Are you a young
person thinking about the kind of work you want to do, but you don’t want to go
to college? I can certainly understand. A recent article in the Washington Post showed that colleges are
rife with academic dishonesty, mental health issues, difficult peer relationships,
alcohol and substance abuse, and safety issues – and most recently, antisemitism!
Thankfully, there
are many work options that can be meaningful and satisfying and are predicted
to have plentiful job openings in the foreseeable future. Many of these work
options pay as much as or more than college-required positions. Please note
that the salaries stated are ranges, depending on your experience. Your
starting salary depends on how well you convince your interviewer that you can
offer what the organization needs.
One interesting and hopeful trend is that some
employers – having discovered that college does not make a difference in
employee performance – have recently dropped their college degree requirements!
Among them are IBM, Accenture, Okta, Dell, Bank of America, Google, and Delta
Airlines; many others are expected to follow.
Agricultural
Equipment Operator/Farm Mashgiach
For the yeshiva student who likes to work with his
hands, enjoys the outdoors, and feels comfortable with animals, this work could
be ideal. It requires a driver’s license, basic listening and problem-solving
skills, strength, stamina, attention to detail, some technical skills, and
teamwork. It may require tending to animals under the supervision of farmers
and ranchers. Those who are so inclined may drive tractors, combines, and other
farm equipment to plant seeds and grow crops. Farm and ranch workers also feed
and care for animals, and some administer medications or insecticides, as
needed. Yearly salaries range from $28,400 to $52,000.
Paul Toshner,
also known as “Baby Tosh,” musician and performer, works for Pride of the Farm
part time. “I meet the most amazing people at Pride of the Farm,” he says. “They
are honest and maintain the highest standard of kashrus.” Paul related that when the machine operators showed him
the full bottles of milk after they had been filled, he was concerned that the
contents were from an old milking, which were unfit for use. Paul showed tact
and diplomacy plus integrity and firmness to manage the situation. He first
consulted with Rabbi Tendler and used his authority to resolve the issue
amicably. When things are slow, Paul likes to talk Torah to the cows and
reports that when he does, they all turn their heads toward him and listen
attentively!
Bakers
A great pleasure of becoming a baker is the daily
aroma of fresh bread. Bakers produce breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies,
pastries, and more. They must become familiar with ingredients and their
measuring and weighing and with the machinery of mixing, blending, and cooking.
Bakers routinely check products for quality and dispose of damaged or expired
goods. They use time and speed controls for mixers, blenders, steam kettles,
and ovens, and place items into hot ovens for baking. Bakers have to work in
the early morning hours to produce fresh items for sale. Salaries range from
$24,000 to $45,650.
Yuly Ayala,
of Pariser’s Bakery, worked as a baker of breads, cookies, Danishes, and challahs,
etc. “I am on my feet and moving all day long, doing many different things,” she
says. Although she still does some baking, customer service has been her main
job for the past four years. She takes orders over the phone, determines what
each customer wants, operates the cash register, and processes credit cards.
She enjoys talking with customers, and she likes mostly everyone. Although she
has dealt with angry customers, she believes that the customer is always right,
and she maintains a good relationship with everyone.
Childcare
Workers
Individuals who choose to be childcare workers, also
known as preschool teachers, are caring, nurturing people who love little
children. Childcare workers attend to children’s safety and basic needs, such
as eating and sleeping, as well as their social and emotional development, such
as sharing and respecting rules. It takes patience, stamina, and good
communication skills to tell stories and give directions. It also takes
self-control, tolerance for stress, cooperation, and concern for others. On the
job, childcare workers track how well groups or individuals are doing and make
improvements. When they see problems, they figure out the best way to solve
them. Sometimes they use Microsoft Office and other educational software on the
job. Salaries range from $21,250 to $39,000.
Working at the
Bais Yaakov Early Learning Center was a delightful job for Pam Kanter. She described how the job gave her the opportunity to watch how
children mature into “real people, like caterpillars becoming butterflies!” Pam
shared this story about a mother who asked her child, “Who loves you?” The
child, without thinking, answered, “Morah Pam loves me.” It was clear that Pam
loved her students, and they loved her back.
