Thread by @MakingMonzo

#ResultsDay can be a worrying time in the best of years. And even more so at the moment ♥️

But remember: exams are just one part of your journey.

Here are some stories from our team about the different routes they took before joining Monzo 👇

"I've been a bookseller, a personal trainer, taught exercise classes for people living with cancer, worked for a housing association, ran a cheese shop, taught EFL in Egypt for a bit and now I work for Monzo"

"I managed to just get passing grades and applied to uni last minute. I picked a subject I loved (Computer Science & Media). I failed my first year but retook it and graduated!

I ended up in a career I loved. I got to learn something new day and that changed everything for me."

"I was in hospital for my mental health for most of my Highers. So I was 'invited to leave' my school so I wouldn’t skew their stats. I then flunked out of an Acting degree in College. I’m now a very confident, competent COps Manager."

"I graduated in the Netherlands, did a History degree, wanted to work in government, graduated in the middle of the recession, and tried doing a PhD in history for a bit.

I moved to London on a whim for love, started working for Citymapper and then became a QA tester at Monzo!"

"I dropped out of uni after my first year due to depression and debt. I took a year out and re-enrolled at a different uni.

I dropped out again in my third year and worked admin and office jobs for the next decade, before becoming a freelance web designer for 5 years!" (1/2)

"I closed my business when I got divorced, and saw the Monzo ad for COps when I was planning a solo travel trip around Europe.

I loved the company and figured I’d apply. 3.5 years later I’m still here. I worked my way up from COp, to team leader to operations manager!" (2/2)

"Failed GCSEs and went to 6th Form. Failed A-levels and went to college. Failed level 3 BTEC, and took level 4 HNC. Passed the HNC and went to uni.

Spent 3 years with some mental health issues and failed my degree. But they felt sorry for me and gave me 1% extra, so I passed!"

"I did well in my GCSEs but failed my A-levels and had no interest in going to university. I did call centre work in insurance companies alongside travelling.

I applied for Monzo, starting as a COp and I’m now running the calls operations at Monzo!"

"I didn’t do well at A-Level. I got a job at a bank and worked up from credit card services to fraud. That’s how I discovered how much I love tackling financial crime.

I love my job and I love the work I do but if I hadn’t failed my A-Levels it’d be a totally different story."

"I found a course which focussed on those who had been through a circumstance which severely affected their ability to succeed previously.

I remember the day they offered me my place on my dream course, at my dream university! I kept working hard, and managed to get a degree!"

"I studied Criminology at my second choice. It was hard to get a place on a grad scheme but I wanted to use my degree.

I started in customer service and took a course on Compliance. Eventually I secured my dream job at Monzo working in their Financial Crime department".

"Halfway through my 2nd year I realised it wasn’t for me, but stuck it out for the three years. I’ve made zero use of my degree, and worked multiple jobs in hospitality, finance and travel before applying to Monzo. I started as a COp and 2.5 years later I’m now a Squad Captain!"

"I got an apprenticeship studying engineering. I worked in a few software teams, which made me realise that a degree wasn't the only route to me pursuing a career in software.

I completed my apprenticeship, moved on to a startup as the second engineer. And now I'm at Monzo!"

"I failed my second year of uni and almost dropped out. But I ended up going back for a masters at 25.

That experience was much better because I was older, the pressure was off and I was fuelled by my own ambitions rather than the expectations of my family."

"What I've learnt more than any school, college or university had ever taught me is it's okay to not have a plan, it's okay not to know what you want to do and it is more than okay to start your life over."