What careers don't require college?

Question

I'm interested in all kinds of things but do NOT want to go to college so don't suggest it. I live in Ohio and would like to move to Los Angeles in a couple of months. I'm getting in to power tools and have thought about building things like chairs, bookcases, etc but I want to know other careers or ways to make money without college. I'm going to direct movies but I need something to do before that.

Answer 1

Sales. Or start your own maintenance or cleaning company and build it up.

Now I see that we have an arrogant ignoramus above who actually has mocked what can be an entrepreneurial venture. I'll bet that you can make more than he.

Answer 2

If you don't go to LA "with" money then you're going to get stuck out there living on the streets. Anyway, LA id a crazy place, and people need transportation to get around, etc.

What does "getting in to power tools" mean? Does it mean you own tools or not? I would suggest that you take a job with Home Depot, Sears, Lowes, any place where you can do installations. I know Home Depot moves people up the ladder quickly.

You have a choice, college or a trade school. Either way, save your money and get your education. There is a lot to opening your own business which includes having money upfront and doing the 5-year business plan (which takes about 3 months) but I suggest that you don't go to LA, at least not until you make a lot of money. check out snagajob.com

Answer 3

You don't want to go to college, but what about a trade school? If you go to a trade school you're just learning things specifically focused on your career rather than all the general education you get in college.

If you don't even want to go to a trade school, then your options become more limited - at least in the short run. There are tons of jobs in the service industry, but generally the higher paying jobs are in management and without experience you won't be able to just walk into those jobs.

You could also look at something construction related - construction, plumbing, electrical, etc. But without experience you will mainly be a grunt in the short term. Eventually you can work up and even earn certification, but without schooling it might take years.

If you are good at studying on your own then you could could commit yourself to studying an IT field and then take the test for certification. But lacking a college education or real world experience will hurt you when it comes to earning potential.

You say you want to direct movies. You might try to develop some connections within the industry and try to find work as a stage hand or grip. Doing this will let you learn how movies are made from the ground up and could make you better as a director when/if you get there.

But keep one thing in mind. If you go to Hollywood with no marketable skills, you will be just one of many people trying to break into the industry. And you will probably find that for every job you try to get there are 10 other people trying for the same job.

By no means am I suggesting that a person has to go to college to be successful or reach their goals, but usually it's one of the best ways to get there. If you really are set on not going to college, at least do yourself the favor of going to a trade school so you can learn something that will help you get a better job.

Answer 4

Ok, first off...good luck directing movies without a college education. Most directors now have one. Even most respected actors have one.

If you are interested in movies, you can always start at the bottom as a PA. You are going to be against many people who have college connections though. If you are good with your hands, then perhaps you can try to find a position as an apprentice. Try a cabinetmaker or a carpenter, perhaps a painter. You can be a clerk in a store, work up to manager. You can try serving in a restaurant and eventually learn enough to become a professional server.

Answer 5

You can apply to work for the U.S. Postal Service. How about driving a UPS truck? Or you could be a school bus driver. You could be an administrative assistant - you would just need to know Word/Excel and how to answer phones. You could be a customer service representative, as long as you like people, including the cranky ones. I wonder if you could get a job as a cameraman working on movie sets? I'm not sure if you'd need a degree or experience for that. You can go to an employment agency; they can usually find you some kind of work. How about becoming a police officer? Well, try the link I found for more ideas. I'm sure you'll find something that's right for you. Good luck!

Answer 6

If you can afford to rent or better yet buy a commercial building to put a shop in, you could buld everything from custom dog houses and kid's playhouses all the way up to small mini storages that you could deliver with a small trailer. You could also get a scroll saw and make plywood cutouts and paint them. They could include school mascots, holiday decorations, the list is endless. Those are just a few things if you like working with your hands. Also custom doll houses and accessories. These one of a kinds could be valuable collectors pieces some day. Hope this helped and good luck. Oh yeah, local flea markets on the weekend are a good way to market your products.

Answer 7

Do you have any skill when it comes to set design with those power tools? If so, You might be able to "kill to birds with one stone" as the saying goes. Movies require skilled laborers to design and construct the intricate sets. You can earn money, get your foot in the door and establish connections by working for a studio doing construction for the sets. Also, if your good enough, you might be able talk to directors in your off time and ask them for advise regarding how to become a director. I don't mean to burst your bubble but most directors today do go to college and get a degree. Work hard, be responsible and persistent. Good Luck.

Answer 8

hmm.. construction is pretty high paying and i don't believe it involves formal education. janitor is kinda sucky. theres always jobs that include the classic phrase "would you like fries with that?" other than those, not really certain. depending what you want to do, investing in the stock market's always a good idea, unless of course we're expecting another great depression.. day classes or online schooling are your best bets for anything requiring a college education.

Answer 9

We have a real shortage of young people in the trades, boilermaker, electrician, shipwrights, pipe fitters, welders. These are decent paying union jobs you will need to do an apprenticeship which means working all day and taking classes in your spare time, it won't leave much time to be a director.

Answer 10

For the time being you could be carpenter for a business or a maintenance guy for an apartment complex until you get your directing career going. You get paid alright being a maintenance guy and depending on the apartment complex they might even throw in an apartment for ya.