After earning your Bachelor’s degree, you might feel exhausted. Like you need a ‘well-earned’ rest to reflect on your future. Or you might be eager to leave your studies behind, start a career and make a name for yourself. Or you might feel like you need to learn more and specialize by taking a Master’s degree.

We are all different and there’s no one single path to take after finishing your undergrad studies. Some people may not be ready to study again so they may need a leap year, others need to start working. But sooner or later most people tend to go for a Master’s degree at a grad school. This is one very good way to advance both professionally and personally. And when you get to that point in your life – when you know you want to continue or resume your studies with a graduate degree – you will also start considering doing a Master’s abroad and becoming an international student.

Since this is a big decision, balancing the advantages is essential. This does mean going to a foreign country for a couple of years, after all. At first, it may seem that you have a hard puzzle to figure out. But as soon as you state the “pros ” of international study, the pieces will start coming together.

7 Benefits of Studying Abroad

In an increasingly globalized world, studying abroad is now more important than ever. If you’re considering studying abroad in graduate school, here are eight ways it can benefit your education and career.

1. Improve your language skills.

By studying abroad, you’ll have the opportunity to hone your language skills. While studying a language in class is rewarding, applying it to the real world is an entirely different experience. You’ll likely learn the language faster because you’re practicing it regularly. You’ll also be able to pick up the conversational language you wouldn’t study in class, enabling you to speak like a local.

Developing your language skills can have a positive impact on your career, as well. Fluency in a second language is often helpful (if not required) when working at organizations with a multinational or global presence.

If you’re interested in breaking into the world of international business or global health, for instance, having strong foreign language skills and experience that demonstrates those skills can help your resumé stand out to employers.

2. Experience a different style of teaching.

Each country has its unique style of teaching. Studying abroad can help you expand your academic horizon and develop the capacity to adapt to various educational settings.

Adapting to different styles of teaching can also help you adjust to different management styles, making you more versatile in the workplace. Teaching styles you may encounter abroad include:

· Authority Style: A teacher-centered style where a professor is the authority figure and frequently gives long lectures or one-way presentations. There is a focus on set rules and expectations, and students typically take notes to retain information.

· Facilitator Style: Professors promote self-learning by emphasizing the teacher-student relationship. They help students develop critical thinking skills by teaching them how to ask questions and find solutions through exploration.

· Delegator Style: Professors assign lab activities and give students in-class projects to help them stay engaged. This is a guided learning style that places the teacher in an observer role while helping students remain active participants in their learning.

3. Impress employers.

Studying abroad can help launch your career and make you more competitive in the workforce. It allows you to show future and current employers that you have the open mind, resourcefulness, and drive needed to adapt to a different environment.

4. Enhance your network.

Studying abroad helps you build invaluable relationships with people from all over the world. You broaden your international connections while having the opportunity to meet people that could turn into life-long friends. Some connections can even lead to career opportunities, including internships, job offers, and business partners from both home and abroad.

The university where you study will often have a large community of students from local regions and abroad, allowing you to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures. The wider your network, the greater the likelihood you’ll be connected to exciting career and social opportunities.

5. Learn about new cultures and perspectives.

Your experience with a different culture allows you to expand your worldview. By studying abroad, you’ll learn about new perspectives and develop cross-cultural awareness.

For example, you may work with people from other countries in your next job. By studying abroad, you’ll be more comfortable with people from different backgrounds, value their unique experiences, and establish a stronger relationship with them.

Oftentimes, our cultural background has a huge impact on how we react to different situations. Gaining a variety of perspectives can help you look at experiences in an entirely new way. By studying abroad, you’ll meet people with different upbringings, helping you widen your horizons and broaden your mind.

In addition, the best way to experience another culture is to immerse yourself in it, and the ideal way to do that is by living in another country.

6. Develop your confidence.

By immersing yourself in another culture, you develop valuable life skills needed for personal growth, including independence and adaptability. These skills can give you an added boost of confidence in your personal and professional life.

Studying abroad can be overwhelming, but the challenges you overcome can help you become a more mature person. You’ll find out that you can often thrive in new, unexpected circumstances, and you’ll boost your communication skills by speaking a new language—helping you further improve your self-confidence.

7. See the world.

Studying abroad allows you to see the world and travel to new places you would otherwise not have visited. During your time away from your studies, you can go sightseeing in your new city. You’ll also get to know your region more intimately than if you were just visiting for a shorter period.

When studying abroad, you can also visit neighboring regions and countries, as you’re not limited to one place. For example, if you’re studying in Milan, you can visit Florence or explore the Tuscan countryside by train. With international budget airlines and travel deals, exploring the world is becoming increasingly more affordable.

Your newfound connections can also show you areas that a tourist otherwise wouldn’t experience.

Choosing a Graduate Study Abroad Program

The advantages of studying abroad are tremendous at any stage in your education. But, for those students looking to study abroad at the graduate level, finding the right program to fit their needs can be challenging. It’s important to find a program that will help you meet your goals. If you are balancing work and school, for example, a short-term program may be a better fit for you than a one- or two-semester trip.

The term employability has become a common name amongst educators, researchers, and employers. It refers to the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to look for work and continue successfully in a career. Employability has been a challenge for graduates of Nigerian higher education institutions (HEIs) due to their failure to meet the current labor market expectations.

Current Nigerian graduates have consistently not acquired the skills needed for success in the workplace to learn and thrive continuously in a rapidly changing world. HEIs have been blamed for producing graduates who fail to meet employment demands in the labor market. Several distortions in the higher education systems are responsible for youth not being able to obtain and keep employment.

Failures to collaborate are obvious as employers continue to voice concern that the curriculum and standard teaching methods are not generating the graduates and future leaders they desire to hire.

Unemployment has been a problem in Nigeria for many years now, and this has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2015, the unemployment rate has tripled, and the government anticipated nearly 40 million job losses in December last year as a result of the virus.

Young people in Nigeria have been particularly affected by these issues within the job market, and many people are looking for work at the moment. One of the best things you can do to get a job in this difficult time is to upskill, so you can fill a gap in the job market and guarantee your future job security. Today we’re talking about the most in-demand skills for employability in Nigeria, to help you on your way.

What skills are employers in Nigeria looking for?

This isn’t a straightforward question to answer. In reality, the skills you’ll need will depend on the job you’re applying for and the type of company you want to work with. However, there are some reports that highlight where some of the top skills in Nigeria might be.

We’ve taken a look at some of the data out there, including in-demand and well-paying jobs, to pick out some of the top skills in Nigeria at the moment.

Hard skills

First, let’s look at some of the in-demand hard skills employers are looking for. These are the job-specific qualifications that you’ll need to succeed in a particular role. They’re the skills that can be taught in a formal and structured way. Some of the top hard skills in Nigeria include:

Digital marketing

As the world becomes more digital and everything moves online, the need for digital skills such as digital marketing increases. Nigeria is no exception here, and digital marketing skills are highly in demand, as every business needs to use digital marketing to gain customers.

Digital marketing specialists with skills in areas such as SEO, PPC, and Google Analytics will find many opportunities in Nigeria’s job market.

Computer programming and coding

The IT sector is growing and growing in Nigeria. The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy in Nigeria suggested that figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the ICT sector would double the contribution made by the oil and gas industry to the country’s GDP in the next two years.

Within the IT sector, computer programming and coding are hugely popular and useful skills to have. As more Nigerian companies move online, they need programmers to design, develop, and test software for them. The most in-demand programming languages are MySQL, Python, and JavaScript, and the wage for junior developers in Nigeria is 62.5% higher than the minimum wage.

