<p>What are good options? My friend can only think of the army. Anyone got suggestions?</p>
<p>If you are looking at what may lead to a good job and career:</p>
<p>Self-education
Entrepreneurship
Sales
Trade education
Willingness to do jobs that are dangerous or disagreeable to most other people</p>
<p>If he is lucky enough to find an apprentice position, he could be an electrician or plumber. Both those jobs regularly have salaries that rival most college graduates.</p>
<p>Sales is also a career that does not require a college degree. Sales skills can be learned, and contacts made in some schools could help, but really, sales is the ultimate meritocracy: you earn because you are good. It takes a great personality, the ability to relate to various kinds of people and an incredible work ethic. does e have that? Is he willing to work very hard?</p>
<p>
Only when they’re working - and a lot of them aren’t right now.</p>
<p>But neither are many college grads. In my area, the electricians that work for the mills and plants are the only ones that are never laid off. Plumbers may not be working as much, but it is definitely a job that will not be outsourced.</p>
<p>What about allied health fields that require two years of education or training? RN or, if that’s too challenging, LVN. Imaging tech.</p>
<p>LPN**</p>
<p>I agree with the shorter medical field options (like RN)
but anything below that (techs, LPN, CNA) are having a tough time. They’re the first ones laid off, and they usually work in facilities for the elderly. In the hospital and such, there’s no real need for them because RNs and MDs have all of the power. (Source: my RN mother and her coworkers)</p>
<p>Auto Repair, Culinary, Allied Trades (vet tech, medical tech, respiratory etc. etc.), Electrician, Plumber, Police, Fire, EMT, Real Estate, Builder (any of the building trades), Massage Therapy, Cosmetology, Computer aided drafting, machining, welder, GIS, some Computer analyst lines of work and I’m sure if I can think of more…</p>
<p>Mizbee - That’s great as long as the mills and plants remain open but a lot aren’t - especially in your several state area.</p>
<p>I’ve recently hired a plumber, tile setter, electrician, cabinetmaker, and they, as well as many more I’ve talked to, have said that work is way down due to the lack of new construction as well as remodeling and many are leaving the professions for whatever else they can find. None of them want their kids to follow in their shoes and many of them are barely making it - and these are the well connected ones - the others have already left the business. </p>
<p>It pays well while one is working and I personally think a lot of it can be rewarding, satisfying work, but the reality is that for those who don’t happen to be well locked in at some firm that’s doing well, these are rough times. But if the person knows someone in one of those trades who’s willing to take them on and who has regular work to do, it’s an option to consider.</p>
<p>You’re right in that it’s rough as well for a lot of college grads depending on their major.</p>
<p>For alternatives to college, and by this I’m assuming you mean anything that requires higher education which leaves out nursing, emt, etc. - check with friends and relatives to see if they have any opportunities either in businesses they own or are working for. If you (friend) have a particular interest, then see what it takes to pursue that. The military is a good option for those who are interested in it but one needs to be fully committed to it. This is an area with a lot of military and a lot of people have done well by joining the military, getting trained with good skills (especially technical and medical ones) and have done well after leaving the military. Other than the above, it’s usually a matter of joining the masses to find whatever job is available that doesn’t require a college degree and even for those that don’t, one often has to compete with people who happen to hold the degree.</p>