Finding remote jobs in Nigeria is itself a full-time occupation. You go looking for one, find a prospective vacancy only to realize that it’s already closed, doesn’t take Nigerians or was not a real job to begin with.
Believe me, I know all about that. As someone who has been PRO remote jobs, I know the frustration that comes with the search especially when your savings is going down.
The good news is that there are legitimate remote jobs in Nigeria. Companies from Nigeria and around the world are willing to employ people in a wide array of professions ranging from customer service, writing, sales and marketing to IT, administration and others.
The problem is that just because there is an ad for a remote job, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should apply for it.
There are specific things you need to know and specific steps you should take to avoid scams.
Let me show you.
What Remote Work Means for Nigerians
Remote working refers to the process where the employee works remotely from the employer’s office on a daily basis. This could be from home or a co-working space provided the environment fulfills all requirements.
However, there is one thing that you must know before starting to look for remote jobs in Nigeria; not all remote jobs allow you to work from anywhere. More details on this later…
Remote vs Hybrid
A remote job enables you to work from out of the office. A hybrid job entails working remotely on certain days and working in the office on other days.
It is something that you must keep in mind while living in Nigeria. A company may label a job as “remote” but may also have a requirement to live in a specific city/country.
Fully Remote vs Work from Anywhere
Sometimes, even if a job is labeled fully remote, it may have some geographical restrictions. This means that even if the hiring process happens remotely, it may require candidates from a specific city/region like Nigeria, Africa, Europe, etc.
So, if the job requires “work from anywhere”, that is great but you still need to check the job description anyway.
What Remote Jobs Can Nigerians Do?
To land a remote job, you do not have to be in the tech industry, because companies require people to fill many positions that can be performed online.
The best solution for you will depend on your existing knowledge, interests, and willingness to learn any of these high income skills. Even with little experience, you can still choose to try entry-level positions.
Some of the fields to consider include:
Customer Support and Virtual Assistance
Good communication and organisational skills will allow you to work as a customer support representative, chat support specialist, virtual or administrative assistant, and an appointment-setter.
Writing, Marketing and Creativity
As a remote worker, you can become a writer, copywriter, social media assistant, SEO assistant, graphic designer, video editor, or content creator.
This is my field. And the good thing is you can actually be good at all of these things. I write, excellent with social media, perfect with SEO, basic at video editing, and more.
Sales and Business Development
Companies hire sales representatives, lead generation assistants, account executives, and business development representatives to work remotely.
In the sales field, nobody needs you in the office except for general meetings. As long as you meet the requirement, you are good to go.
Technology and Data
With technology-related skills, you can get hired as a software developer, web designer, IT technician, data analyst, cybersecurity expert, etc.
This is still a high demanding field.
Teaching and Other Professional Services
It is also possible to teach online or provide other services like accounting, recruiting, consulting, researching, translating, and project management.
The idea is quite simple: start with the skills you currently have, and develop the skills that will be more helpful for working remotely.
How to Find Remote Jobs in Nigeria
It becomes easy to find for jobs in Nigeria when you stop searching anywhere and adopt an effective method. Your aim is to get the right job opportunities, assess the job information and apply to those positions that are currently available.
Watch this video by Joy Ogide How to get into remote work as a Nigerian. This conversation covers what beginners should know before starting a remote career, including common challenges and payment options.
Search for Jobs Using Job Sites
Search for the most reliable job sites where you can filter jobs based on whether they are remote, location, type of jobs and even the level of experience. Do not depend on a single job site. Search using different job sites since employers post their vacancies on various job sites.
Search Company Career Sites
In case you have identified the companies you wish to work with, visit their career sites to search for the vacancies they are offering.
Use Specific Search Terms
Rather than using generic search terms like remote jobs, you can use terms like:
- Remote jobs Nigeria,
- Work from home Nigeria,
- Remote jobs for graduates Nigeria,
- Remote customer service jobs Nigeria, and
- Remote virtual assistant jobs Nigeria.
Focus on New Opportunities
Be sure to find out when the job was posted and when the application process will end. Even an ideal job opportunity will be useless if the position has already been filled by the company.
Once you find a good job opportunity, do it as soon as possible to make sure you can apply for the job from Nigeria.
How to Check if a Remote Job Accepts Nigerians
You get a good remote position, read the requirements, and start working on your CV. However, suddenly, you spot just a single little phrase: “Applicants have to reside in the USA.”
That is the reason why you need to check location eligibility prior to applying for the job.
Search for such terms as Nigeria, Remote – Nigeria, Africa, EMEA, Worldwide, or Work from anywhere in the job advertisement.
If a company mentions Nigeria, then, most likely, you can apply for the position if you satisfy the rest of the requirements. If it speaks about Africa or EMEA, find out whether the company regards Nigeria as part of this region.
Do not be too quick about remote. The organization might provide a remote position but still limit candidates by a certain number of countries.
In case of uncertainty regarding the location, you can always visit the company’s career page or even application form and see more details. You may also consider looking through other job postings of the employer.
Your golden rule: do not invest your time in preparing a CV until you make sure that this company hires Nigerians.
How to Know if a Remote Job Is Legitimate
Before you apply, watch this video from The Remote Chic. Learn some of the warning signs that can help you separate legitimate remote jobs from fake ones.
An ideal remote job that seems to work on the screen can turn out to be a scam in reality. However, you can ensure the safety of your personal data by spending some time verifying the opportunity before you even apply for it.
Verify the Employer
Visit the website of the company to find out whether there is an actual business, contacts, team, and web presence. Do not proceed with the application unless you know who is hiring you and where the company operates from.