Fashion design

Fashion is extremely popular in Nigeria, so there will always be a demand for fashion designers who demonstrate creativity and passion. Fashion demand skills are high in demand, and the industry has provided an escape from unemployment and poverty for some of the Nigerian youth.

If you dream of setting up your tailoring shop or fashion line, there is potential to acquire the right skills in under a year in Nigeria. You’ll need practical experience in fashion design and creating garments, but also some knowledge of the industry.

App development

This ties in well with coding and programming skills, but app development is specifically in demand in Nigeria. Mobile app developers create, develop and manage new programs and applications that help companies stay up to date in the digital sphere. Many businesses want to create apps for use on smartphones, computers, tablets, and more, and that’s where you come in.

Soft skills

When it comes to employability skills in Nigeria, practical knowledge is certainly important. However, many employers feel that interpersonal and transferable skills are just as important as hard skills. Here are some of the soft skills that are sought-after at the moment:

Teamwork

Whatever job you work in, the chances are that you’ll need to work with other people. Teamwork skills are some of the most essential ones out there, yet many people don’t spend the time developing them. If you can demonstrate efficiency in this area, you’re sure to stand out to employers.

Management and leadership

No matter what job role you’re in, being able to show management and leadership qualities can make you stand out from the crowd. Often, these skills mean that you work well with others and bring out the best in them. They tie into many other abilities, such as organization, problem-solving, and productivity.

Adaptability

If the last 12 months have taught us anything, it’s that we have to be flexible and adaptable when reacting to change. In uncertain times, those who can show resilience and dependability, as well as other such leadership skills, can be invaluable to employers.

It’s no news that Nigeria has based her economic mainstay on Petroleum and the country gets most of its revenue from this source, this explains the reason why the young people of the country tend to pursue a degree concerning the oil-based discipline. An average Nigerian believes a man working in the Oil Company earns a fat salary and rightly so.

The young minds of the country tend to however get their minds clouded by this notion, as well as the need to get other “neat jobs” like being a Doctor, a Pharmacist, and so on, this is to say that only a few young Nigerians partake in the Technology field intending to pursue a career relating to it.

Truth be told, the Oil industry is crowded, Doctors are becoming less needed by the day, however, today, Tech Jobs are very open and can employ as much as possible with reasonable experience. This field is one of the most sought after in other highly developed Nations and tends to bring in a lot more revenues to them more than Oil brings to Nigeria as the World is currently going “more-tech”.

The fact is that among the top 50 best-paying jobs in the world, tech jobs occupy almost half of the entire list and this will only increase as the search for tech workers increase.

Nigeria is doing well in catching up when it comes to technology and the tech-related jobs are increasing by the day, here are the top 10 Tech-based jobs in the country.

1. Software Developer

This is where most of these tech jobs fall under. A Software Developer or Programmer or Coder is someone who simply creates Computer Softwares. They use a series of languages and codes to create applications, commands, and tasks that run the computer.

They are highly sought after and are one of the highest earners in the World. A Software Developer must be creative and must be an expert in coding as well as utilization of the computer system as a whole.

Click here to view software developer jobs 

2. IT Program Manager

An IT Manager has a lot of responsibility on his sleeves. He or she manages the company’s IT infrastructure and also manages all projects relating to information in the company. They oversee and determine the timeframe of an IT project from updates to outages.. they plan, coordinate and direct all activities relating to the Company’s Information System.

Click here to view IT manager jobs

3. Software Development Manager

A Software Development Manager simply leads a team of Software Developers. He/She is tasked with hiring and training staff of related companies, creating budgets and documentations then providing reports to those at the top hierarchy.

Click here to view software developer jobs

4. Security Engineer

A company can lose a good amount of its revenue and assets if its security system is breached by a dark hacker. Lots of secret information including passwords and strategies can be leaked which may lead to loss and this is where the Security Engineer comes in.

A Security Engineer combines a variety of skills to design, utilize and monitor various systems that secure a company’s network and software, protecting and shielding its assets from unwanted Intruders. They’re a very important branch of any company.

Click here to view Security Engineer jobs

5. Digital Marketer

A digital marketer or a digital marketing manager is a person whose task is to develop, implement and manage marketing campaigns to promote a company and its products and/or services. He/she s a major PRO of the company as they are essential in promoting awareness about the Company to the general public, hence selling their goods and services rather easily. Marketing is a major factor for any company, hence the importance of a skilled Marketing Manager.

Click here to view Digital marketer jobs

6. Mobile Application Developer

The world has gone digital, 90% of the World Population uses a mobile phone of some kind and over 60% uses or have used a smartphone in this generation. Looking at the Google Play Store, for example, it is the official Android Application store and contains over 2.7 million applications.

The job of an App developer is primarily to create and design applications for particular purposes to serve a particular set of people. These Mobile Application Developers possess a skill in coding and can grow their niche into Web Applications. They can work for companies but can also be independent and ways of earning are flexible.

Click here to view Mobile app developer jobs

7. Data Analyst

Data Analyst is one of the highest paying IT Jobs in Nigeria. They are professionals saddled with the responsibility to analyst raw data or samples to come up with the best possible ways, it can be applied to profit a business/ company.

A typical entry-level data analyst in Nigeria earns between N120,000 – N240,000 monthly. The job comes with flexible working hours with attractive allowances. One of the fastest-growing fields in IT is data analytics.

Most times, a degree in computer science, information management, economics, mathematics, and statistics makes a better data analyst. The job requires a lot of calculations and methodologies.
That been said, anyone can become Data Analyst provided you master all the required skills and software. Some of the programming tools used by Data Analysts include Python, Power Bi, etc.

Click here to view Data analyst jobs

8. Network Engineers

Network engineers are one of the highest-paying IT Jobs in Nigeria. The industry has evolved over the years. One good thing about IT is the fact that the industry keeps charging, so to stay relevant in information technology, you’ve to be updated at all times. Network engineers in Nigeria still earn pretty well. On a salary survey for engineers, an entry-level network engineer earns between N100,000 to N170,000 monthly.

There are certifications expected of a network engineer these certifications include; Cisco network certifications and Microsoft network certifications.

Click here to view Network engineer jobs

9. Database Administrator

The Database of a company is one of its most important assets. Here, records and tracks of the company’s staff, activities, customers, inventory, and transactions are kept. It contains an invaluable set of information which is very useful and can be essential in future decisions. A Database Admin is the person that runs it and they earn a lot as it is not a very easy task.

Click here to view Database administrator jobs

The pace at which the marketing discipline evolves each year is challenging for both individual marketing experts and companies as systems, which are permanently competing for global consumers. With the development of the Internet as the main channel and best opportunity for the implementation of the optimal “one-to-one” marketing model, Internet marketing as a new area of marketing theory and practice has emerged and is constantly improving.

On the other side, the power and attractiveness of online surroundings have also transformed the way consumers behave, creating new patterns and lifestyles that have to be taken into account when creating appropriate Internet marketing strategies, far different from the traditional ones.

Following improvements in mobile and tablet technology, together with social media, marketing has set itself in a new, complex, and challenging market environment. The Internet has become the primary business playground and the most popular communication channel, creating new rules and new roles on both supply and demand side, and Internet marketing and e-commerce have emerged as major preoccupations and business skills in all industrial branches. Marketing has become a completely new discipline today compared with the one that was known a decade ago, making traditional marketing methods less effective and expensive.

The most common comparison is made between Digital and Internet marketing. These two terms are similar but not synonyms. Even though Digital marketing is also known as Internet marketing, online marketing, web marketing, or data-driven marketing [4], it is the umbrella term for a group of marketing processes that exploit all available digital channels and Internet technologies intending to promote branded products and services. Its development is a direct result of the increased electronic data, digital media usage, and its impact in the business sphere globally. So, its development has primarily followed Internet improvements, which is the reason why it has so many manifestations.

