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re: Who here didn't go to college but found a career that they succeeded in?
Posted on 10/29/15 at 4:34 am to tigerinthebayou
Posted on 10/29/15 at 4:34 am to tigerinthebayou
"Plant"= manufacturing facility, oil refinery. Yes they are quite common in SLA. The Mississippi River is lined with them from around Baton Rouge southward. They manufacture chemicals, paper, plastic, etc.
0
Posted on 10/29/15 at 4:55 am to John88
Plenty of careers out there that don't require a degree and will provide a good living.
Posted on 10/29/15 at 6:00 am to FunroePete
quote:
For example, say I work Big company A's lng plant in an engineering role. Could I move up to management/corporate from working at the plant or would I be at that plant forever?
Engineers move pretty frequently at my place, even to corporate HQ. We even have operators that become managers but their movement seems to be much slower.
Posted on 10/29/15 at 6:13 am to RogerTheShrubber
I'm also very interested.
Email is Jordan7264@yahoo.com
Email is Jordan7264@yahoo.com
Posted on 10/29/15 at 6:17 am to John88
Every "millionaire" I personally know dropped out of college. But that was also in the 60s and 70s and they were the hardest working people I know. They also started oilfield companies around that time and made it. Not as easy to do anymore, especially right now.
I can tell you we hire non-college grads a lot. You will spend 5+ years in a blue collar job before you are looked at for a desk job though. And those 5 years can be brutal. But you can make 80-100k at a desk job with no degree.
But as a college degree holder, you never really work the blue collar job (other than a few months to train), you get selected for that office job first, and your ceiling isn't that 80-100k. Used to be they'd hire anyone for management/next level positions. It's all degree holders for the last several years. Have to take that into consideration.
It's not always "college just isn't for me" (unless you can't get through the the material). It should be thought of as, "is college right for the career path I want?" And don't be short-sighted and screw your future self because you don't want to do 4 years more of school. It's definitely not needed, but shouldn't be cast aside out of laziness.
I can tell you we hire non-college grads a lot. You will spend 5+ years in a blue collar job before you are looked at for a desk job though. And those 5 years can be brutal. But you can make 80-100k at a desk job with no degree.
But as a college degree holder, you never really work the blue collar job (other than a few months to train), you get selected for that office job first, and your ceiling isn't that 80-100k. Used to be they'd hire anyone for management/next level positions. It's all degree holders for the last several years. Have to take that into consideration.
It's not always "college just isn't for me" (unless you can't get through the the material). It should be thought of as, "is college right for the career path I want?" And don't be short-sighted and screw your future self because you don't want to do 4 years more of school. It's definitely not needed, but shouldn't be cast aside out of laziness.
Posted on 10/29/15 at 6:23 am to yellowfin
quote:
Plenty of careers out there that don't require a degree and will provide a good living.
Yep. People that are successful without degrees shouldn't be so shocked. I'd wager if you take away technical degrees, the success/failure rate of college grads isn't that much different than those that didn't graduate.
Posted on 10/29/15 at 6:27 am to TheAlmightySmash
quote:
The highest you'll move is managing a bunch of other high school graduates. Safe to say you'll probably never wear a suit to work.
I didn't graduate from college and worked my way up from sweeping the shop floor. I hired and managed several people with engineering degrees. Granted it's oilfield so I'm trashy, something about truck nuts, etc.
And I wouldn't accept a job where I had to wear a suit every day
Posted on 10/29/15 at 6:42 am to Murray
I would strongly disagree with that statement. Maybe a long time ago possibly this could be true, but now negative. I'm not saying it's not possible, but if you aren't an entrepreneur then I would say the success rate is much higher with a degree. Also, I'm sure there are plenty of statistics that back this up.
Posted on 10/29/15 at 6:48 am to John88
I never went to college. I joined the Army right out of High School. I just happened to get trained in a job that I love to do while I was in. I repair medical equipment. Did it for 20 years in the military, now I've been doing it for 3 years in the real world. I get paid pretty decent and don't dread going to work every morning.
