Good Career Paths For Non-College Bound

[Shooby]

What are some good career paths for someone who cannot afford college? DS as some friends who will not be able to afford college. Some of them have parents who aren't overly involved and/or not likely to help either because they can't or won't. So, what kinds of opportunities are there for male or female students who can't afford college? How to develop a decent paying career?

[Tiny]

Well,  if the youngster has some entrepreneur qualities and perhaps has been around dogs/cats (more so than just their family pets) and if they have some contacts in the "dog groomer" circle of people - getting the certificate/degree and then sometimes the liscencing to be a 'dog groomer' can be a reasonable choice for a 'career'.     

You might not get to be Dog Groomer to the Stars - but you might eventually aspire to open your own business or discover ways to branch out - dog training, dog walking, dog massage, working with local vets or shelters -- whatever.   You might not be making 6 figures but you certainly can build a reasonable 'business'.    

A friends wife built a home business around grooming dogs -- and was earning the median income for their area  for many many many years  - it took a bit of initial investment - the schooling, the liscencing, some modifications to their basement bathroom and garage, a dog tub and then equipment... and then 'growing the business'... so the first handful of years required some hard work and $$$ but then - it was a great business and the wife could still get the kids to school, be home when the kids came home, etc...   She pretty much worked every Saturday of the year (and sometimes weekday evenings near holidays - cause people wanted clean, non-smelly dogs for the festivities) but the family made it work.   

I can pretty much gaurentee that any population of people in America will (or could) use the services of a Dog Groomer. 

[alabamagal]

Around here mechanics are in high demand. I worked with a guy who started at oil change place, then got industrial job and now is service manager for a dealership.

My cousin started mowing lawns 35 years ago and turned that into a large commercial lawn business.

Truck driving is a growing field. But you have to do some training. A friends ex was able to work his way up to a job with Walmart. But he was gone a lot and may be why he is ex

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

My cousin apprenticed with a welder/pipe fitter and did quite well.  It got him then hired at one of the local car manufacturers and he is doing very well.

His dad is desperately looking for an apprentice to take over his mechanics shop.  He wants to retire, but can't find any kid who is willing to learn (and get off his damned cell phone).  It would be a great deal for a kid who needs a career, and the shop has been very good for him.  His problem is that the kids come in and want to play rather than work.  My cousin said that he will sell the property at likely a loss (he really doesn't need the $$ from selling the business, it has been VERY lucrative for him) rather than turn it (and his reputation) over to someone who isn't willing to work to be good.

The problem is that even if there is no formal education, the person still needs the drive to want to succeed because they don't get the skills needed for many of these fields automatically - it takes practice.  

[tskeeter]

A lot depends on the inclinations of the kid.  But, I like auto mechanics, for someone with the interest.

A smart kids will use their brains to diagnose problems.  Beats the heck out of an assembly line job for a bright, capable kid.

There are opportunities to go into business for yourself.  Many talented mechanics make a good living as a one man shop.  (Current labor rates in my area are $85 - $95 an hour.  I don't know what that would translate into after expenses, but it should be pretty good for a sharp operator.)

Auto repair is a difficult job to offshore.  Just doesn't make sense to ship the car to China to do a four hour repair job.

Auto repair is more recession proof than some other types of work, such as retail or construction.  People need cars repaired and serviced, regardless of how the economy is doing.  And when the economy gets bad, people tend to repair older cars instead of buying new ones.

It seems that younger folks are not willing to do minor auto repair and maintenance chores for themselves.  Whether it's that the new cars aren't as easy to work on (less space around engines, etc., than when I learned to wrench on a car), the kids don't learn auto repair from their Dads any more, or that kids are more willing to work some extra hours to pay someone else to deal with the dirty aspects of owning a car.  All this means is that auto repair should be a growing market.

My comments can apply equally to girls as well as boys.  No reason why girls can't be auto mechanics.  Heck, the cute little strawberry blonde that was the SIL of one of my college roommates was a very capable transmission mechanic.  She didn't choose auto repair for a career, but she spent enough time wrenching in her Dad's transmission shop that she really knew her way around a transmission. 

[giramomma]

Are we still talking some post-secondary training, or making a career with no education beyond

In my neck of the woods, you still go to a two year CC for a trade.

Other options I'd look into would be a two year accounting degree. A book keeper with little to no experience will still make twice minimum wage.

What about a paralegal?

Here's a link that lists most of what we are saying. www.careercast.com/jobs-rated/best-jobs-without-college-degree

There's always politics. Our governor is vying for the republican presidential nomination. He doesn't have a 4 year degree. 400,000 isn't that bad of an income for no degree. Besides getting paid political positions, there's always money from writing books...

[bean29]

Around here, Masons, Carpenters and Electricians are all desperate for workers. It should be a promising career path.

[The Captain]

HVAC technician or Licensed Plumber.

Yes, some training involved, but our CC's offer classes.