WHY DIGITAL MARKETING:

If a business is thriving, it’s growing. Its revenue is increasing by leaps and bounds. Company employees are happy, and the owner is excited. It feels good to be in charge of a growing business. The role of digital marketing is essential for business growth in today’s day and age. Are you taking advantage of the Internet and advertising your business through online strategies. The world of digital marketing might seem confusing, so let us break it down for you. According to HubSpot, digital marketing refers to any marketing effort that involves the Internet or an electronic device. If marketing exists online, it’s classified as digital marketing.

Digital Marketing has been rising in popularity over the last several years. And there’s a simple reason why: the world is online. Technology Review gives us the stats–in 2000, the average American spent about 9.4 hours online. Today, most people spend 24 hours a week on the Internet, most of the time using their smartphones. Internet usage is growing, and as a business owner, you’ve got to take advantage of this. Know where the role of digital marketing stands in your business — or you’ll be left behind. If you have a small business or a start-up, you probably don’t have much money, time, or manpower to invest in traditional marketing techniques. But that’s okay! You don’t need a fancy building with hundreds of people on staff. You just need a simple but solid digital marketing strategy.

1 Offline Marketing

Offline marketing is the process to create brand awareness and reach till target customer satisfy their needs and wants. In many occurrences, individuals adopt a marketing mix strategy for their business promotion.

The entire plan behind the offline promotion is to obtain leads when there is no website for your business. There are many forms of offline marketing strategies such as through print media as well as non-print media. Offline marketing media includes Television, Radio, Brochure, Flyers, Banners, Newspapers, Pamphlets, Posters.

Offline marketing tools offer various benefits, Of course, the first benefit is that with offline marketing, a business doesn’t have to be dependent on an internet connection. If a web server goes down and a website is no longer accessible, that’s valuable custom and discoverability potentially lost. A smaller business may take a while to get back online during which vital customer attention may have been spent elsewhere.

With offline media there are no such worries, it exists in the real world and cannot be taken off the grid. Another benefit may be somewhat less tangible but no less important and that’s that digital marketing is seen by many customers and clients to be throw away. People are so used to seeing advertisements, pop-ups, and marketing emails that they don’t even notice them anymore.

2 Online Marketing:

Online marketing is the process to catch the attention of potential customers for business through a particular banner, articles, video, images, flash animation, etc. Marketing activities or information are planned as an elegant tempt to the visitors in which particular website of business wants to attract.

This information is particularly placed on the main page or front page of a website to reach key audiences. It has many ways to be done possible to get traffic for business through online marketing principles.

Online Marketing is the practice of leveraging web-based channels to spread a message about a company’s brand, products, or services to its potential customers. The purpose of online marketing is to get people to visit your website and then convert those visitors into paying customers.

That’s what online marketing is all about. It has the same set of objectives like Establish and build brand recognition, Determine Pricing and make offers, Run advertising campaigns, promotions, discounts, and specials, etc. Online marketing media includes Website/Blog, Social Media Marketing, Email Marketing, Search Engine Marketing, Content Marketing, Video Blogging, Online Classifieds.

7 of the Hottest Digital Marketing Jobs

1. Content Managers & Strategists

Content management is a central role for any agency or digital marketing team as it touches on almost all levels of marketing – and it encompasses much more than just writing and social media activity.

Content managers need to understand not only how to create SEO-friendly content from the ground up, but how to organize, store, and manage it as well. They need to understand how it feeds into different subsets of the marketing plan. They also need to have a grasp on how to develop and share the huge variety of content that is out there.

Content managers may be in charge of social media strategy, managing a team of writers, developing editorial calendars, creating engaging videos, reporting and strategizing using analytics, and a whole range of related activities. They need to be able to coordinate teams and work with a diverse range of clients.

To this end, they not only need to be great writers, but they also need to be able to create stellar content that works across multiple channels. They also need to be good at relationship building, creative, organized, and self-motivated.

Click here to view digital marketing jobs in Nigeria 

2. Virtual Reality Developers and Editors

This is quite a high-tech job but it’s so new and interesting and there’s plenty of room for those who are in the realm of creative – tech. If you are someone with a background that combines technology and creativity, if you are into graphics or even special effects, virtual reality might be a great field for you.

People come into virtual reality from the video arts or if they are well versed in various creative software suites. You may end up with a director-type role or start as an assistant, tester, or editor.

As a product, VR is still quite expensive to purchase and is a highly specialized field. It is being used more and more in digital marketing campaigns and to this end, those that have a strong foundation in technical arts and digital marketing manager will be highly valued.

Click here to view digital marketing jobs in Nigeria

3. SEO/SEM Specialists

SEO and SEM are crucial for a solid digital marketing campaign and to this end, anyone who can demonstrate a piece of solid technical knowledge and combine it with digital marketing expertise, especially in the managerial end of the spectrum, will be the highest earners in this field.

SEO and SEM are difficult to specialize in, in part because search engine algorithms are always fluctuating. Businesses must stay up-to-date to have a consistently high ROI and the bigger the business is, the more complex this can be. In addition, e-commerce sites and those that depend highly on internet traffic for profits will be particularly dependent on a strong SEO / SEM strategy.

Most businesses will want to rank high, so they will need people with deep expertise in these areas and this trend is not likely to slow down, especially as digital technology continues to permeate more and more aspects of our lives.

Click here to view digital marketing jobs in Nigeria 

4. UX Designer

User Experience (UX) designers are responsible for the end-to-end development of websites and digital marketing applications. They may or may have a deep technical background or they may be better versed on the design end of the spectrum.

UX designers are focused on understanding the website from a whole marketing experience, and to that end, they need to understand audiences as well as have an in-depth knowledge of the product or service a given client offers.

They will typically take the lead role in project management for visual design and testing, with a specific eye on the usability of a website or application from start to finish.

Click here to view UX jobs in Nigeria

5. Email Marketing Specialist

Email marketing is an example of a specialized area of content development and marketing. People in charge of email marketing are typically extremely well versed in marketing as well as copywriting and editing.

Email continues to be one of the strongest modes of content out there. To do this well you need to be able to write persuasively. You’ll also be in charge of campaigns, launches, and PR activities based on extensive databases of customer data and various lists.

Email marketing is primarily a lead-generating activity and thus specialists would likely be working in tangent with digital marketing and/or content managers on targeted campaigns.

Click here to view digital marketing jobs in Nigeria 

6. Digital Marketing Managers & Directors

CMOS and VPS can expect to make well over 100 K per year, as can creative directors. This takes years of experience in the field but this may not take too long if you have plenty of managerial experience under your belt.

An effective digital marketing manager or creative director needs to have a solid grasp of everything to do with marketing and business. They must be extremely well versed in strategic planning and execution, as well as financial forecasting. And they must be able to delegate while taking risks and holding firm on decisions.

7. Analysts & AI Specialists

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably aware that AI (Artificial Intelligence) is one of the hottest up-and-coming technologies and it’s not about to go away soon. And with the rise of big data, anyone who can create systems to analyze this information in such a way that it can be applied to strategic marketing will be highly in demand.

Most people who specialize in these areas will have technical degrees and a computing science background. If this is something you’re interested in, you’ll want to get a solid understanding of data optimization and machine learning, as well as have an in-depth knowledge of programming.

Data analysts will always be in demand as the world becomes more and more data-dependent because of, for instance, the Internet of Things.

Click here to view data analyst jobs in Nigeria 

Tips for Improving and Transform your Digital Marketing Skills

Anyone involved in business marketing or leadership should consider their current and potential level of digital marketing skills as highly valuable – because indeed they are. Even if they’re not super high-tech.

