People with no A-Levels or a degree- what do you do now?
Posted by vampkill@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 153 comments
I unfortunately have no A-Levels due to health issues I faced at the time, which has made the more traditional route people follow inaccessible for me. I've tried access courses before and it's sadly just not for me. For others who don't have qualifications higher than GCSEs, what do you do now and how did you get there?
I do have a job, so I don't ask out of urgency but I do worry about being stuck in a low paying job my whole life. I know there's many unconventional paths and would love to hear what others have done.
WiccanPixxie@reddit
I work for London Underground giving information out to stations during service disruption. I get paid very well, excellent pension and generous annual leave entitlement. I scraped a handful of GCSE passes, but didn’t get any other qualifications.
Just keep applying for jobs that you fancy, do online courses in the area of work that interests you (you work a long time and it’s too long to be in a job you hate). Approach companies about maybe some “shadowing” when they have a job advertised (I got a job interview based purely on the fact I spent a day in their office seeing wha the job was about, lost out to an internal candidate but I got further than I would have if I didn’t do that).
thetrainmummy@reddit
I came here to reply and saw your post! I have no degree but do have A levels and work for London Underground as a trains manager.
Constant-Tax-8240@reddit
I swear the railway is one of the only places left where people with non degree level qualifications or less can still earn decent money and have good career prospects. Probably thanks to our unions
bugtheft@reddit
Militant unions result in roles with no barrier to entry yet being overpaid with taxpayer money? Sounds about right
Constant-Tax-8240@reddit
what a strange take 😂 you alright Hun? x
bugtheft@reddit
No hun, just sad my taxes go towards paying above market rate for unskilled people because of a cartel x
thetrainmummy@reddit
So if you don’t have a degree that means you’re unskilled? Bit of a stretch!
Sufficient_Ad4766@reddit
I've never been asked about or lost out on a job due to qualifications. Maybe entry level if you're going in to a new role or something. I'm a project manager now, have been in it support and software testing most of my career. I did 7 years in the army which I think has stood me in a better place than a levels or a degree with any jobs I've gone for since leaving. In my opinion degrees are only worth it if it's actually relevant to the role. Doctors, scientists, finance etc. I had 3 friends go to uni from my peer group, and none of them work in the field they studied now and all of them have said if they went back, they wouldn't have gone.
TL:DR. Experience, drive and to some extent personality will land you a job in most areas, unless qualifications are a necessity.
jasminebeams@reddit
I work in arts/ heritage marketing with no a levels or degree. I’d actually say most office jobs you don’t need a degree for you just need to find a way to get relevant experience. I volunteered then worked in customer service in the sector I was interested in and then moved across the country for a non graduate paid internship opportunity (there are a lot of apprenticeships/traineeships about that can help you get into something new) and got jobs after that.
psychopathic_shark@reddit
Failed gcse's went on to be a chef, then went into care work, worked in a mental health hospital and now work for an emergency service. I have never been able to learn effectively by sitting down and reading a book and trying to force knowledge in this way, it just never stuck. Practical teaching and learning works for me and has helped me to advance however I have always had a really good work ethic also.
hunsnet457@reddit
Fraud prevention.
Would have gotten there sooner if I knew my job even existed before I ‘fell into it’.
Had far too many crappy jobs at very exploitative companies and scraped by until I got moved into fraud prevention purely by error, love it, and i’m really good at it.
iwanttobeacavediver@reddit
This sounds like it could be VERY interesting.
hunsnet457@reddit
If it’s useful information to you, most banks have been consistently hiring for their fraud prevention teams for the past 3 years due to regulation changes and they’re very much struggling to fill the roles.
Large online retail platforms are in the same boat, they’re more likely to hire with no prior experience but there’s a huge difference between the two roles and I personally preferred working for banks - it’s much more interesting and in the ‘hierarchy of prestige’ when it comes to this role, banks are arguably at the top.
xylime@reddit
I'm a Business Development Manager for a high street mortgage lender, did the rounds in hospitality and call centres. Joined as a minimum wage temp 8 years ago and have just worked my way up to where I am now.
Remarkable-Salary777@reddit
I'm a principal software engineer and earn low six figures for a London based company (but live up north).
Lukeautograff@reddit
Self taught self employed freelance events worker, doing sound, lighting, stage managing etc
QuietInside7592@reddit
I do have A levels but no degree and I work in the Facilities Management industry. I’d say it’s a really great industry that enables progression. You can start “at the bottom” and work hard, take opportunities that are offered, or ask for training opportunities, and work your way up from assistant, to co-ordinator, team leader, manager etc… I’m a director now and absolutely love my role!
