Job Options for High School Students

Finally got the chance to update this blog :)
Here are some more articles that were published in my column at Manila Bulletin.

Is a College degree really necessary for you to get a good job in the Philippines? What if, like many young people in the country, you have no choice but to put your studies on hold due to financial constraints? Are you doomed to a life of misery simply because of the dire circumstances that you could not avoid?

No, definitely not. I do not believe for one second that lack of higher education dooms a person to hardship and poverty. I know of many successful people who only finished High School or didn’t get to finish college that found success beyond their wildest dreams. And it pains me to hear woeful stories of people who feel limited and hopeless simply because they did not finish college. Such is the case of the daughter of my friend’s laundry lady. For several months, the mother lived with a heavy heart because her daughter angrily blamed her for not being able to provide her with a college education. Although the laundry lady’s daughter has a decent job as a warehouse clerk, she felt that she could have gotten more from life had she been given a chance to pursue and finish college. She is only 24 years old and has not yet realized that she has her whole life ahead of her and it’s not the end of the world. And yet, she does have a point, limited though it may be…

The truth is, a College degree does help. Most corporate employers require job applicants to be a graduate of a four-year course. From an HR practitioner’s point of view, it makes sense. The additional four years of training would logically prepare an applicant for work. So it has become a standard requirement in the Philippine white collar job market, but that doesn’t mean that those who only finished High School are not employable.

On the contrary, there are many ways and means to find a good job despite your lack of a college degree. There are also many job options available for High School graduates. For today, let’s explore and open our minds to a wide world of possibilities---here’s what you have to look for…

Open-minded Employers

Believe it or not, not all employers require a 4-year college degree. I for one have employed people who are not college graduates for general office positions. I have found that High School graduates are as dedicated and hardworking as their College counterparts, sometimes even more. For me, experience and attitude are more important than plain academics. So if you want a white-collar or office-based job, look for employers who are willing to hire working students or trainees. You might have to start with a slightly lower pay during your training, but once your employer sees your value and potential, they can immediately up your salary once you get regularized.


On the Job Training or Apprenticeship

Some companies hire OJTs who are not necessarily college graduates. They offer an On the Job Training program and they provide allowance. Although the allowance is not that high, it nevertheless will help tide you over while you are learning and proving your worth to the company. If the supervisor sees that you are diligent and have good common sense, he might recommend you for further employment. If the training program ends and you don’t get hired, at least you can put that in as OJT work experience which adds a new dimension to your resume.

Sales Jobs

Sales is one job that does not discriminate against lack of academic degree so much (unless the company you are eyeing has lofty image standards). It is a career that is performance-based. The more you sell, the happier your employer will be and the higher income you will earn. Most companies provide training and basic allowance for their sales team, as well as commissions for every sale. It’s not an easy job for the weak-hearted. But for people who are driven or who dream of one day starting their own business, it can be a truly rewarding experience. Look for companies who carry products that you believe in and that you can easily sell to your network. There are products that are easy to sell and there are products that are difficult, so choose wisely.

Vocational & Technical Jobs

There are many exciting vocational and technical jobs that are available for High School graduates such as Call Center Agent, Medical or Legal Transcriptionist, Animator, Consumer Electronics Service, Heavy Equipment Machine Operator, Massage Therapist, Barista, Cooks and many more. If you have no experience in this field, that’s not a problem. Our government has a “Training for Work” Scholarship Program under TESDA. This can help you develop the necessary skills and competencies that are needed which are directly connected to existing jobs for immediate employment, locally and abroad. You’ll need to have the time to complete the training and be good enough to be hired by companies after the training. And should you want to pursue higher education later on, TESDA even has a Ladderized Education Program that can give you credits for college. To find out more about these programs, visit www.tesda.gov.ph.

Many insanely successful people didn’t have the privilege of attending college. But it has not stopped them from attaining fortune and a better life for their families. They refused to believe that their lack of academic degree makes them any less of a man or woman than their privileged counterparts. They continued learning on their own though experience, books, mentors and short course training programs. For them, it hasn’t always been easy but the more they strived to solve their financial problems and learn along the way, the better their life has become. So you see, degree or no degree, you can achieve great heights. Believe in yourself. Open your eyes to opportunities that abound. High School graduates have job options.


About the Writer:
Jhoanna O. Gan-So is president of Businessmaker Academy and the managing director for HR Club Philippines. Her company conducts seminars on Business Management, Human Resource, Sales and Marketing Courses. They have also recently launched the INSTANT HR TOOLKIT, a service that provides HR practitioners with over 100 ready-to-use downloadable, customizable and printable HR manuals, contract, letters forms and templates. To know more about HR seminars that they offer, you may visit www.businessmaker-academy.com or call (632)6874645. To know more about the Instant HR Toolkit, you may visit www.hrclubphilippines.com. You may email your comments and questions to: mbworklife@gmail.com