# How a delivery station manager from New Jersey found career success at Amazon without a college degree

*Charles Herrera took his career into his own hands after deciding college wasn’t part of his path, and he quickly climbed the ranks at Amazon.*

Charles Herrera knew college wasn’t right for him, and that motivated him to create his own path. Herrera climbed the ranks at Amazon, rising from an associate to a manager at a delivery station in Kearny, New Jersey.

“I interact so well with the associates because I used to be an associate,” he said. “I am nothing without them."

![Four Amazon Operations employees wear yellow safety vests and stand and smile in a fulfillment center.](https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/6a836c0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1220x812+0+0/resize/767x510!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.aboutamazon.com%2F94%2Fac%2F471c35d747a2936af3da2e854cde%2F3-opsmanager-article-inline1-img3-1220x812.jpg)

“There are a lot of possibilities in this company, you just have to show you want it,” he continued. “If I can do it, anybody can do it.”

Herrera started his Amazon career in 2017. Seeing his own leader’s career success—also without a college degree—inspired him to believe he could build a future at Amazon. After an opportunity to work as a process guide, his career took off.

![Charles wears a yellow safety vest and walks through an Amazon fulfillment center.](https://assets.aboutamazon.com/dims4/default/b5f6c5f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1220x812+0+0/resize/767x510!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.aboutamazon.com%2Fcd%2Fc9%2F59f157d3429a8be4a1bffe0e931f%2F2-opsmanager-article-inline-img2-1220x812.jpg)

“You never know when opportunity is going to knock; make sure you’re doing everything you can, so you’re ready when opportunity does come,” he said. “Don’t put a cap on your potential. There is a lane for everybody. You can take it as far as you want.”

If you enjoyed learning about Herrera’s story, learn more about [working at Amazon](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/tag/working-at-amazon).