SoulBlightRaveLords@reddit
I'm an insurance auditor. Got a job handling insurance claims on the phone for a big company and kind of started failing upwards into quite a high paying role (for someone with no qualifications at least)
Queasy-Opinion-2638@reddit
I’m an online coach (think personal trainer getting people in shape) and make £5k-6k a month. Over a decade of experience coaching and a lot of experience/learning/qualifications along the way, just not A-levels or degree.
watchingraindown@reddit
I do have A Levels but I married my husband who has his own business and I have pretty much been a housewife or stayed at home raising our three young children for 9 years!
It’s been absolute bliss! I feel very lucky. No degree to speak of.
When I did work I have done everything from office legal admin, medical reception work, cocktail waitress, worked as a lapdancer/stripper and also did three years as an estate agent in the UK.
x
NeitherBag4722@reddit
I left school at 16 with a yellow swimming certificate. Currently a Senior Executive Officer in the Civil Service IT - I was a test manager in the private sector and got TUPEd (transferred) in four years ago. I've done a lot of jobs in the IT sector that didn't need any qualifications (customer support manager, webmaster, test manager above) - just blag your way through the interview and learn any skills you need on the job.
jesuseatsbees@reddit
You said you didn’t get on with access but if you are still interested in getting a degree there’s a route called Fastrack that some unis run. It’s a much shorter (~7 weeks) course that prepares you for studying at uni and is designed for people without A levels but who have some life experience. I mention it as I was in your position (actually I had no GCSEs either) and I went to uni through Fastrack. I’m now a teacher.
FCSadsquatch@reddit
Is Fastrack for specific courses or sort of like a preparation for whatever you decide to do next?
EccentricNormality@reddit
I dropped out of uni, so no degree, and I only have one passing A-level. A whole number of things went wrong for me, but I still kept trying to get somewhere with my life.
Im a Microbiologist now. I started in an entry level technician role in a analytic lab and kept working my way up, learning as many skills as I could and proving that I have the capability to learn more, until I was able to move up into pathology and train further.
Additional-Bike-8258@reddit
I did BTECs at college because I was a burnout and then a level 3 technician apprenticeship afterwards, I now work as a mechanical design engineer and design automated machinery for multi nationals.
TokuTheGreatCorso@reddit
No GCSE in sight left school at 15.
Junior facilities manager for one of biggest companies in europe. Soon to be senior as of March 26.
Iworkinfashionblah@reddit
Copywriter, doing well :) I got here by trying out various jobs for years until I discovered what I wanted to do/where my skillset was. Then I set up freelance to get experience, and 5 years later here we are. The best advice I have is to do something you find interesting. To be honest, degrees don't seem to matter more than a decent work ethic and self-motivation. Good luck!
martinbean@reddit
Senior software engineer at a multinational media corporation.
Arkonias@reddit
I'm a neet. Can't hold onto a job for more than 2 years. I just get bored and disinterested then end up being laid off or fired.
acabxox@reddit
Solutions analyst for a software company. Got intern position age 17 through a friend and worked my way up a little over a few years.
nl325@reddit
I have a degree and A-levels, but (most) of my friends, family, acquaintances etc who don't... Are doing the exact same types of jobs as (most) of us that do.
Financial services, sales, admin, NHS, retail, customer service, hospitality, labouring, factories etc.
The whole country needs to overhaul how it focuses on education, less so A-levels or other college courses, but especially degrees.
Unless you've got an explicit need for them, your employment experience is more useful. Obviously getting employment isn't a walk in the park fresh out of school though.
The exception to the "most" is ofc people who got degrees and went on to work in their study field, which (anecdotally) is a really, really small number of people.
mo_tag@reddit
This really depends on the field of study. Some degrees this is going to be pretty close to 100%. And a lot of jobs are simply inaccessible to people without a degree or sometimes even a post grad.
If you're in school you should be asking yourself: what do I want to do for a living? What paths can I take that would lead me there? How likely is it that those paths will take me there? If I go down this path but change my mind about what I'd like to do, will I at least gain valuable transferrable skills that help me stand out?
PowerfulIron7117@reddit
To add - go to the best possible uni. Kids, especially from lower incomes, often get told that a degree is a degree and they should stay near home to save money.
But in practice, any degree from the top 10-20 universities is highly likely to get you somewhere, while any degree from the bottom 50 is likely to get you absolutely nowhere.
The subject choice is arguably much less important than the uni you study at, except where you really want to go into a specific scientific field like medicine, engineering or quant finance.
jamscrying@reddit
I hard disagree with this. It matters far more what the course is specifically and how it equips you for your career.
I do the screening and interviews for my company, and Engineers from ex polytechs are on a level pegging as those from more prestigious unis, for many courses accredited by a council they have strict curriculum, but I know that the ones from ex polytechs have actually been taught the content in depth whereas the Russell groups do a more traditional independent learning sink or swim and really just test the content.
