2 answers
Soné’s Answer
Hi Angelysse. I am in the field of accounting, where you will need a degree and the CPA qualification (Certified Public Accountant). It is a very diverse field, where this qualification can take you anywhere from accounting, to audit, to taxation, to consulting, to being a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in a Fortune 500 company! (Did you know that 36% of the CFOs of the Fortune 500 companies are CPAs, as per a January 2017 study? https://www.spencerstuart.com/~/media/pdf%20files/research%20and%20insight%20pdfs/fortune-500-cfo-index-report_032317.pdf)
I have started in accounting, moved to audit, moved back to accounting, became a university lecturer in accounting, moved to technical accounting and now moved to technical accounting in Deals. It is a very flexible qualification!
You can read the FAQs on the website of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for more information: https://www.aicpa.org/becomeacpa/gettingstarted/frequentlyaskedquestions.html
Soné recommends the following next steps:
Ashanti’s Answer
This is a great question Angelysse. I've worked for top companies like Google and Airbnb and I don't have a college degree. However, I do have a high school diploma and networking/engineering certifications. These certification I self-studied for (no tradition schooling). There are many industries where you do need a degree in order to compete in the job market, however it's also equally important to be able to demonstrate specific skills companies are looking for. My career path started as a network engineering to Technical Program Management. I've been in my industry for 25+ years and one thing I notice is that with a degree may have been able to accomplish my goals faster. However, what I gained was experience which is very important.
I would suggest listing industries you are interested in and reviewing the job posting qualifications on sites like LinkedIn. Also, create an LinkedIn account for yourself and start connecting with people in the field and start asking questions about their role and specific skill requirements. I strongly encourage the college path, but understand there are other ways to reach your goals as well. Understand what's needed in the fields are you interested and connecting with people are the best next steps.
Good Luck and never stop learning!!