets to carrying out plumbing installations by making construction codes easy. Also, they use specific procedures to detect and solve problems, like leaks, clogs, or any components that don’t function properly.

To become a plumber:

• Earn a high school diploma
• Get quality training through an apprenticeship
• Join a community as an apprentice to fulfill licensure requirements. 
• Get your plumbing license
• Get a portfolio to display your skills.  

Every state’s licensing requirements differ, so research your city or state’s licensing board to learn the exact certification and licensure requirements.

Formal education is great, but it’s not a criterion for getting a good job or building a great career. So, whatever your dream job is, as long as you’re passionate and ready to learn, don’t let a lack of a degree stop you. Do the necessary research, learn relevant skills, and showcase your best works with a portfolio. Also, get the required certifications to practice your skills and take networking seriously. With persistence, you’ll be landing six-figure jobs and making good money — all without a college degree!