Have you read our posts on the pros and cons of working in tech? You should. The reactions made me sought for stories from people who have tech jobs and I thought to share them with you.
I got to sit with five tech players and I wanted a different story from all I’ve known about being in that fast-paced industry. Yes, every job has its cons, and earning handsome figures as a techie is not a walk in the park, but there have been more stories about learning a tech skill or “tech is the new oil”, more than we have heard on the downsides of the industry.
Or is it just me?
If you’re looking to start a tech career, awesome move! You need all the deets you can get. While there’s a resourceful article for you to read and get started, this article brings you real stories of tech guys and sis who are enjoying the perks but also have their SMH moments at work.
Kehinde, UI/UX Designer
“For me, it’s the constant headache that comes with being productive for long hours. Then the meetings with clients/stakeholders and having to go to the office when you could just work from home. Some bosses are still not cool with the remote structure, and it’s just sad. Plus, you can become obsolete very quickly so you have to continually learn a lot of new things. I know these things are normal work demands, but for a tech person like me, it gets so overwhelming sometimes. If I get something else that would pay me as much as tech is paying me –if it gives equal excitement and thrill, and I have to work less– I’ll switch!”
Adenike, Brand Design Specialist & UX Enthusiast
“Pressure! If I get to work under pressure, I won’t be productive and I hate it. I like to work at my own pace; that’s when the ideas flow. Some companies do this thing called “Design Sprint”, where you get deadlines to work, which is actually a good thing, I’m not saying it’s bad. But I can’t function well that way. I also don’t like the fact that most Nigerian companies I’ve worked for pay less for what they want. In fact, you could see a job description for a graphic designer, and they tell you programming is a plus. How does that even correlate? It’s annoying! If you are looking for a graphic designer, stick to it, if you’re looking for a programmer, go for it! They are different jobs for God’s sake. And the pay is even shit! Then, the scam some companies call remote work; they can call you anytime and at intervals. Let me just do my job and reach out to you for feedback. There was a client I did a job for, and he was always calling to change details. At some point, I wasn’t even bothered about the money anymore, I just wanted to get it all done with”.
Ekenne, Product Designer
“Well, the tech space job market isn’t kind to newcomers. That’s one thing I dislike about the industry. For my own job, I honestly dislike the level of gatekeeping that comes with learning, It’s tiring abeg. But I like being here sha, if I would ever leave for something else, it would have the potential to pay me more than tech and aligns with my dreams, and I don’t think I’d get that elsewhere sef.
There’s this misconception that tech is a get-rich-quick scheme, and you will be served premium breakfast if you come in with that mindset. As I mentioned, the space is not kind to newcomers so don’t even think you will make money fast. Just like any other career, it requires hard work, patience, and networking. But it has a lot of opportunities”
Mariam, Software Developer
“It might be just me though, but working as a developer for a startup isn’t rosy at all, especially the really ambitious ones. Every founder wants to impress their investors and achieve unicorn status very fast so they mount pressure on employees, especially those in charge of products. My former workplace is on that table; we had a tech team of three and we got new tasks even before we could catch a breath from a previous one. Because there was always a request for updates and new features, we worked both at the office and at home, and though I wouldn’t call it toxic cause there was no hostile treatment, the pressure was still so much. I had wanted to build a technical writing side gig, but I couldn’t. It was always about work.
Maybe it was because the company was just starting and it wanted to grow fast. I think startups should be ambitious, but chill sometimes please, tech guys are not technologies themselves, we are humans!”
Oluwatimilehin, SalesFunnel Expert and Customer relationship Manager.
“For me, it’s the timezone and difference in payment due to location and race. I work remotely for a foreign company and I have to be active during their own daytime even if it’s night here. Well, you could say I get to rest for the day, but I have other hussles and there’s always something to keep me hooked during the day. Then, there’s the payment structure. I earn well, compared to what some of my colleagues who work for Nigerian companies earn. But I discovered I may not get the same payment a white person with equal job roles get. It’s racist but I can’t complain; many people are praying to have my kind of job.
If there was something else I could do that pays me as much as tech does, I may go for it. But it’s not really easy to leave the tech space, over time it becomes a part of you. At a point, I would have to build a different career but then still find a way tech would help in that career path. No matter the challenges, Tech is the future”
No career is without its challenges, not even the highly revered tech. However, challenges shouldn’t pull you away from building a formidable career, but rather propel you to adopt best practices and strategies for optimal results. As Oluwatimilehin said, no matter the challenges, Tech is the future.
Talking about tech being the future, check out our article on careers in Web3 and why you should care.