I learnt motion graphics to a reasonable extent and I want to freelance with it

Please is it realistically possible to open a fiverr or upwork account in 2022 as a Nigerian and be sure of making little changes
note: I have tried opening a US fiverr account months ago and i didnt make any sales at all. to get tangible impressions alone was almost impossible
I know a friend who opened an upwork account and didn't make sales what so ever

I wanted to know, are there truths to be told about getting into Fiverr or upwork in 2022
is it possible and if it is what are the things to know and steps to take so that I do not stress myself in vain

I learnt video editting to a reasonable extent and I want to freelance with it

Please is it possible to open a fiverr or upwork account in 2022 as a Nigerian and be sure of making little changes
note: I have tried opening a US fiverr account months ago and i didnt make any sales at all. to get tangible impressions alone was almost impossible
I know a friend who opened an upwork account and didn't make sales what so ever

I wanted to know, are there truths to be told about getting into Fiverr or upwork in 2022
is it possible and if it is what are the things to know and steps to take

people still use facebook?

Max247:



Can you design with Autocad MEP or Revit

Please can you list out the necessary software you think every engineer should know in order to stand out especially elect elect engineers

Read4rmthend:


Am a Mechanical engineering graduate and I have been working with my degree since 3 years I went for NYSC and my job experience now include two multinationals.

I don't have time to begin list merits and demerits but I will give you for free some advices I wished someone gave me.

1) when you decide to continue being a Mechanical engineer ,take your studies seriously .leave the girls, the flexing, the sex, the buzz of uni live focus on your academia alone and graduate with the best available grade .one of the easiest way of leaving this hard shores to Europe or America is getting a first class degree in engineering -cultivate close relationship with decent lecturers and the intelligent guys in uni.

2) while at uni ,pick up skills like programming (python,c++), web design , graphics design etc. One of major regrets is abandoning web design half way through.While I am meaningfully employed now,I know fellas recking in close to half a million a month from ICT in Nigeria .

3)As a mechanical engineer ,you need to go for professional certification And courses like HSE, Quality control measurement and instrumentation . HSE 1-3 is enough to apply for a post of safety officer in companies in Nigeria thereby giving yourself an extra edge. If possible run a 3 month program in a qualified mechanic,HVAC,or heavy duty engine workshop to gain practical knowledge.

4) work on your dressing and confidence. Take chances. I literally walked into an expatriate logistics company in the East after the covid period, I told the workshop manager that I was a graduate looking for placement in his automobile workshop . He told me there wasn't a vacancy ,I said that's ok I was willing to work for free as long as I picked up a skill or two. And I did work deligently for free for almost 4 months. Experience gained there helped me get employed in another multinational firm into glass production.I have also received 2 employment offers from them each one bigger than the former and I might just accept the 3rd if it comes.

The point is fortune favors the brave. Goodluck on you journey and once again pls ignore the girls for now

Thank you so much
I really appreciate

othermen:
As a young fellow getting started in his career, you are doing great observing what may be prevalent.

I think young people should try to get some education about their chances- as you have or as you desire before going to the university to study any course.

You have to consider which is foremost to you- is it to have a successful career in whatever endeavour or to become a successful engineer; if it is the former, such that you are desiring a career for the success output, you may need to assess other courses aside Engineering that may provide readily available opportunities for you.

Increasingly, renowned courses like Law and Engineering needs to be re-assessed by those aspiring for a career in either. Most people are rather desiring for paid employment, when the fields actually has several opportunities to be self-employed, becoming a consulting professional or getting into some start-up.

Engineering is a wonderful course- however the formal labour market in Nigeria may not be so much great or wonderful for the discipline.

While there seem to be far limited formal opportunities for engineers than there are engineers, for those that persevere, and got opportunity to practice in their field- they often have the best outcomes in terms of prosperity when compared with other disciplines. (Check Aerospace Engineering).

There are some engineering courses that gives you significant edge in the informal labour market. Such that you can start your own enterprise right away and become an employer of labour as well. Now, the difficulty with this is the cost of start up and the competence we have instilled which is not geared towards self sufficiency or entrepreneurial spirit. Engineering, accounting or finance, medicine among others are all professional courses that don't require additional post-graduate degrees to maximise the opportunities they may afford. You just have to have right mindset of problem identification and solving to being a structural analyst.