ETA- Most of the people I work with have 2 and 4 year degrees. Sometimes experience trumps a piece of paper.
ETA- Most of the people I work with have 2 and 4 year degrees. Sometimes experience trumps a piece of paper.
This post was edited on 10/29/15 at 6:50 am
Posted on 10/29/15 at 6:52 am to BoxmanTiger
quote:
Maybe a long time ago possibly this could be true, but now negative. I'm not saying it's not possible, but if you aren't an entrepreneur then I would say the success rate is much higher with a degree. Also, I'm sure there are plenty of statistics that back this up.
My experiences support my statement and I'm sure hard workers aren't limited to the south. Where there are people there are opportunities to work for yourself or someone else. Especially now when colleges are turning out some many useless degrees. There may be more opportunities than ever to make it on your own.
My point is, this thread pretty much shows that people place way too much value on simply having a college degree. It's not really a brag worthy accomplishment to be successful without a degree anymore.
Posted on 10/29/15 at 6:52 am to John88
Electrical and instrumentation construction manager for a chem plant. No degree
Posted on 10/29/15 at 6:52 am to rouxgaroux
quote:
Pretty college boys hate people like me.
lol, this line of thinking cracks me up. Why would a college graduate hate people like you? Why do you think guys that went to college are "pretty?" Seems like an inferiority complex.
quote:
And I wouldn't accept a job where I had to wear a suit every day
Amen to that.
This post was edited on 10/29/15 at 6:56 am
Posted on 10/29/15 at 7:08 am to AubieALUMdvm
Never went to college, work in IT, 6 figures. Everyone else I work with is still paying off loans for the most part. Feels more like a hobby. I am pushing my kids into college though, I think it's a lot more difficult today.
Posted on 10/29/15 at 7:13 am to Murray
I agree it is not brag worthy nor is it necessary to master the field you are currently in my view. Some degrees are more worthwhile. My degree has been useless in my current position except that I learned how to use power point and a little more math in college, which easily could be done without college.
My point is the success/failure rate would not be the same or close with or without college. Maybe in some fields, but as a whole when measuring success you have to include income success and someone who has a degree on average makes more than someone who has one over their lifetime.
My point is the success/failure rate would not be the same or close with or without college. Maybe in some fields, but as a whole when measuring success you have to include income success and someone who has a degree on average makes more than someone who has one over their lifetime.
This post was edited on 10/29/15 at 1:34 pm
Posted on 10/29/15 at 7:16 am to FunroePete
quote:Can't move up the management ladder these days without at least a BS degree. Could do it up until mid to late 90's, but not these days. Almost every middle management job and higher requires BS or Masters degree these days.
How hard is it/is it possible, to work at a plant and move up the management ladder?
Posted on 10/29/15 at 7:18 am to JinFL
quote:
Never went to college, work in IT, 6 figures.
quote:
I am pushing my kids into college though
This is me.
Posted on 10/29/15 at 7:31 am to John88
OP, please add this follow up question: Describe how your love for Trump will be symbolized in your next tattoo.
Posted on 10/29/15 at 7:40 am to John88
Barely finished High School, hated it... Went straight to work in the field I've been in now for 29 years. Went to Vo-Tech school for 2 years of Diesel Mechanic training but rarely use that skill. Always liked tearing things apart and putting them together again. Make 6 figures but still not sure if its what I want to do.... Always longed for a career at a Burger Dump.. for every order always include ketchup, salt, & pepper... pretty simple.. 
Posted on 10/29/15 at 7:47 am to BoxmanTiger
quote:
My point is the success/failure rate would not be the same or close with or without college. Maybe in some fields, but as a whole when measuring success you have to include income success and someone who has no degree on average makes more than someone who has one over their lifetime.
Oh well we're on the same page then because I wouldn't include medical, engineering and other technical degrees in my example.
Posted on 10/29/15 at 7:50 am to AZTarheeel
quote:
Wtf is a plant?
We have a lot of plants in S. LA. Chem plants and some refineries.
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