There was a time when you could get a job straight out of school, or even not have completed school, and become employed and remain employed for 30 years or more. Nowadays, you pretty much need post secondary education to get a job, and as you may know a college degree does not guarantee success - or long-term employment.

But have you also noticed that some of the people who never went to college, or those who chose technical trades, make more money than the rest of us? Perhaps because they have no onerous student loans to worry about? Are trade jobs more rewarding?

College isn't for everyone, and I can say this because I learned the hard way that school isn't for me. After having attended full-time college twice, I discovered to my horror that though I love learning, I don't like being taught. I'll never attend full-time school again, but I am constantly taking short courses and essentially customizing my own education.

After having worked in both high level jobs and minimum wage jobs, I've concluded that no work is really easy. The only difference is that, at the end of the day the minimum wage work is done and over with, while the higher paying jobs are never "done".

Being book smart is not the only way to be smart. The American Dream can include taking an unconventional, alternative path that may very well get you to that dream.

Do share your thoughts with us. Do you think that going to college is still the American dream? How do you respond to candidates who never went to college but who have the smarts to get the job done?