Medical
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Also called medical receptionists, these workers use
specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, and/or
laboratory procedures. They schedule appointments, bill patients, and compile
and write notes in medical charts and correspondence. They answer the phone and
direct calls appropriately. They schedule and confirm patient diagnostic
appointments, surgeries, and/or medical consultations. They also complete
insurance forms. Salaries range from $30,230 to $55,620.
Having been a
medical assistant for several years before she became a medical secretary, Shoshana* now manages the medical office, but
she still gives injections, takes throat cultures, and administers cardiograms
occasionally. Most of Shoshana’s work now involves payroll and patient billing,
hiring and supervising, and dealing with situations as they arise. She shared
that insurance company staff have expressed disbelief that she “never, ever
lost her cool or used curse words.” Shoshana loves her work because of the
people she works with. When one of the patients needed money, one staff member
volunteered to drive her to her destination, and another gave her money from
her own wallet. “You need compassion for this kind of work,” Shoshana says. “People
who come to a doctor’s office feel low and sick, and they need care.” It’s a
task she and her coworkers do with kindness and compassion.
Office
Clerks and Managers
Office workers’ tasks vary according to the office
they work in and the employer they work for. Office workers answer phone calls
pleasantly, maintain accurate bookkeeping records, perform word processing and
data entry, prepare a variety of documents, manage mail, operate office
machinery (scanners, fax machines, voice mail systems), and maintain client
files. They must maintain integrity and self-control and be dependable and
flexible when needed. The ability to take orders and handle complaints, a
helpful attitude, and attention to detail are also needed. Salaries range from
$26,000 to $59,700 annually.
As the office
manager for Hatzalah of Baltimore, Sandra
Friedman is the behind-the-scenes manager of the organization. She is
dedicated to Hatzalah and feels that Hatzalah’s mission gives meaning and
pleasure to her work. Her job gives her flexibility, so she can attend to her
family’s needs. When she travels, she takes a laptop with her to solve problems
that require immediate attention. When a company would not move forward without
an official purchase order, she created a Hatzalah purchase order on the spot! In
our personal experience, after one of our donations to Hatzalah, our check
paying service erred, and our bank refused payment. Sandra called and emailed
the check with an explanation. She was a pleasure to interact with throughout!
Sales
Representatives
Sales reps, also called sales consultants and sales
associates, sell merchandise to customers – everything from cars to insurance to clothing.
They greet the customers, assess their needs and wants, and use that
information to recommend, select, or help locate and acquire the required product.
Sales reps try to be helpful. They may also calculate sales prices and total
purchases, and they may process cash or credit card payments. Listening and
talking to others is a big part of the job, aiming especially to influence
others to change their behavior. Competency in math is also useful in this
work, and computer technology is useful, too. Salaries range from about $23,000
to $47,000, although those who work on commission could make much more.
Moishe*
sells insurance on commission. To advance and provide more service, he has
achieved a variety of licenses (AUM, Series Seven, Life Insurance, Long Term
Care, Advanced Trading, and more). These licenses must be maintained through
constant continuing education. Moishe especially enjoys helping people plan so
that they can pay for their weddings, bar mitzvahs, house, or car, etc. The
work takes discipline, focus, persistence, and prioritizing. To succeed in
sales, he says, you must be “brutally honest with yourself. Take a hard look at
your results and decide accordingly.”
Personal
Care Aides
Also known as home health aides, personal care aides
care for the elderly, people with disabilities, and those recovering from
illness, “providing essential health care that their families are unable to
offer.” Examples of the work with clients may include feeding, bathing,
dressing, grooming, toileting, and helping them walk. They may also prepare
meals and do laundry and light housekeeping. They may monitor vital signs and
medication adherence under the direction of RNs or doctors. Personal care aides
maintain client progress records and report changes in the client’s condition
to managers or supervisors. They may work at the client’s home, place of work,
in the community, or at a daytime non-residential facility. People who do well
in this work are caring and cooperative and concerned for other people. They
have a high tolerance for stress and attention to detail to notice when
problems arise and address them. They are reliable and dependable. Salaries
range from $22,500 to $38,400.
