Be Your Own Boss: 10 In-Demand Jobs that Require No Degree
In the past 20 years, the world has evolved at an unthinkable pace right before our eyes. It’s at the point where if a person who went into a coma in the 90s wakes up today, they’d be thoroughly shell-shocked.
We’ve redefined so many aspects of life in less than a generation. It’s amazing progress. Not only on the technological front, but the way in which we live has changed significantly. Take jobs for instance, 20 years ago there was no such thing as a social media manager or a social influencer. The thought of such professions would puzzle most, but today it’s the norm.
With the advent of technological dominance, it means that there are more opportunities for alternative professions in both tech and non-tech related fields. More and more people have opted out of the traditional 9-to-5 in favor of more flexible hours that allow them the freedom to pursue what they value in life.
All this has become possible while still maintaining a healthy financial inflow to fund comfortable lifestyles. If previously only a selected few with a fancy degree could afford such freedoms, now the opportunity is available to virtually anyone willing to invest some resources into their self-development.
Looking to make a shift yourself? Then you’re in luck. We’ve compiled this great list of 10 in-demand jobs that require no college degree. Watch out, one of them might just become your next career or a least a great new side-hustle!
- Freelance Photographer
Minimum requirements: Decent camera, good sense of artistry
Photography is not for everyone, but it is a skill that can be learned. Many freelance photographers today started out as a self-taught and went on to be hugely successful. The trick to being a good photographer is choosing your niche. There are so many styles to experiment with and choose from: wedding, product, portrait, events, nature, food and countless more.
The entry barrier can be steep as a freelance photographer has to invest in good equipment to build up a strong portfolio. You’ll also need to take charge of all the related jobs from marketing to accounting.
The upside is once you’re established enough, you can afford to delegate certain tasks and focus on the passion projects that most appeal to you. This Freelancer’s Guide to Photography does a great job of outlining how to get started and ensure your success.
2. Personal Trainer
Minimum requirements: Certification may be needed
Gyms are so ubiquitous nowadays that every other person you meet very likely subscribes to one. For those of you who enjoy working out and engaging in an active lifestyle, this job might be for you.
Personal trainers provide assistance in assessment, instruction, and supervision for those who are exercising. Since this job deals with health and well-being, in many countries a certification is required. It also requires good people skills, excellent organisation and most importantly patience.
The job can be exceedingly rewarding and allows you to work on your own term while still doing something you love. Check in with gyms in your area to find out what specific qualifications they require their fitness instructors to have.
3. Data Entry
Minimum requirements: A working computer with a decent internet connection
This is a job that would be a great fit for students or stay at home moms. A data entry job is very mechanical. It typically involves entering information to a prepared database, but can also encompass tasks like cleaning CRM data. This line of work calls for strong clerical skills such as proficient typing, good time management and keen attention to detail.
There’s what seems to be a surplus of data entry jobs available on freelancer job sites such as Upwork or Fiverr. Yet the downside is that the competition is quite fierce. This might drop you to the vicious cycle of job first or experience first. Once you establish yourself though it can become quite a comfortable side job.
4. English Teacher
Minimum requirements: Fluency in English
If you speak great English and have the patience, you might be interested in exploring an English teaching career. Online English teaching is blowing up due to an increased demand from many Asian countries, especially China. Otherwise, there are plenty of offline teaching roles that are looking for expat teachers.
Many positions require a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certification. And some might require a certain passport (most commonly US, UK, Australia or New Zealand) and a first degree. However, there are plenty of positions that are less demanding.
To be a teacher you need to have patience and strong organisation skills to develop learning plans that suit your students as well as imaginative thinking to make learning engaging!
5. Virtual Assistant
Minimum requirements: A working computer with an internet connection, preferably a home office
A virtual assistant is a job that in many ways resembles a secretary or a personal assistant job, except it’s remote. While virtual smart assistants like Siri and Alexa battle it out for chatbot supremacy, fear not. There’s still a growing need for virtual assistants with an actual human touch.
This is another job that requires a lot of clerical skills covering tasks such as: schedule management, making travel arrangements, filing and document organisation, correspondence, and many other administrative functions.
Being a good virtual assistant also requires phenomenal communication skills both written and verbal. You have to be a proactive person who is eager to help your employer through the hectic daily operation.
The really great thing about the virtual assistant field is that it is so diverse. Instead of working at one static full-time job, you have the ability to create multiple income streams by doing a variety of different jobs for different bosses.
