High Paying Jobs That Don’t Require A Degree

These are jobs that are high paying and they don’t require a degree.

Times are unpredictable and jobs are shaky. In this age when your manufacturing job may be shipped to Guangzhou tomorrow, or the economy dips to new lows, how about arming yourself with a new skill that not only doesn’t need a degree or years to learn, but they pay good, too. Plus, these jobs can be done at home with a computer and Internet connection in between helping the kids do their homework. And thanks to cyberspace, you can sell your skill to the world like in the U.K., France, Germany or Australia maybe.

Who are these for?

Whether you’re looking to arm yourself with a new set of skills, shifting from blue-collar to a new and more lucrative professional career, or you just want the flexibility of working anywhere, especially if you’re a travel bug, the ideal candidates for these skills are:

• New graduates feeling their way to a sustainable career

• Middle-aged professionals who feel they need a new shot in their career

• Parents who have the time to do part-time work at home

• Students who want a sideline career early on

• Full-time professionals who have free time at home

1. Web development

“Learn to code,” so advised Bill Gates, because the world belongs to the geek.  It’s the magic trick that anyone can learn, but especially if you’re the analytical type.  Coding can mean a lot of things, from simple html scripting that builds the website’s skeleton, to database-driven systems that process and synthesize fields. Don’t worry. Coding is not a compendium of skills that you need to master in one sitting. It’s built on a ladder of skills that lets you master each rung, while you can start offering your service in every level. W3Schools offers a neat introduction for non-techies who wish to venture into the realm of cyberspace.

2. Copywriting

It’s the art of making words sell for a brand. Many copywriters didn’t start out as writers. Perry Marshall, the best-selling author on Google advertising, was a sales engineer before making it big with his crafty email series. In fact, in some cases, full-pledged writers find it hard to shift to copywriting because selling is a whole different planetary system than telling news or stories. It goes without saying that you need a good grasp of grammar to be a successful copywriter and a passion to sell. But we all must, anyway, whatever our career is, right? So push your grammar to learn copywriting and you get a new possible source of income. Like web development, copywriting can be done with just a laptop and a reliable Internet connection. Copyblogger provides free an online beginner’s class for copywriting. You can also subscribe to Perry Marshall to chance upon his best-selling e-mail workshops.

3. 2D animation and video editing

If you have a knack for drawing and putting together stories into videos, 2D animation and video editing are easy to learn. With high-end software now available, even your kids can do 2D animation and video editing at home.  “Charlie and Lola,” an animated TV series is a perfect example of 2D animation going big time.  Where before you needed a team of artists to create a full episode of 2D animation, today, powerful software like Toon Boom allow you to be a one-man animation team. This is one skill you can learn while having fun, producing episodes for your kids or selling them to clients.

4. Graphic arts

As with animation, designing posters and magazine layouts can bring in the cash. The publishing industry is in a tight bind that many companies turn to freelancers to do their design and layout process. You can do this by simply arming yourself with CS Photoshop and learning the ropes of basic graphics

design. Adobe, makers of Photoshop, offers tutorials for beginners. If you don’t have a hint on design, the Internet has tons of tutorials and basic classes. You can check  psd tuts+, which offers 50 free lessons from typeface to columns and grids.

5. Social media and community manager

How about turning your facebook and reddit time to earn money? Many companies need a social media and community manager to run their facebook pages, twitter and other social channels. Many of these pages are running on 24/7 mode that companies may split the tasks between their full-time staff and freelancers. Community management goes beyond just posting. It requires an understanding of the company’s brand direction and profile. Anyone can be an effective community manager, especially if you’re the personality that resonates with sincerity and an open-mind to other people’s opinion. To know more about this work, you can check this series of video tutorials about social media management. Once you feel confident that you can take this work, you can pitch your newfound skill to companies or advertising agencies.

CONCLUSION

These skills have the power to help you earn more and the flexibility to cushion unforeseen costs. Look at them as not a sideline—something you put on the side—but a new knowledge that adds up to your career profile. Likewise, these skills allow you to get clients outside of the country; thus, giving you a buffer when the chips are down in our country.  Once you have any of these skills, it’s time to sell to the world. You can check these top sites here that help freelancers promote their service to clients worldwide. Enjoy your newfound skill and the cash that goes with it.

TELL US WHAT SKILL YOU WANT TO PURSUE AND WHY

By Jenny Chang

Jenny Chang is a senior writer specializing in SaaS and B2B software solutions. Her decision to focus on these two industries was spurred by their explosive growth in the last decade, much of it she attributes to the emergence of disruptive technologies and the quick adoption by businesses that were quick to recognize their values to their organizations. She has covered all the major developments in SaaS and B2B software solutions, from the introduction of massive ERPs to small business platforms to help startups on their way to success.