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My parents used to tell me if I wanted “the best chance” in life, I would need to go to college. As I have gotten older I have a new view on that perspective… It depends.
If you want to be a doctor, yea bud, you need to go to school.
But there are plenty of fields that do not require traditional academics to become technically competent. I write primarily about cybersecurity, and while the focus of this post will be more of that, the same is honestly true for:
Marketing – Start doing content creation like YouTube or TikTok. And you will pick up marketing skills if you are honestly trying to improve. The more you can overlap with a unique skill or knowledge the easier it will be to grow. But regardless, you are using marketing.
Business – Start selling something online, whether an item or a service, doesn’t really matter. Find a need and figure out a way to fill it.
Cybersecurity – Platforms such as HackTheBox/TryHackMe provide a safe learning environment for those looking to get their hands dirty with exploitation and vulnerability management.
Software Development – Attempting to list the numerous coding platforms is an article in itself. But whatever you start doing to learn, post your projects to GitHub and start establishing your ‘learning timeline’. GitHub can’t really be faked, so it’s best to start posting when you begin.
Like I mentioned before, I work in cybersecurity so my focus tends to be in that. And while getting a technical degree can help you break into this field it certainly isn’t a requirement. And given the cost of higher education and the amount of GOOD training easily accessible outside of higher learning institutions, it can really be a hard sell to justify going for something you can probably break into faster, and cheaper, without one.
The main issue you run into when in a field like cybersecurity without a degree is it limits your growth potential. This is one of the main things to consider as you plan your career path, but this article is about getting started in cyber. And if you are sitting here reading this article than you can also be working on skills that you can add to a resume.
Now I will admit, I am finishing my degree in cybersecurity, but I am using my GI Bill from the military while working full time to do it. I am effectively being paid to go to school, so it’s easy to justify it for myself. Additionally, I have been in the field for over 6 years technically with the experience I gained from my service. But you certainly don’t have to take my route, which is rather risky as far as getting the job you want and an assignment that will transfer effectively later on. But the gamble can pay off dividends due to exiting with some certifications that the military covered and already have job experience which this field desires pretty much above all else.
The days have long passed where in order to succeed at a high level requires a degree. Those who did well without are no longer an exception. There are numerous success stories and paths forged by those who have not been to any form of higher learning.
This does not mean it will be easy, you will still have to learn. The ability to build yourself up and earn your way into an industry is a skill that cannot be taught in any institution. And I would argue it is among one of the most valuable abilities.
Don’t Click Links From Strangers,
Bryce
