From Lost Leaving Cert Student to Salesforce Engineer: One Man's Inspiring Journey

Kildare Man's Apprenticeship Leads to Tech Success: 'College Wasn't for Me' Kildare, Ireland – Jack Yeates, a recent secondary school graduate, is proving that there are multiple pathways to success. Feeling lost and unsure about his future after his Leaving Cert, Yeates opted for an apprenticeship at Salesforce, a leading cloud-software company, rather than pursuing traditional college education. This unconventional route has led him to a full-time position as a Customer Centric Engineer. "It took me until I was probably graduated from school and finished sixth year until I finally figured out what I might fit into," Yeates explained in a recent interview. He also candidly discussed his dyslexia diagnosis, stating that it solidified his belief that "I wasn't going to be this big academic scholar." Despite the challenges, Yeates persevered and found immense satisfaction in his apprenticeship. "It was something that I got real enjoyment out of, and it gave me a broad scope of the industry," he said. His experience underscores the growing importance of apprenticeships as a viable alternative to higher education, offering practical skills and direct industry experience. Yeates' story is a powerful reminder that there is no one-size-fits-all path to success. His message to students is simple: "One exam isn't the be-all, end-all for you. There's so many doors that can open if you just go looking for them." His journey serves as an inspiration to those seeking alternative routes to fulfilling careers.