The Complete Guide

to Entering Tech
 Chapter 1
Introduction

Chapter 2
Reason You Should Consider a Career in Tech

Chapter 3
Departments in a Tech Company

Chapter 4
How to land your first Tech Job

Chapter 5
How to write a stellar CV

Conclusion
Introduction

Tech, they say, is the new oil. Governments, corporates, and

individuals are leveraging it to build, and perhaps rebuild the world.
But we have barely scratched the surface of its potential.

Unicorns, fund raise announcements every other day, stock

options and IPOs, casual dress codes, high remunerations; all of
these make up the many reasons why a tech career is so attractive
right now, especially in Nigeria. To a lot of newcomers, the tech
scene
may seem perplexing and even intimidating. A lot of people shut
their minds to tech, believing that without a degree in computer
science, knowing how to code, or insider connections, getting a job
in tech is impossible.

That’s untrue. Once you get past the perceived barricade,

whether you are a student, a recent graduate, or an experienced
professional, there is no tech job that is not within your reach and
that’s why we have developed this guide to help you make that
life-changing decision or better still, help you transition safely into
Tech.
Reason You should
consider a career
in Tech.

1. Tech Jobs are on the rise

With start-ups springing up every day and tech companies

expanding, the number of job opportunities keeps rising. This
report shows that Africa’s internet economy will contribute an
estimated $180bn to Africa’s economy by 2025, and this will reach
$712bn by 2050. There has never been a better time to get involved.

2. You will be involved in meaningful work

If you enjoy solving problems. The Tech industry is probably a

good place for you to grow that skill. Technology is not only about
coming up with new ideas, but also figuring out how to make those
ideas work out. It’s always about coming up with solutions. It seeks
to make everything -- no matter how mundane -- easier, faster,
and better. There are only a few other industries that can boast of
that.
3. Hard work, fun work, valuable work

If you are always in for a challenge, the tech industry needs you.
Tech professionals focus on solving virtually every problem people
encounter and even come up with more and new solutions the
world has not thought about fixing. No matter your tech role, the
industry will bring out the best in you. Your work will hardly ever
be boring. It may be hard work but it will definitely be fun work,
and most of all, valuable work.

4. Great salaries and culture: Tech jobs are not only fun

they also offer very lucrative salaries with very desirable perks. And
it only gets better the more you upskill and helps create solutions
in the company. It is not only the benefits and remuneration that
make the industry so attractive but the people too -- the people
who work in tech are incredibly talented, enthusiastic about their
work, and dedicated to a culture of learning. It is arguably the
happiest industry, 1 in 12 candidates choose it as their preferred
industry.

5. Variety

The work of a technology professional can be incredibly vast --

there is very little one can not do. While technology is an industry
itself, it overlaps with almost every other industry. Technology
professionals work in health, agriculture, logistics, energy,
entertainment, and even specialized professions such as law,
banking, and engineering. The great thing about this is that there
are not only tech roles in tech companies. There are a variety of
departments that could be found in a Tech Company.

Now that I have convinced you with reasons you should consider a
career in Tech, we can go into the different departments that can
be found in a Tech Company.
Departments in
a Tech Company

For starters, we wanted to talk about a misconception we’ve seen

repeated on Twitter, LinkedIn, and even TikTok: that you need to
know how to code to work in tech. This couldn’t be more wrong.
Sure, coding is an integral part of digital technologies from social
media apps to electric vehicles. But that doesn’t mean only coders/
developers can work in tech. Tech companies are like all other
companies. Coders help develop the product but there are many
other career paths that help build the tech industry.

We are going to highlight the different departments that make up

a Tech Company.