Obviously doing Sports Science or Drama or Archeology won't get you a well paying career (or any) unless you get in the right network, which is the only real reason to go to a prestigious uni. If somebody judges you for what uni you went to rather than ability, you know they're a wanker.
PowerfulIron7117@reddit
Generally, the top unis are simply offering a better education than the low ranked ones, and hand out fewer firsts.
There is a bit less discrepancy in technical subjects like engineering, that is true. But it’s not the average.
Most of the top unis don’t even teach sports science or drama, and archeology students often tend to do other things, same as history or English.
And I’d point out in any case (since you are being a typical sneering engineer about non-STEM subjects) that drama/entertainment and sport are both extremely lucrative industries which are much more central to the British economy than engineering.
TrainingBike9702@reddit
It must really depend on your social circles. I don't know anyone anymore who isn't working in their study field.
Impossible_Most5861@reddit
Stats show that less than half of graduates actually work in the field of study.
300Smelly@reddit
Idk how that disputes what he said
Impossible_Most5861@reddit
Clearly it's not when over 50% of graduates don't work in their field of study.
TrainingBike9702@reddit
I'm aware of the stats, I was just highlighting how it's very field dependent, and because most of my friends today are from a couple of professional fields (just what happens when you are introduced to friends or friends), almost all of us work in our field of study.
Impossible_Most5861@reddit
Personal experience means little when looking at actual stats.
Nothing wrong with comprehension over here.
Norman_debris@reddit
That's surprising. Do you mostly know people in academia?
TrainingBike9702@reddit
Nah I work in industry
ChookiesCookies@reddit
I was bad at school all my life and I always thought I’d end up working some dead end minimum wage job forever, I do got about 3 years and I wasn’t happy. No disrespect to shop workers and such but it’s a very uninteresting and unimportant job all things considered. I now work at the NHS as a band 3, not a whole lot more money but it sure feels more important than the previous.
ambabeeee@reddit
I'm a customer success manager for large IT reseller. Its not the most high paid job in the world but I enjoy it and the majority of my colleagues all have degrees but we now have the same job (I left 6th form college after the first year)
DragonflyCapital7148@reddit
I have A levels and a degree, graduated 13 years ago and have never earned much above minimum wage. Was only ever able to get entry level admin roles, was made redundant from that earlier this year and have been unemployed ever since. I’ve just received my 3rd rejection email from a supermarket job and last week failed the online part of the application for a call centre.
People put a lot of focus on academics and passing exams while your at school ( at least when I was there they did) but don’t really focus on other skills needed to be employable like having self confidence, being able to work well with different types of people, communicating well etc.
I excelled in a school environment but have failed miserably in the world of work and will most likely be on UC or earning min wage for the rest of my life.
Just because you don’t have the qualifications on paper doesn’t mean you don’t have other skills or personal qualities that are desirable to an employer and could potentially get you far in any career you choose.
For me it was the reverse as my qualifications got me lots of opportunities in my early to mid twenties but as soon I was in the door and they got to know me, they couldn’t get me out quick enough which has lead to a cycle of 2 years in every job and now unemployment as I am too old to still be entry level and it not be a red flag.
Focus on what you bring to the table in any job in terms of your work/life experience and personality instead of worrying about not having done an exam. Most employers will value this more than a qualification anyway and you are most likely better suited to lots of careers than a candidate with an education.
NR1998-@reddit
I have A-Levels but no degree and I am in financial planning. You need the diploma in regulated financial planning but nothing else really. They may question your A-levels but it wouldn’t really matter I don’t think.
Munchkinpea@reddit
I went to a temp agency and got an office job. Ended up being better off than co-workers with degrees as we started in the same position on the same pay, but I was a few years younger than them.
Employer paid for relevant studies and qualifications and I just worked my way up.
I'm not a high earner but I'm certainly doing OK.
Skillednutter@reddit
I manage the ICT Strategy for numerous Local Government, Police & NHS organisations.
I do not rate Degrees at all.
ElevatorVarious6882@reddit
my best mate has 5 gcses. He worked in a builders merchant yard for years loading up gravel and sand to trucks. got his digger licence, forklift, shunting various heavy machinery etc.
Then he got a job in a factory making animal feed: again on the heavy machines, loading the hoppers etc. eventually also running and then fixing the feed making machines. Worked there for a few years
Then hemoved onto a milk powder production factory running more high tech machines. They sent him to university to study engineering, but they cut his hours during a downturn so he left after 2 years, never finished the degree.
Now he is district manager overseeing maybe 50 engineers working in water monitoring.
gr33nday4ever@reddit
if it helps i have gcses, a levels, a bachelors degree, and half a masters degree... i don't earn much more than minimum wage
oddtimers@reddit
What’d you study for the bachelors
gr33nday4ever@reddit
chemistry
BidImpossible1387@reddit
Ha, I emigrated here after meeting my UK husband abroad because he too couldn’t make a living with his chem degree.
