Degree a requirement for a successful career?

[jamesedwards]

Well, hello. Not a big poster here so stay with me please.

I'm at a bit of a stumbling block career wise. Currently in a job I absolutely hate and don't know what to do.

I'm 20 (just last month) no degree and frankly poor A levels (completely capable of achieving better but wasted it due to bad times and honestly lack of trying, completely my own fault) and work in an office environment for a manufacturing company. Done rather well in my first year there with twice promotion and around 5k pay increase. I now lead a small team.

I'm working there because although accepted to a few (pretty poor) university's last year to do degrees I didn't really want to do I bailed and carried on working. Hard.

I'm extremely ambitious and driven and have, since a very young age wanted to start, run and own a business. I just feel like I'm lacking direction now and not sure what to do next...

My question(s), how many of you believe that getting a degree is necessary is being 'successful'? How far can you go without a degree?

Just asking for advice.
Thanks in advance, guys.

[xr287]

I don't know about every industry but in my experience if you go off and do your own thing not having a degree won't be too much of a barrier but if you are working for someone then it might limit your options for some jobs. Unfortunately nowadays there is a lot of HR box ticking and if you don't look as good on paper as someone else you can be discounted without a chance to demonstrate otherwise.

[Xaero]

The short answer is no.

The longer one is 'it depends'. To practise law or medicine, then it is required to have a successful career as you won't get far without one.
You certainly don't need a degree to run your own business which could be as successful of a career as anyone else out there.

[anonymous-user]

Unless you are aiming at a job that requires a degree, I would not regard a degree as a career step but instead consider whether you want to go to university as an end in itself. A degree in any subject that requires academic rigour is a great training for the mind, and the time spent at university can be an invaluable formative experience. You have time to think, you can broaden your horizons, and you can make lifelong friendships and gain precious memories. University is arguably wasted on the young, so going when you are a bit older than the norm can be a good idea. My nephew bummed out at A level, bummed around for a few years, then re did his A levels and went to Oxford aged 23. He is still there aged 26 and loving it, and a few extra years maturity are enhancing the experience for him.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 27th May 07:59

[anonymous-user]

Consider also Birkbeck College or the OU if you have the self discipline to study hard while working.

I am mentoring a talented young woman who works in a family motorbike business but is training part time to become a barrister. Very hard work for her, but she is really going for it. I bought a helmet and boots from her shop and she asked me if she could come and do some interning, and asking is sometimes getting.

[NBTBRV8]

Like others have said, it depends if you are going for a trade or not. If not then a degree is a must in my opinion, BUT what I will say is that a degree MIGHT only get you an interview as it is experience that really counts in my experience of job seeking. However it is regularly quoted in the media that graduates earn much more on average than those that don't.

[Grandad7184]

I found it no problem not having a degree and poor A levels. I worked hard in the company I started in and i've went from Part time warehouse assistant to Warehouse manger buying stock and managing a budget of 1.2 million a year. I done some NVQ's Maths and English. And brushed up on my German in the evenings and will look at doing a open degree in the future if I require it.

[BoRED S2upid]

Only for certain careers now medicine, a vet a dentist, lawyer.

Gone are the days of degrees being a must have as they all come with massive debts.

Will your current employer fund qualifications to enhance your knowledge? Plenty of qualifications you can do on the job.

[Hoofy]

jamesedwards said:

I'm extremely ambitious and driven and have, since a very young age wanted to start, run and own a business. I just feel like I'm lacking direction now and not sure what to do next...

You certainly don't need a degree to start and run a successful business.

But if you really wanted to start and run a successful business, you'd already have started to run your business (success isn't guaranteed, degree or otherwise).

Moving forwards, if you really do intend to start your own business, then you could continue in the industry you're in until you identify some kind of service that you could offer that is either being done badly or not at all. Silver lining to being in a st job, I guess?

[Engineer1]

The issue is for some HR types a Degree is required so no Degree fail the first CV sift, however good you are a degree isn't essential hell it doesn't even guarantee a career but it does open doors at certain places.

[Pete102]

It depends by what you class as a career.

I would say, generally, a degree is a requirement to maximise your earning potential within Engineering. The number of non-degree qualified engineers is diminishing in my opinion and most, if not all, engineer level jobs require a related degree.