Most engineers that went through Nigeria universities have had little exposure to practical training in Engineering. The universities have focused more on theoretical engineering- when engineering is mostly a practical course. The faculties could have been innovative in building massive workshop that can help instill the requisite skills that would propel a desirable career in most of their alumni; however they are frustrated by the nonchalance of the FG which has crushed what should be the faculty imagination.

What then is the option left to the engineer who can’t get a chance in the formal engineering labour market or who don’t have the resource for a start up?

So a civil engineer for instance could personally take on the supervision of construction or re-construction of housing units or other building structures- massive ones and the small residential ones. In many residential areas in Lagos, you have civil engineers approach owners of old building structures with great plans to pull down and reconstruct the buildings at their own cost, while such arrangement gives them some form of leasehold on the newly constructed building say a two flats now devolved into a six flats. They could have a long term leasehold on 2 of those flats. Now you don’t have to be a civil engineer to do such, you just need to have the requisite skills. However the Engineering discipline gives a confidence in such prospective customers that non-engineers approaching can offer them. Some civil engineers have made more money more than those working in Shell BP by exploring such.

Mechanical engineers on the other hand, also just need a little support to get started in the informal labour market; in sane schools- they are taught the competence to be able to design about anything. As at today, the universities may not offer as much technical skills as you may see in a polytechnic or some technical schools. The mechanical engineer must be humble enough to realize this. After getting around such, the issue then may be the cost of designing whatsoever they desire designing which may be highly demanding and in a nation that don’t support innovation, you have to look elsewhere. I know mechanical engineers that specialize in plumbing for very big building construction firms - designing and supervising the plumbing. Now, some ignorant mechanical engineers sees plumbing as a mere apprenticeship exercise, but with one’s credentials- you become even more feasible for opportunities. This is aside those, that are probably into constructions or repairs of factory machines and intensive trucks such as drilling machines.

I think ultimately in addition to what you may acquire from this thread - you have to understand that becoming successful as an engineer is a function of your own mindset. And for some people with the right mindset, it is in a place like Nigeria where several things don’t seem to work- that there are opportunities. There is no electricity / then there is a market for affordable power plans such that an electrical engineer who is innovative and adaptable can provide affordable solar energy technology to people. Get on LinkedIn, take a look at the profiles of engineers working in great firms, look at the unique skills they have, look at the career choices they have made. It could help you create your own template.

Don’t make costly assumptions based on what you may find in your immediate environment. Many of those people are products of a dysfunctional mindset or of a mindset compelled by the tragic realities of Nigeria. However if you have incorporated such reality in your methodological mindset, you should excel well in engineering or in any discipline you so choose. Those working in the manufacturing that you have interacted with are mostly products of technical education, and they provide supports and take instructions from the engineers, while those who attended universities that you interact with have little to no technical expertise. Again, if you build a methodological mindset towards your career, engineering can give you so much.

thank you so much
I sincerely cannot express my appreciation
can I send you a mail?

Gerrard59:


If you can't do computer science, study mathematics. Most engineering grads have ventured into tech because of the poor career prospects and low pay. Mind you, this is a global phenomenon (engineering grads pivot to finance, tech and consulting because of the meagre salaries for their jobs. Their numerical skills are a great advantage in those industries). For instance, most MBA students these days had their first degree in an engineering discipline. Additionally, you need to read the wailing by engineering grads on Reddit from all over the world especially in countries with low manufacturing contribution to the national GDP. Where engineers have great prospects are China, Japan and South Korea, but then, they earn less compared tech bros or finance grads. In Singapore, engineering grads enter the finance or tech industry because of higher salaries. Mind you, Singapore has an advanced manufacturing sector (https://www.wsj.com/articles/singapore-manufacturing-factory-automation-11655488002) with great universities and a strong math foundation for secondary school pupils.

Studying an engineering course in Nigeria that doesn't have a strong mid-tier manufacturing sector considering the plethora of universities and polytechnics offering sub-disciplines makes no sense to me. My major issue is ASUU strikes & associated internal school problems. What this means is that, your colleagues in mathematics, physics, chemistry are done while you are at risk of spending a year or two. Most developed countries don't offer five years for engineering but Nigeria does, another thing that is senseless to me.

