Peddling the Non-College-Candidate

Real World Careers: Why College Is Not the Only Path to Becoming Rich
by Betsy Cummings

(Page 5 of 5)

Do research. Even if you don't like school, you're going to have to put some of the skills you picked up there to good use? namely, researching and studying careers that may be of interest to you. The good news: It's far more thrilling to submerge yourself in career assessment tools than algebraic formulas.

Have a sense of entitlement. Just because you don't have a degree doesn't make you any less marketable or productive as an employee. Good employers know this, so keep it in mind. Remind yourself of it when on job interviews or whenever doubt creeps into your head should you land a coveted job that has you working alongside an Ivy grad every day.

Match skill sets to jobs available. Having a bachelor's degree under your belt doesn't necessarily add to the skills you possess naturally. Remember this, and figure out other ways to develop and exploit them-perhaps through adult education or on-the-job training.

Be aggressive. "I would maneuver myself to be visible and available more so than just knocking down people's doors," Crockett says. Rather than hounding managers for random extra work, Crockett would identify key projects that the company might initiate that would interest her. Then she would approach the manager in charge and offer her assistance and ideas. Like Crockett, Monster's Miller says, "Don't apologize" for not having a degree. "I know people here at Monster who don't have a college degree, and you wouldn't know it by the way they present themselves." Those without a bachelor's degree can do plenty to offset that missing credential on their résumé.

Quiz: Are You Ready for College?

Still not sure if college is the best path for you, even though your three older siblings have followed that course? Don't take tradition's path just for the sake of maintaining the status quo or to please Mom and Dad. Take the following quiz to see if college is the best place for you to advance your career. Keep in mind that your answers are an exercise in thinking about the best course for you. The following questions are not necessarily a replacement for a Myers-Briggs personality test or months with a career coach. But they are a great way to explore what is likely your best educational path.

If an academic subject interests me, I tend to:

a) Hope the instructor offers more information on that topic in the next class.
b) Take in the information I received in class that day and leave it at that.
c) Research the topic online in my own time.

When studying for a test, I often:

a) Force myself to sit down and study until I've covered all the material in one sitting.
b) Take mini breaks every fi fteen minutes to avert the boredom of studying.
c) Cram at the last minute and hope for the best.

When I get a bad grade on a test or in a class, I:

a) Go to the instructor and try to fi gure out exactly where I made mistakes.
b) Accept that I did the best I could and vow to do better next time.
c) Lose all hope of catching up in class or boosting my final grade.

If I run into someone who knows more than I do, my first thought is:

a) This is great, I could really learn something from her.
b) If I act like I know what she?s talking about, she'll think I'm smart.
c) I hate that I'm never as knowledgeable about ideas or news as everyone else.

When I think about moving away from home, my first thought is:

a) Finally, I get to meet a fresh group of people who might offer new opportunity.
b) That's scary, but I'll eventually adapt after a stressful period of acclimation.
c) How will I cope without old friends and my family?

If someone asks me today what kind of job I want, I would:

a) Rattle off a title and details of the job's responsibilities.
b) Say I have a few in mind, but I'm not sure which one to pursue.
c) Meet them with a blank stare and say I have no idea.

I just bought a new computer. It's not working, so I'm going to:

a) Call the manufacturer's customer service line for help.
b) Ask a friend who's technologically savvy to get it working.
c) Experiment until I figure it out on my own.

If I had to pick one of the following professions, it would be:

a) Lawyer or doctor.
b) Advertising account executive.
c) Entrepreneur.

If I'm cooking dinner for a friend, I:

a) Use a recipe. b) Order food from a local restaurant.
c) Pull together a dish of my own from ingredients found in my kitchen.

My opinion of college is:

a) It's a great way to stretch my mind and gain valuable skills for a job.
b) It's a necessary step to the job market.
c) I'd rather skip it.

Now count up your answers. Give yourself 2 points for every a) answer, 1 point for every time you answered b), and no points for c).

If your score is 15 or higher, college is probably an ideal path for you. You respond well to structured learning situations and feel comfortable in them. Any score from 8 to 14 means college could be in your future, but you might want to either think more seriously about what exactly you hope to gain from four years of higher education, or take a year off and figure out more specifically what your career goals are and whether or not a four-year program is the key to accomplishing them. Any score below 8 means that your educational efforts and career spirit will likely be squandered on a college campus. You possess plenty of your own initiative to determine which career path is right for you, and you're more inspired in becoming educated outside of the traditional academic setting.

© 2007 by Betsy Cummings

About the Author

Betsy Cummings is an award-winning business reporter who writes for the New York Times, Adweek, Smart Money, and other business magazines. She lives in New York City.