Obviously earning potential is not a career, I guess there may still be jobs out there where you start as post boy and work up to MD?

I cant comment on other industries but you get the jist.

[jamesedwards]

Hoofy said:

But if you really wanted to start and run a successful business, you'd already have started to run your business (success isn't guaranteed, degree or otherwise).

I appreciate your comment, but find this part quite closed minded if I'm honest. I've not taken the plunge yet as I had a breakdown a few years ago an obviously wasn't in the right frame of mind. Since then I haven't set on a business plan to put all my time and resources into as I'm not willing to go into it not fully prepared. I've been independent with a house and car to fund for the last few years, so its not like I can live off mum and/or dad while I give it a go. I did start a website a few years back, but money was tight at the time and as cheap as it was, I couldn't afford to renew the licence with the other outgoings. Besides, how many 'entrepreneurs' don't know what to do or start anything up until their mind-late 20s or even later?


I really appreciate all the advice you all have given so far so, thank you.

[Hoofy]

jamesedwards said:

I appreciate your comment, but find this part quite closed minded if I'm honest. I've not taken the plunge yet as I had a breakdown a few years ago an obviously wasn't in the right frame of mind. Since then I haven't set on a business plan to put all my time and resources into as I'm not willing to go into it not fully prepared. I've been independent with a house and car to fund for the last few years, so its not like I can live off mum and/or dad while I give it a go. I did start a website a few years back, but money was tight at the time and as cheap as it was, I couldn't afford to renew the licence with the other outgoings. Besides, how many 'entrepreneurs' don't know what to do or start anything up until their mind-late 20s or even later?

It's not close-minded at all. It's largely a motivational kick up the bum. Many would have tried stuff already as you don't always have to go into it full-time. Many start off doing stuff in their spare time and once they start feeling overworked they shift more time to their business and go part-time on their job or even quit.

In any case, you've demonstrated that you have the gumption so get going.

Edited by Hoofy on Tuesday 27th May 13:17

[Countdown]

OP - it's a tough question. The key is to find something (work related) that you like doing and then stick at it. I know this is overly simplistic but there isn't any point doing a degree if you don't know what the end-result of that degree is going to be.

I wanted to work in Finance but wasnt sure which branch. I did the usual A-levels, did Economics at Uni, started my ACCA and now 20+ years later Im working in a job that I enjoy.

One family member went to Uni, changed degrees 3 times(Business studies/Marketing/something else) started CIPS qualification, did his PGCE, then did his MCSE and now runs his own IT business. Loves it but it took him AGES to find his niche.

Another family member drifted from his GCSE's, started but didn't finish his A-levels, and the via a long convoluted career path taking in Furniture restoration, microelectronics and doorman, now runs his own catering business. he works 70 hours a week, is usually kackered, but (again) loves it. (He started baking stuff when he was a doorman which was....different!).

TL:DR - don't do a degree until you know what you want to do in life.

[a311]

OP I work for a large Science/Engineering/Technology company and can offer some anecdotal stuff from my field.

At 20 we sound reasonably similar-I'm now 31. I did well at GCSE but found booze and women shortly after so scrapped through my A levels, I passed them didn't get the grades I could have got if I applied myself. Most of my mates were going off to Uni but it didn't appeal to me at the time-actually it did but just the booze and women not the actual knuckling down, studying and getting a good degree. When I did flirt with the idea it was a case of looking at 'easy' courses with minimal lecture hours-I recall Geography being about 6?!

After 'A' Levels I did at least show some maturity by realising I didn't want to waste mine or anyone else's time as I didn't know what I wanted to do with myself by going to Uni at that stage. I bummed about for a couple of years, earning enough money to pay my way while living at home-actually wish I'd bummed about more in hindsight and/or travelled.

Anyhow I ended up getting an apprenticeship and in the last 11 years my employer paid me through a part time degree and masters and I got chartership a couple of years ago. There are some VERY clever and capable people in my organisation who don't have degrees who have stacks of experience, these people tended to have served apprenticeships which gives a greater depth of understanding and tend to be easier/better to work with IME. However it's taken them a long term to get where they are and in all honesty my organisation would look at anyone nowadays outside of training schemes that didn't have a degree. My own personal experience is that doing my qualifications didn't make me any better at my job, certainly didn't make me any more clever having a couple of certificates it just demonstrates I've attained a certain standard, what made me better at my job and earned me promotions is the experienced gained on the job. It's just some jobs require the paper to go with that and a good attitude.

