In the past, many professions allowed an employee to train on the job, and many still do. However, these days, jobs of value require candidates to have an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree to be considered for the position. Universities are adding new programs each year as companies require new credentials. It is important to know that just because a university offers a program in an area you want to focus on does not necessarily mean that companies in your industry require it. Sometimes it is best to research the field you want to enter and check what there is to offer before going to school.

There are many professions in which you can enter a business with little more than the knowledge you have gained in life and in high school. Some companies will hire you at whatever level of education you’ve achieved up to that point. This is because they require you to attend their own training seminar or they will offer you a tuition reimbursement program. This is a great way to get your foot in the door, gain experience, and have your education paid for. If you have such a company that you are interested in, be sure to fact check their educational program. Many of them require you to work for them for a specific period of time, or you will be required to pay back the tuition or investment they made in you.

Getting into a company that offers on-the-job training or tuition reimbursement isn’t always easy. Before they consider it, extensive testing is done to make sure it’s up to the task. Some companies have tests that take up to 8 hours to complete. It is easy? Absolutely not. But if you think you have a relatively complete bank of knowledge, go for it. Just remember, theses are the kind of tests that don’t allow you to take them again. Therefore, you must be prepared and focused for each type of question.

Financejobz.com encourages people to do their research before diving into an education they don’t need or creating a lot of debt with college classes that they could take for free.