Click here for a full transcript of the episode.

In episode 53 of “The JoyPowered™ Workspace Podcast,” JoDee and Susan discuss careers that don’t require a college degree with Chuck Haberman of Gaylor Electric Company, David Decker of Hub and Spoke, and Carmel High School College and Career Counselor Melinda Stephan. Topics include opportunities available for people without college degrees, misconceptions around some of these opportunities, and skills that may be helpful if you don’t have a college degree.

Many times, individuals feel stuck in their jobs because they don’t have – or didn’t finish – their college degree. JoDee and Susan discuss whether employers truly do require a college degree for their roles, and if they may be cheating themselves out of good candidates by doing so. The Foundation of Economic Development posted an article in late 2018 sharing several high paying jobs that do not require a college degree.

Chuck Haberman discusses what kinds of opportunities are available at Gaylor Electric Company for non-degreed individuals. Gaylor has jobs for individuals at every education level and provides an environment that is supportive of employee development. Chuck has worked in the construction industry for many years and has seen technology change the way the companies must do business. He also shares some insight on what it takes to be successful in the construction industry and some common misconceptions of the industry. Some resources that one can use to learn more about the construction industry and get involved are the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. and Build Your Future Indiana.

David Decker is a co-founder of Hub and Spoke, a design center, coworking space, and maker space that will open in Fishers, Indiana in February 2020. David shares his personal story of not finishing college and sheds light on the fact that college may not be the right path for everyone.
Hub and Spoke was created to help others find their passion in life and hopefully get younger individuals excited about skilled trades. Skilled industries need more workers and there is a stigma about the jobs that is a cause of the shortage. David explains why the stigma is not reality and hopes that Hub and Spoke will help kids and young adults learn more about those opportunities. Hub and Spoke will host businesses as a retail design center, including David’s company Aco.

Melinda Stephan plans schedules, experiences, and general life paths with kids and their parents as a College and Career Counselor at Carmel High School. The counselor encourages kids to explore their interests and think deep about who they are before making the decision to go to college or not. She works to show students all of the options and paths that are available to them and encourages students to follow their own path. Melinda believes that college ready and career ready require very similar skill sets, and she tries to ensure her students are prepared for either. The main thing she likes students to take away is that there is more than one right way to do life.

In this episode’s listener question, Lauren is responsible for recruiting and hiring at her organization and is having trouble with one of her senior hiring managers leaving interviews with information Lauren does not want her to know, like where the candidate’s children go to school, what kind of car he or she drives, where the candidate goes to church, etc. During the news, JoDee and Susan discuss a Motley Fool article titled “Doing This 1 Thing Could Make You More Productive at Work.”

Mentioned in this episode:

• Purple Ink
• Susan Tinder White Consulting
• JoyPowered™: Intentionally Creating an Inspired Workspace by JoDee Curtis
• The JoyPowered™ Family by JoDee Curtis and Denise McGonigal
• “5 Lucrative Jobs that Don’t Require a College Degree”
• Gaylor Electric
• Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.
• Build Your Future Indiana
• Hub and Spoke
• Aco
• Carmel High School
• “Doing This 1 Thing Could Make You More Productive at Work”