[jamesedwards]

Hoofy said:

It's not close-minded at all. It's largely a motivational kick up the bum. Many would have tried stuff already as you don't always have to go into it full-time. Many start off doing stuff in their spare time and once they start feeling overworked they shift more time to their business and go part-time on their job or even quit.

In any case, you've demonstrated that you have the gumption so get going.

Edited by Hoofy on Tuesday 27th May 13:17

I didn't mean close minded in a bad sense, I just felt it wasn't very relatable as I had attempted things in the past and for personal reasons I couldn't help it hasn't yet worked out. It's not a fad to me and it's not through lack of wanting/trying, but without me saying then who's to know.

This (above) is how I'd always planned on doing it. Building up the business or at least the ground works of it whilst in full time employment and then gradually moving into it and leaving employment to peruse it full time so as not to leave myself "high and dry" as they say. Like I said, things have set me back that couldn't be helped but that's life. Need to get on with it now.

[Hoofy]

jamesedwards said:

I didn't mean close minded in a bad sense, I just felt it wasn't very relatable as I had attempted things in the past and for personal reasons I couldn't help it hasn't yet worked out. It's not a fad to me and it's not through lack of wanting/trying, but without me saying then who's to know.

This (above) is how I'd always planned on doing it. Building up the business or at least the ground works of it whilst in full time employment and then gradually moving into it and leaving employment to peruse it full time so as not to leave myself "high and dry" as they say. Like I said, things have set me back that couldn't be helped but that's life. Need to get on with it now.

Yep. Every little thing you do takes you one step closer to your goal.

[jamesedwards]

a311 said:

At 20 we sound reasonably similar-I'm now 31. I did well at GCSE but found booze and women shortly after so scrapped through my A levels, I passed them didn't get the grades I could have got if I applied myself. Most of my mates were going off to Uni but it didn't appeal to me at the time.

This is very much me. Lost my way a bit through A levels. Uni didn't appeal to me at the time, and although seems a better idea now, without the desired degree I feel it would be wasted on me a bit.

It's basically the situation where the culture we're in for most people my age and a few years younger is that going to uni is just the thing you do. School - college/A levels - uni - work. Job done. I don't want to spend 3 or 4 years of my life getting a degree that allows me to get more job interviews. Don't get me wrong, that's great and can be a big stepping stone and I'm very much up for education and enjoy learning about things I'm interested in but unless it's going to directly end me up where I want to be (for example going to law school to become a solicitor) I'm not feeling all that much love for it.

I want to work, I enjoy working. I'm by no means an idiot and count myself lucky I'm capable of things and hold some good traits (as well as bad ones). Working, gaining life experience as well as professional working experience and applying yourself I can see being just as fruitful if not more than a degree, personally?

Business appeals as it's what I love and always have. Coupling that with something you enjoy and having it as your project and working to make it successful is what I want. And at the end of the day, you reap what you sow, and I agree with that.

[anonymous-user]

Countdown said:

...
TL:DR - don't do a degree until you know what you want to do in life.

I disagree. The idea that all degrees have to be vocational is daft, I think. There is no harm in going to university and not finding out what you want to do until you are there or until after you have left. There are years and years of being grown up and paying mortgages and all that. People shouldn't be in a mad rush to join the machine. Also, there is virtue in studying for its own sake, as it can sharpen the mind and broaden and deepen perspectives on life.

[jamesedwards]

Breadvan72 said:

I disagree. The idea that all degrees have to be vocational is daft, I think. There is no harm in going to university and not finding out what you want to do until you are there or until after you have left. There are years and years of being grown up and paying mortgages and all that. People shouldn't be in a mad rush to join the machine. Also, there is virtue in studying for its own sake, as it can sharpen the mind and broaden and deepen perspectives on life.

I think you both have a point as I think it depends on the individual. Personally, I don't think I would fair very well without knowing exactly why I was there and what I was getting out of it, so I suppose it's down to the individual.