'Golden ticket' leads to dream job with Adidas

A UCB student has revealed how he won over bosses at Adidas to land a life-changing job.

Dad-of-one Akin Akintoye, aged 23, was studying for a degree in Marketing and Events Management and working 30 hours-a-week when he decided to attend a careers fair in Birmingham. It was only when he arrived that Akin discovered global sports brand Adidas would be handing out one ‘golden ticket’, guaranteeing a job interview, to the student deemed to be most impressive on the day.  

Akin not only got the ticket, he went on to beat more than 1,000 candidates to the job, and is now preparing to start work with Adidas’s brand activation team in Manchester. He said: “This is the type of job I dreamed about as a child; it’s a dream come true.”

Hard-working Akin, who overcame dyslexia to graduate from UCB earlier this year, joined the University’s Marketing and Events Management BA (Hons) degree because it combined theoretical knowledge with practical skills. He believes the course enabled him to “find his niche” and says extra support from lecturers helped him grow in confidence academically.

But he admits life was a struggle before his chance encounter with Adidas. He said: “Financially things were difficult. I was working constantly throughout my studies to provide for my daughter. I worried my lack of work experience within the industry would prevent me getting the job with Adidas, but they said my honesty, passion and life experience won me the job.”

The ‘golden ticket’ earned Akin a telephone interview which led to an intensive two-day assessment. He explained: “Throughout the first day we were watched by two assessors and eight directors who scrutinised how we handled everything, from teamwork to how we behaved on our breaks. Only 15 of us got through to the final interview. When I found out I had got the job I can honestly say I cried like a baby!”

Akin, who was born in London and later attended Skegness Grammar School, has now settled in Manchester’s Moss Side. He will start work with Adidas’s Reebok division on March 15, at the company’s offices in Stockport.

Dr Pamela Watson-Bateman, business lecturer at UCB, said Akin’s passion for marketing had paid off. She added: “UCB is absolutely delighted for Akin. He has worked so hard and really deserves this opportunity, which will no doubt open doors to an incredible career.”