Here’s the Fate for the Former Michigan Kmart Headquarters

Kmart hasn't been in Michigan for a few years, and now, the former Michigan Kmart headquarters is being bought out. It's sad to see this final piece of Kmart in Michigan go, but at the same time, I'm glad the new use will be a good one. It's much better to have the space occupied, too, verses being vacant.

The last Kmart store in Michigan closed in November 2021. It was a sad moment, as Michigan is the state where the retail chain got its start way back in 1899. The story of Kmart began, believe it or not, in the late 19th century. Founder Sebastian Spering Kresge opened his first five-and-dime store in downtown Detroit under a different name. Then, in 1962, he changed the name of the store to Kmart, and the chain grew. For years, Kmart was one of the most popular chains in the United States. But, the competition has been fierce. Other "big box" retailers such as Walmart and Target are now the big ones. That's not to mention all the competition that came from online retailers, such as Amazon and Walmart's online service. Was it just that Kmart couldn't adapt to a changing environment? Or, had the brand burned out? It was probably a combination of Kmart not evolving and the brand getting old. When I think of Kmart, I definitely think of yesteryear.

The University of Michigan Health system has announced its purchasing a part of the vacant land at the former Michigan Kmart headquarters in Troy. They'll build a multi-specialty facility, which will help them extend greater into Metro Detroit. The moved happened on Thursday (March 28), when the UM Board of Regents unanimously approved a motion to buy the 7.8-acre property for $4.42 million. The former Michigan Kmart headquarters is located on a 40-acre plot at 3100 West Big Beaver Road. Forbes/Frankel Troy Ventures LLC previously owned the property. The new facility will help the University of Michigan Health extend its specialty clinical services and patient access into Oakland County. Currently, there are no other exclusively adult Michigan Medicine facilities in that area, according to officials.

“We are thrilled to announce our plans for a long-term presence and commitment to patients in Oakland County, in keeping with our efforts to create a statewide network of care that allows Michiganders the ability to receive our world-class care close to home,” said Michigan Medicine CEO and dean of the UM Medical School Marschall Runge.

The traditional bachelor's degree just isn't for everyone. In fact, there are a big group of people who opt to skip the traditional college route and still make very good money. There are plenty of jobs out there that don't requite a four-year bachelor's degree but still make $100K or more per year. No, it's not too good to be true. Let's get into some of these high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Before we get into those high-paying jobs, let's talk about how to land your dream job. Indeed.com has a great checklist of things to do when you're on the job hunt. One major thing is to create a good resume. They suggest to tailor that resume to every job to which you're applying, so that it fits the job perfectly. Make one "master" copy of your resume, and then use that as a template to create special resumes for each of the jobs for which you're applying. So, how do you tailer for resume? "When deciding what to include in your resume, choose actionable items that would capture an employer's interest," they suggest. "Along with including qualitative results in your work experience section, you can also add in some quantifiable data." They also say that numbers and statistics and numbers look good on a resume, so include those.

FlexJobs.com suggests to "research companies, rather than jobs." They say to "pursue companies that mirror your values to narrow your search, and to, "seek out organizations with a strong culture fit and a mission that aligns with yours." That's a great tip so that you're finding a company with the same values and ethics that you possess. Of course, it doesn't hurt to look for actual jobs on search sites such as FlexJobs.com and Indeed.com, too. Keep an eye out for opening at your desired company that pop up.

Now, let's get into some high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Careerkarma.com has Technology Sales Manager listed as the job without a college degree that makes the most money. Average salary is $161,920. Sound good, right? Minimum job requirements are, "Experience as a sales representative and a high-school diploma."

Another high-paying job without a degree, according to Careerkarma.com, is a Computer and Information Systems Manager. They make an average of $159,010 a year. You need computer science knowledge and 5 to 10 years of management experience, they state.

Here's an interesting one. A fire chief is on Indeed's list of high-paying jobs without a degree. They state, "Fire chiefs are responsible for overseeing and managing fire departments, which involves supervising personnel, developing budgets and planning emergency responses." National average salary is $105,287 per year.

Another job on Indeed list of high-paying jobs without a degree is Product Manager. So, what is that? "They may develop and implement the large and small business strategies that fuel the product development process and manage the launch of the product's features," they explain.

This is a really interesting one: Professional Sports Referee. The top salary per year is $210,000. But, they can make as little as $21,000 per year, too, as that's the average salary. So, you have to get a bigger gig to make more than 100K for this job. This is according to Resumeviking.com. They state, "No academic background is necessary, apart from obtaining a referee certification in the sport you want to referee. The stakes are high, but so is the return if you have the nerves for putting it all out there with no guarantees of ever gaining enough recognition to join in on this multi-billion-dollar industry!"

The national salary for a Senior Real Estate Manager is $133,076 per year," according to Indeed. They state, "Senior real estate managers oversee the daily operations of a property like an apartment complex or commercial building. They typically manage maintenance teams, ensure tenants pay rent on time and fill vacancies." They suggest to "gain experience in entry-level positions and work your way up to this job."

A Court Reporter makes an average salary of $103,270, according to Careerkarma.com. The job is to take notes on legal proceedings in court. "To land a court reporter job with no degree, you’ll need to take the exam for Registered Professional Reporter certification," they note. "This requires good listening skills, the ability to type quickly, and some knowledge of common legal terms."

Executive Assistant is No. 1 on US News and World Report's list of the highest-paying jobs without a degree. "Executive assistants support high-level executives in public offices and private companies," they state. "They may manage the executive’s schedule, make travel arrangements, prioritize the executive’s emails, and sometimes act as a receptionist or gatekeeper, serving as the liaison between the executive and anyone who wishes to meet with them."