But if you don’t feel that you’re that technologically aware or advanced, don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to acquire digital marketing training to learn and grow your skills, even if you don’t feel you have the time or resources to go back to school full time. Online learning and e-learning are keys to success for many, especially those who want to pivot existing skills mid-career.

Here are a few ideas:

· Take an online digital marketing course
· Build your website
· Network like crazy in the field of specialization that you are interested in
· Conduct informational interviews
· Subscribe to blogs that offer free learning resources regularly
· Engage in Facebook groups in your area of interest

There are a few specific subsets of skills that you can work to improve on from the comfort of your own home. For instance, content development and marketing, WordPress, SEO, and marketing automation are all areas that will continue to be in demand.

No matter what you choose to specialize in, everyone will need people with digital marketing experience, and even if you’re not technically minded, there are still plenty of opportunities to develop the career of your dreams in digital marketing and earn a comfortable income.

Technology is a crucial component of our daily lives and has provided us with so much more of the luxurious lifestyle that today we all enjoy. But do you know who works endlessly hard to deliver us these technological services? They are the unknown heroes called software developers. They operate computer programs and make your electronic devices function accordingly. Some develop applications for computers, tabloids, cellphones, while others develop the underlying systems that help run the devices or control networks.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed greater emphasis on the need for skilled technology professionals to support organizations’ critical operations and strategic initiatives, but job seekers are facing increasing competition from a growing candidate pool for tech jobs.

TOP 10 highest paying software jobs in 2021

According to Robert Half Technology’s 2021 Salary Guide, critical technology roles are artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) specialists, business intelligence analysts, cloud architects, cybersecurity and data privacy experts, data analytics and reporting professionals, data scientists, developers (database, full-stack, web, software, and mobile), engineers (cloud, data, DevOps, network security and software), help desk and user support professionals, and IT administrators (database, network, and systems).

In-demand IT skills and expertise include Agile and Scrum, Angular, ASP.NET, C#, cloud computing (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes and Helm), Golang, ITIL, Java, JavaScript, Kotlin, Linux, PHP, Python, ReactJS and React Native, Ruby on Rails, SQL, virtualization and virtual, augmented, mixed and cross reality

1. DevOps Engineer

DevOps engineers are the bridge between coding and engineering. These professionals work across departments to help increase a company’s productivity by developing and improving various IT systems. DevOps engineers often need experience with coding languages, software engineering and security systems, and strong analytical, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.

See our open DevOps Engineer jobs.

2. Big data engineer

Businesses need individuals who can transform large amounts of raw data into actionable information for strategy-setting, decision making, and innovation — and pay well for people with these skills. These professionals typically create a company’s software and hardware architecture, and the systems people need to work with the data. Big data engineers usually have a degree in computer science and expertise in mathematics and databases.

See our open Big Data Engineer jobs.

3. Mobile applications developer

Just look at your phone or tablet applications, and it’s pretty easy to figure out why mobile applications developers are in demand. These IT pros need the expertise to develop applications for popular platforms, such as iOS and Android. They also must have experience coding with mobile frameworks and mobile development languages, and knowledge of web development languages.

See our open Mobile applications developer jobs.

4. Information systems security manager

Now more than ever, employers need skilled IT security professionals to help keep sensitive data and systems safe. Successful candidates for this hot job possess a technical background in systems and network security and have great interpersonal and leadership abilities. Analytical and problem-solving skills are key, as are excellent communication abilities. These IT pros also need to keep up with security trends and government regulations. Employers often request certifications such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or CompTIA Security+.

See our open Information system security manager jobs.

5. Data architect

These tech professionals are responsible for the complicated processes essential to making strategic business decisions. They translate business requirements into database solutions and oversee data storage (data centers) and how the data is organized. Ensuring the security of those databases is part of the job as well.

See our open Data Architect jobs.

6. Applications architect

These tech pros design the main parts of applications, including the user interface, middleware, and infrastructure. In addition to strong technical abilities, applications architects need to work well on teams — and sometimes manage them. Excellent communication and planning skills are required for this job. This is one of the highest-paying IT roles because just about every company wants to improve existing applications or create new ones.

See our open Applications architect jobs.

7. Data security analyst

Data security analysts must thoroughly understand computer and network security, including firewall administration, encryption technologies, and network protocols. The job also requires excellent communication and problem-solving skills and knowledge of trends in security and government regulations. A professional certification, such as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) designation, is beneficial for this role.

See our open Data security analyst jobs.

8. Database manager

Database managers maintain and support a firm’s database environment, helping companies use data more strategically to meet their business goals. Database managers are especially needed in large organizations that have high volumes of data to manage. These pros must possess strong leadership and strategic planning skills.

See our open Database manager jobs.

9. Senior web developer

These IT pros gather business requirements and develop specifications for web-based applications, making web properties look consistent and attractive. They also provide technical assistance to web admins and integrate front- and back-end systems. Senior web developers typically need experience developing on PHP and Ruby on Rails sites and working with a variety of content management systems. Front-end development experience is also valued. Senior web developers need several years of experience in managing web properties.

See our open senior web developer jobs.

10. Systems engineer

Systems engineers maintain and support a company’s technical infrastructure, including system hardware and software. When a system fails, they’ll debug and reconfigure that system, if necessary. That makes knowledge of the development process critical to the job as well. Systems engineers must possess strong communication skills to translate technical information to non-technical users.

See our open systems engineer jobs.

Why choose a Software Engineering career?

1. Median pay for software engineers is in the six-figure range.

If you take all of the occupations in the U.S. and place them in a huge line based on earnings, you’ll find that the median pay is somewhere around $51,960 per year, according to the BLS.

So, if you’re looking for a career track that can quickly take you into the six-figure range, a software engineering career is one to consider. With the right education and experience, you can earn even higher, like around $145,000 per year.

2. You Enjoy Teamwork.

Some career choices are fairly solitary because they require you to work all on your own. . Which makes this career path more appealing if you fall into the second category.
Of course, being an effective team player also requires that you have some of the soft skills necessary to work effectively in teams. They share that among these skills are being empathetic, having good listening skills, and being able to accept criticism.
You don’t necessarily have to start with all of these skills, either. You can always learn them as you go.

3. The field is incredibly broad.

Another reason a software engineering career is a great choice is that the field is so broad and encompasses a variety of roles related to both computer applications and systems. This enables you to work in the area or areas that interest you most.
For instance, some software engineers spend their day’s building or rebuilding computer information systems. Others use their talents to create web pages or enhance a company’s network security. It’s up to you which direction you want to take.
You can also work in almost any industry because they all use software to some extent. Want to put your skills to use by working in a healthcare facility? No problem. Or maybe your dream is to work for a nonprofit? Yes, you can do that, too.

So much has been written about cryptocurrencies and the technology involved. Still, less than 1% of the global population has ever used digital currency (Cryptocurrency), this is according to a 2017 study conducted by Cambridge University, United Kingdom. With the slow increase rate, virtual currencies as it is alternatively called continues to make inroads into the society and has redefined the way manner we conduct and do business.

The world of money and the financial ecosystem is undergoing a huge transformation before our eyes. While cryptocurrency is slowly gaining mainstream adoption, Blockchain, the underlying era at the back of cryptocurrency may offer more capacity and unlock billions of dollars in the global markets.

The global financial system is no doubt embracing the current transition from physical currency to almost virtual currencies through the medium of technology. This wave has ushered in the birth of cryptocurrencies. There have been many attempts at creating a digital currency during the 90s tech boom, with systems like Flooz, Beenz, and Digi Cash emerging on the market but inevitably failing. In early 2009, an anonymous programmer or a group of programmers under the alias Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin which is a form of crypto-currency.

