Best Scientific Jobs That Require No Degree

[Ronald Zeeman]

My suggestion would put together a linkedin profile stress your interests. be light on your retail experience. apply for positions at companies that have biology labs.

 

[DrBadStrings]

With no formal degree or diploma's it's going to be pretty tough as you'll need first hand experience in its place. I don't know about where you live, but at least in my own province there are always lots of what they call "Citizen Science" projects. Where larger outfits Government/Universities/Private Companies/Non Profits, will turn to the general population to help in gathering data. Often it's things like having a monitoring station on your property, or taken specific notes on things you observe in an area. This helps them get way more data then they could otherwise. And it looks great on a resume as it starts building experience. It'll also get you in contact with actual scientists and once you've got some inroads like that getting into a science job will be much easier.

I wish you the best of luck in finding something, but as a professional Engineering Technologist myself, I can say you are in for a very very difficult uphill battle to find a decent science job with no credentials. I had a hard enough time getting work with advanced training and a non related Bachelor of Arts.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

As a engineering technologist myself, I think this is a bit harsh. She already has the credentials for many positions
the trick is for her to present herself in a way that she can be found. I have seen and worked with a lot of technicians with similar backgrounds to her strong science backgrounds in high school. Being an Aspie most important of all. The trick is once you get the first position you build on it, further your education what I did Technologist first, then added technician speciality next then, quality engineering.

 

[DrBadStrings]

As a engineering technologist myself, I think this is a bit harsh. She already has the credentials for many positions
the trick is for her to present herself in a way that she can be found. I have seen and worked with a lot of technicians with similar backgrounds to her strong science backgrounds in high school. Being an Aspie most important of all.

I didn't think I was coming off as harsh. Just honest.

And full disclaimer my response was in reply to her initial post so I don't know what other background she has as it wasn't in the first post. I thought I gave some decent advice on getting some experience and networking to help in getting work without credentials.

Stating that it would be difficult but not impossible without science training is just being honest, not harsh.

As a retired ET you should know yourself that most companies simply won't hire someone without the credentials which are either your schooling, or your professional trade credential if you've got the experience to have earned one.

No experience or education = you resume goes to the garbage first. And no that's not harsh either, it's simple truth.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Now with and us trained people leaving and shortages of educated qualified candidates its changing rapidly
If I was hiring, her main qualification would be being on the spectrum.

 

[TBRS1]

Faytheaspie, what kind of science-y things do you like to do?

It might be possible to turn it into a money making activity.

Just as an example, I really like working with micro-organisms, so I've become very good at growing out all sorts of useful cultures.

I don't need money, but a lot of the people who I interact with do, so they sell cultures, or value-added products (such as ready-to-go sterile, poured Petri plates).

Edible mushroom cultures are currently hot (as are homegrown dried mushrooms), beer/wine yeast cultures also, a whole load of "probiotics," kumbuchi cultures... A whole bunch of niche markets filled by "cottage industries" (people working out of their home).

If bios stuff isn't your interest, many people also create electric circuit boards, specialist electronics, and so on.

So... Is there a way to turn what you like into a thing that can bring in money?

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Great idea I also took microbiology in college, get Yourself a Difco manual make cultures.

 

[FayetheAspie]

Their is a thread on here about linkedin You sound like what many companies are looking for, however they have no idea how to locate you. We as a group have unusual skills and aptitudes.

This is a lists of positives and a couple negatives concerning skills I think might effect my ability to work in STEM fields. Also, I am trying to figure out which fields would be the best fit. I have also included some topics that may not apply.



1. I know alot about botany and have begun to expand to phytochemistry ( due to my interest in herbal remedies ) but would not consider myself to be an expert in phytochemistry at this time.

2. I know a lot of random "fun facts" about other biology fields, chemistry, geology, meteorology, and select fields of physics.

3. I had 2 chemistry sets and some prefab electronic assembly kits growing up.

4. I currently have a microscope, a few parts of my chemistry sets, old encyclopedias, and other reference books.

5. I have a diploma in locksmithing but never got the liscense required to practice in my state. The process seemed too stressful + I didn't realize that testing loud noisy alarms was part of the job.

6. My native language is English, I am conversational in German, and know at least basic polite essentials in about 10 languages.

7. I am pretty good at various types of visual puzzles and word puzzles.

8. Animals seem to like me but most humans not so much.

9. I struggle in advanced maths like algebra, but managed to pass my grades.

10. I am known for noticing small visual and auditory details that others miss yet often failing to notice when I am hungry, cold, hot, ect.

11. I passed 2 fingerprint identification tests online. One was about familiarity with terms and the other was accurate identification of actual prints including partials and smeared prints.

12. I scored 100% on a forensic hair analysis knowledge test online.

13. I have certain artistic talents most particularly nature/wildlife photography including macrophotography and calligraphy, and poetry.

14. I did very well at language skills based subjects.

15. I probably have ocd or at least a specific phobia concerning certain fluid borne illnesses. I don't know how I would do in a lab setting with proper equipment . I have examined things like saliva and blood that were my own under I microscope.

16. Almost all of my job experience has been in retail. That is where my dad wanted me, but I find it extremely boring and stressful. I have about 10 years of experience but it was really wearing on my mental health. It is too noisy, has too big of crowds, the lighting or something bothers me, and I was almost constantly bullyed both by fellow associates and by managers. During the later years, I was having problems with paradoxical laughter, derealization, and even had an episode of depersonalization. I am currently unemployed after having to stay out with a family member who was recovering from a heart attack.

