22-05-2025
The five highest-paying jobs with no experience required
The job market is entering a tricky era. Uncertainty about the future, higher employer National Insurance contributions and increased wage bills mean many firms are either cutting back on staff, or at least pausing plans to expand their workforce.
This is difficult enough for skilled workers with experience, but for anyone who's just starting out – or perhaps those who want to make a career swap – it may seem as though there are very few options, and all of them low-paid.
However, that's not necessarily the case. James Neave, head of data science at job-matching platform Adzuna, said: 'There's a surprising number of roles out there that don't require a degree, apprenticeship or prior experience. Some, such as executive assistant, audit assistant – and even door installer – are paying more than £40,000.
'Many of these roles offer on-the-job training, giving you a chance to explore your interests and strengths before committing to a long-term career.'
Good grades, it seems, no longer define your future. At the same time, we are seeing a shift from experience-based hiring to skills-based hiring – giving workers the chance to consider a range of roles they may not have previously thought about.
Katie Elliott, an HR consultant, said: 'You don't need a long CV to land a decent salary, but you do need to show you're someone who will turn up, learn fast and crack on. Common sense and a great attitude will open more doors than a lengthy 'history of all my jobs ever' will.'
Here, Telegraph Money reveals some of the lucrative careers that don't require experience, qualifications or training.
The five highest-paying 'no experience' jobs
The table below shows the list of jobs that pay more than the average UK salary of £37,500, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) – and don't require any specific qualifications or training.
Using data from Adzuna, this list was compiled from the number of advertised job ads in April specifically mentioning 'no experience required', and then by ranking those roles by average advertised salary.
By 'no experience', Adzuna means roles that don't require any prior relevant working experience.
As such, all the roles listed don't require a formal qualification, such as a degree, certification or apprenticeship. That said, Adzuna points out that employers may still expect certain basic skills. For example, audit assistant roles may call for proficiency in Microsoft Office and strong attention to detail, while all driver roles will require a valid UK licence.
Executive assistant
As the name suggests, these roles involve being an assistant to an executive – you'll need to be highly organised, as common tasks include scheduling meetings, preparing reports, sorting their logistics and handling communications.
In simpler terms, you may find yourself having to book travel and hotels for business meetings, taking and relaying messages and making sure they never get double-booked.
There are courses and qualifications that exist for these roles, but you can often learn on the job too. You'll need to have good IT skills and be able to navigate business software packages – such as email and calendar systems.
Salaries range from £28,000 to £60,000 a year, according to the National Careers Service – but an executive assistant to the stars could earn much more.
Door installer
If your area of interest lies more in the trades you might want to think about door installation.
Some of the key skills required for this role include patience, attention to detail and problem-solving. For many roles, you may also need a full UK driving licence.
The work can be physical and might involve installing doors on new homes, repairing doors on older homes, as well as dealing with garage doors, fire doors and more.
While you may find apprenticeships for these roles, you don't necessarily need one to start work, as you can also find entry-level jobs in door installation.
One of the best ways to learn is on the job where you'll get the opportunity to work alongside established installers and gain real-life experience of the tools and materials required.
Once you've got some experience, the key is to build on that – and hone your skills.
Over time, you can hopefully become a professional door installer, and could earn closer to £50,000, and possibly more – especially if you end up running your own business.
Audit assistant
It is the role of an audit assistant to examine and evaluate the financial records of organisations – to check whether they are accurate, and whether they comply with financial regulations.
You'll probably work closely with accountants and other financial professionals. You'll need to have good analytical and problem-solving skills, and be a stickler for detail. Top-notch verbal and written communication skills are key, too.
Being proficient in Microsoft Office and spreadsheet software will be important, while understanding audit procedures and regulations would be helpful.
There are no specific academic requirements, although professional qualifications are available from bodies such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). You may be able to study for these through your employer once you're in the door.
Salary offerings can vary, based on factors such as skills and geographic location, but you could earn north of £40,000.
Equally, by taking up a role as an audit assistant you will gain experience in the financial industry. If you're ambitious, you can then potentially go on to work in other areas.