I’ve got a BA and an MA and I don’t make much more than minimum wage either.
iwanttobeacavediver@reddit
Same here, got a Bachelors degree, have just started my second degree and ended up moving to a different country to have a life worth living and not just scraping by in retail.
EasilyExiledDinosaur@reddit
Probably earn more than those who do have them lol.
Familiar-Woodpecker5@reddit
I don’t have a levels or a degree (although I am doing one now as an adult). I did NVQs after school and in my 20s. Everything I did was work based qualifications and I did 6 plus key skills. I did business administration and then in my 30s did clinical health. I was never very academic and I now know that was due to ADHd.
What is your job? Is it something you can do an QCF (formally NVQs) alongside your job? How old are you? Could you look for an apprenticeship that pays a decent wage? There are always alternatives.
Blackbyrd639@reddit
Software Tester. I’ve worked several of the lesser technical jobs in and around IT for over a decade now - Business Analyst and Product Owner for example. Mostly on the job learning too.
im-quite-stupid@reddit
You can still do Open University! It’s made perfectly for people like yourself :) I do recommend it!
Away-Ad4393@reddit
Serious question. Don’t you have to have some sort of qualifications to enter OU ?
im-quite-stupid@reddit
Nope! Whole point is that it’s open to all, you just need to know English and basic math depending on the course.
Like their Computing With Electronic Engineering doesn’t require you to have GCSE Maths, but it recommends it.
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
Selection bias is strong with this thread.
Avionykx@reddit
I really didn't do well at school. I have no excuse for it other than I was too interested in playing computer games and then when it got to A-levels, I was so interested in the recently discovered pubs and girls that I got kicked out after 6 weeks.
I'm now 40 and have, for the past 15 years, run my own business where we do marketing, websites and software, started as a one-man band from my parents' kitchen table and just built it up. I am also chairman of a fairly respectable charity and do various other bits of volunteering work with the emergency services.
I got myself an HGV driver's license when I left school to "always have a job" to go to and used it for a while. That allowed me to save a bit of money enough to put some months into the business when I wanted to start it. Not much, though.
There are plenty of paths to being prosperous. Absolutely every single one of them involves finding something you can stick it (ideally enjoy) and putting in consistent work until it sticks. There's always failure and setbacks, but that's just got to be taken as part of the process.
If you don't fancy being academic, then you need to be a grafter.
Thankfully you're still young enough not to be stuck in anything. My honest advice is find something in a subject you love, or if you've got a dream just follow it. Too many people are stuck in jobs they hate because they thought it was what they should do.
TenderV@reddit
Left school with nothing GCSE wise, never went to college. Ended up working in an office on a MOD base in a role with unsociable hours, so nobody wanted it. Once you have a consistent good record of clearance/vetting in most places, it seems you're more desirable. Now, I work with the police (not boots on the ground).
armenianfink@reddit
I work in a laboratory as an analyst dealing with environmental samples
Low_Spread9760@reddit
Look at apprenticeships. They’re great. I did one and I would recommend it. You can even study a degree alongside paid work and your employer pays the tuition fees (so no debt).
TheDoctor66@reddit
How old are you? I have A levels but never been relevant, degree drop out.
What started my career was an apprentice with a local council and move up from there. Currently the Comms Lead for my council.
Prize-Ad7242@reddit
Play games, smoke weed, gardening and pottery.
No-Neighborhood2213@reddit
No A levels, no degree. Before the company was bought out I was Technical Director at a US based cyber-security vendor responsible for everywhere outside the US.
CriticalCentimeter@reddit
I was a head of a marketing department until I was made redundant in Jan. Now I'm a consultant.
I left school with 5 GCSE's in 1989, became a rave DJ and travelled all over the world for just over a decade, before blagging my way into a marketing job for a local company in my early 30s.
Fast forward to now, 20 years later, and I'm now a seasoned marketer.
I don't think how I did it is really that possible nowadays tho.
GeekerJ@reddit
I’ve found the main barrier for people I know who don’t have a-levels or a degree is not having have maths and English. If you have those, you can progress as high up as you want.
And when I was an employer, as long as people had the basics, I was more interested in their personality. You can train skills. You need someone who is receptive and willing to learn tho.
PERMANENTLYANNOYED35@reddit
Used to run an optical lab , then did ophthalmic pre-op imaging, now work as data officer and health improvement advisor - lots of level 2 short courses I paid for, no degrees.
Salt-Hospital6667@reddit
I dropped out of college and now I'm a professional TikToker, making bank from my viral dance moves. Who needs A-Levels when you can hustle online, am I right? 😂 Just living the dream one meme at a time!
jess-star@reddit
Dropped out of school at 17 a year into A levels as I hadn't done any coursework. Parents said I could either be in school or work if I wanted to live with them if I didn't want to do anything I had to move out.