I spoke with Elisheva,*
a home health aide in the community who has been working for over 12
years with elderly individuals, responding to their needs, taking them to their
doctor appointments, advocating for them in the hospital, etc. She finds the
work both rewarding and meaningful. Older people, she says, were dynamic doers
when they were young. By the time they reached old age, many had suffered major
losses, and their self-esteem had taken a beating. “They feel like a nothing, a
zero,” she said. Elisheva works to “make them feel valued” and, as their bodies
decline, helps them get in touch with their neshama (spiritual essence).
Her motto is: “They deserve good care,” and she does her very best to give them
great care.
Security Guards
Security
workers – also known as safety officers or security agents – security officers
guard, patrol, and/or monitor industrial, commercial, or governmental premises
for signs of intrusion, violence, or rule infractions. They ensure the security
of doors, windows, and gates, often using metal detectors or x-ray technology
to do so. Security guards often write reports and respond to medical and other
emergencies by administering first aid or by obtaining assistance from
paramedics. This is a practical job requiring integrity, dependability,
self-control, cooperation, concern for others, and attention to detail.
Salaries range from $24,020 to $51,350.
Chana* works as a security officer guarding a
government building and its perimeter. She shared that she likes security work
because it gives her plenty of time to think. She is inspired by her
interesting coworkers, many of whom overcame difficult circumstances to live
productive and meaningful lives. Chana is a “first responder.” She is trained
in CPR and AED. If a person had a heart attack on the premises, she would care
for that person until the ambulance arrived. Sometimes government sites are
targeted by unpleasant people. Security officers subdue them until the police
can take over. More often, a “gate crasher” drives onto government property.
Security officers drive to surround the car and “trap it.” Often the individual
is inebriated. The supervisor arrives and arranges for the person to be
escorted from the property.
Drivers
This category includes shuttle bus drivers, special
needs bus and van drivers, chauffeurs, taxi drivers, and Uber drivers. They
arrange to pick up individual customers or groups – sometimes on a regular
schedule. They maintain their vehicles, checking the tires, brakes, windshield
wipers, lights, oil, fuel, water, and safety equipment to ensure that
everything is in good working order. They collect fares from passengers and
provide receipts as needed. A specialty license is needed for certain vehicles.
Drivers may keep records and use computer technology to do so. This job
requires practical, hands-on skills to solve problems. Salaries range from
$23,700 to $48,000.
Uber driver, Rachamim Attar, drove for Uber
for over eight years, starting at 5:00 a.m. and working until late at night,
before starting his own business, Jewber, in 2019, as a driving service staffed by “frum drivers” and dedicated to our
community. In contrast to Uber, Jewber drives to New York, Lakewood,
Philadelphia, and Monsey, among other frum-community
destinations, including train stations and airports. Rachamim Attar especially enjoys the
independence, freedom, and flexibility of the work. Jewber is hiring part-time
drivers now. Of course, a clean driving record is a must, as are honesty,
integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Waiters,
Waitresses, Servers, Hosts, and Hostesses
These workers ensure that customers have a satisfying
dining experience. They take orders and serve food and drinks. Hosts greet
customers and manage reservations and waiting lists. In informal settings,
fast, efficient, courteous service is the priority. In fine dining, personal,
attentive treatment at a more leisurely pace is valued. Wait staff, hosts, and hostesses
are on their feet most of the time and may carry heavy trays and hot plates. They
take orders from patrons, check that they are enjoying their meals, and take
action to correct any problems that come up. Focus, without getting distracted,
is important in this work, along with good listening and communication skills.
Salaries range from $18,250 to $55,360, although many in this category make far
more, because customers leave tips!
Much of the
information above is from mynextmove.org, a website you may find useful as you
begin your career exploration. This list of 10 job titles is just the beginning
of a long list of opportunities for people who do not want a college education.
Malka Weintraub (Licensed Clinical Professional
Counselor) has a private practice in Career Counseling and has been helping
people with work issues for over 30 years. For more information, please contact
her at malka@careerawakenings.com.
* Not his/her real name
