It's a common mindset of many job hunters that you need to have a university degree to bag yourself a role with a high salary.
However, that's definitely not always the case. One man found himself going from unemployment and depression to earning £39,000 in 2021.
Former soldier Steven Eden works as a lorry driver for Asda, where he transports food to supermarkets, unloads and reloads empty cages.
The 47-year-old from Wigan's yearly salary has since increased to £43,000 – and despite not being the type of job most people want to do – he thinks "anyone can do it".
According to Indeed, the national average salary for a lorry driver is £34,355 per year, but with a few years of experience and sufficient trainer, the salary can increase.
There has been a huge demand for HGV (heavy goods vehicle) drivers in recent years, which has resulted in a dramatic increase in the salary ranges.
Some companies also offer amazing bonuses, fewer working hours and incentives to new drivers.
There's a huge lack of HGV drivers. In the UK the number of drivers dropped by 16.5% in four years, but Steven says it's a really "rewarding" job and he's "never been happier".
Speaking to The Sun, the dad-of-two said: "I can have the radio up, I'm my own boss. It's me all over and it's so rewarding.
"I'm doing good for other people, filling people up [with food]. I like the manual bits of taking the frozen food off.
"And I've got a few drivers friends – they're all in good spirits."
Before training for the lorry driver job, Steven was in a bad place mentally, and after a spell of illness was left unable to drive – however he has since been given a clean bill of health.
After 12 months training, including getting his HGV licence, he was ready to work with the help of Veterans into Logistics, a charity which provides training and support for ex forces staff without trades or skills to get into the logistics sector.
According to Darren Wright, founder of Veterans into Logistics, the job of a lorry driver is the "fastest way of earning decent money".
Speaking to the publication, he explained that you don't need maths, English, and certain people can be trained "within weeks".
To become a HGV driver you need to have a full car licence, be over 18 (however there are some exceptions) and get a professional driving qualification called the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence.
You also need to pass your HGV driving test, and while training can cost a total of £2,000, Veterans into Logistics work with the ex forces to cover costs.
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