Many students feel like the subject they are studying is not their calling in life, so they want to drop it and turn to study something else. Now, you may have heard that “There are no jobs for a high school dropout!” but in today’s fast-paced world, this is hardly the truth.
There are plenty of students who choose to pursue their dreams without a high school or college degree. Think of Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs, for example.
Whether you’re a dropout or still studying in college, there comes the time when you want to be financially independent, or better said, the time you need to find a job.
The market today offers a variety of jobs for college dropouts and even freelance gigs that any college student can take. So keep on reading to learn which one is the Best Freelance Jobs For College dropouts!
Things to Keep in Mind When You Drop Out of College
Before we dive into the best jobs for college students and dropouts, let’s go through the things you need to keep in mind if you plan on dropping out of college.
As we said, there are plenty of careers for college dropouts, even jobs for high school dropouts, but taking this step is not as easy as it sounds. So before making any big decisions, here are some things to remember when you leave college:
- There are plenty of places that would accept dropouts. Even if you haven’t finished high school, there is no reason for you not to try and get a job at a deli, supermarket, or other places. Freelance work is always a great option too!
- Dropping out doesn’t mean that you can’t pursue your dream job. As mentioned, some of the top entrepreneurs today don’t have a degree to boast with.
- Don’t let the social stigma surrounding dropping out of college or high school wear you down. Although this is far less prominent than in previous years, it still exists.
- You may have financial problems at first, especially if you have to pay out some student debts. This is where a good freelancing job can help out.
What You Need to Know Before Dropping Out
Aside from figuring out that the subject is not your calling, the next biggest reason for dropping out of school is financial reasons. College debts can quite literally drown you, but there is one sure way to go over them. We’re talking about working and studying at the same time.
Although it may feel overwhelming at times, the reality is that working while you’re in college or high school can truly benefit your present and future. There are plenty of jobs for college dropouts, especially freelance ones.
Top 10 Best Jobs For College Dropouts
As we mentioned, the market today has many jobs for college dropouts. Some won’t even require you to have a high school diploma. Of course, depending on the post you’ll be working at, you may need to have some skills or certificates to apply.
So without further ado, let’s check out the 10 best jobs for high school dropouts – ones that are perfect careers for college dropouts.
1. Entrepreneur
The first career choice of most college dropouts is an entrepreneur. But being an entrepreneur is not as easy as it sounds. It requires a lot of dedication and investment.
The biggest problem all first-time entrepreneurs face is financing their idea. But, even though self-funding a business can be hard, the perks are enormous.
First of all, you’re your own boss. You have an open schedule and can decide when you work, where you work, and even how the whole firm is going forward. Practically all decisions go through you.
Then there is the fact that, as an entrepreneur, you will get to forge brand-new connections. Although this may sound dreadful to some, it’s a key part of making your business work. What’s more, as your own boss, you can choose to work outside of the traditional workplace.
This is why this job is so popular with non-degree holders. Some cool ideas for a startup business would be web design or social media business, where you can start billing per hour or for one service at a time.
You can invest in real estate and rental–property business or offer some consulting services, although consultants should have certifications for the tools they recommend and in-depth industry knowledge.
2. Freelancer
This is another opportunity to grab if you are a college dropout. There are many freelancing opportunities on the market that can enable you to become an independent contractor.
The first thing you need to do is to learn marketable skills and create a good portfolio of your work. Just like with being an entrepreneur, as a freelancer, you can choose the working hours, the clients you work with, the location, and the type of projects you work on.
It is different from the traditional work model, and the only prerequisite you need is a good internet connection and basic computer skills.
You can start working as a freelance content writer, which may include copywriting and editing. For example, you can write copies for websites and product descriptions and try and persuade people to buy them.
3. Sales Representative
Being a salesperson is quite easy – you just need a friendly, outgoing character, and you’re all set. Plus, for this job, you do not need any educational qualifications.
There may be some work under pressure, and it does require a certain level of commitment and even competitiveness. And as you have to be in constant contact with customers, you need to be a good listener and pay closer attention to details.
But the key traits of a good salesperson are communication, a way with words, and quick thinking. You may come in some situations when a potential customer is considering purchasing a product – this is where it’s your time to shine!