Got a job as an office junior, then moved into working for a bank doing a type of credit control. Made redundant. Now work in social housing. Been there nearly 20 years and still (mostly) enjoy it doing same role but legislation and governments have changed so much I don't do the same work i was doing when I started.
HotelPuzzleheaded654@reddit
I have A-Levels and a degree but didn’t actually end up doing anything with them.
Was stuck in call centres for a few years before getting an apprenticeship at a local authority and basically have worked my way up through local and cente government in commercial delivery roles and now work in strategy.
I worked for a consultancy as well which gave me exposure to a diverse range of organisations.
Sometimes it’s just finding any job that will give you a start, I had to take a pay cut for the apprenticeship but the best thing I did.
I went from minimum wage to £80k in 6 years.
EllecanDO@reddit
Which apprenticeship did do?
HotelPuzzleheaded654@reddit
The apprenticeship was business admin because they used the govt levy to fill the role but the job was in procurement and they also paid for my CIPS training.
Jimmyj84@reddit
Or being the right colour
drk-badger@reddit
I joined the military. Royal Marines for 8 years then realised I still had nothing to fall back on. Transfered to the Royal Air Force, learned IT & Cyber security, I finally left that and now earn 80k+.
Learn IT, be good at it. Fast.
daxwaxred@reddit
Just make them up, no one ever checks.
DampFlange@reddit
I have 12 O levels, mostly A’s and B’s, but didn’t like school, so walked out the first day I was legally able to and never considered doing 6th form or university.
I’m semi-retired now, but had a long, successful career and was CEO of a largish company at the peak.
nnmrlvs@reddit
I'm an AI Engineer.
I did a couple of jobs like working in a call centre then managed to get an apprentice admin job. I discovered I had a knack for IT here. I volunteered for IT related tasks and built my CV a bit before moving into an entry level IT role. I then worked my way up to where I am now.
My advice? Throw yourself into it. Notice what you're good at. Do not be afraid to switch companies to progress, even if it means taking a small pay cut. Your experience is on your CV but your wage isn't. I did this when I moved from admin to an IT role. Obviously this only applies if you can afford to take that pay cut. Safety > job.
There is some luck involved, and I won't deny that, but you've got to try first to be lucky. :)
No-Structure-8125@reddit
Idk if you would class me as having no a-levels, I did a BTEC so I have an A-Level equivalent, but I don't have A-levels.
I work as an environmental health and safety manager, making £50k per year.
Didn't go to university, and the BTEC I did at college was hairdressing, so nothing to do with what I'm doing now.
Raul-CFC@reddit
Left school in 4th year, had a few good goods and currently a site engineer decent pay, sometimes it’s not what you learned but what you can do
lahasi@reddit
I took A Levels but didnt pass any. I am a senior manager in customs compliance.
seven_green_toes@reddit
Lots on the same theme and myself, too. Just for reassurance I'm early 50's and left school with no qualifications and do account management/sales and on 60k with car, tech and no weekends.
TimInRislip@reddit
Software dev.
Potential-Pirate-431@reddit
Left school with GCSEs and a few low grade A levels, went to a shit unit to a bit of a Mickey Mouse degree. Hated it and left before Christmas. After years of doing minimum wage jobs and drifting through life. I decided I should get a trade and started an electrical installation course at a local college. Got offered a job as an electrical engineering apprenticeship, and now I'm a maintenance engineer with a HNC in electrical engineering earning 55k. When I was studying at college I was the oldest guy there, which was awkward at first
IrritablePowell@reddit
My husband has mediocre GCSE results and no A-levels or degree. He did an apprenticeship as a mechanic and gained a vocational qualification. Over a 40-year career he's worked his way up to VP in an international company. We have lived in a few different countries as he reached the limit of what he could achieve in the UK. Luckily he had an enormous amount of drive and dedication (and a very supportive wife of course).
Ashamed_Brick_37@reddit
My partner and I are both in the Civil Service. I have A-Levels and a degree, he doesn't. He's a higher grade than me, higher income, we have great annual leave and pension.
Beautiful_Bad333@reddit
Mid thirties now. Run my own business working a 4 day week. Earning money I never dreamed I would earn. No A levels or Degree (or student loan to pay for).
Life isn’t over for you for sure. What it took was consistently showing up for work, working hard and being interested in the job to try to progress.
It took me moving to a direct competitor of the company I worked for, because I wanted to progress more, to realise I could do it own my own better. So I did.
DisneyBounder@reddit
I got a GNVQ in Business Studies and now I'm an Executive Assistant for three execs. I pretty much started at the bottom and worked my way up. Office Junior > PA / Office assistant > Team Assistant > Executive Assistant.
L11VYK@reddit
Left halfway through A Levels.