Social media marketing assistant
Roles in social media have soared in popularity, but in order to succeed you'll need to be clued up on the various platforms and able to do your job in a fast-paced environment. As a marketing assistant, you'll work closely with social media managers and marketing executives, and need to have a knack for creating engaging content.
Day-to-day you are likely to be involved in carrying out market research, building brand awareness and working up social media strategies. You'll need top-notch writing skills, with an eye for the latest news and trends.
While there are degrees for these roles, you can also learn on the job, with internships often turning into full-time roles.
Land yourself the right role, and you could earn close to £40,000.
Over time, you could – according to job site Indeed – get promoted to take on roles such as account executive, digital marketing specialist, marketing director or brand director. Climb your way up the career ladder and your earnings could increase considerably.
Delivery driver
If you hold a valid UK licence and have a good driving record, you could land a pretty well-paid job as a delivery driver, with the potential to earn almost £38,000 a year, according to Adzuna.
While there are apprenticeships on offer, you can also apply directly. It may be useful to have experience in storage, working in a warehouse or other driving work. But crucially, you need to be happy with the idea of interacting with people and spending your days behind the wheel.
Navigational skills and organisational skills will also come in handy.
For a delivery driver role for a supermarket, such as Tesco, for example, you'll need tip-top customer service skills combined with the ability to be calm and collected. You'll also need to be clued up on health and safety protocols both in and out of the van.
As the commercial sector has grown, there is a big call for delivery drivers, with lots of job opportunities related to this profession, including the likes of Royal Mail, UPS, Yodel and AO.
How to get a high-paying job with no experience
Don't underestimate your skills
When you're job hunting and see a title you've not held before, you might assume there's no point in applying – but that's not always the case.
'Try to put the title aside and look at the job description for the skills. What skills do you have from parenting, volunteering, hobbies or past jobs, and how do these overlap with that description?' said Sam Kennedy Christian, a career coach at The Float Space, who supports parents navigating careers with young children.
'You need to determine your transferable skills,' agreed Emily Button-Lynham, a career and leadership coach. 'When I'm working with clients, I get them to summarise their most recent jobs, along with the key skills they used and developed. Examples of this may be problem-solving, project management or communicating to multiple stakeholders.'
It may also be the case, she said, that even if a job description asks for specific experience, your skills and experience can still hit their list.
Do your research
Even if you have no experience when applying for a role, there's a lot to be said for being able to demonstrate just how much you want it – skills can be taught, but enthusiasm can be far more valuable.
Ms Button-Lynham said: 'Try reading recent news articles about the industry and refer to these in your application or during the interview. See if you have a contact in the company you can speak to, or someone you know in that role that can share insights.'
Get networking
You might not think you have a 'network', but there are opportunities to make helpful contacts wherever you go.
As well as contacting people you already know – old colleagues, family or friends who are in, or know people in, the industry you are interested in – it may be worth seeking out relevant events where you can make more connections. This could be talks, conferences or exhibitions, for example.
'Connect not only with potential contacts, but also people in your ideal role and company,' added Ms Button-Lynham. 'See if you can schedule coffee chats to find out more.'
Attitude is key, according to Ms Elliott. 'My advice is to focus on what you bring to the table,' she said. 'Be clear about this, whether that's brilliant customer service, exceptional organisation skills or just good old-fashioned common sense.'
Sort out your CV
It may seem obvious, but the humble CV still plays an important role for recruiters.
'Tailor your CV to each role, keep it focused on relevant achievements,' said Ms Elliott. And, don't forget, your CV isn't just a piece of A4 any more – 'For goodness' sake, make sure your LinkedIn profile doesn't look like it was last updated in 2012,' she added.
Natalie Ellis, managing director of Rebox HR, suggested using LinkedIn as a way to showcase yourself more than you can with a standard CV. 'If you are actively job-seeking, don't just use it to regurgitate your CV [on LinkedIn],' she said. 'Show some personality and highlight what makes you different.
'Employers are scrolling through dozens of profiles that all look the same, so it really doesn't hurt to stand out a bit.'