This virtual currency has been defined in several related forms. Crypto-currency has been defined as a digital record-keeping device that uses balances to keep track of the obligations from trading and that is publicly known to all traders.

The birth of cryptocurrency as a virtual currency has been generating waving reactions in the global economy even in a developing country like Nigeria. In the light of this outbreak, there has been a lot of positive and negative discourse on the value of cryptocurrencies in the Nigerian economy. Relatively, the Nigeria government through its regulatory agencies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has attempted to place a ban on cryptocurrency, although its legal status remains ambiguous unlike in countries like Morocco and Algeria where there is a clear ban on trading in Bitcoins such that a breach attracts heavy fines.

Nigeria is one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to crypto adoption. A lot of people don’t want to miss out on the opportunities that cryptocurrency offers. This makes the number of people looking to buy bitcoin in Nigeria very high.

The adoption keeps growing day by day despite the ambiguous legal status of digital assets in the country.
Nigeria doesn’t have a law that governs cryptocurrency yet, however, earlier this year, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) released a statement that appeared to be a ban on the use of bitcoin as well as other digital assets in the country. While this was perceived by many to be the beginning of the end of crypto in Nigeria, the situation however took another turn as crypto continues to bloom and flourish in the country.

The ban has had little to no effect on cryptocurrency usage in the country as many have adjusted to the current situation, crypto users have found new ways to buy BTC in Nigeria and continue their crypto trades.
On February 5, the CBN released a ruling that orders all financial institutions to stop facilitating crypto transactions and desist from transacting with entities engaging in crypto. The statement also instructed all banks and financial institutions to close accounts of individuals or entities engaging in this type of transaction.

The Benefits of Cryptocurrency in Nigeria

Nigeria has the highest GDP out of all the African countries, but 40% of its population lives in poverty. The country’s struggling economy primarily relies upon oil exports, accounting for more than half of government revenue. Lacking transport and energy infrastructure as well as neglecting to diversify the economy results in a disadvantaged population of impoverished people. The use of cryptocurrency in Nigeria is proving to be a beneficial solution to help lift people out of poverty.

Boosting Supplemental Income

The 2016 recession caused a significant strain on Nigeria’s economy and the country is still struggling to recover. In the second quarter of 2020, the country reported a 27.1% growth in unemployment. Average incomes have been declining for six years straight and experts predict there will be less than a 2% rise in income during 2021. The value of the country’s national currency, the naira, fell by 24% in 2020. This economic downturn caused some Nigerians to seek supplemental income.
A 2020 survey indicates that 32% of Nigerians participate in buying and trading cryptocurrency. In 2020, Nigeria accounted for $400 million worth of cryptocurrency transactions, ranking it third globally in trading volume. Cryptocurrency in Nigeria has so far positively enriched the lives of impoverished citizens.

Ease of Banking

Approximately 60 million Nigerians do not possess a bank account. People who do have bank accounts can only withdraw less than the equivalent of $100 due to local bank restrictions. The hurdles have led to a shift toward mobile banking and cryptocurrency investments. In 2017, reports showed that 71% of Nigerians use mobile phones for communication and internet access.

Top High Pay Crypto Jobs in Nigeria

Blockchain technology has paved way for a whole new host of exciting new jobs in the country.

1. Blockchain Developer

This is one of the jobs where demand has skyrocketed in the last decade. A blockchain developer is a person that develops, manage and secure blockchain networks and platform. It is one of the high demanding jobs that require you to have knowledge of programming and be familiar with blockchain frameworks like hyper ledger fabric. The requirement for this job is basic knowledge of JavaScript, Solidity, and development tools like Truffle, Hardhat, etc. they are not rocket science they are skills you can learn in a year and land a job in the same year.

2. Research Analyst

The research analyst oversees analyzing the market, determining the effectiveness of blockchain, identifying areas for improvement, and developing strategies for implementing such changes.
They can be called crypto analysts, they identify problems, potential risks, and solutions within the blockchain environment. The basic requirement for this job is an extensive knowledge of cryptocurrency and blockchain.

3. Crypto Legal Analyst

There will always be a need for a Crypto Legal Analyst as far as cryptocurrency and blockchain keep growing. The government is tightening the regulation against crypto users, they are bringing new regulations day in day out. The crypto legal analyst analyzes the regulation and brings in new ways to use cryptocurrency without disrupting the regulation.
They oversee the legal aspects of companies or parties that deal with cryptocurrency and blockchain. The most important requirement is a good understanding of English and communication skills, understand blockchain technology, basic knowledge of the law is an added advantage.

4. Crypto UX Designer

They create a unique and user-friendly interface that will attract people to buy Bitcoin in Nigeria and buy Bitcoin with naira. This role is very important because anything that has to do with people’s money, there are usually very careful to not make mistakes handling their money, hence the UX designer design interface that is clear and understandable to the mass and as well easy to use. If they want to instruct people to buy Bitcoin with naira, they do so in simple and easily understandable words.

5. Marketing Specialist

The purpose of a coin is incomplete without it being used. There is no point in creating something that won’t be in use by the consumer. Hence, this is where the importance of the marketing strategist comes to play. The marketing strategist showcase the usage of a product, in this case, a cryptocurrency e.g. Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc. so that people will buy Bitcoin with naira.
They work directly with the development team to make an informed decision with marketing the product. They are usually the ones behind the increased adoption of a coin. They can for example bring Bitcoin marketing to Nigerians so that there will be an increase in the number of people that will buy Bitcoin in Nigeria.

6. Full-stack Engineer

A full-stack developer is a web developer or engineer who works with both the front and back ends of a website or application – meaning they can tackle projects that involve databases, building user-facing websites, or even work with clients during the planning phase of projects.

The phrase full-stack evolved from a technical descriptor meaning the full set of primary technologies that comprise a complete technical solution. It typically means the database and operating system (back end) up through and including the user interface (front end).

As Apple Stores begin selling the new iPhone 13 range, iPad mini 6, and iPad, Apple has released a series of images from Beijing showing the first buyers.

On Wednesday, Microsoft hosted its most recent Surface product event. The company unveiled updated versions of its products, including the Surface Pro, Surface Go, and foldable phones. Here’s a rundown of everything Microsoft unveiled at the event.

Surface Laptop Studio

The Surface Laptop Studio is a portable computer inspired by the Surface Studio all-in-one computer. To make inking and sketching more immersive, a hinge is provided that allows you to pull the display over the keyboard. Microsoft also boasts that the Surface Studio is the company’s most powerful laptop to date. Intel’s 11th-generation H35 CPUs and Intel Xe graphics are used in the laptop. It’s also compatible with NVIDIA’s RTX 3050 Ti GPU. Users can pre-order the Surface Laptop Studio. It costs $1,600 and will commence shipment on October 5th.

Surface Duo 2 dual screen android device

The new Surface Duo 2 includes several new cameras, 5G capability, near-field communications for mobile payments, and stereo speakers, all of which were absent from the previous generation. It also has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor used in other premium phones such as Samsung’s most recent Galaxy smartphones.

When the Surface Duo 2 is opened, two 5.8-inch screens appear, which may be used together. For example, you might run one program on one screen and another on the other. Alternatively, you may use the 8.3-inch area to extend a single app across both displays.

Surface Pro 8 and slim pen 2

The Surface Pro 8 comes with a 13-inch PixelSense display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and Intel’s newest 11th-generation CPUs. The Surface Pro’s thick display borders have also been reduced by Microsoft. The Surface Pro 8 is available for pre-order now and will cost $1,100 when it goes on sale on October 5th, it goes on sale.

