How to Get a Good Job Without College Degrees

Both of my parents did not graduate from high school. For most of her adult life, my mother was a homemaker, but she worked assembling electronics for a while. My father was a carpenter. He taught himself to draw plans for kitchen and bathroom cabinets. He also built bedroom furniture. They were both successful, and my father supported a highly educated family without a formal college education.

My older sister was the first in our extended family to go to college. After her, my younger sister and I were encouraged to do the same. But as I neared high school graduation, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I procrastinated and finally decided to go to community college.

I believe that community college is the answer for those students who do not feel prepared for university, or who have put off going to school. Community college offers many opportunities for students who are not cut out for the university.

Today I teach English at my local community college and many of my students are coming back to school after having worked for many years. I have many students who took some time off to work and start a family. I see many women who have gone through divorce, and now need to find a solid career. I also see many high school students who weren't quite ready to go on to the university. Community college is the answer to all of these situations.

Depending on the size of your local community college, you can find all kinds of opportunities. Community colleges offer certificate programs which will allow you to be qualified to do a professional job. Not all jobs require you to take English ETC. So a certificate will teach you to do a specific job and get right out in to the work force.

Some of these might include working on specific kinds of cars. Toyota, for example offers a program at the college where I teach. You can get a certificate in machining where you learn to operate machines to design and manufacture metal or plastic parts. There are child care certificates. Some offer professional programs such as a Physicians assistant program or a nursing program.

I started my career at a community college. At first I thought I wanted to be a radio DJ. My college offered a radio program. It also offered a cosmetology program and so I went there to get inexpensive haircuts. Another local college offers a sign language program so students can become interpreters. There are programs in graphic arts, computer technologies of all types, cooking, and much more.

I believe that in some ways our society has put too much emphasis on going to a university. Instead, I believe that every one needs an education, but that education might include the types of specialized jobs that would allow students to go out and get good paying jobs in technology, or service industries without having to get a four year degree.

Check out your local community college. Learn a skill which can help you get a good paying job quickly!