I’ve worked for myself the past 10 years now running my own social media marketing company.
I couldn’t go back to working for someone else. I do very well; I get client respect, choose my hours and set my hourly rate.
MapleHigh0@reddit
I currently work for Royal Mail as a Postie and take home about £2100 on average pcm. As to whether I recommend it… it’s a bit of a lottery based on which office you work for, as some teams don’t look after eachother well. But, I enjoy finishing at 2pm most days, I get on with everyone who I work with - and whilst i’m out on delivery it’s little stress.
I think it’s good to do for a few years, but I can see how the job takes a toll on the body on some of my older colleagues.
iwanttobeacavediver@reddit
I wouldn't mind doing this myself, I enjoy walking (even in terrible weather).
bradrly@reddit
Do you like dogs
iwanttobeacavediver@reddit
Hell yeah!
I actually owned a weird dog that ADORED the post staff we got in our street. His favourite thing was walking with the usual postie we had to every house, waiting for him to finish the deliveries, and then after he'd been to every house, he'd come back home and go to sleep.
HmNotToday1308@reddit
My husband works in finance. He should have done his a levels and uni but his mother literally admitted she didn't send him to a grammar school despite him scoring high on the 11+ because she couldn't be bothered to sort out any transportation or buy an expensive uniform. It was just too much effort.
I have a degree and earn 1/4th his wage, that's my number wn fault for going into healthcare though
Dr_Flappachino@reddit
Own two successful businesses. Started in sales and was really good at it, got sick of making other people all the money and had a go myself. I was never academic and just started working straight after GCSE’s (90’s). I have a couple of friends who are very wealthy through property that didn’t even finish high school
Sylvester88@reddit
I work in IT as a network engineer.. started on the service desk 4 years ago and then worked my way up.
throwawaydeclutter@reddit
straight A student my whole life. all As in alevel and graduated with a first from a STEM degree. been unemployed since graduating, you’re not missing out on much. I can’t even land a regular degular 9-5 in an “email job”.
Captain-Codfish@reddit
I'm a bus driver and trying to get back into the military
Pale_Height_1251@reddit
Software developer.
treble_twenty@reddit
I DO have a degree and now I'm a bartender bro, it literally does not matter at all. Do something that doesn't make you want to kill yourself is my best advice.
SeniorMoonlight21@reddit
Driving work..Not long out of education. Spent the last few years driving vans. Hopefully soon will be driving coaches. In the future when I settle down I'll likely go back to education to try and be a paramedic but that's another decade or two away at least.
B0b_Howard@reddit
I'm a professional penetration tester. The highest I got in school was a C in GCSE's.
Landed an IT helpdesk job after the Army and worked my way up.
Got other certifications that don't rely on the old stuff, just what you can do now.
MolassesInevitable53@reddit
If you do want to get a degree, take a look at the Open University. You don't need A levels to get on their courses and you study at home.
pirategospel@reddit
Left school at 15 with some GCSEs.
Really effed up my life and my health for a while but a family member told me to apply for a foundation degree and see what happened. By some miracle I got accepted. From there I was then accepted unconditionally into a uni and went on to post grad. Considering retraining through a doctorate in the next few years…. nobody ever asked about a levels lol.
I make okay money in an art sector niche. Hang out with some pretty big artists I admired at 15. It’s worked out quite well really.
cbawiththismalarky@reddit
Self employed, got a few businesses but started in IT I don't have a single qualification
oktimeforplanz@reddit
I have Scottish highers, which are kindaaa A-level ish? But not quite as I understand it. I think A levels are somewhat comparable to our Advanced Highers but I don't know for sure. Either way, that's what I've got. No degree though.
I'm a chartered accountant. I got into it through an apprenticeship with an accounting firm and did my exams through them.
Few_Definition1807@reddit
Had 1 A level. Started doing various jobs, shops etc. When into office job as administrator, loved technical work, they paid for HNC and I built up higher educational from there. I was lucky my employer paid (in 2007 onwards).
I did a free degree course with the environment agency a few years later at 32 yr old.
MoonMouse5@reddit
I manage a team of twelve within the civil service.
If you don't have good qualifications you have to rely on working hard and building up your CV with experience.
targrimm@reddit
I have some low grade GCSEs and no degree. I'm a sefl taught senior software developer on 113k.
Stick with it. Find something you love and learn everything you can about it.
Typhoonsg1@reddit
Just to second this, I have a similar background and have managed to become a leader engineer earning good money. It's now about your motivation to learn and drive to press forward imo
Big_Engineering3842@reddit
I'm guessing if you omitted the 'no' from your post it would probably gain more traction
piggycatnugget@reddit
The only qualifications I have are GCSEs and I'm a Clinical Trial Manager for a pharmaceutical company.