6. Translator/ Transcriber
Minimum requirements: Bilingual
This job is for anyone who is able to fluently convert information from one language into another. Various certifications are available for those who are interested in becoming a professional translator, but usually a strong knowledge of two languages is enough to get you started.
The translators typically work from home and receive and submit their work electronically. Schedules will vary depending on assignments, but most tend to work full time during regular office hours translating documents, publications, websites and what have you.
Usually a translator will offer a transcribing service where they translate audio from a video or voice recording into written text. This job can be expanded to include subtitling, which is getting very popular with the advent of on-demand streaming services such as Hulu and Netflix.
So if you have advanced language knowledge, attentive listening skills, patience and strong critical thinking, this might be a great avenue to explore!
7. Content Writer
Minimum requirements: Good language and writing skills
The content industry offers a very lucrative opportunity today. Many companies maintain a blog as a form of marketing or to simply have a communication platform to share with their clients.
Although a college degree is not a must, it’s a good idea to come up with a solid resume and state your writing experience there. This will increase your chances to get the content writing job you want. Luckily, there are plenty of quality academic writing services and tools to help you with this. Your interest in a particular field can help you to develop your niche and find a right position.
Remember, strong written content is king, but the secret to an excellent blog or social media post lies in the visuals.
8. Graphic Designer
Minimum requirements: Design skill, tech-savvy, and sense of artistry. Also, good equipment
Although a lot of graphic designers have an advanced degree, a great deal turn to online tutorials, short courses, books, training videos boot camps to ease themselves into the profession. What you need to start is a committed approach to consistent learning through both offline and online means.
There are plenty of courses which can equip you with the right skill, given that you are passionate about graphic design. Once you secure the necessary skills, you need to build your own portfolio which serves as your showcase to market your service.
Graphic designing is quite a popular profession among digital nomads due to the remote nature.
9. Proofreading
Minimum requirements: Good language skill, an eye for detail
Once the content is ready, a written material has to undergo a proofreading process before it is allowed to see the light of the day. Proofreaders mainly identify errors in a written piece, but the job is not as easy as it sounds.
It requires not only meticulousness and love for reading, but also good knowledge of grammar and punctuation. This job can be interesting for those who are well versed in their respective language and have an eye for detail.
The motivation to work on your own to meet deadlines and the ability to focus fully are especially important in order to perform well in this role.
10. Welder, Electrician, Plumber
Minimum requirements: A vocational education
Technical tradesmen such as welders, electricians, and plumbers are sometimes foolishly looked down upon. These jobs are always high in-demand and have a potential of being very high earning. So if you pay a great deal of attention to detail, have a steady hand and enjoy troubleshooting problems, think seriously about one of these careers.
They typically require completion of training programs offered at vocational schools and engage in on-the-job apprenticeships. But once you get started it can lead to a very interesting career.
For example welders who specialise in high-altitude welding or under-water welding are highly paid due to the scarcity and the complexity of the job. It is worth mentioning that although we live in the digital age, the demand for such technical skills show no signs of diminishing.
So where do I start?
Get your notebook out!
Always start by assessing your current situation. Is there any particular work that you enjoy? Do you mind investing a bit upfront? How do you feel about going back to school? Once you’ve mulled it over and made a decision, it’s much easier to get started.
Next, gather up all that you’ll need. Do you need to take that online course? Do you need to go to a local authority to get the certification? Maybe you need to do some research and buy new equipment?
Once you have armed yourself with the necessary skills and requirements, you can start looking for jobs. Plenty of freelance websites are available out there and you only have to be on the outlook for the opportunity. Forums and Facebook groups can sometimes be hotbeds for various job offers.
When you are all good to go, don’t forget the importance of presenting yourself in a more professional manner. Set up an impressive email signature and never miss an opportunity to showcase your personal brand. You can make a personal website for your portfolio or simply revamp your resume and optimize your Linkedin profile.
And when it comes to receiving payments, a professional invoice should double as a marketing tool. Always include your business logo. Who knows, if you follow my recommendation and end up becoming your own graphic designer boss, maybe you’ll have created your own!
Author Bio:
Uwe Dreissigacker is the founder of online invoicing software InvoiceBerry & also offers free invoice templates to businesses. Small businesses and sole traders can create, send and manage their invoices, quotes and credit notes with the tool. In his free time, Uwe travels the world and enjoys experiencing different cultures.