4. Call Center Agent
If you are knowledgeable, detailed-oriented, and organized, you can consider working as a call center agent. You will handle incoming or outgoing phone calls for a call center, so you need to be friendly and flexible as you will need to promptly answer unique queries from customers on a daily basis.
Moreover, you need to be tech-savvy, proactive, and, most importantly, calm under pressure. If you are a tenacious problem-solver and you are motivated to help others, this job is just for you.
5. Film and Video Editor
If you are artistic and creative, you may try your luck and work as a film and video editor. It is on demand right now, but if you want to work as a professional video editor, you need to move on to more complex edits than those of your holiday Go-Pro footage or piece to camera for YouTube.
What does that mean? Although you do not have a college degree, you may need to take some courses to learn the fundamentals of editing video programs.
There are plenty of online courses or classes you can take to boost your video editing skills. These will give you a chance to learn new things in the industry and become more experienced and build your portfolio.
And once you have a portfolio, that’s it – it will double the chances of getting hired by film and video companies, television stations, or independent studios.
6. Data Entry Clerk
Many companies employ data entry clerks to input essential data and information into the system. For this job, most of the time, you will work in front of the computer, organizing different types of data and checking for potential errors.
A post as a data entry clerk doesn’t require any college degree simply because it is repetitive, simple, and straightforward, so there are hardly any difficulties that you may come across while performing it. That being said, you still need to have some tech skills.
7. Automotive Mechanic
Another choice that many college dropouts make is an automotive mechanic. Usually, this is for those that love cars and are interested in how the machine works. Here you get to examine vehicles and carry out preventive maintenance.
To be a mechanic, you don’t necessarily need to have a college degree – there are many that have started out as an apprentice, guided by a pro in this field.
To good thing about this job is that with time you can choose to specialize in a particular type of vehicle and, after a few years, maybe even open your own mechanic workshop.
8. ESL Tutor
Being an ESL (English as a Second Language) tutor is also an option present in many lists of jobs for college dropouts. In many cases, you will only need a TEFL certification to start teaching kids and students who do not speak the language.
Usually, most language schools from around the world hire native speakers to create lesson plans and teach their students English. You may find some low-cost programs to earn your certificate in just a few weeks and get yourself ready for a rewarding career as an ESL tutor.
9. Professional Photographer
Being a photographer doesn’t require a diploma. It’s mainly skill-based – you will only need a good camera and a passion for photography to start working.
Of course, this includes a lot of creativity and attention to detail if you want to make it your career. You should also be able to edit the photos and produce them in the highest quality.
Today, digital cameras are easily accessible and not as expensive as a few years ago. So, if you have an eye for beauty and skills, you can give this job a try.
One pro tip: start working with an experienced photographer, as this will help you network with other freelancers in the field of photography and build your skills.
10. Massage Therapist
A massage therapist usually doesn’t need a degree in the formal sense. However, you should know that you will still need certification and going through several classes to earn it. Nevertheless, this is not the same process as earning a college degree – it is simple, way cheaper, and takes less time.
Your job will basically consist of elevating the clients’ pain, healing their injuries, improving overall health, etc. – it all depends on what part of this medical field you turn to. The common massage therapist puts the accent on relaxation rather than healing.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are plenty of jobs that you get just with a high school diploma – most o these 10 best jobs for high school dropouts can even be done without any type of formal diploma.
The market and overall globalization today allow for many career choices in different industries. All you need to do is to make the first move and break into financial freedom.
The most important thing is to be passionate about your job and love what you are doing – it doesn’t matter if you have a college diploma or not.
FAQs
Yes, there are many opportunities for college dropouts – some of the world’s richest people are college dropouts. You only need passion and self-confidence to succeed.
Some jobs don’t require any previous experience – you will learn all you need while working or through apprenticeships.
Some of the most profitable jobs that do not require a college diploma are automotive mechanic, video editor, and freelancer.
There are also some technical jobs like transportation inspectors and elevator installers that are also highly paid. But you should be aware that some of them require special training.
There are plenty of careers for college dropouts. You can choose between opening a startup, learning a programming language and becoming a programmer, or starting with content writing. We have already listed some of the best jobs for college dropouts in this article, so if college is not your thing, you can see some of the mentioned options and get to work.