A
Design
Coming in hot, we have the design team. They are an
essential part of a Tech company as they are responsible
for creating the best visuals and user experience for
the product. The design team usually includes;
UX designer
Frontend Developer
Graphics Designer
Illustrator
and/or Motion Graphics Designer
B
Operations/Administration
They are responsible for ensuring the business’s overall
day-to-day activities run smoothly. The Operations/ Admin
team includes;
CEO
Operations Manager
Project Manager

C
Business Development/Sales
The Biz Dev team is responsible for identifying prospective
leads, nurturing these leads, and turning them into
new paying clients for the business. They are basically
responsible for increasing revenue for the business. The
team comprises;
Business Development Manager
Account Executive
Sales Executive (& Associate)

D
Finance & Accounting
We can not forget this team (A very important team 😏) They
are responsible for tracking the business’ expenses and
revenue, balancing sheets, handling taxes & cashflow, and
very importantly managing payroll 😏 The team is made up
of
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Financial Analyst
Auditor
E
Marketing and Growth:
This team is responsible for strategizing, developing, and
implementing marketing initiatives that help achieve the
business goals and ultimately, increase revenue for the
business. This comprises of;
Marketing Manager
Paid Media Manager
SEO specialists
Social Media Strategist
Social Media Manager

F
Human Resource:
They are also called the “Talent Management” Team and
they are responsible for all processes of talent acquisition,
(including onboarding and training of new hires). They also
assist with payroll management ensuring that remuneration
is happening in a timely manner. The team is made up of;
HR Analyst
HR/Talent Manager
HR/Talent Associate

G Legal Counsel:
This is usually outsourced to Legal practices and this team
is responsible for creating contracts and ensuring that
they are following the approved policies and laws of the
business. This team is also tasked with giving legal advice to
the decision-makers in the business.

As you can see, there is a place for everybody in the tech

ecosystem. Now I will take you through “how to land your
first tech job” because you see this tech bag? WAGMI. (We’re
All Gonna Make It.)
How to Land Your
First Job In Tech

The first thing you need to know about landing your first tech job
as an entry-level applicant is that it’ll probably take you months to
land, and chances are you’ll get a lot of rejection in the process.
Don’t be worried though; this is where all your previous romantic
rejections will pay off.

There are not a lot of entry-level roles for tech on the continent.
Everyone is building something and they need experienced hands
to help. There are a few of these roles available across the continent,
you can join this newsletter (be one of the few to be notified when
an opening comes up). We’ll talk about the Do’s and Dont when
positioning yourself to be in the very top 1% of applicants. This
is, after all, one of the few places where sticking out like a sore
thumb helps!
 Build your profile
Right from the start, you need to build your profile and portfolio
to match the industry and job you’re looking for. For example,
designers can work on projects and showcase them on Behance
while software developers or data analysts should build
profiles on GitHub. Building your profile on the right platforms
can help connect you with the right people. Your profile also
includes your CV and the kind of information you capture on
it. Information about past internships is more important than
your secondary school certificate or your date of birth; capture
the flag right information.

Take online courses

DO’S

(Even though they can take weeks to complete 😭): One of the
things that can set you apart from other applicants is taking the
right courses. Online courses give you an intro and practical
working knowledge on some key things you’ll need to work on
the job. There are thousands of free courses online from places
like AptLearn, Udemy, Coursera, and even Google. There are
also some that cost a little bit of money. If you’re applying for
jobs at important companies, having certifications on certain
skill sets will give you an added advantage.

Be Visible
One of the best ways to land your first job in tech is by making
sure you’re visible. Post your certifications on LinkedIn, GitHub,
and especially Twitter. Recruiters often use social media to
headhunt, so make sure you’re an easy target! Share your
projects, journeys, learnings from internships, and other
tangible information other than your love life on social media.
 Follow the right people
There’s tons of important information online. Regardless of
what tech role you’re looking for, there are already a bunch
of experienced people who are sharing information and
opportunities you can use to better yourself.

Don’t be a jack of all trades

Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better
than a master of one. This is not one of those times. If you’re
looking to land your first tech job, don’t do too many things at
DON’Ts

once. Don’t start off learning UX design and port to product

management just two months after. Don’t try to be a full-stack
developer in your first year of coding.
Why? Well, first because you’re learning the role and it’ll be
harder to get proficient enough in one if you’re focused on too
many things. Second, and most importantly, companies want
to hire people who are experts at what they do; specialists.
Your job applications and interviews will show how well you
can explain the one role you want to be hired for, not how
well you can juggle five other roles you’re not very good at. So
don’t do too much, bestie.

