Getting a job in Nigeria is becoming easier by the day, but there are still restrictions on what type of workers the recruiters need. For example, it is becoming more and more difficult to find a fulfilling and well-paying job as a Liberal Arts student. While Computer Science students are given jobs straight after graduation.
All of this makes you think about the best career choices for Nigerians and how you can make them.
Software Engineer
Programming is probably the most high-in-demand skill of the 21st century. Pretty much any company you can think of is in the process of developing its own app, software or website. In order to do this, they need to employ experts in various different programming languages. The demand is so high for these professionals that, companies snatch newly graduated students straight from the speakers’ podium during the celebration (exaggerated of course).
One other important fact about Software Engineering is that it can be done remotely. This means that you will not have to sit in an office all day. If the employer does not have that requirement you can work from the comforts of your own house.
The learning process can take years for some and months for others. But it is the common belief that after a 6-month boot camp, you will be eligible for a starting position as a Junior Software Engineer. The average salary of a Software Engineer in Nigeria is about $23,000 which is nothing to smirk at.
Financial Analyst
A career devoted to finance is bound to benefit you in major ways. For example, if you become a financial consultant, you are bound to benefit from your own advice. Furthermore, everybody is looking for professionals to guide the costs and revenue of their company. In order to get those professionals, companies are ready to offer a large price.
There are actually branches for a financial career. You can become a Financial Analyst, Journalist, Accountant or even a Forex trader. As a matter of fact, Forex traders have been becoming extremely popular in South Africa. Their success has inspired hundreds of Africans to try Forex out, which later either landed them jobs in local financial companies or gave them profits to invest elsewhere. South African Forex traders are a primary example of what a career in finance can achieve for you.
In most cases, you’d have to have an office job with A financial degree, but if you opt to “go your own way” with Forex, you’ll be able to do it from home.
Digital Marketer
Digital marketing has been overtaking offline marketing for the past decade now. It is definitely becoming the more favored form of marketing as it cuts costs and is able to cover more people than offline marketing can ever dream of reaching. Therefore, professionals who know how the digital world works have been becoming extremely popular with various companies.
As a matter of fact, most companies have started to outsource their digital marketing teams, rather than having a personal one. Therefore, if you are a Digital Marketing professional in Nigeria, it may be extremely easy for you to get clients from the US or European countries, which tend to pay quite a lot for such services.
There are two options. You can join a company and devote most of your time to them, or you can strike out on your own, by creating an agency and offering services globally. The perfect way to approach this is to get a job with a marketing agency, learn all the ropes connected to Digital Marketing and then strike out on your own once you’re confident in your knowledge.
Any more?
There are a lot more career options for Nigerians today that are likely to bring good revenue. However, most of them are not in high demand or have very small career development options. These 3 that I have mentioned are feasible because you can use them for your own benefit.
What I’m trying to say is that, once you’ve worked 2-3 years in those industries, you can very easily quit your job and start your own company in the same field. Not to mention, those careers have dozens of different branches you can focus on.