how important is a university degree in the job market these days?

fitnessguy1

i find it increasingly difficult to apply for jobs that now do not require a university degree. i am certainly not very good at academics and have tried before but it just isn't me.

my interests lie in fitness, media and maybe marketing and i am not sure what else at the moment. personal training is something that comes up regularly, but there are so many personal trainers these days that it seems redundant to become a personal trainer.

what other options are there to get into a good paying job without a university degree?

Alarae

Personally, for my first full time job in asset management I didn't need my degree at all. It wasn't however a career for me- essentially you could only progress by going into management, and even then your role didn't really change.

For my current job, I probably wouldn't have got it without my degree. Then again, I am training to be a Tax Accountant.

Based on your preferences becoming a fitness trainer would be the best fit, but as you said it is difficult to get into nowadays. Perhaps think of estate agency? That's a type of loose marketing. I know a few people who in a few years have gone from being an entry level body to branch manager.

fitnessguy1

i would say i would be better suited to sales to a certain extent, but it is very hard to find many jobs now that don't require a degree.

i can definitely imagine being an accountant would require a high level of training. i certainly have ambition but i have never been much good in the classroom.

i haven't considered estate agency, but maybe i should look into it. what is the training like for estate agents?

tomtontom

What have you done to improve your lot since you last asked this question?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5061338

It's time to stop pontificating and actually do something

fitnessguy1

there is not much i can do because i have applied for some jobs and others i have not because i am underqualified for them and without a degree i am not getting anywhere.

literally every decent job, even the entry level ones almost always require a degree. i think it's ridiculous because there are no opportunities to get my foot in any kind of door.

i am not going to lie i haven't any idea where i go or who i see in regards to better paying jobs otherwise i would be trying to do something about it. i feel stuck though at the moment.

ohreally

fitnessguy1 wrote: »

literally every decent job, even the entry level ones almost always require a degree

Then look at improving your quals.

What do you define as a "good paying job"?

xapprenticex

What are you actually good at or able to do? Thats what you need to focus on, you cant just say "I want more money". And dont fall for the silly emails saying do this qual and earn £50k as a project manager and if you get a phone call by people offering a silly course and will help look for a job for you, ask them why they haven't done it themselves.

As for degrees, they are okay, everyone has them nowadays so they are the new A Levels. you may notice that everyone and their dog are doing masters degrees now because its the only way to stand out and that doesnt even guarantee anything.

experience and/or knowing the right people matters the most (imo)

fitnessguy1

i would, but i am not good at all at any of that studying malarky. i wish i was but i am not and believe me i have tried before. i think acquiring a degree would be out of my comfort zone and ability.

if it is last resort then maybe i would give it a shot, but i am getting nearer to 30 and would much rather not go the university route which would put me out of work for a few years.

this is a list of what i consider "good paying"

good paying = anywhere from 21,000 - 30,000
very good = between 35,000 - 45,000
excellent = anywhere over 45,000

take into consideration the above figures are before tax.

missbiggles1

What qualifications do you have already?

tomtontom

You can study and work at the same time, that's how many of us got our degrees. Why do you feel you are no good at that studying malarky?

notanewuser

Thousands of people work and study for degrees part time. Like me. It's what the OU is for!