Microsoft also unveiled the Slim Pen 2 with the Surface Pro 8. The $130 stylus has a haptic motor that, according to Microsoft, makes it seem like you’re writing on paper rather than on glass. The Surface Adaptive Kit is another new attachment that includes a selection of add-ons that make it simpler to find certain keys, identify ports, and open your laptop or its kickstand.

Surface Pro X

Microsoft has introduced a new Wi-Fi-only version of its Surface Pro X tablet, which was initially released with LTE cellular capability in 2019. It’s the first version to only include Wi-Fi, and it’ll cost $900.

However, with Windows 11 coming out next month, it will enable the tablet to emulate 64-bit apps and execute them.

Surface Go 3

Intel CPUs are used in the new Surface Go 3. The base model has a Pentium Gold 6500Y CPU, which is an upgrade over the 4425Y in Go 2, while the more costly models have Core i3 CPUs from the 10th generation. The latter processor, according to Microsoft, is 60% quicker than the Core m3 it previously provided with the Go 2. Pre-orders for the complete Surface Go 3 family are now open, with the basic model priced at $400. It will be available on October 5th, along with all of Microsoft’s other Surface PCs.

Surface Adaptive Kit

Microsoft is developing a Surface Adaptive Kit for disabled individuals. With keycap labels, bump labels, port indicators, and device openers, the package makes Microsoft’s range of laptops and tablets more accessible.

The keycap and bump labels make it simpler to discover ports and cables as well as identify essential keys. A pull tab and ring are included in the opener support to provide users more options when opening a laptop lid or manipulating a Surface kickstand. The kit was developed in collaboration with individuals with disabilities to ensure that it meets a wide range of needs.

WhatsApp continues with its experiments on Android. So, after the more or less important news of recent weeks, here is also the cashback for payments made on the instant messaging platform. At the moment the function is in beta testing only in India, a country where WhatsApp Pay has been available for some time (the other is Brazil, but there are hopes that the service will soon be available to other markets). The affected version is 2.21.20.3.

Thus, after introducing the shortcut button for payments, WhatsApp returns to the same theme and implements the function that allows you to receive a cashback after just 48 hours. The intent is clear: to promote the internal payment platform. It is as always WABetaInfo to have discovered the news, then specifying how it is not yet possible to know if this “prize” will be made available only for the first payment made via WhatsApp Pay or if it will work for all transactions.

The service is in testing in India and is valid only for UPI (Unified Payments Interface) payments, a payment system in the country to facilitate interbank transactions. The extent of the cashback to Brazil will depend on how the instrument is valued in the Asian subcontinent. Who knows that there will soon be news for other countries as well.

WhatsApp, like many other instant messengers and social platforms, actively fights against the inappropriate behavior of its users; so that individuals do not create discomfort for others. If earlier in WhatsApp it was possible to report a user; now in the beta version of WhatsApp for Android, there is an opportunity to report specific messages.

The new feature gives users the ability to choose which messages they want to forward to WhatsApp for review; to determine whether inappropriate behavior has occurred. Judging by the screenshots published by WABetainfo; the fresh beta version of WhatsApp allows you to inform the messenger team about specific messages from both individual and group chats. You can also file a complaint about messages from your business account.

Thanks to the new feature, after a user complains about a certain message; the previous five messages will be sent to the WhatsApp moderation service; which will help the messenger team correctly understand the context and decide whether to block the account. The new feature will soon be available; in the stable versions of WhatsApp for Android and iOS.

Popular social audio app, Clubhouse, launched a feature on Thursday that allows users to virtually wave at friends inside its audio-only chat app to indicate that they are available for a private conversation, in an effort to expand beyond public rooms with thousands of listeners. The feature is now available for all users on iOS and Android.

The company said in a tweet “There are over 700k rooms opened every day on Clubhouse. Yes, that includes the big moments you see in the news — but it’s also lots of lovely, small rooms between friends. So, we built a new feature to make those casual chats even easier! Say hello to Wave.”

With Wave, users can simply press a waving hand emoji to welcome others to a live audio room. When they receive their invitation, they can opt to join your call and be placed in an audio room right away.

What they are saying

The company said in a blog post: “To send a Wave, swipe right on the Hallway or tap the dots icon at the bottom left of the screen. Then tap the wave button next to the person you’d like to chat with. They’ll get a notification that you said hello, and know that you’re open to chatting. If they are too, they can join a private room with you — open just to the people you waved at. You can keep it to one social circle, introduce friends from different groups to each other, or open the room up more broadly and make it for everyone.”

What you should know

Clubhouse was formerly an invite-only app available solely to iOS users, but since an Android version was released, users no longer have to wait to be invited.

TECNO Mobile recently established an official security response center (SRC), a platform for cooperation and exchanges between TECNO and security industry experts, researchers, and organizations. This remarks a strategic move that reiterates TECNO’s consistent commitment to security and helps upgrade TECNO’s security ecosystem to a higher level.

TECNO SRC has launched a bug bounty program to encourage external security researchers to submit vulnerabilities detected to the security team, and reporters are entitled to get an up to $7,000 reward based on the evaluation of the impact of vulnerabilities. More than 45 models under TECNO Mobile’s four smartphone lines -PHANTOM, CAMON, SPARK, and POVA are listed for the bug bounty program.

Stephen Ha, general manager of TECNO said: “ At TECNO, our first priority is offering the most secure mobile experience to our users. SRC is of strategic significance for TECNO to create a comprehensive upgrade of TECNO’s security ecology. Through SRC, we have gone one solid step further on mobile security protection for our users in over 70 global emerging markets.”

John Peng, head of the security department said: “We understand that under the current social circumstances, users’ privacy and information security are vital. TECNO has been continuously executing diversified plans in terms of enhancing our product security. By cooperating with international security professionals through the establishment of SRC, we are sure that we  can provide users a more secure mobile user experience.”

Starting from coding, application, and firmware, the security department carries out security management and audits at each stage of product design, development, testing, and release. This is to ensure that all software installed on each device can pass a series of rigorous security checks, including the tests of TECNO security scanning platform, Google Play Protect, GMS BTS, and VirusTotal. In addition, TECNO has been regularly sending 90-day security patch updates to users to ensure product safety and protect user equipment from malicious software.

Moving forward, TECNO plans to reach cooperate with the international vulnerability public testing platform and continue to build a robust security ecosystem to offer the secure mobile experiences that users in over 70 emerging markets can trust.

For more information about TECNO Security Response Centre and bounty program, please visit: https://security.tecno.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TECNO Mobile.

Software engineering is a field that is vital to computer technology as a whole. Without the software to run the computer hardware, that hardware becomes a clump of plastic, silicon, and metal – perhaps useful as an overpriced paperweight.
In the strictest sense, software engineering is an application of engineering principles to the design, development, and implementation of software. Because software engineering is a unique, scientific, and technically-driven field, special training and formal degrees are required.

By getting a degree in software engineering, graduates can work in several software engineering jobs such as creating video games, developing internet applications, running computer networks, or implementing computer security measures for an organization.

Software Engineer Salaries

The market demand for qualified software engineers has created an arms race for the top talent. Salary research from ComputerWorld, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Robert Half International all reveal the same thing: Companies are willing to pay a premium to acquire top talent, with some annual salaries pushing northward of six figures.
A person working as a Software Engineer in Nigeria typically earns around 333,000 NGN per month. Salaries range from 170,000 NGN (lowest) to 513,000 NGN (highest). therefore, software engineering jobs are significantly lucrative in Nigeria.
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Software Engineer salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location.

Steps to Becoming a Software Engineer

Software engineering is an ever-changing profession, one that adapts as new technologies are developed. Because of its shifting nature, there are multiple entry points into the profession. Although no single path to becoming a software engineer exists, the steps below outline the general path to employment.

