After finishing his A Levels, Abiola, 28 was on course to take up his place at a brick university, until a “eureka” moment changed his path completely. Abiola recalls the U-turn that transformed his career prospects and set him apart from his peers.
“I always thought I’d take the traditional route to university. I got the results I needed and was all set to study IT and Computing. My best friend was also on my course and out of nowhere, I had this eureka moment,” Abiola explains. “I asked myself what would make me stand out from him? Same degree, same university, basically identical CVs.”
Trying to penetrate a tough job market
Abiola made the gutsy decision to defer his place and look for a job in the IT industry to get a year of work experience in the bag. He quickly discovered it wasn’t that easy.
“I didn’t anticipate how difficult it would be to get a job straight from school. By the time I realised, it was too late to change my mind because the course I’d deferred had already started,” he said.
Accepting that he was unlikely to secure a role in IT, Abiola applied for entry level jobs in retail and hospitality as a stopgap. When no offers were forthcoming, he started to feel despondent.
“I was worried at this point that the year out of education would be a big waste of time,” Abiola remembers, “then I spoke to a friend who was doing an apprenticeship. I knew the salary wouldn’t be great, but I thought it was a good opportunity to get some experience.”
Making a great impression
Still intending to take up his deferred place at university, Abiola was offered an apprenticeship with a company in the electric vehicle sector. “They were a young, exciting company and I liked their mission, so I decided to accept the offer,” he says. “I told them from the get-go that it would be short-term as I was planning to pick up my studies.”
Abiola’s employer had other ideas. After passing his apprenticeship with flying colours, they were keen to keep him. “The company wanted to give me another year earning a full wage after my apprenticeship – how could I say no?” Abiola went on to say, “I deferred university for another year, thinking that the industry experience would be valuable, and I was still convinced that I would leave at the end of that year.”
Learning while earning
Again, Abiola’s managers were so impressed with him, they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. “When they offered to sponsor my studies and give me a permanent job, it was a no-brainer. That’s when I discovered the OU,” says Abiola. “I did my research and found out that OU degrees are reputable and open doors for many people.”
Reflecting on his decision to take a different path, Abiola has no regrets. “The way I see it is that if I’d stuck with my original plan to study full-time, I would have left university with a heap of debt and the same degree as everyone else.” He added, “As it stands, by the time I graduate, I will have almost ten years of industry experience under my belt, plus the qualification.”
Advice for others
Abiola hadn’t heard of the OU when he ventured into the world of UCAS applications and university open days. He explains why he thinks the OU is a smart choice for those just starting out in their career.
“It felt like stepping into the unknown at first, but the OU makes learning so accessible. There’s lots of support on offer, even from other students. I was in WhatsApp groups with people doing the same modules and they really helped me get through.”
He added, “After school, some people go and get the degree, some people choose work experience. My advice would be, why not have both? With the OU, you can.”
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