this post was submitted on 13 Apr 2026
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No Stupid Questions

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I'm in the US, no degree, and absolutely sick to death of working in retail.

I've tried all the jobs website. They haven't even gotten me an interview. The only job search method that's ever given me results is to think of businesses near me and apply to them directly. But that only leaves me working more retail, since public facing businesses are all I'm interacting with.

I just want a job that pays my bills, and lets me work on a consistent schedule. I'm so sick of having my hours constantly whipped back and forth. I just want to go to bed at the same time every day.

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[–] AskewLord@piefed.social 11 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

You need education. Either a college degree or a licensed trade skill. You also need experience in a related field.

You also need to know what you want to do. You can't just magically walk into a high paying job with good pay without paying your dues, unless you're a nepo-baby who has a parental/family hook up.

[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago (2 children)

This is good. But "need" is perhaps too strong. Lots of highly successful people without education. Lots of highly educated people who couldn't cut it. Plus it too has barriers of it own (costs, loansharking student loans)

It's good, but isn't the only way.

[–] EndOfLine@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

This right here.

Annecdotal, but I have never worked for a company nor in a team that did not have a fair share of people that took the work experience route instead of the school route. It took them longer to get to the jobs fresh college grads were applying for and they had to work some shit jobs on the way, but that real-world experience gave them a perspective that college never could and it was a valued resource that provided immense benefits to the teams they worked with.

[–] AskewLord@piefed.social -1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Statistically, no there aren't. Just because you know some people who did well in life, doesn't mean they exist in abundance. And many of them, it's usually because they had some inherent advantage in life, like their parent getting them a career. If your dad is a CEO is pretty easy for him to get you a high income job w/o any education or experience, yeah, but that isn't most people. It's a visible minority.

The vast majority of people with median or higher incomes are educated, or skilled, and those who high incomes are highly educated and highly skilled.

unless OP is gifted in manipulation and/or amoral, and willing to fleece scam and exploit other people, it's very unlikely they will have a great job without education and skills or connections. And many people with education and skills and connections, are still underemployed, often by choice though.

[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

None of what you say is wrong. Statistically speaking you're making two mistakes:

You are overemphasizing what is the primary path for most and concluding that everything else should be excluded. Why cut someone struggling from 31.46% of the jobs that don't fit the optimal 1st standard distribution?

It literally isn't as rare as you think. I know a great many overeducated and unemployed as well as a great many high-school dropouts that are Entrepreneurs, Sr Consulting Software Architects and Successful Artists.

When someone is struggling, consider the normal path might be why. A broader approach that doesn't prejudice viable alternatives for the crime of being "not the most popular option" is prefferrable.

[–] AskewLord@piefed.social -5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Oh totally. I mean, if OP is only 5'9" they should just magically grow 6 inches, that will surely solve their employment! So easy!

It is rare, and your 'argument' here is self-defeating. As you are trying to argue from the margins to say the margins don't exist... lol

why would you assume that OP is some 'unknown' genius? maybe probably because you yourself are projecting that persona? like every other poster on lemmy... you too could have been Bill Gates if only you had tried harder in life!

[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

If you stoped repeating the same mistakes over and over again and tried to think "where could this be right" instead of " find a wrong, even a stretch that doesn't belong and disprove" you would be a more reasonable person to talk to.

E.g. (clearly needed here)

You think the rarity of Bill Gates disproves my point. I say a friend who is neurodivergent and a high school drop out literally just bought cleaning supplies and started going door to door to businesses on a strip asking if they needed a good scrubbing. He did a few gigs on the spot for pocket change, but quickly found several of the 2nd story offices were displeased with their after-hours cleaning contractors. A few offered a trial to prove my dude could do a good job. Once proven they offered annual contracts. The landlords and tenants all talk to each other and word got around. Boom! Entrepreneur. Today he has 3 vans and 7 employees. Still doesn't know what standard deviation is.

This type of opportunity is everywhere. It's not the kind that is offered. It's the kind you find or make yourself. The biggest barrier to entry here is not trying. I could go on all day. But why? The point is made and you'll either get it, or not.

[–] AskewLord@piefed.social -4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Cool story. Why aren't you a billionaire then, if it's so easy?

Clearly I am just a stupid fool if I'm not. But I mean, that criteria doesn't apply to you though, does it? You're so smart!

[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] Proprietary_Blend@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Hmmm. Almost everyone I know has worked their way up to being successful. I guess it's the company you keep.