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“Thanks to the OU, I now have a career path which will still be in demand in 20 years’ time”

A new prospect-filled career 

Alana Smith achieved good grades at school but, after pulling out of a graphic design degree and falling into a sales role she didn’t love, she’d lost her way. With sales roles in decline, and a desire to find a lasting career path, in 2020 she signed up for a BSc in Cyber Security with The Open University. Alana is now working on her final OU project and has landed her first role in cyber security. 

It was while she was on furlough during the Covid-19 pandemic that Alana, 36 at the time, reassessed her career path. Knowing that one day – due to emerging technologies – she wouldn’t be needed in sales, she decided it was time to finally pursue her passions and retrain for a career bursting with prospects. It was then that she enrolled with the OU. 

“When I was on furlough, I considered what I really wanted to do with my life,” she said. “Sales was never my passion. I always felt I wanted to do more for myself. I’d never made a purposeful career choice and I didn’t feel I was going anywhere. Knowing I still had a good 30 years of working years left, I started to contemplate retraining in something I really enjoyed.” 

She added: “Now that I’m studying towards something that really interests me, I have the confidence to seek out opportunities that will add to my growth. I wanted to choose a career path that will give me the opportunity to grow and progress, and which will definitely still be in demand in 20 years’ time. 

“I’m now seven months from the end of my degree and I’m delighted to have landed a new business development role with a huge cyber security company. During the interview process, they remarked on how impressed they were that I had worked and taken on a degree at the same time, and this enthusiasm for and dedication to cyber security is what I feel enabled me to get the job.  

“Now I will be incorporating previous business development skills with my new cyber security knowledge. I have a great learning opportunity to become a cyber security consultant with them in the future, which is what I’m aiming for. Without my degree I doubt I would have been offered the job.” 

“Cybercrime stood out to me” 

Growing up, Alana was always the tech fan in her family, with an interest in Alan Turing and the Bletchley Park codebreakers.  

“As silly as it sounds, that’s what’s really inspired me,” she said. “I’ve always been intrigued by cybercrime and how it’s a huge threat to modern-day society. So much of our daily living is now powered online by technology, and the thought of being able to work to help prevent cybercrime stood out to me. I wanted to gain the skills to work with the Government, Ministry of Defence, Government Communications Headquarters, or similar companies, on protecting the country. I’ve finally found my path.” 

An employer’s dream 

For Alana, finding her new role has been a dream come true, but she says it’s thanks to the OU that she’s where she is now. 

“The OU is so highly regarded by employers,” she said. “If a mature student turns up to an interview, having worked full-time while studying in their spare time because they want to move into a career they’re passionate about, who wouldn’t want to hire them?” 

Distance learning made it all possible 

Alana has been balancing full-time work with her degree in a way that suits her lifestyle. 

“I absolutely love distance learning. Being able to study at home for 30 minutes or three hours, depending on your day’s plans, makes the OU special,” she said. “Being able to study in a way that fits around my work and social life is extremely important and is why a lot of OU students choose The Open University. I wouldn’t be able to do it otherwise.” 

She added: “The tutorials have been great. I rarely attend them ‘live’ and prefer to watch the recording. You make OU study your own. What works for some might not work for you, and that’s okay.  

“The contact with my tutors has been brilliant. I would encourage everyone to engage with their tutors as they are there to help – the support is incredible.” 

She added: “I’ve gained so much from studying with the OU. I’ve become more organised as I’ve learnt to juggle study, work, my social life and daily responsibilities. I’ve made incredible friends via the OU, helping to co-create the ‘October Study Challenge’ on Instagram, and I’ve joined numerous clubs and societies including the Space Society. I’d also encourage people to sign up to the Society of College, National and University Libraries, and study at their local university for a change of scenery and to feel part of a student scene. I am lucky enough to live near Milton Keynes, and would regularly study at the OU Library.” 

A message to potential students 

Alana said: “To anyone thinking of studying with the OU, I’d say definitely go for it. Think about exactly what you want to do – particularly if it’s in relation to a career change like me – and look carefully at the roles you’d be interested in. Then see which course ties in with that. Have an end goal and keep it in sight. There’s something for everyone.” 

  • Alana runs an active Instagram account @alana_codes through which she shares her experiences of OU study 

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