Can you get a decent job without a degree?

NullDrone

Ive been told these days employers won't even look at your CV if you dont have a degree when applying for a professional job, for example I want to go into Electrical Engineering but only have a HNC in the UK, now I do actually have the skills, but can't get the job. I don't really want to go to university as even a £9,000 debt will accumulate to £30,000 over 30 years.

And plus the college said I couldn't go onto the FdSc seeing as I didn't have a work placement in the industry, I don't have experience hence can't get experience, but i'm trying to lower my expectations now, to just a general electronics job.

I have another option to start as a web developer which they do actually accept people without a degree, then I can go to london eventually to earn more, i'll live on the outskirts of london with my boyfriend. :money:

The reason why so many companies will not take on anyone new to the industry is because they can easily get someone with more experience and hence do the job better. You will get the job eventually if you know what you're doing, without a degree then progress from there.

It just seems that so many students come out with huge debts and no job, accumulate interest over the 30 years without paying it off leading to it tripling, their life is destroyed, the same with a mortgage, you get £100,000 mortgage and you'll pay around £300,000+.

I would prefer to be an Electrical Engineer but it doesn't seem worth it financially. Earning more just means you're taxed more. The difference between a £50,000 salary and £30,000 is about £5,000 after tax, because of tax brackets. I can actually go for a high paying job with web development anyway, and I seriously think it'd be easier to work up to a high position, there's loads of course online.

tomtontom

I know of several electrical engineers that work for a large aerospace company, none of whom have degrees. However before getting into the company they had years of experience, starting with apprenticeships and working their way up.

Your observation on students "destroying" their lives is a little silly. There is a huge difference between manageable debt for a home and an education, and frivolous debt that you see no benefit from. The former is more likely to enhance your life than do any damage to it.

pinkshoes

My husband is an engineer and has an HNC rather than a degree.

How many jobs have you applied for? perhaps you should look at doing a hands on training role for a year or two to get experience?

Marktheshark

We are seeing an unusual switch to professional trade qualifications from degrees.
But then again, everyone and their dog has a degree these days, actual trade qualifications have to be earned through hands on experience.

Mistral001

It depends on what you want to do. If you want to go into design of electrical systems etc. then a degree would probably be just the first stepping stone and a good degree such as one from Oxbridge might be the preferred qualification. However, if you wanted to go into operational work such as maintenance, installation etc. you might not need a degree. I used to work in the electronic engineering sector and have a degree in it, but to be honest it was a bit of an overkill for what I ended up doing when I graduated which was maintenance.

NullDrone

What's your opinion on accredited online degrees from the USA? Like Arizona State University, I imagine they're fine if it's accredited. It's much cheaper than doing it at home and I wouldn't be surprised if it were a better course.

Prothet_of_Doom

I'm a Chartered Engineer, with a BEng(Hons). These days you can't get to be Chartered with a simple honours degree. No, you need an MEng.
I work with people who are time served tool makers, or have HNC's or HND's and PHds and MSCs and MBA's, and quite frankly, it proves very little. Being Chartered gets me in the door quicker, or maybe it's the bullet points on my CV, or the fact that I have 25 years experience. But 'only' having a HNC doesn't stop you doing the job. Target smaller niche companies, who struggle to attract people with Degrees.
Also consider that the HNC is only the start. Technology changes fast and Next to nothing I was taught 30 years ago is that useful. You have to prove that you've kept up with your learning. Perhaps join the IET as an associate member, and attend free evening lectures (gaining Cpd points), perhaps look at open university modules, which you can pay as you go. It isn't true that a HNC won't get you in. (Although the big boys turn down people with First in a Masters, as they get too many applicants)

shortcrust

NullDrone wrote: »

Ive been told these days employers won't even look at your CV if you dont have a degree when applying for a professional job, for example I want to go into Electrical Engineering but only have a HNC in the UK, now I do actually have the skills, but can't get the job. I don't really want to go to university as even a £9,000 debt will accumulate to £30,000 over 30 years.

And plus the college said I couldn't go onto the FdSc seeing as I didn't have a work placement in the industry, I don't have experience hence can't get experience, but i'm trying to lower my expectations now, to just a general electronics job.

I have another option to start as a web developer which they do actually accept people without a degree, then I can go to london eventually to earn more, i'll live on the outskirts of london with my boyfriend. :money:

The reason why so many companies will not take on anyone new to the industry is because they can easily get someone with more experience and hence do the job better. You will get the job eventually if you know what you're doing, without a degree then progress from there.

It just seems that so many students come out with huge debts and no job, accumulate interest over the 30 years without paying it off leading to it tripling, their life is destroyed, the same with a mortgage, you get £100,000 mortgage and you'll pay around £300,000+.

I would prefer to be an Electrical Engineer but it doesn't seem worth it financially. Earning more just means you're taxed more. The difference between a £50,000 salary and £30,000 is about £5,000 after tax, because of tax brackets. I can actually go for a high paying job with web development anyway, and I seriously think it'd be easier to work up to a high position, there's loads of course online.

You seem really shaky on the figures. The take home difference between a £30k and £50k salary is about £13k. You'd end up paying about £150k on a £100k mortgage at today's rates. You'd also have a home at the end of it to sell in old age or pass on to relatives. If you'd rented you've have spent the same but with nothing to show for it.

Sorry, that doesn't help answer your question.:) It does make me think you need to be a bit more careful about your research. You really need to have accurate info if you're going to make life changing decision.

Prothet_of_Doom

tomtontom wrote: »

Your observation on students "destroying" their lives is a little silly. There is a huge difference between manageable debt for a home and an education, and frivolous debt that you see no benefit from. The former is more likely to enhance your life than do any damage to it.

I did some calculations for my son 4 years ago before he started an MChem, and showed him how much financial investment he was going to make. So instead of getting a job, earning say £15K maybe rising with experience, to maybe £18K, he's taking out loans. So instead of seeing say £60K over 4 years, he's owing £20K. Shall we call that £80K investment then ? I'm not sure if that's why he's ended up with a 1st, but he certainly worked hard because wants the point in !!!!ing around. Will he get that investment back? He has a graduate level job, but says that most jobs need a PHD ? I'm sure he's not correct. :rotfl: He sounds like the OP :mad:

[Deleted User]

Go do your degree in Germany - there's no tuition fees there and you're entirely allowed as an EU citizen

I should probably feel guilty that my entire uni education (BSc and MSc) cost a grand total of £6k.

lovehackney

My personal perspective is that yes, everyone has a degree these days and some of these aren't worth the paper they're written on. So some people are choosing to do trade qualifications, apprenticeships etc instead to stand out / have practical experience / less debt etc etc.

However, I think the problem is that so many people have a degree, so why would you hire someone who didn't have a degree? You have two people, one with a degree and one without. Why would you pick the person without, all things being equal? Some people might think if you have a degree you are over qualified / won't want to stick at an entry level job, but given how difficult people are finding it to get work in general, I think that view is being dispelled.

I think a degree in a 'core' subject, particularly the sciences, is still a worthwhile investment. It shows intellectual capability, logical thought, problem solving abilities, commitment to study etc. A degree in, for example, Events Management I would be less inclined to 'invest' in as this is widely regarded as a bit of a joke IMO.

For me personally, a degree has been a worthwhile investment. No I don't use the content day-to-day (it was a Maths degree) but without it I wouldn't have my current job. I graduated with debt of c.£25k in 2011, but I expect to have this paid off by 2018.