50 years as an engineer without a college degree

68-year-old has spent 50 years at the same company as an engineer, even without a college degree—this is his one regret
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/01/68-year-old-engineer-spent-50-years-with-one-companyhis-one-regret.html

“Turner was 18 years old at the time and had just finished a year at Arkansas State University studying animal science. But, after seeing all the schooling required to become a veterinarian, he realized he needed to get a job “to even think about that” and dropped out.”

“Turner tells CNBC Make It he’s had roughly eight roles during his 50 years with AT&T, each ranging from two to seven years, except his most recent job as lead product development engineer, which he’s held since 2009.”

“Turner, now 68, has spent the last 50 years of his career with the company and will likely retire with them in the next few years.”

“He likes to advise younger professionals, based on his own experience, to not let education requirements get in the way of applying to a job that interests you. Turner joined AT&T without a bachelor’s degree and has learned everything on the job.”

 

50 years as an engineer at AT&T - the phone company, without a degree -- not that scary.
50 years as an engineer at a nuclear reactor or nuke power plant without a degree -- Yeah, that's scary.
50 years as a Doctor at your local hospital without a degree -- now, THAT would be REALLY scary!

"Calling Dr. Demara... Dr. Ferdinand Waldo Demara... please report to Surgery..."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Waldo_Demara

 

Right. There's no way on earth that career path could happen now, without a degree. At least, not if a job applicant was telling the truth about their non-degree status. This situation is indeed a relic of bygone days - at least around here.

 

In addition to the issues with giving career advice based on his experience in 1973 I note that he is 68 and wants to retire sometime after 70. Baby Boomers refusing to retire are keeping key executive positions filled and preventing Gen Xers (primarily) and Millennials from being able to ascend to those upper ranks. While that may be a good thing for those companies who benefit from their long-tenured employees' experience, I suspect that in the long-term having a lack of career progression will come back to bite them.

 

My first one (1970) cost $19,000. 3-bedroom brick bungalow in suburbia. My second (1986) cost $30,000. One like my first is maybe $700K, now. I just looked at listings and one just like my second house, two miles away, is going for $450K. Stupidest thing I ever did was to sell that house, when I retired. I sold it in 1993, practically the same day I had it fully paid for. I still have the money I got from the sale -- but it won't even buy a decent front doorstep, these days. Yep, dumbest thing I ever did - and my list of dumb things is pretty long. I've been at them a while...