Don’t wait for opportunities

Unfortunately, the world is not your oyster. It’s one oyster
with one pearl, and there are many farmers who want that
pearl.
As we’ve said, there are not a lot of opportunities for entry-
level tech roles so you’ll have to chase after the ones that are
available. Unlike your dating pool options, there are not many
fishes in the ocean. Aggressively chase your options and look
for opportunities.
 Don’t expect things to turn out your way
You probably won’t get the first job you apply for…or the first
30 you apply for. Like any other sector, you have to be patient
and consistent with your application and learning if you really
DON’Ts

want to work in tech.

It’s a long process and it may not turn out the way you expect.
Elon Musk might not decide to take you under his wing as
his mentee and heir 😭. Paystack probably won’t shut down
because they don’t have you on the team. But if you put in
the work and time, you’ll find opportunities that you can take
advantage of.

Don’t be afraid:
to ask questions, or to fail. Birds don’t just fly, they’re constantly
falling down and getting back up: that’s what progress looks
like. Everyone who works in tech started off like you, with
internships, courses, or even learning on the job. The only
difference is the time apart. So don’t shy away from challenges
and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Whilst I have given you the hardcore truth, I will also be

showing you how to write a stellar CV.
How to Write a
Stellar CV?

CVs are a little scary, aren’t they? I don’t like to talk too much
about my accomplishments, but I’m forced to detail some of
them during my quarterly CV cleanup exercise. Think of it as
a spring cleaning exercise except it happens in Google Docs,
not your home. In many cases, CVs are the first impressions
of the corporate world; they’re the first thing your bosses
and managers will learn about you. So to make a great first
impression, you have to ensure your CV stands out. How do
you curate resumes/CVs that shine? Here are a few tips.
1
Show results
A great CV is the enemy of a math teacher- you have to
show your results without focusing on the workings. In
the tech world, what matters is what you’re able to build
and how fast you’re able to build it. If you’re applying for a
role as a product manager, your CV must show how many
[successful] products you have built. Instead of just stating
what you did in old jobs, show what your efforts produced.

2
Here’s an example:

Instead of: Responsible for building a newsletter product. ❌

Use: Contributed to the 4x growth of a digital product within
my first 18 months in the role.✅
Measurable metrics (Results) are what matter, and they’ll

3
make your CV stand out.

Add only essential information

You may have heard this before but your CV is not your
autobiography. It’s your corporate FAQ. Only essential
information regarding your corporate or work history
should be added. Take out information like your date of
birth, your primary and secondary schools, marital status,
and your physical addresses.
Your CV is selling you and your skills to potential employers.
It’s the real-life elevator pitch!
4
One size doesn’t fit all
CVs are not like wristwatches, one size type does not fit
all. You have to create CVs for every job you’re applying to.
The CV you send to TechCabal is not the one you’ll send
to Zikoko. Each job has key requirements, and if your CV
doesn’t measure up to them, it’ll be tossed aside. For every
job you apply to, modify your CV to showcase the skills
and requirements they’re looking for if you have them. For
example, a data analyst job might call for expertise in the
Python language. A CV that states “proficient in all data
languages” will not scale through, but one that specifically

5
mentions proficiency in Python will.

Size matters
Recruiters get hundreds and sometimes thousands of
applications, depending on the role. The longer your CV is,
the fewer time recruiters will have to focus on key aspects
of your application. The optimal length of a CV should be
two to three pages.

6
Choose the right format
Finally, the format of your CV will also play a role in which
jobs you get interviewed for. You need to make sure your
CV is styled to the global standard. This means no spelling
errors, no wrong punctuation marks, and no—we can’t
stress this enough—Comic Sans font! Choose a legible or
standard font like Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond, or
Open Sans. No cursive or showy fonts are needed—unless,
of course, you’re applying to be a clown.
Conclusion

While adulting has everyone by the neck, finding a job - not just
in tech but in all industries - is the absolute ghetto but sadly, it
is one way to defeat adulting 😩.

I genuinely hope this guide helps you find the right career. We
hope you go after your goals and dreams, full throttle. We are
rooting for you!

Join our family here and encourage your friends to join as well.
We are looking forward to you blossoming and cannot wait to
hear you have landed your dream tech job.