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Are you finishing high school and looking at entering the workforce instead of going to college? Congratulations! Not only are you avoiding taking on a massive amount of debt to fund your tuition, but you’re also going to get valuable experience in the workplace that will benefit you and place you above your peers in the employment line.
Nowadays, having a college degree is not as important as it was a few decades ago. At the turn of the millennium, the college started to turn from an educational institution into a government business that increased tuition fees while encouraging American students to take on large debts to fund their studies.
As a result of this policy change, the nation is now in debt to the tune of more than $1.6-trillion. The government backs federal loans, and taxpayers end up footing the bill should the student default.
Skip College and Get to Work
If you’re one of the lucky few that choose to forgo college for a job, then you can look forward to positioning yourself for success in the future.
However, don’t we need a degree to get a job? No, degrees are essential if you intend on becoming a professional involved in medicine or the STEM fields, (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.) Should you wish to take a job in these professions, then a degree is a must-have qualification for employment.
However, most people end up spending more than $37,000 on college, only to enter a job or career where they never even use their qualification.
There are hundreds of high-paying jobs available right out of high school that doesn’t require any qualifications. These occupations offer on-the-job training that teaches the employee how to do their job description – without the need for formal education.
Here is a list of jobs that require minimal experience or qualifications, is your dream job on the list?
Read: High Paying Jobs Without a College Degree
1. Sales Consultants
Other than STEM and medical jobs, sales professionals earn more money than any other job you can get after high school. Some salespeople make more than professionals, depending on what they are selling.
If you choose to sell fast-moving consumer goods, (FMCG), then you aren’t going to make as much money as someone who’s selling yachts or luxury automobiles. Choosing the sales job that’s right for you is all about matching the clients to your personality.
Should you enjoy working with people, solving problems, and can deal with a high-pressure sales environment, then review your local listings for sales job opportunities.
Most sales jobs offer in-house training, at no cost to you. These skills are often transferrable to other sales jobs, allowing the employee to benefit in different positions from the training they receive.
The salary of salespeople varies widely depending on what they are selling, and how much they work. The average salary for a sales job can be anywhere between $50,000 to $200,000 per year.
2. Real Estate Agent
If you enjoy traveling through neighborhoods making money meeting new people, then a career in real estate may be the perfect job for you. You may be under the impression that real estate agents require formal education to apply for the job – but you are mistaken.
Most states require realtors to earn a license to sell property, but it’s a simple test that you can pass without much hassle. Your colleges at your firm will help you with your study, and most new would-be agents pass the test with flying colors.
The majority of the training for this career happens on the job. You’ll need to shadow an experienced agent before you can go out on your own. However, once you’re qualified and have enough experience, nothing is holding you back from making a million in real estate.
Most agents earn anywhere between $20,000 to S110,00 per annum, but some elite agents can make millions of dollars every year selling a high-value property.
3. Personal Assistant
If you think you would enjoy working at a desk and would prefer to work under a boss, rather than start your own company or be an independent rep in the field – Then a job as a personal assistant may be your best career option.
Personal assistants work in the front office, and they have to greet clients, arrange meetings, and maintain the upkeep of the office. Personal assistants are indispensable to working professionals, and without them, they have no means of successfully managing their time or their business.
Most personal assistants are naturally gifted at typing and speaking with people over the phone and email. Should you match these criteria, then you may get an opportunity as a junior assistant. Should you prove yourself, then you may get a promotion to assist the CEO or another member of the executive committee.
Your salary varies depending on your experience and the company you work for, with most assistants earning anywhere between $50,000 to $90,000 a year.
4. Paralegal
While working as a lawyer may require years of schooling, you can still enjoy a prosperous career in the legal system as a paralegal that requires no formal training. Paralegals are assistants to attorneys – their duties include preparing case files, doing research, preparing correspondence, and organizing conferences or meetings.
Some law firms may require applicants to attend a short course where they receive training for their position. However, it’s important to note that this course is typically only a few weeks long, and is usually paid for by the company intending on hiring you after you complete your training.
Paralegals earn a decent living, with the average salary being between $30,000 to $80,000 a year.
5. Security Guard
Do you feel it’s your duty in life to protect people and their assets? If so, then a job as a security guard may be your calling. There are so many employment opportunities that are available for security guards. From airports to truck depots or office buildings, security guards are in high demand.
While the job doesn’t require you to have a high school diploma or college education, you may need to meet state regulations and take safety, and first aid courses before the company hire you. Most of these programs take less than 6-months for qualification, and then you have the chance to start work right away.
Security guards require a clean criminal record, and most employers will require you to take regular drug tests. Should you enter a career as a security guard, you can expect a salary of anywhere between $20,000 to $50,000 per annum.