Step 1

Get an Education
Completing a formal education is the first step toward becoming a software engineer. Prospective students can select from both traditional and nontraditional training programs to gain the education necessary to pursue entry-level positions. Some options include:

Associate Degree (Two Years):

Although employers typically prefer candidates with a four-year degree, an associate degree can open the door to software engineering entry-level jobs in the field. Students may choose to pursue majors in several related areas, such as software engineering technology or software systems engineering. The curriculum focuses on the core principles of software engineering, programming languages, and modern approaches to software development.

Bachelor’s Degree (Four Years):

A bachelor’s degree in computer science, or a related field, is the traditional minimum degree preferred by employers. Bachelor’s degree programs expose students to a broader curriculum, one that provides a foundation in mathematics and computer science. Students develop a comprehensive understanding of programming, software architecture, and software testing. They may also take specialized courses in application areas, such as networking or embedded systems.

Coding Bootcamp (8 to 12 Weeks):

Coding boot camps are a relatively new educational path for aspiring software engineers or developers. These programs typically last between eight and 12 weeks and place students into a hands-on, immersive learning environment. Upon graduation, students should be ready for entry-level careers as software engineers or developers.

Step 2

Do an Internship
Completing a software engineering internship provides students with real-world experience. Technology companies may offer internships for students with a bachelor’s or master’s degree who are seeking to expand their skills in specific areas, such as Java, XML, or SQL. Internships typically last between three and six months and allow students to work on specific projects or products related to their skills.

Step 3

Pursue a Specialization
Generally speaking, there are two specializations within software engineering: applications and software/systems development. However, distinct areas of practice exist within each of these areas. Software engineers may choose to become experts in a single programming language or type of development. Below is a list of example specialty areas to consider:
· Web development
· DevOps
· Mobile development
· Technical stack (e.g., Python, Ruby)

Step 4

Pursue Entry-Level Career Opportunities
After earning a computer science or related degree or completing a Bootcamp program, the next step is to seek out entry-level employment. Because of the demand, software engineering has been rated one of the best entry-level careers available, according to Forbes. Although the dream job may be at Google, prospective software engineers can start with a small, local job hunt because, in the profession, experience is a critical commodity for career advancement.

Step 5

Get Certified
Although some certifications have lost their luster, they remain an integral part of the tech industry. Software engineering is precise and technical, and gaining certification verifies an applicant’s knowledge and abilities. Along with experience, certification can improve a person’s marketability in technology vendors (e.g., Microsoft, Cisco, and Oracle) as well as professional organizations (e.g., IEEE) and are tailored to specific areas of practice.

Step 6

Attend Conferences
Innovation drives change. That means software engineers need to stay abreast of the latest developments in both the general profession and their specialty. Attending conferences is a great way to network with other engineers and learn about new products, business practices, and technologies. Popular conferences for software engineers include the International Conference on Software Engineering and the International Conference on Automated Software Engineering.

Step 7

Earn a Graduate Degree
A graduate degree offers the opportunity to qualify for management and leadership positions in the industry. In addition, there is more to engineering than just programming. Software engineering calls upon interdisciplinary skills such as critical thinking, cost analysis, and project management — skills that can be enhanced in a master’s program in computer science, computer engineering, information science, or software engineering.

Software Engineering Bachelor’s Degrees

For students fresh out of the University (or shifting over from another career) who want to maximize their professional potential in software engineering and give themselves the best chance of finding ideal post-graduate employment, the bachelor’s in software engineering is worth pursuing. Most entry-level software engineering positions will require this four-year degree. Some more advanced positions may require a master’s degree in software engineering. In that case, a bachelor’s degree could be a prerequisite to admission.
Four of the typical classes that can be found at most software engineering bachelor’s degree programs are described below:

Object-oriented software development

Students will take an advanced programming language to solve common computer problems and tasks.

Computer security

Students receive an overview of computer security. Ethical, legal, and practical considerations will also be discussed.

Project management

Techniques and methods for designing and developing software projects on schedule and a budget should be covered in this class.

User interface

By applying the concepts of human communication methods, students should learn how to create user-friendly software that can communicate with people.

Components of a Successful Software Engineering Career: Skills, Tools, and Technology

Skills

Software engineers are expected to have a broad knowledge base and skill set in multiple proficiencies, including both nontechnical and technical areas.

Nontechnical Skills

Because software engineers work with non-engineers such as vendors, customers, and other team members, employers value individuals who possess nontechnical skills. A good software engineer should be a:

• · Collaborator
  · Able to leverage the input of others to devise solutions.
  · Team player
  · Works effectively in group settings.
  · Creative thinker
  · Able to develop new approaches to development.
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  · Problem-solver
  · Understands complex issues and knows how to use technology to solve them.
  · check icon
  · Communicator
  · Can speak in both technical and non-technical terms to a variety of audiences.

Industry-Specific Skills

Software engineering requires a comprehensive technical skillset and knowledge base that ranges from understanding business requirements to testing products. Below is a list of the core software engineering competencies from the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies.

ESTHER. A. Omomogbe

 Call center agents are customers’ first point of contact for inquiries and complaints. They have the daunting task of being the voice of the company. As a prospective call center agent, you should know that while receiving positive customer feedback and serving customers will make your day, there are sides to life in a call center that prove it isn’t for everyone. With this, there’s no denying that being a call center agent is an important job 

There are some particular sets of skills that you need to thrive in an inbound or outbound call center. unique set of skills such as patience, adaptability, great listening skills, and more. A call center is a tough environment that doesn’t have much downtime with hundreds of phone calls being answered or dialed each day. But considering that call center representative jobs are in high demand and expected to grow 39% between 2014 and 2024, it’s a position that could make a great career move. 

Here at DelonApps, we are the #1 Call Center service provider in Nigeria with over 14years of experience in providing technological solutions in Nigeria and helping job seekers find the right job for them. We will walk you through the process of making you qualified for call center jobs in Nigeria and help you decide if working in a call center is right for you, by answering six burning questions you probably have about working in a call center. 

1. WHAT EXACTLY IS A CALL CENTER? 

A possible call center interview question is; tell me what you understand by call center? A call center is a concentrated department to which calls from both existing and potential clients are being directed and handled. They are mostly used by large organizations to provide customer service functions. A call center service can be carried out by a department in a company or it can be outsourced to other companies that offer business process outsourcing services 

2 WHAT DOES A CALL CENTER AGENT DO? 

There are two major services carried out by call center agents and they are; inbound and outbound call services. inbound call center agents answer customer calls coming into a company. As an agent, you might represent retailers, insurance providers, or a utility company. Because you are the first point of contact for customers, the most important responsibility of inbound agents is handling customer inquiries and complaints. Happy, disappointed, and angry customers will cross your path, but it’s your job as an agent to hear their concerns and do your best to put them at ease. 

Additional responsibilities of inbound call center agents might include: 

• Provide information about the company’s products and services 
• Develop and document the customer relationship in the company’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software 

• Troubleshoot and resolve product issues and concerns 

On the other hand, outbound call center agents are responsible for making calls to customers or prospects on behalf of the business. This can include making calls for telemarketing, sales, fundraising, or even surveys. And because most of these calls are cold, outbound call center agents tend to spend more time on the phone than inbound agents. 

