Behind the screens of Remote Work
A Peek into the Lives of Remote Workers
Remote work can be a double-edged sword. While it offers unparalleled flexibility, it can also be isolating and lonely. Many workers aspire to work remotely, as it provides the comfort of attending meetings and responding to work emails from the comfort of their homes. At first, this type of work seems appealing, until the challenges arise.
Nkechi, a remote social media manager, struggled with isolation when she first started working remotely. However, she recognizes that remote work requires a lot of discipline. When she got started in social media marketing during the COVID-19 lockdown, she discovered a whole new world she did not plan on letting go of. She had never imagined herself jumping from one danfo to another to get to her workplace and decided to stick to remote work. Now, with her own social media agency, Nkechi has realized that remote work isn’t all glitter and gold.
However, Mayowa, a software developer at Flutterwave who stumbled on a remote world while job hunting thinks differently. He had initially thought working remotely wasn’t a deal breaker for him until he experienced it himself. Interested in knowing why? Click here to find out his reasons
Remote Worker Segment
In this week’s episode, we had the chance to speak with a very interesting Software Developer, Ayodele Ihenacho or fondly called by his friends, A.I. He is a software developer who started writing codes when he was as young as 13 years old. He started his tech career as a graphic designer but is presently a backend developer. Sit back and enjoy this intriguing interview with this tech bro that tags himself as ‘PREMIUM”. This session is fun, filled with laughter, and more importantly, insightful!
Hello Ayo, please introduce yourself.
My name is Ayodeji Iheanacho, a child of God, a software developer and you can find me at the intersection of media, ministry, and technology.
So, please tell us about your work. What do you do? Where do you work?
Well, I currently work for a company in the UK – Vervian Healthcare Recruitment Agency. I maintain their site and application. I also design graphics for the organization. I also work for a boot camp in the UK too but this is family owned. So, I work two jobs that I can say in public.
Mention in public ke. So, this means there are others?
Yes, sure.
That’s cool, so tell us how you got into this whole remote thing.
Well, I can say that I’ve worked remotely more than I have worked physically. I started working remotely in 2018, switching jobs and all. I initially got introduced to freelancing after high school. So, I spent time freelancing instead of going to the university. I then worked at my dad’s company for a while. One day, a family friend called me from the UK and asked me to work on some designs; she wanted to check if I could do it. And of course, as a premium guy that I am, I delivered a superb job.
This is really nice. Well, you told me you dropped out of a certain Nigerian University over a coding issue or something. Do you mind sharing?
Well, I left that university I was because I wasn’t feeling it. I actually left after my first coding class; I realized I was better than the guy they assigned to teach us. As I said, I’m a premium guy, a “champions league player”. So, I don’t like to settle for less.
Wow, No words, just wow! Well, how easy has it been for you to find a remote job?
It has been really easy, I thank God. Let me share the story of how I got one with a company in Canada.
Wait, you’ve worked for a Canadian company too?
Well, yes. I was without a job then. So, I prayed on a Thursday night before I slept that God should give me a job. And by 7 am Friday morning, a brother came to my house to tell me about a job he ignored and that I should apply for it. And that was how I got it. So, it has been relatively easy, Glory to God.
So tell us, what is the worst part of working remotely?
There are quite a number of them, sleepless nights, falling sick and still having to deliver, excessive demands – the white man would not throw his dollars at you, you have to earn every cent. Remote work is glamorized because of the pay; you can make a lot of money. And also, remote work shatters closing time.
Yes, true. What then is the best part of the remote work life for you?
Money. Zero Lagos traffic. Meeting people from various countries. Fast learning.
If you meet any influential person, abeg link me.
Me wey you meet, e never do you?
Lol! No, be so life be oo. And yes, what made you go into front-end development?
Well, I am a back-end developer now. My dad actually introduced me to coding when I was 13.
Your dad is so cool, must be nice.
Yeah, so he basically pushed me into it. But, my cousin was the motivation sha. He got a contract in the UK worth a million pounds and so it basically gingered my dad to drag me into it. You have to do what he is doing and all. So, not my will but thy will be done is my case.
Hmm. What advice would you give anyone that wants to venture into tech?
Eat, for the journey is long.
Yes oo. What do you think companies can do so their remote workers can function effectively?
Basically, so many people are suffering from poverty of reasoning. So, the first thing is to work on the mindset of the workers. Showing them the upside of working remotely and how it can become a win-win situation for themselves and the company they work for. Their mindset towards remote work is really important. That’s it. Every other thing will fall into place after working on their mindset. Because you cannot be working remotely and be pricing vegetables during work hours.
I agree. Lastly, what advice would you leave for remote workers worldwide?
This looks like a firing squad question like I’m about to be shot. But yes, become premium at whatever you do.
Like AI, lol! Thank you so much for your time. It is really appreciated.
Thank you for the privilege.
InclusivelyRemote Gist
Hey there,
Guess who's back with some remote work gossip? That's right, it's me, your friendly neighborhood remote worker🥰! I hope you're as pumped for the new week as I am because I just had the most enlightening experience at InclusivelyRemote’s google meet session this evening. Oh boy, it was off the charts! And let me tell you, Mary-Esther and the guest speaker, Boma George (who, by the way, has become my latest crush), were absolutely on fire! Their insights were like bullseyes, hitting the mark every single time.
Speaking of insights, hold on to your hats because there's more! A top-secret, exclusive 18-page document on how to conquer remote job applications was shared with all the lucky attendees. And let me tell you, it's a goldmine of wisdom. This document has everything, from a beautifully designed resume template to a guide on crafting the perfect cold email. It's like the holy grail of remote job hunting!
Now, I wish I could just spill the beans and share the link with you right away. But, shhh🤫... we need to be careful. Mary-Esther and the team might catch wind of it, and we don't want to get on their bad side because they might ignore my next mail for a feature. But here's a little secret between us: keep your eyes peeled because that document is going to blow your mind!
Now, let's dive into some thrilling news for my fellow digital nomads and remote workers out there. Brace yourself because Nomadico Coliving and SafetyWing are joining forces to offer a mind-blowing digital nomad scholarship. And guess what? The lucky winner gets one whole week of accommodation at Nomadico Taghazout/Tamraght 🏠, along with a month of emergency travel medical insurance from SafetyWing. Talk about exploring with peace of mind!
Trust me, Nomadico Taghazout is the dream destination for digital nomads. Picture this: rooftop coworking with breathtaking sunsets, an incredible digital nomad community, and killer surf vibes 🏄♀️. It's the stuff of dreams!
Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity. Get all the deets by clicking the link below. And remember, sharing is caring!
Apply here
Lastly, stay tuned for more remote work gist and updates from me. You know I've got your back 😉.
Xoxo
Yours truly,
The Content Connoisseurs & Unknown Stranger
Elishama Okpor, Olubukola Olawoyin, and the Gossisp girl