 

[DrBadStrings]

Now with and us trained people leaving and shortages of educated qualified candidates its changing rapidly
If I was hiring, her main qualification would be being on the spectrum.

Then I sincerely hopes she encounters potential employers with your attitude. No formal training in my own province means not a chance. And personally having been involved with hiring, being autistic adds nothing to the hiring process, but it also doesn't detract. It's an item that is not at all factored into the hiring criteria. To assume because a person is autistic they'd be great in STEM is just playing into the stereotypes. If a person doesn't have the formal education, they need to have about twice the real world experience of someone with formal education to even be considered for an interview.

I'm not sure how old you are, I'm assuming 15-20 years older than me since you are retired, i'm in my 40's. But the days of folks getting hired without formal education and just knowing folks are essentially over. Especially in Government jobs where the hiring process is publicly scrutinized. I know we recently did a round of hiring for folks that would have some lab duties but would mostly be manual labor. And while we didn't require a science education, we did have the ones without them take a formal aptitude test to see if they would be capable. Nobody that took it that didn't have formal education was able to pass it. None of them were hired as a result.

 

[TBRS1]

This is a lists of positives and a couple negatives concerning skills I think might effect my ability to work in STEM fields. Also, I am trying to figure out which fields would be the best fit. I have also included some topics that may not apply.



1. I know alot about botany and have begun to expand to phytochemistry ( due to my interest in herbal remedies ) but would not consider myself to be an expert in phytochemistry at this time.

Can you put together safe teas, or extracts, or ointments made of medicinal plants and sell them through an online outlet?

 

[FayetheAspie]

Can you put together safe teas, or extracts, or ointments made of medicinal plants and sell them through an online outlet?

I am not really comfortable with being over my own business. I would prefer working under someone else. I don't feel confident or comfortable being the person who has to deal with all the business operations, and permits, and safety inspections and all that. Also, I don't even know how to sell something online.

 

[TBRS1]

I am not really comfortable with being over my own business. I would prefer working under someone else. I don't feel confident or comfortable being the person who has to deal with all the business operations, and permits, and safety inspections and all that. Also, I don't even know how to sell something online.

Yes - that's very sensible. There is a whole lot of work and risk in being self employed.

 

[Judge]

Yes - that's very sensible. There is a whole lot of work and risk in being self employed.

Being your own boss and being able to limit social contact is great for many of us. However that risk factor is a much greater concern that never goes away. And you inevitably put in more hours in the process. And doing the income taxes may be uh....unpleasant.

Not for everyone, but for some it's rewarding.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

When I started my last process related position the lab had one lab tech per shift chemists I was hired to do special projects, not shift work Being an Aspie it did not take long I had process insights that were not obvious to others
The reps. knew me my ability to fix untractable issues were known. So the over time I fixed the reason they had a lab tech per shift. Over time they were laid off one had 21 years at the company Another over 30 years. I Stayed on
They gave me high school grads to train as assistants, while I worked on making it possible to run without a lab tech
which apparently happened after I retired. The one skill us Aspies have is the ability to focus intently and be incredibly organized. ThIs is no stereotype. why we are good at our special interests.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My wife started her career working in a bank high school diploma accounting she be came a specialist in mortgages first in residential and then commercial Over time she went to night school got diplomas in accounting and the business administration. If you did not have these you got laid off. Now it has gone full circle they hire high school grads again.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Even at Ortech the testing lab I was employed at 40 years ago the basic technicians were high school grads with strong science backgrounds.

 

[FayetheAspie]

I have trouble fully comprehending civics/economics type classes. I don't think trying to start a business would be a good idea. When I tried to look into doing my photography/calligraphy that way there were to many conflicting versions of what rules applied given to me by different individuals. The tea, ointments, ect. suggestion would have even more rules that applied due to health and safety regulations. Sometimes I feel like some people may think I'm lazy or something but I find it confusing and scary and most of them would find chemistry classes confusing and scary. I can't be good at everything yet sometimes I feel frustrated with myself for this weak point. On the holland codes system, I score 0% or very low or the enterprising trait. My highest Holland Codes scores are in the investigative trait. I also score high on creative and realistic. The helping category is lower but definitely higher than the enterprising. I find financial topics boring and that probably affects my comprehension. Either way I don't think I should take those kinds of risk and I don't mind being on a team with other people as long as they treat me right. Really large crowds of constantly changing strangers and a smaller group of people that typically stay the same people for the most part and that have at least one major interest in common with you would be totally different. I actually want some peers who share my interest in science to interact with.

 

[FayetheAspie]

Would it be better to apply online or actually go to a lab in person to inquire about entry level jobs?

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My best friend we went to college together both same education. His special interest is trees He got hired by a steel manufacturing plant took care of the waste water and gases a lot of his position involved testing for bacteria in the waste water.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Would it be better to apply online or actually go to a lab in person to inquire about entry level jobs?

Hard to say, many of the managers may be Aspies themselves I noticed this myself now looking back The guy that hired me for my first lab job on a coil coating had a PHD in chemistry, boy did we hit it off during the interview.
The trick is to avoid the filters find the manager if possible phone him. Applying on line forces you through the filters.