Beyond making calls to customers, outbound call center agent duties may include: 

• Maintain in-depth knowledge of company products and services 
• Pitch or recommend new products and services to customers 
• Schedule sales appointments 

3 IS WORKING IN A CALL CENTER HARD OR STRESSFUL? 

Call centers are the frontline of customer interaction, creating a naturally stressful environment. It is either you are bombarded with inquiries and complaints if you are taking inbound calls, or often be faced with rejection when placing outbound calls. But anyone who says their job isn’t stressful or hard at times is lying—every job has its moments. And while call center agents receive the brunt of angry and upset customers, they are rewarded every time they turn a sad customer into a happy one. So even though working in a call center is both hard and stressful, it is also very rewarding. 

4 DOES A CALL CENTER JOB NEED WORK EXPERIENCE? 

Don’t worry, you don’t need years of experience to get a flexible call center position. Many call center reps have a high school diploma, and usually, no higher education is required. Even with minimal work experience and no college, you could be the perfect call center agent, all you need is a couple of training on-the-job and off-the-job. Apart from the other common interview questions, you might be asked why  you want to work in a call center especially since you do not have previous experience in the job. You should be able to think of times when you have demonstrated the skills necessary for this position: a strong customer service orientation, good conflict/dispute resolution talents, and patience even when under pressure. 

5 ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AT A CALL CENTER? 

    Absolutely. Many of today’s CEO’s and other C-level executives got their start in a call center. For example, Andrea Ayers started her career as a call center trainer and became the CEO of Convergys, the world leader in customer experience outsourcing. The fact of the matter is, call center agents need to flex and learn hard, in-demand skills to provide a stellar customer experience, making them ideal candidates to move up in the company. 

Following the entry-level position of a call center agent, there are several positions you can be promoted to. For example, you might be promoted to lead agent where you have the added responsibility of assisting or training your team members. And once you have demonstrated your leadership skills as a lead agent, you might move on to become a supervisor and eventually, manage the whole call center. 

6 WHAT’S IT LIKE TO WORK IN A CALL CENTER? 

Working in a call center is just like any other service or sales job. The primary difference being that all of your customer interactions happen on the phone, either through dialing or answering calls each day. And because there is a distinct routine to working as a call center agent, you need to focus on each customer interaction to avoid getting bogged down in the monotony. 

Call center life is hard work, but the hardest things in life are usually the most rewarding. “You don’t want an easy job. Easy means you don’t get better, you don’t acquire skills, and you’ll never reach your full earning potential.” 

                                                                        – Paul Rivera, now co-founder and CEO of Kalibrr, 

While it’s tough work, you will learn coveted skills and gain valuable experiences as a call center agent that can propel your career forward. 

Not very much in 2020. A star disappeared, a bunch of stuff was caught on fire, Vue.js 3.0 was finally released, BARU* EXPLODED, Slacks sold out, Donald trump starts his 2nd term in January, SpaceX Dragon used web components, etc. 2020 has been a defining year for tech; there have been big winners and big losers. A lot of events and trends from 2020 provided a roadmap for developers that relating to a web, backend, mobile, AI, and more. 2020 forced many companies to embrace and implement remote work. Big companies like Microsoft and Facebook now permanently allow their staff to work from home.

Technology is ever-evolving regardless of the current market conditions. New technologies are evolving with groundbreaking innovations to tackle world issues. The fun part is that these innovations are what make life easier in the coming years. From systems that could predict the risk of virus transmission, to drones that could deliver essentials to your door. The tech industry is transforming our lives which is why we bring you the predictions in the tech industry as “Prediction is saver than following blindly” Coding Tech, 2019.

TYPESCRIPT

TypeScript will continue to dominate and it is already used by almost everybody for big complex projects but it is my opinion that there will be even new adoption since the invention of DENO which is a brand-new Java Script that came out in 2020 and runs type script notably. It is an alternative to new JS and we will see a lot of growth in Deno over the next few years. There is also a newly built tool called Snowpack that makes it fast and easy to start a new project with Typescript in your preferred framework and the most exciting is that it has nothing to do with JavaScript. By the end of 2025, there will be more people writing typescript daily than JavaScript without typescript.

WASM + PWAs

Web apps and native apps such as delon.ng, jobs.delon.ng, jiji.ng etc will become more indistinguishable than ever and there are two main reasons for this: Web Assembly and Web Platform (or a collection of features we call Progressive Web Apps). Web Assembly is a common target that multiple languages can compile to which means you can now build high-performance languages other than JavaScript. It is a way to run “almost-machine-code” in the browser and it is essential if one can build applications that can run faster than JavaScript. Also, the Web platform or browser now has most of the features that used to be available only on native apps such as push notifications, offline mode, background sync, Bluetooth, and more. What this means as a developer is that you can deliver a fully native app experience entirely to the free and open platform known as the web. Another possible use of web assembly is that one can use it to improve perf of JS apps and libraries and one example that Lin gave is that you can use it to react to reconciling faster. It is also a prediction that Web Assembly is going to expand the Web App Pie. Web Assembly will make no difference to the makeup of the web, but by 2025, there will be a new niche of heavyweight web apps that are made of apps distributed in the browser.

NO-CODE

There are a variety of tools out there now that makes it easier for people without engineering skills to develop apps. There are tools like Web flow for building websites, Amazon has honcho then google has App sheets for building mobile apps. Over the last couple of years, there has been a lot of return on investment flowing into the No-code Apps. Another good thing about it is that for a developer, The No-code Apps are more valuable because they obstruct the way of some of the most annoying parts of being a developer. For example, you might use a no-code app to … quickly instead of taking a week to build a baseline prototype. You now have one under a few minutes and can now move on to the exciting features that No-code tools cannot handle. If you are a developer working on something repetitive, that can be represented with a drag and drop UI and you probably have a great idea for a start-up in your hands.

SERVELESS

The growth of serverless computing has been accelerating for the last few years with tools like AWS Lambda, IBM Cloud Functions, and Google Cloud Functions leading the way. In the past, they could have been a few reasons why you did not want to use this platform. One of these is their high latency when they initially start. But in 2020, we have a new feature from AWS called Provision Concurrency which ensures you always have a hard function available to give you a predictable high latency known also as Cold Start. Another drawback with the serverless is that you cannot control the runtime with a docker container. The bottom line is that serverless functions are becoming suitable for more use cases. On top of that, we are now starting to see more serverless databases like Firestore, and Fauna. In the not-so-distant future, it will be rare for a developer to have to think about how they will maintain backend infrastructure. Everything will just magically work in the cloud.

Compile-to-JS

Back in the day, if people did not want to write JavaScript in the browser, they replace it with Java Applet or Flash. These days, the most popular ways to compile to a JS dialect to JS are CoffeeScript, Dart, Barbel, TS, and Svelte. All these are fundamentally the same upsides and downsides as JavaScript and other options are not JavaScript but pretty have the same upsides and downsides as JavaScript, for example, Clojure Script, ReasonML, and Elm. JS alternative will stay niche and age well. A lot of people who go betting on these technologies and they are going to continue being happy with those bets. There will still be continuous growth in compile-to-JS languages but none will be fast as TypeScript. TypeScript is taking over the world and by the end of 2025, they would have aged well although TypeScript will continue to grow and will be ever popular.

NPM

When you run NPM install, it automatically executes arbitrary code on your machine from thousands of machines and this is worse than running a bash script. This execution is as a result of a thing called the “post-install” that any package can put in a package.json and would just execute any arbitrary no JS code which is the same arbitrary code on your machine every time that package gets installed. NPM ends up surviving further problems and by 2021, at least, one NPN security incidents make the headline. By 2025, they will have been a virus outbreak and someone would have successfully distributed the virus through the NPN package. By then, at least one malicious NPN package would have infected many development machines.

These are my recent reviews garnered on predictions and new developments in the tech industry. Feel free to comment share with me more developments that await us in the future.

Reference:

Fireship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHtR5YSPLjo

Coding Tech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24tQRwIRP_w&t=1124s