In summary, choose mathematics or physics, make a stellar grade and japa for further studies. A lad who came pleading for travel funds on TwitterNG studied Physics both BSc and MSc and got a fully funded assistantship to do his PhD in Aeronautical Engineering. If it's tech you see yourself, computer science or mathematics will do you great help. Again, with mathematics or physics, you can can enter the finance industry.

Remember, passion cannot pay house rent or buy you food. Also, you're residing in Africa's poverty capital.

this is truly invaluable ...thank you

the last line is really deep

casualobserver:
The thing you need to understand is that a degree is not what it used to be all over the world but especially in Nigeria.

1) in Nigeria the standard of education has fallen, so a degree in most fields is no better than "0" levels 50 years ago plus every dick and harry has a degree. So if you get a degree in a Nigerian University, today it must be a targeted degree in a targeted institution. Back in the day such was the standard of education that you could get a bank job as a secondary school leaver and rise to become director, today you get a degree and are stuck as a contract bank teller.

2) Skill Certification is more valued in today's world. Increasingly Employers require employees who have expert knowledge in a particular product. For instance you have a computer science degree..thats your business, most employers needs someone who has a particular software certification...your degree is only an advantage, the guy who has no degree but certification will get the job over you with a computer science degree but no certification.

A degree does not guarantee you anything anymore, especially a Nigerian University degree, that is not to say it is worthless but you have to add to your degree to stand out and know the type of degree and the type of University. There are some universities and courses you go to in Nigeria and you are just wasting 4 years of your life....no employer rates your course or University. Thats why many graduates end up as sales reps or teachers on minimum wage jobs or even drivers. When you hear such stories ask which Universities they attended and which courses they did.

wow
I sincerely appreciate your contribution

in summary the course is equally important as the university

but may I ask..

what would you rather advice someone to choose..because the reality is every one can not studying the most respected courses same way everyone can not study in the most respected school like UNILAG and UI.. I have seen this as the reality from previous jamb student who got fustrated over the fact that they want to study in UI or UNILAG but ended up in polythenics

may I ask.. which of these options do you think is better

going to UNILAG to study let say Physics education or any low course that was given to me after applying elect elect
OR
going to an average university like Nasarawa state university or kaduna state university to study medicine or elect elect..

to shorten it ..is it course over school or school over course

because the reality is ...for my self trying to get into top schools to study top courses will be nearly impossible as I might not meet up with the strict requirements..I am being realistic.

advanceDNA:
U better go do nursing or IT courses...... e get why.....u gats flow with the tide of times and season

but there are literally no IT courses in most Nigerian universities?
except you want to be specific and mention computer science

I have become skeptical about Engineering in Nigeria

Ever since I was in secondary school, All my teachers who taught me science and mathematics are grduates of engineering, my futher math, physics, Agric ,math and chemistry teachers all had degrees ( B.Sc./B.Eng.) in Engineering. Some studied Agric engineering, civil I can still remember one who studied electrical. From FUNAAB

This got me thinking why do they end up like this, Are there no job market for graduate engineers anymore.
Mind you, I live in a highly industrialized area, where I stay, PZ Cussons, African Steel, Kimberly Clack, Dangote Flour, GB foods e.t.c all have their major facotories here..trust me there are many more but these are the highly ranked onced whom I believe many of you might be familiar with.

But when I interact with many of their engineers who work in these factories and live close to my house, I have never see any one of them who are graduates..not a single one..but they work as in engineers in these huge factories especially PZ cussons, African steel and GB foods.. they are not educated
The educated engineers with degrees, I mostly see them in private schools like mine and they earned nothing more than 28,000. They may be be extra from home teaching and the likes

While I was in SS 1, My geography teacher although didn’t study engineering but material science from FUTO (one of my dream school) and he was my teacher in his early 30s earning less than 30k..
The man who tutored me for my WAEC studied Mech.eng from UNIBEN. another tutor whom I wasn’t so close to but I got to know from colleagues that he also studied Mech.eng from Yabatech.
I know a friend whose father is a university dropout but works in Promasidor at Oshodi, they make Cowbell milk and Onga (I think).. and the father is an engineer there..I am confused, How?

I have passion for engineering but I don’t want to foolishly think that my case might be different.
Nairalanders who know a thing or two about the realities engineering in Nigeria
Please, what extra things do engineering students need to learn to ensure after graduation they are able to practice in their field or work in major manufacturing firms like I aspire.


I want to study Mechanical engineering or elect elect. I am still confused..Please I’ll really appreciate if y’all can help