After finishing his A Levels, Abiola, 28 was on course to take up his place at a brick university, until a \u201ceureka\u201d moment changed his path completely. Abiola recalls the U-turn that transformed his career prospects and set him apart from his peers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always thought I\u2019d 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,\u201d Abiola explains. \u201cI asked myself what would make me stand out from him? Same degree, same university, basically identical CVs.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019t that easy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t 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\u2019d deferred had already started,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was worried at this point that the year out of education would be a big waste of time,\u201d Abiola remembers, \u201cthen I spoke to a friend who was doing an apprenticeship. I knew the salary wouldn\u2019t be great, but I thought it was a good opportunity to get some experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still intending to take up his deferred place at university, Abiola was offered an apprenticeship with a company in the electric vehicle sector. \u201cThey were a young, exciting company and I liked their mission, so I decided to accept the offer,\u201d he says. \u201cI told them from the get-go that it would be short-term as I was planning to pick up my studies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abiola\u2019s employer had other ideas. After passing his apprenticeship with flying colours, they were keen to keep him. \u201cThe company wanted to give me another year earning a full wage after my apprenticeship \u2013 how could I say no?\u201d Abiola went on to say, \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Again, Abiola\u2019s managers were so impressed with him, they made him an offer he couldn\u2019t refuse. \u201cWhen they offered to sponsor my studies and give me a permanent job, it was a no-brainer. That\u2019s when I discovered the OU,\u201d says Abiola. \u201cI did my research and found out that OU degrees are reputable and open doors for many people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reflecting on his decision to take a different path, Abiola has no regrets. \u201cThe way I see it is that if I\u2019d 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.\u201d He added, \u201cAs it stands, by the time I graduate, I will have almost ten years of industry experience under my belt, plus the qualification.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abiola hadn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt like stepping into the unknown at first, but the OU makes learning so accessible. There\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cAfter 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.\u201d<\/p>\n