A lot of job seekers struggle to find a job in the absence of a degree. Although not all jobs require a degree, it is crucial to find a good job opportunity with a long-term career.
Through this article, we will discuss the job positions you can apply for without a degree, ways to find a job without a degree, and some tips to remember when looking for a job without any higher education.
Can You Get a Corporate Job Without a Degree?
Yes, you can get a corporate-level job without a degree now. With several organizations making job options available requiring just a skillset you do not need a degree to have a corporate job now.
Hence, you can go on a job hunt without worrying about being asked for a degree as the eligibility criteria.
Corporate Job Options That Don’t Require a Degree
Below listed are some of the most sought-after job profiles that don’t require a degree for one to pursue a career at corporates:
- Personal assistant or executive assistant
- Consultant
- Broker
- Salesman
- Marketing executive
- Paralegal assistant
Interestingly, these job profiles also have the scope of moving ahead in their career and growing within the same industry. It also means once you have the job, you can stay within the company and gain more experience without a degree.
How to Get a Corporate Job Without a Degree
Finding a corporate job is easy now, even if you do not have a business or non-business degree. While it depends on the industry you wish to pursue, below are some tips to get started on your career in the corporate world.
- Consider your career goals and skills
Put serious thought into your career goals and what you aspire to achieve, professionally. If you have any specific interests, try to pursue them. It is always easier to go after the skills that come easy to you and do not involve a professional degree to find a job in that field.
For instance, if you are good at creating illustrations, you could apply for a creative job in a PR agency that requires practical skills and not a business degree.
- Gain certification or licensure
It is always considered a plus to get certified for the skillset you specialize in. Going for a short-term course that offers a certificate at the end. Several employers look for licensed or certified candidates when offering jobs for special positions.
A lot of these companies also provide on-job training to any candidate with the right skills but without a certification. You can also check for such courses and certifications at your local universities and institutes.
- Find an entry-level position
As a non-degree holder, you can also look for job opportunities that do not require certifications. Such jobs generally fall under entry-level categories or in the form of internships that give you exposure and experience.
You can look for the qualification required for such jobs and see if any opportunity matches your skills. It is also helpful to mention your career goals when the interview is aligned, helping the employer understand your work better.
- Work your way up
It is essential to work on your skills once you get a corporate job. You can always learn on the job about things that you have not had the chance to learn yet. Helping your colleagues can also prove beneficial in learning new things that may boost your skill set and your resume in the end.
It would also give the employer visibility of your work, and possible promotion or role change, in the future. But it is important to remember that these things can take time, and you must have short-term and long-term goals to keep you motivated. It would help track your professional growth.
- Develop your relevant skills
Once you find a company that offers you a job, look for ways to up your skills while working at the current job position. You can also take classes after work to learn new skills and find better job positions offering better salaries and designation to work at.
On the side, you could also consider reading material such as books, and websites, to work on your skills or seek help from an expert in the field.
- Maintain a portfolio
For any specialization jobs, it is essential to keep a record of all your projects and certifications so that if there is a scope of promotion or a job change, you can use it to showcase your work. It is also a good practice to keep a check on your professional growth and learnings.
- Consider gaining degrees
If you are willing to level up your skills, it is essential to plan for your business degree. Interestingly, with several on-job training programs, organizations are now offering education sponsorship to promising employees with the caliber and talent to perform better.
It includes helping people who lack resources to complete their education and wish to progress in careers within the organization. Hence, you can pursue a degree course in your field.
Tips for Getting a Corporate Job Without a Degree
Here are a few tips to help you find the perfect corporate job without a degree:
- Start by identifying the companies you want to work for.
You should start by identifying the companies that hire people without a degree. Based on this, you can check and apply for jobs in companies that offer a position resembling your expertise.
After shortlisting from these, you can start applying for vacant job positions.
- Do your research and learn about the company culture
Before going for an interview, read about the company, do a bit of research on their products, what kind of customers they serve, and how you can help them achieve their goals.
It is also helpful if you can learn about the values and culture of the company, and build a connection before you appear for the interview.
- Network with people who work for the company or who know someone who does.
If you know any existing or ex-employees from the company you are about to interview, it is best to check with them about the company and the work culture. As a person with no formal degree, It will help you prepare for the interview.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to match the specific job you are applying for.
Since you do not have a business degree, the least you can do is to ensure your resume and cover letter are in place and in sync with the job position you are applying for.
Any discrepancies would prove to be disadvantageous. Hence, remember to update your resume as per the job requirements and highlight anything that increases your chances.
- Highlight any relevant experience, skills, or accomplishments
Always highlight any relevant skill set or experience in terms of internships that you have. The absence of a degree can only be compensated by practical knowledge and any form of recognition or rewards you received for your skills.
- Prepare well for your interviews
Everything rests upon your interview. So, prepare well, go through everything you know and what possible questions could be thrown your way.
Look up the person your interview is aligned with on LinkedIn, and find out anything in their profile that resonates with your skills; use it in the interview to impress them. The important thing is, if you know your skills and the job position, you should do just fine.
- Follow up after your interviews and continue to stay in touch
The only thing that you should do after the interview is to wait and follow up after a gap of a few days. It is a good practice to wait before you reach out since you don’t want to come across as desperate.
Also, any further follow-ups or connecting with the hiring manager should only happen at enough intervals. It helps as a reminder of your interview but also tells that you are eager to join the company.