DN had a few friends that took welding classes at the local CC and graduated with some sort of certification.  They both had jobs waiting for them.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I was just listening to the news and Boeing has estimated that they are going to need over 600,000 aircraft mechanics over the next 20 years.  However, I suspect that there is a certain amount of training involved there, you're not going to walk into a $20+/hour job with no training.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Jul 21, 2015 13:35:58 GMT -5 The Captain said:

HVAC technician or Licensed Plumber.

Yes, some training involved, but our CC's offer classes.

DN had a few friends that took welding classes at the local CC and graduated with some sort of certification.  They both had jobs waiting for them.

Yep, the tech college I'm going to has all of these programs and there are waiting lists to get into them.  But like many things, there is going to be at least some additional training and education required outside of a HS degree.

[CarolinaKat]

Jul 21, 2015 13:36:19 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I was just listening to the news and Boeing has estimated that they are going to need over 600,000 aircraft mechanics over the next 20 years.  However, I suspect that there is a certain amount of training involved there, you're not going to walk into a $20+/hour job with no training.

.... this is a good thing to know. 

DH and 2 of my BILs went military because they didn't know what to do after HS and college wasn't on the table (MIL only really encouraged 'book learning' in girls). I don't really know if I'd recommend it as a career path unless you're very dedicated. (The pay is also diddly)

BFF went into the military to get away from her family. She's happy with that decision.

My good friend did 4 years in the military to qualify for the GI bill. Another friend did ROTC all through college and enlisted after graduation, covering college costs that way.


Shooby Is the young person in question looking for how to pay for college or for a career that doesn't involve a 4yr degree?

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

www.boeing.com/commercial/market/long-term-market/pilot-and-technician-outlook/

I guess that this is the report that the news is talking about.

[Tiny]

What are some good career paths for someone who cannot afford college? DS as some friends who will not be able to afford college. Some of them have parents who aren't overly involved and/or not likely to help either because they can't or won't.
So, what kinds of opportunities are there for male or female students who can't afford college? How to develop a decent paying career?

If it's truely being short on money and needing to take out loans - but NOT wanting to run up a 100K in loan debt....

I'd suggest having the youngster seriously try to think long term... along the lines of what kind of 2 year program at the local community college interest them? I suspect there's nursing, legal, accounting, whatever kinds of programs to 'get them started' - the trick then is to also attempt to get a job WHILE GOING TO SCHOOL - and if that job is somehow related to the 'profession' they are working towards (5 or 6 years down the road) the better. So, even if it's being a receptionist at a doctor's office for a nursing student... or doing filing/office work for the legal/accounting/business type degree. They need to work themselves into the area that they want to ultimately go into.

Community College + a job  while going to school + a bit of financial aid/loan should be a slow reliable relatively inexpensive way to get into a position to move into or towards a decent paying career a few years down the road.

My best advice for someone going this route would to stop telling yourself you'll be making big bucks and set for life in 2 years... BUT you will be CLOSER to making big bucks and being set for life than if you didn't do it.

[souldoubt]

As mentioned mechanics, HVAC repair, plumber, electrician, etc. are all one way to go but even then there's training, time and money required.  I know a guy who is a mechanic for a well known dealership making good money but he had to pay to go through the training, basically intern making very little for a while and buy his own set of expensive tools that are a requirement for the job.  If someone can't afford college that's what loans, going part time while working and so on are for.  Now if the question is about a career path for someone who isn't meant to sit through regular classes I'd give the same recommendations as far as something trade related.  In the end though the majority of options are going to cost money to get there.  That doesn't mean someone can't make a decent living without a degree or certification but it's much less likely.  Around here working at Costco, Trader Joe's or for grocery stores can net you a decent wage.  The thing is you have to climb your way up and generally it's seniority based (Costco/grocery store, not sure about TJ's) and sometimes you're in a union (grocery store).  Also some of those places hire seasonal workers and it can be hard to get a full time or regular job.    

[The Captain]

Jul 21, 2015 13:37:47 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Jul 21, 2015 13:35:58 GMT -5 The Captain said:

HVAC technician or Licensed Plumber.

Yes, some training involved, but our CC's offer classes.

DN had a few friends that took welding classes at the local CC and graduated with some sort of certification.  They both had jobs waiting for them.

Yep, the tech college I'm going to has all of these programs and there are waiting lists to get into them.  But like many things, there is going to be at least some additional training and education required outside of a HS degree.

Agreed.  But to me the key takeaway is that it's going to take some additional training and/or education to get any kind of a decent paying career.  In my area, at least, most of the well paying manufacturing jobs are gone.   

If you want to make more than $15 an hour you have to have skills that sets you apart from the crowd.  Gone are the days where your Dad got you in at the steel mill or job site with no prior experience. 

Yep, there are exceptions, but those are not easy to find.

