How do you rise from working as a beginner software engineer in Nigeria to landing a lead role in Europe? And how do you do that without applying for any of the jobs you have worked? The subject of this article, Akintunde Olanrewaju, has answers to that. 

Months ago, I shared the story of Rita Okonkwo, a software developer who landed a role at Microsoft, and her story seems almost similar. For Akintunde, learning, prioritizing experience over a paycheck, and building a strong network are some of the tools he has used to navigate his career journey so far, and they have helped.  He graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University with a degree in computer science and has worked with top tech companies including Kudi. 

I watched a video of him on Youtube where he shared his tech story from being an Andela & Google Africa scholar, to landing paid roles in tech. And when I reached out to speak with him, I wanted to get all the juice about landing a tech role in Europe, but I got more. His story is laced with lessons he’d learnt on his career journey; strategies that worked for him and should be adopted by anyone who’s looking to start a career in tech. 

Growing as a Software Engineer from Nigeria to Europe -Akintunde Olanrewaju

I started learning programing on my own when I was in the university. I read all the textbooks I could lay my hands on and wouldn’t go home during breaks because that was where the opportunity to learn was. Many people would have gone home, so I could stay back and sit in the lecture halls without disturbance and with constant power supply. In fact, there was this 6-month strike during my undergraduate days and I spent it coding. 

During the period where I started out, Andela collaborated with Google Africa to create this community to sponsor beginners with an interest in tech for a course. We were like 25,000 who were interested in the scholarship and we were screened down to 3,000 which I was a part of. I think that’s where I’d draw a first lesson from. For someone getting into tech, you need a curated course. If you have to buy it, buy it. I’ll be frank with you, YouTube will not do the work for you because it’s not structured. At times, you are studying in part 1 what you should learn in part 5, and it becomes overwhelming.  You need a structured course to learn and If you have to buy or attend a Bootcamp, please do. Nothing of value comes for free.

After school, and after the beginner course at Andela, I later participated in another contest to get sponsorship, and that was where I did an intermediate course. Fortunately for me, I got an internship within that space. The week I started my internship, I was interviewing for a full-time job elsewhere. After my courses, I posted my certificate on twitter and that was where the recruiter found me. My internship, somewhere in Lagos, was going to pay 30k, and even though it wasn’t much, I just wanted the knowledge and experience. Interestingly, I resumed my internship on a Monday and got an offer for the full-time job on Friday of that week. That was just really great for me. It was grace, but I also put in the work. 

Getting Paid Jobs as a Software Engineer

The new job paid 100k, and they told me firmly that they couldn’t go above that. I had no work experience (I had only learned), but they were willing to place a bet on me, and that was why I decided to take it. It’s rare to find employers who would place a bet on fresh software engineers rather than hire experienced hands, but mine was different, and I’d always thank God for that.

I stayed there for two years, and during that time I stayed under the mentorship of more experienced people. It was quite easy to lean on someone and learn, and I’d strongly advise that tech enthusiasts should build that kind of relationship in their journey. It’s not even only about learning; if you’re in tech, you would understand how building connections and network can help your hustle. During those two years, I got the experience and followed those mentors closely.

When it was time to leave, the company decided to increase my salary because I was beginning to add value and they didn’t want me to leave. They had added 30k a year earlier, but it wasn’t making sense, and neither was the new increment. I eventually left for another job that paid two times what I was earning in the previous job, and going to the second job wasn’t like the first one; I was going with knowledge and experience and it was easier to negotiate my pay. I rose through the ranks, giving myself to the process.

(Meanwhile, have you downloaded our salary negotiation guide? Get it here)

Almost a year into the new job, after being hired to build a new product, I became a team lead. I was hired to come to build a new product entirely. Initially, we were three engineers on that product; two left, but I remained and I handled the project alone. We launched and it did well, and that was how I won the trust of senior members of the team. When the former product manager was leaving, he recommended me for the team lead position instead of hiring a new hand, and that was how I got that the role. I led the team for almost a year, and trust me, that referral and team lead role opened several doors for me! 

Moving to Europe

One of the clients I worked with and had built a relationship with moved to Europe. Soon, an opportunity opened up in their new base and that was how  I got a mail asking me to come to join their team. I sent my CV and in no time got a feedback saying I’d been hired. Let me say it that in tech, internal referrals work effectively more than going to a company’s website to apply. And that was why I mentioned building connections earlier.

You can connect with people in your dream company on Linkedin and ask for referrals. If they do, fine, and if they don’t, go ahead and apply. But the point is to have built great connections such that you’re on top of their minds when an opportunity shows up. Referrals are treated with more importance than normal applications.

Since I started, I have never had to apply for a job yet I get tons of interview invites and opportunities every other day. My Linkedin is always filled with messages from recruiters and founders asking me to come on board and join their companies. And this is not unique to just me; a lot of software engineers get this too as good and experienced engineers are scarce. As I mentioned, recruiters prefer ready-made candidates over those they will place bets on. The magic is simple: Build capacity through your hard work and see opportunities flock after you.

So, that was how I got to my current job in Europe. The company handled the whole relocation process and I didn’t have to pay anything. Hard work and relationships are basically what you’d need to thrive. Build yourself, learn and get experience, and the opportunities would present themselves. 

Final Note

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