On paper I'm a terrible employee too: no degree, type 1 diabetic (so lots of medical appointments), going blind, diagnosed ADHD and have 2 young kids that I need to prioritise over work. Basically once I got my foot in the door I was able to prove I can do the job, get promoted, rinse and repeat every step of the ladder. It'd be waaaaaay quicker to have a degree. My method I can at least take my time and get a comfortable work-life balance going before I think about moving up in the world. I'm on higher than the average UK wage.
Pink_Flash@reddit
Government Admin
Its not exciting but hey, we're getting above inflation pay rises and the work is flexible around my life.
Salty_Nothing5466@reddit
I am a chartered accountant working as a commercial finance manager. Dropped out of a levels and became a hairdresser, subsequently got made redundant so got an admin job in an office and assessed my life choices. Started studying CIMA at local college in the evenings which got me a foot in to get a finance job, from there on my qualifications were paid by my employers. Now earning 80k + car + bonus early 30s
Goblin_Deez_@reddit
Unemployed, but prior to that I worked many jobs from kitchen porter to hospital admin, all of them awful and the highest I ever earned was 21k.
imnotabotimafreeman@reddit
painter and decorator
Kickkickkarl@reddit
Do some Functional Skills Maths and English instead of A Levels.
Then get a job and evenings study something you are interested in at your local college part time.
Johnny_english53@reddit
Get into IT.. do a course.. a diploma or whatever, and then apply like mad..
Fit_Permit8679@reddit
I had gcse passes and went to college no A learning university. I was a nursery nurse which was a job I loved the pay wasn't great but lots of holidays and 3.30 finish every day as I worked in a school nursery
Enough-Ad3818@reddit
I manage an IT dept. I spent the 2 years of A Levels playing in bands and failing to kiss girls.
I flunk my qualifications but was great at drums and playing pool in the pub at lunchtime.
I took a job at entry level in IT and soon discovered I had a bit of a knack for it. My brain worked in the appropriate logical way, and I could de-escalate stressful people.
22yrs later, and I've worked my way up from junior roles, to technical roles, to senior lead roles, to team management and now department management.
Own_Organization_155@reddit
Never went to college but did go on to do an apprenticeship at an insurance company and then another apprenticeship at a car dealership. Worked at a main dealer for around 10 years now even done two levels of AAT with them
Houseofsun5@reddit
Went to sea as an apprentice ships engineer, not something most would think of doing I suppose, fucking hated it but completed the apprenticeship and got paid pretty well while doing so. Transferred those skills into the construction industry fixing diggers, also pays well and I have spent my time doing side quests for related trade qualifications on the company dime and time. I have a second wallet that's sole. job is to hold all the smart cards for all the aide quest cards.
Safjrr@reddit
I only have A-levels. University never appealed to me.
But I currently own a restaurant and have ventured into property and investing. My advice? Save money and invest in yourself learn a skill. A degree isn’t everything, what matters is what you can prove you can do
EntirelyRandom1590@reddit
You didn't explain how you came to own a restaurant...
Safjrr@reddit
By saving money since 17 & learning a skill which was culinary/kitchen management & restaurant operations/management. I was proceeding with the plannings since I was 20, 22 I executed it all.
Jaraathe@reddit
I have one c grade GCSE. I work in finance as a Paraplanner (basically do research and reports for financial advisers). I got into the industry via a temping agency and after that I got my head down and did a diploma in regulated financial advice.
Karl-Pilkinghorn@reddit
I work for a large FMCG company, have done for almost 15 years. Went in at entry level (basically data input) and have worked my way up to upper management.
SuccessfulNothing950@reddit
No GCSE’s, I’m a SAHM 😂
MoleDunker-343@reddit
The most important job there is 🫡
SuccessfulNothing950@reddit
You’re absolutely right ☺️
Scary-Spinach1955@reddit
Most of them become tradies don't they?
Current_Scarcity_379@reddit
Yes and earn more than people with degrees. Contrary to belief, you do not need a degree to get on in life.
Scary-Spinach1955@reddit
Totally agree, myself included
cosmicspaceowl@reddit
I used to do a fairly niche project management job in local government which I fell into almost by accident. I am up to my eyeballs in academic certificates but about 50% the team I was on had left school at 16 and jumped around various local government jobs until landing there. It was reasonably well paid as far as councils go and of course the pension scheme is excellent. If I'd stuck around they would have paid for me to do formal project management qualifications and from there I could have gone back to the private sector and raked it in (in return for an increase in stress and a decrease in job security).
I really recommend local government to you. At least in my area loads of the middle management came up through YTS schemes and so there's a genuine culture of upskilling and promoting good, enthusiastic people from within.
sp1z99@reddit
Got kicked out of sixth form about two months into lower sixth for having a bong in my bag (despite it only having been tested with tobacco but the headmaster “definitely smelled mari-joo-ana” apparently).