[cronewitch]

I agree with Tiny, get a job in the field you might like and learn on the job while going to school. I worked in public accounting and landing the first job is the hardest. I could take a receptionist and teach them bookkeeping if they were willing to do the chore type things like reconciling bank accounts. I was able to teach some of them a lot and always willing if they didn't seem put off by me wanting them to work not just answer the phones. If they then took classes they would have had a resume with experience on graduation and probably promoted to bookkeeper before graduation. I learned almost everything on the job, two year degree first then assistant bookkeeper but other assistant bookkeepers had no education. I learned accounting from a CPA who hired me as a bookkeeper but taught we taxes and financial statements and corrected every single mistake I ever made. Other CPAs taught me even more so when I finally went back to school for a degree it was easy even the CPA exam was easy but 20 years to finish college.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I would pay big money for a competent house painter--interior, especially:

•Someone who actually paints and doesn't use a paint sprayer on interior surfaces
•Someone who knows how to cut in
•Someone who knows how to remove fixtures, paint, clean up stray paint, and replace fixtures.

It sounds like a simple job but it appears no one has the skills to paint, and paint well.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Jul 21, 2015 14:30:09 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

I would pay big money for a competent house painter--interior, especially:

•Someone who actually paints and doesn't use a paint sprayer on interior surfaces
•Someone who knows how to cut in
•Someone who knows how to remove fixtures, paint, clean up stray paint, and replace fixtures.

It sounds like a simple job but it appears no one has the skills to paint, and paint well.

My dad and his friend used to have a business like this.  They were on the same flight crew, so were off at the same time.  On their time off, they'd plan jobs.  We lived in the DC area at the time and they were painting in some pretty upscale areas.  I remember my dad talking about working in a house that had 13 bathrooms, and they got all their business via word of mouth.

This was a part time job for him, and even only doing 2 jobs/mo, they did VERY well.  They probably could have easily been parlayed this into full time job.

[zibazinski]

DH buys and sells used machinery. His friends all say they'd pay for training as well hire them and train them on the job. Finding them? Another story.

[beergut]

Jul 21, 2015 14:30:09 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

I would pay big money for a competent house painter--interior, especially:

•Someone who actually paints and doesn't use a paint sprayer on interior surfaces
•Someone who knows how to cut in
•Someone who knows how to remove fixtures, paint, clean up stray paint, and replace fixtures.

It sounds like a simple job but it appears no one has the skills to paint, and paint well.

I had someone come in and paint the interior of GF's house. I think I paid them roughly $60 an hour, nice work if you can do it right. They did a fantastic job, so it was money well spent. 

[bookkeeper]

I think an important point to be made is this:

Does the non college bound person enjoy working inside or outside?  A person who hates to sit in a chair and work indoors would never do well as a bookkeeper or medical coder simply because of the nature of the work.

[beergut]

One of the problems today are high school kids who disdain what they call "McJobs". Here is the reality: Working as a cashier at a fast food joint may only make you minimum wage starting out as a 16 yr old (unless you're in one of those states desperate to have their fast food restaurants turned over to kiosks, and tried to make the minimum wage $15/hr), but if you stay with that job for two years, by the time you graduate you can advance to assistant manager. Managers make $43k base salary, which isn't too bad for only a high school diploma. General Managers at Whataburger, which is my favorite fast food restaurant here in Texas, make over $53k annually. You can make a good living working in fast food, but too many people think they're too good for those jobs. 

The same can be said for working at a gas station. You start out at $9/hr around here at 16, and can be making $15 upon graduation. Managers make $50k annually. All because there is a stigma over working at a gas station. 

Drivers at Domino's Pizza can go to franchise school after one year, and the company will help you get financing to open your own franchise. 

There are plenty of opportunities out there to be successful while working your way up from the bottom, you just have to be willing to work. 

[andi9899]

Anything involving sales. You only have to have a GED and the earning potential is unlimited.

[andi9899]

Skilled labor also pays well.

[busymom]

If you can't afford college, anyone working in "the trades" seems to do well here.  (Carpentry, plumbing, sheet metal, etc.)   And, as others have mentioned, you don't necessarily need to go to school, at least in the beginning.

A former coworker of mine who got downsized decided to learn the plumbing trade, & found a place that offered him on-the-job training. He began working as a plumber's assistant, & last I heard he was doing just fine.

[zibazinski]

Electrician is one that a fair amount of women have gone into.

[Shooby]

Those are good suggestions but thinking more for a girl who might not be mechanically inclined. What are some paths? I was thinking of sales ,perhaps selling cars, etc.

[mmhmm]

I think someone mentioned interior painting earlier. That's an idea that, from what I've read, is really great for women. Lots of women are, apparently, really good at it. If she can learn to paint, cut in, hang wallpaper, etc. there's darned good money in it and it's creative, to a degree.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

A girl can go to a trade school/technical school to learn culinary arts - become a line cook, baker, or chef, etc. She can study hotel management, or other hospitality fields.

They just have to find where their interest lies and look at what types of training for a career in that field is available.

[giramomma]

What about the postal service?

I'd also get ahold of whatever civil test you need to take for public sector employment.

For one category of folks, you take a test that is offered monthly. Then depending on how well you score, departments have to give you interviews..

If someone had a part time office job or something in HS, and got a few books to help prepare for the test, I'm betting one could land a public sector job. Pay is low, but 30K for someone who is 19 or 20 isn't all that bad, either.