Verify the Vacancy
Look for the job opening at the company’s official career site. Make sure the job opening is indeed legitimate, and the job description matches your expectations. Besides, the application form should lead you to the genuine website or job site.
Pay Attention to Potential Scam Warning Signs
Be suspicious of anyone requesting payment prior to your employment. In addition, be alert to guarantees of high income, very high salary for simple tasks, urgent calls for action, or asking for sensitive personal data prior to verifying the legitimacy of the employer.
You should never have to pay money just because the person promises to get a job for you.
A decent remote job search must be free from any risks. Check the potential employer, check the vacancy, learn the company’s requirements, and only then start applying.
How to Prepare and Apply for a Remote Job
Just securing a remote job is just one half of the challenge. You need to convince a potential employer that you can actually do the job.
In Case You Lack Experience
You do not have to wait until you gain extensive experience in order to start. Focus on finding entry level positions, internships or work which fits your skill set. You may also try to present your experience from educational projects, freelancing, volunteering or even your own personal projects.
Prepare Your CV and Portfolio
Prepare your CV so that it remains focused on the position. Showcase those skills and achievements which fit the requirements of the position. If your work requires samples, prepare a basic portfolio.
Go Through the Application Process
If you identify an ideal remote position in Nigeria, consider the following tips:
- Look for the job position.
- Confirm that Nigerians can apply for the job.
- Research the employer.
- Identify the requirements.
- Prepare your resume.
- Apply through the appropriate means.
- Keep records of your application.
Don’t apply to all the places with the same application, expecting things to fall in place. Invest some time and effort in each of the positions and convince the employer of your suitability.
It’s a simple step but one that can go a long way in simplifying your job search process.
What You Need to Work from Home in Nigeria
Finding a remote job is easy. Finding a space to work from home is something else.
Having an office that costs millions is unnecessary. You will just need to have the right tools that make your working from home comfortable without many hitches.
Here is what you need at the bare minimum:
- Computer: Remote jobs will demand either a desktop or laptop computer.
- Internet connection: Your internet connection must be able to cope with all your job demands.
- Backup internet connection: In case your primary connection stops working.
- Ergonomical Chair: You will most likely be sitting for long. Invest in a good chair.
- Power Backup: This can be a solar, UPS, inverter or other source of power during blackouts.
- Headset: Will be necessary in case you have a customer support job or other roles that demand clear audio.
- Quiet workspace: No need for an elegant office; just somewhere you can work quietly.
- Work tools: Your job may require communication tools, meeting software, file sharing tools, project management tools or any other.
How your set up looks is not an issue. It has to be able to perform.
When you find a work from home job in Nigeria, think about how you will manage internet, power calls, and other work requirements.
Find Current Remote Jobs for Nigerians
Remote job vacancies are highly dynamic. By the time a remote job opening becomes available today, it may no longer be open tomorrow. As such, an outdated list of job vacancies would not be useful to you.
This is the reason why I have kept the recent opportunities separate from this guide.
When you are finally ready to go ahead with applying, visit Oluboba Jobs to find the most recent remote job openings that Nigerians are eligible to apply for. Rather than include vacancies that would later expire, you can make use of this page to find the latest job opportunities and come back here when you need further assistance in your job search.
Even when searching the latest vacancies, remember to carry out your own checks as well. Check the closing date, eligibility of Nigerians to apply, verify the employer, read the required qualifications, and follow the official procedure for making your application.
Follow these steps to get an idea about the process of finding and applying for online jobs. Now check out the currently available job openings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are remote jobs available to Nigerians?
Yes. Remote jobs can be applied to by Nigerians where the employer is willing to have employees based in Nigeria or even accept applications from people in a bigger geographical area like Africa or globally. Make sure you go through the geographical criteria before applying.
What are the easy remote jobs to get started with?
Remote jobs that require customer support, virtual assistance, data-related jobs, writing, sales support, online tutoring, and so forth can prove to be great entry-level jobs for you. The ideal jobs will depend on your existing skill sets.
Can I apply for remote jobs without any experience?
Yes. You need to find entry-level jobs, internships, jobs where the skills matter more than experience, etc. Personal projects, freelancing, volunteering, school projects, etc. could also help you showcase your skills.
Can fresh graduates get remote jobs?
Yes. Fresh graduates can apply for entry-level remote jobs provided they meet all the criteria. It would be better to look for graduate/junior/trainee/entry-level remote jobs as opposed to limiting yourself to other jobs.
Can Nigerians do remote work for foreign employers?
Yes, provided that the company hires workers from Nigeria or that people from Nigeria can apply for the job. See the location and other terms of the job before applying.
Do all remote jobs pay in US dollars?
No, a remote job can pay in naira, US dollars, British pounds, euros, or any other currency depending on the employer and terms of payment.
How do I know whether a remote job is genuine?
The legitimacy of a remote job can be confirmed by verifying the legitimacy of the employer and the availability of the vacancy on an official site. Red flags include upfront payments, income guarantees, intimidation, and early requests for personal information.
Conclusion
Getting remote jobs in Nigeria is not about applying to all the vacancies you come across.
First, know what type of job you can do. Look at the right places, determine whether the prospective employer employs Nigerians and check everything out before you proceed to apply.
Then prepare your resume, portfolio, internet connectivity, backup generator, and your workspace. After locating a suitable job, go through the application process step by step and remember the jobs that you have applied for.
Your first application might not be successful. It happens. Always continue improving your skills, applying for suitable remote jobs and gaining experience from every application.
Above all, be cautious about the promise of remote working opportunity. It shouldn’t involve paying someone to employ you.
Once you are done, start looking for the latest remote jobs and utilize this guide to aid you through your search.