3 Steps To Finding Jobs Without A College Degree

For years, we’ve been told if we want to get anywhere in life, a college diploma will be the key to growing our careers. Here’s the thing, though. College is expensive. Real expensive. Four years at a public college will run you more than $108,000, according to the Education Data Initiative. If you enroll in a private school, you can expect to spend nearly $235,000 over 4 years. And while these numbers include on-campus housing, they don’t factor in things like food, textbooks and of course, the occasional night out. 

The high price of higher ed, combined with countless stories about recent college graduates struggling to find jobs has many young people putting college off, or not going at all. That was the case for Hannah Maruyama, who decided against going to college. Today, she’s bringing in $100,000 annually, working in AI and teaching young people that they too can pursue their passions, sans degree. Her experience led her to found Degree Free, a community that helps people find good jobs without shelling out a small fortune for a college degree.

For Hannah Maruyama, there are three key steps to finding the best jobs without a college degree.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO APPLY

After high school, Maruyama came across a job listing from a not-for profit, with a starting salary of $50,000 a year. Despite it saying that candidates needed a college degree, she applied. Maruyama was hired, and learned a major lesson. “[Women] self-eliminate at a much higher rate than men do and that puts us in a position where we are more likely to buy paper from colleges,” explains Maruyama, who frequently refers to earning degrees as “buying paper,” a pretty clear indication of what she thinks of the process. “For women, the thing to take away is trying to apply for jobs that you think you want, even if you don’t meet the paper qualifications, because the worst thing that’s going to happen is nothing. It’s silence.”

FIND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING OR AN APPRENTICESHIP

When it comes to landing the best jobs without a college degree, one of the things that can give you an advantage is on-the-job training or an apprenticeship. Hannah Maruyama said this could be anything from going to a trade school for a hands-on job, like welding or pursue an apprenticeship in software development. For example, Twitch has a 50-hour software development apprenticeship that only requires a basic knowledge of Python and CSS.

To find these programs that will make you a strong contender for the best jobs without a college degree, Maruyama says to start by getting your Google search on. “I want people to get on Google and search the job title and then on-the-job training plus your location. If you’re looking for remote opportunities, you don’t have to include the location part,” she suggests. “So this could be on-the-job welding training, Savannah, Georgia, or this could be software development apprenticeship, Chicago. It could be anything.”

EARN A LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE

Hannah Maruyma has personal experience with earning a certificate and then immediately applying (successfully) for jobs without a college degree where she could put it to use. “This is how I got my first tech job…I got a Salesforce administrator certification,” she explains. “The total cost to get that certification was $362. It took me 31 days to study for it. In 45 days, I had a $70,000 remote job with a four-day work week because I had learned a targeted skill.”  Of course, this particular certificate isn’t the only road in — just an example of the many certificate programs out there that are much cheaper and shorter than spending four years in college.

PARENTS CAN HELP

New high school grads might not have the know-how to pursue the best jobs without a college degree on their own. Parents can help in ways other than helping to pay tuition, says Maruyama. She advises they sit down with their children and first, figure out what type of jobs the kids are interested in and what salary level they would realistically like to start at. 

Then, she says to look at job descriptions (both locally and nationally) that match up with what they’re looking for. Pay special attention to the skills outlined in the job description, and jot them down on a piece of paper. Work together to figure out how they can build those skills. If and when the interview comes, they’ll want to highlight what they’re bringing to the table, but not be afraid to shy away from their newness. Maruyama encourages entry-level employees to say, “I’m very new at this but I went out and learned the skill so I could have the basic understanding to come into this job.”

MORE ON HERMONEY:

• Your Post-College Graduation Guide: How To Use Thank You Notes And Other Touchpoints To Get Ahead
• 9 Personal Finance Hacks I Wish I’d Learned In College
• HerMoney Podcast Episode 431: 5 Ways To Save Money in 2024

More money news when you need it! Get the latest and greatest updates on all things investing, budgeting, and making money. Subscribe to the HerMoney newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!