5 Best First Jobs If You Dropped Out of College
Written by
Chris Adam
Edited by
Amen Oyiboke
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The decision to leave college can be a tough one. Sometimes events in life make it the best choice. Even some time spent in college can help improve communication, math, business and other skills.
Here’s a look at five of the best first jobs to take that knowledge gained in college before dropping out and build a successful career.
Claims Adjuster
“Many customer-facing jobs don’t require a college degree, even in industries where a degree might otherwise seem necessary,” said Steve Faulkner, founder and chief recruiter of Spencer James Group. “These roles can serve as springboards into a long-term career.”
Faulkner said in the insurance and employee benefits sector where his firm specializes, hands-on expertise and relationship-building skills often matter more to employers than formal education. For someone looking to break into this industry, roles like customer service representative, sales agent or claims adjuster are accessible without a degree and can lead to advancement opportunities.
For someone who took some courses in college that may be tied to math or communications, being a claims adjuster may be a good position. Those professionals investigate insurance claims.
Account Executive
If being a claims adjuster isn’t the best fit, perhaps a role in sales might be better. For someone who dropped out of college, they can use business and communication skills developed in university courses to secure a sales account executive position. Not only can this role lead to higher positions, but you can target an industry you find interesting and look for a sales opening.
Content or Community Coordinator
For someone with a good understanding of communication and technology, both of which can be gained from some time spent in college, a good first job might be as a content or community coordinator. These jobs involve developing and managing content or online communities.
“Community roles are now pipeline drivers,” said Peter Lewis, chief marketing officer for Strategic Pete. “These are modern entry points that didn’t exist ten years ago.”
Data Entry Clerk
When it comes to jobs to pursue after you drop out of college, Indeed suggested being a data entry clerk. As the name implies, this role deals with information and computer systems. A similar role that might be of interest to someone with a bit of college experience is a help desk. This position might involve helping customers solve their IT problems.
Event Planner
For someone with a bit of college under their belt and a passion for event planning, this position could lead to big things. An event planner, also listed by Indeed as a good job after dropping out of college, uses communication, business and math skills to coordinate functions. It could be a good way to get into a business and work your way up.
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