Now IT Director of a prominent insurance company earning a tidy wage.
Skipping the Uni thing was one of the best things that happened to me as I just learned my craft, got my head down and gained a whole bunch of experience that I see severely lacking in “classically educated” people.
Find your passion, work your balls off, and you can do anything.
Spiritual_Weather656@reddit
"benefits scrounger"
I love that our country has systems to help people who can't work honestly.
But I did a levels without my GCSEs and unfortunately didn't get either so even if I wanted to work I don't know what the fuck I could even do that isn't physical labour lol
cvslfc123@reddit
I work as an IT engineer. I got 4 GCSEs and then had to redo my Maths twice before finally getting a C at the end of Year 13. I got average A-Levels and then dropped out of uni after two weeks as I was fed up of education and realised I was only there because I was told I should be rather than me actually wanting to be.
alexanderbeswick@reddit
Director of my own company www.instagram.com/EmpireAVWorks
Low_Instance9844@reddit
Managed to make my way from recruitment to technology sales and I’m now earning 6 figures with a great life balance.
Really pleased I don’t have a degree as it wouldn’t have helped me achieve anything I haven’t already done. Plus it always gives me a chuckle when my colleagues complain about how much has come out of their pay from student loans.
I’ve obviously been lucky and met the right people on my career journey.
mr0regano@reddit
I work in cloud computing as a contractor.
Worked part time when I left school at 16, saved enough to go on a 10 week IT crash course, then managed to get an entry level role that looking back was close to minimum wage with the hours i put in.
After 2 years learning I moved to a larger company, gained experience, did more certifications (funded by the company now)
Then moved again to an even bigger company and spent 3 more years learning about my niche.
Then I became a contractor, the jobs are relatively easy to find and pay well. I can earn in some cases 400-700 a day depending on length of the contract etc. opportunities to earn much more if I grinded more certifications.
Was never really that interested in computers if I’m honest, but really fell into a challenging but fun career that pays well.
Hope you find your path.
Crichtenasaurus@reddit
Ive got Autism ADHD and do not get on well with exams. I got 5 C’s at GCSE, went for Police and Army, now work private sector, and my Mrs doesn’t have to work anymore.
Find something your passion, for me it was catching bad guys and showing them they should also follow the rules and stopping them hurting other people.
You should also balance the monetary value to the enjoyment of the job. I would absolutely do the job I am doing now for 1/3 of what I make now. If you’re lucky and doing something you are passionate about this will show through and who knows you might be lucky. Work a particular job with some particular people who might call you up one evening and offer to triple your wage.
MasRemlap@reddit
Fire risk assessor. Straight Cs in my GCSEs and nothing else
periperigandy@reddit
I joined the Civil Service. I've been in 30 odd years and am now in a senior management role. To be fair, I've had some crappy jobs over the years, as well as some great ones. I sometimes do wish I had done A levels and a degree, but I messed up my O levels and got on training scheme instead, and then later the CS. I am where I am, in work and in life. It could always be better, but my bills are getting paid, and I own my own home.
MoleDunker-343@reddit
SQL support engineer.
Just left high school and did a useless course in college because I had no idea what I wanted to do before I hit 20.
Built my career from taking calls in a call centre, then to a ‘Jack of all trades’ IT guy for a small business, then to corporate helpdesk and then specialised from there and moved into more advanced roles.
It’s a bit of a step back in responsibility to my previous role that I was made redundant from earlier this year, but I got a 7k pay-rise because of my seniority and experience.
Not bad for a 7 year career, the money I make is better than most people around me.
I know relevant job experience is worth way more on paper than any education, but I do believe degrees could come in handy later on in your career to increase earning potential. I honestly wouldn’t worry about it, as long as you figure out what you want to do and you go all in for it, you can come out well.
Honestly a lot of people don’t even start their careers until they hit their late 20’s/early 30’s. The only downside is that the risk of burn out is higher.
OldLondon@reddit
Left school at 16 with 5 o levels, went on a YTS scheme for general IT stuff ( this was 1986 so was all new and seemed like a good plan). Currently an IT contractor earning frankly stupid money based on the expertise gained in my 30 year career.
l52286@reddit
I went to college did a few coy but dropped out I didn't like it. I had a job as a lifeguard and then they have put me through loads of qualifications like my swimming teacher course and parent and child swimming teacher, gym courses and aqua fit, and Im also now a lifeguard trainer to teach new and existing lifeguards. I've done quite well in my job and furthered my career and I'm thankful for the opportunity they have me. I really struggled at school with my dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD .
rockandrollmark@reddit
I have to sh*t A levels and dropped out of uni. I’m a top 2% earner in Product Management.
What I learnt that got me here - be a good listener, be good at what you do, and work out how what you’re good at can be beneficial for other people.
tommyredbeard@reddit
Put flags up on roundabouts
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