6. Truck Driver
Does the thought of traveling the interstate hauling a heavy payload bring a smile to your face? Long-distance truck drivers are in high demand at the moment. With the economy expanding, there’s more need for transportation of goods over long distances than at any other point in history.
Truck drivers need to complete a 5 to 10-week course teaching them to drive a truck and manage it on the road. However, once you have your commercial driving license, you’re ready to hit the road and start earning.
Driving a truck offers travel opportunities, the flexibility of creating your work schedule, and a tidy pay packet at the end of the month.
Most truck drivers earn anywhere between $45,000 to $80,000 per annum, depending on the type of work they do and what they are driving.
7. Oil Worker
The oil industry offers plenty of job opportunities for people with little experience or qualifications. Whether it’s working in the oil fields or on an offshore platform, being an “oilman” has its advantages.
Most jobs in the fields or on offshore platforms require no experience, but you must be willing to learn quickly. Working on a rig is dangerous, and there are plenty of safety hazards around you at any stage of the working day.
Therefore, many oil companies require you to complete a health and safety course that teaches you how to deal with the hazards of the workplace. Once your training is complete, you can get to work right away.
The oil industry also likes to promote from within their organization. So, you might start as a field worker, and progress into management as your experience develops. People working on oil fields or platforms earn anywhere between $33,000 to $65,000 per year.
8. Landscaping
Do you enjoy working outdoors? If so, then a career in landscaping may be on the cards for you. Landscapers spend their days planning gardens, purchasing plants, and shaking hands with clients while they coordinate their team. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and develop new relationships as well.
Landscapers are in demand for residential and commercial landscaping jobs, and most landscapers will take you on without any experience. Your boss may ask you to complete a trial where they review your general competency on the job, and if you perform – then they will invite you to join the team full-time.
While landscapers don’t earn a huge salary, it puts you in a position where you can learn how to open your own landscaping business. The average salary for a landscaper varies between $20,000 to $40,000 per year.
9. Trade Jobs
Trade jobs are a dying profession. As more people move toward working online or corporate desk jobs – fewer students are entering the fields of trade. If the thought of being a welder or machinist is appealing to you, then you can look forward to a prosperous career with endless job opportunities.
It used to be that tradespeople had to go to trade school to earn a diploma. However, with the dwindling numbers of people attending these schools, many machine shops and trade jobs now offer training on the job through an apprentice program.
You work on the job and earn your experience in practical tasks. Eventually, you’ll reach a stage of competency where you can do the job on your own without anyone overseeing your work. Tradespeople earn anywhere between $30,000 to $120,000 per annum, depending on their skill set.
10. Chef
Are you a whizz in the kitchen? If you enjoy working with food, then a job in the culinary arts is waiting for you. Being a chef is a huge responsibility. Not only do you have to ensure the kitchen runs smoothly, but you also have to ensure the health and safety of your guests and coworkers as well.
Most chefs go to culinary college for a few months to learn the basics of how a kitchen works. However, there are plenty of positions open for people with no experience. You can start your career off in the scullery cleaning dishes, then move onto food prep, and eventually a sous chef position before you land the job as head chef of the restaurant. This job allows you to work your way up by gaining on-the-job experience.
While working at the local Burger King won’t net you a huge pay packet, those individuals that reach souse chef or head chef level can earn up to $100,00 per annum, depending on their skills and the restaurant.
11. Bartender or Barista
Do you enjoy working with and meeting new people? A career as a bartender or barista may be the perfect job for you. Bartenders and baristas don’t require much training or experience to land the job. However, some employers may ask you to attend a brief course where they teach you how to pour drinks and run the bar.
Most of these courses are a few days in length, and the employer pays for the course. You might start at the back bar, learning how the bar works while fetching drinks for the waiting staff. After you know your way around the bar, you’ll graduate to the front-house team, and have to deal with customers.
Working in a busy bar is a high-pressure environment, and you’ll have to learn how to deal with people screaming at you while working long hours on your feet.
However, bartending or being a barista can land you with plenty of opportunities. Thousands of people may visit your establishment, and if you’re competent and friendly, you never know- a business owner might ask you to come and work for their company.
Bartending or barista jobs net you an annual income of between $13,000 to $45,000 per year.
Stay Ahead of the Market with Benzinga Pro!
Want to trade like a pro? Benzinga Pro gives you the edge you need in today's fast-paced markets. Get real-time news, exclusive insights, and powerful tools trusted by professional traders:- Breaking market-moving stories before they hit mainstream media
- Live audio squawk for hands-free market updates
- Advanced stock scanner to spot promising trades
- Expert trade ideas and on-demand support