NewStats: 3,265,035 , 8,185,403 topics. Date: Friday, 13 June 2025 at 08:38 AM 1p591u

I see it everywhere. You want to apply for a good remote job, but every listing demands five years of experience.
But here's the thing—how are you supposed to get experience if no one will hire you?

The frustrating cycle keeps repeating:
You apply to jobs, but you get ignored.
You feel stuck because you don't check all the boxes.
You start wondering if remote jobs are even real or just meant for certain people.

Truth is, you don’t always need experience—the right strategy can make all the difference.

Consider what works for most people:
Position the skills you already have in a way that makes recruiters pay attention.
Build proof of your expertise—even if you’ve never worked in the field.
Find opportunities that don’t rely on strict experience requirements.

I’ve spent time figuring out real solutions to this problem, and I’d love to share what I’ve learned. If you’re tired of feeling stuck, let’s talk.


What’s been the most frustrating part of your job search? Drop a comment!

A lot of people think landing a remote job is just about sending tons of applications. But the real game-changer is how you present yourself to recruiters. Even if you don’t have five years of experience, there are ways to make your profile stand out.


Highlight skills instead of job titles—companies care about what you can DO, not just where you've worked.

Build small proof projects—this is like showing, instead of just telling, what you can do.

Get into the right spaces—networking in industry circles gets you noticed faster than cold applications.


The good news? There’s a way to break the cycle—you just need the right strategy.

What’s been holding you back the most?

Everyone wants a remote Job...
Limited jobs with high applicants🙄

Remote job is very competitive.

My recommendation is to target a hybrid job and then after working for a while negotiate with the management for remote options after they have seen your commitment and dedication

The most frustrating part for me is the lack trust in Nigerian professionals by foreign clients.

Just yesterday I sent a dm to a potential client on Facebook. I told him how I can help him solve his current problem.

At first, we had agreed to have a discovery call via zoom meeting where I was going to get to know him and also tell him about me and my skill set.

Would you believe after all the initial talks and rapport between us, he stopped talking to me after he discovered I'm from Nigeria?

The thing is I deliberately told him the meeting was schedule for Nigerian time zone to see his reaction.

But when these people are looking for people who are going to work for on a commission, they can easily settle for Nigerians.

Another problem is WFT setups as most jobs now requires to have a dedicated office space set up for remote opportunity.

Still have an email I'm yet to reply due to lack of WFT.

I mean I do. But I know the standards these people are looking for.

How can someone who is into marketing build proof without actually having an experience?

Marketing is not like web design where you can just create a website or data analytics where you can easily get data set to practice and showcase as your portfolio.

SelormGH:
A lot of people think landing a remote job is just about sending tons of applications. But the real game-changer is how you present yourself to recruiters. Even if you don’t have five years of experience, there are ways to make your profile stand out.


Highlight skills instead of job titles—companies care about what you can DO, not just where you've worked.

Build small proof projects—this is like showing, instead of just telling, what you can do.

Get into the right spaces—networking in industry circles gets you noticed faster than cold applications.


The good news? There’s a way to break the cycle—you just need the right strategy.

What’s been holding you back the most?

That’s very true. The demand for remote jobs is skyrocketing, but the real winners aren’t just the ones applying—they’re the ones standing out in a crowded field.

Akano5:
Everyone wants a remote Job...
Limited jobs with high applicants🙄

That’s a solid approach! Landing a fully remote job can be tough with so much competition, but starting with a hybrid role can be a smart way in.

Once you’ve built trust and shown your value, it’s much easier to negotiate for remote flexibility—especially if your performance speaks for itself.

Many companies are open to remote work, but they want to see commitment first.

Have you tried this strategy before, or are you considering it now? It could be a great way to transition into full remote work over time, yeh

Legendguy:
Remote job is very competitive.

My recommendation is to target a hybrid job and then after working for a while negotiate with the management for remote options after they have seen your commitment and dedication

The struggle is real when it comes to landing remote jobs, but for many Nigerian professionals, there’s an extra hurdle—the trust issue.

It’s frustrating. You put in the effort, showcase your skills, and have solid conversations with clients. Then, the moment they realize you’re Nigerian, the energy shifts.

I’ve been there. And the truth is, bias exists. But here’s the thing—some professionals still break through and land great opportunities. The difference? How they approach it.

What helped most clients…:
Lead with proof – Instead of just saying what you can do, SHOW it. Portfolio samples, testimonials, and case studies go a long way.
Leverage trusted platforms – Many clients hesitate with direct outreach but feel more secure hiring through Upwork, Fiverr, or LinkedIn.
Be strategic with time zones – Mentioning "Nigeria Time Zone" outright might trigger bias. Try using UTC or GMT instead—it keeps things neutral.
Control first impressions – If possible, start conversations in comment sections, industry groups, or mutual circles before direct outreach.

And About Work-From-Home Setups…
Many companies now want professionals with a proper WFH setup. If that’s a requirement:
Optimize your space – Good lighting, a clean background, and minimal noise help present a professional image.
Use co-working spaces when needed – If you ever need to prove a professional environment, renting a space occasionally can help.
Be upfront but adaptable – If you don’t have the exact setup they want, highlight your ability to deliver quality work regardless.

Bottom line? You CAN land remote jobs, even with these challenges. It just takes the right strategy and a little extra finesse.

Akanaz:
The most frustrating part for me is the lack trust in Nigerian professionals by foreign clients.

Just yesterday I sent a dm to a potential client on Facebook. I told him how I can help him solve his current problem.

At first, we had agreed to have a discovery call via zoom meeting where I was going to get to know him and also tell him about me and my skill set.

Would you believe after all the initial talks and rapport between us, he stopped talking to me after he discovered I'm from Nigeria?

The thing is I deliberately told him the meeting was schedule for Nigerian time zone to see his reaction.

But when these people are looking for people who are going to work for on a commission, they can easily settle for Nigerians.

Another problem is WFT setups as most jobs now requires to have a dedicated office space set up for remote opportunity.

Still have an email I'm yet to reply due to lack of WFT.

I mean I do. But I know the standards these people are looking for.

Akanaz:
The most frustrating part for me is the lack trust in Nigerian professionals by foreign clients.

Just yesterday I sent a dm to a potential client on Facebook. I told him how I can help him solve his current problem.

At first, we had agreed to have a discovery call via zoom meeting where I was going to get to know him and also tell him about me and my skill set.

Would you believe after all the initial talks and rapport between us, he stopped talking to me after he discovered I'm from Nigeria?

The thing is I deliberately told him the meeting was schedule for Nigerian time zone to see his reaction.

But when these people are looking for people who are going to work for on a commission, they can easily settle for Nigerians.

Another problem is WFT setups as most jobs now requires to have a dedicated office space set up for remote opportunity.

Still have an email I'm yet to reply due to lack of WFT.

I mean I do. But I know the standards these people are looking for.

Sorry about your experience, but let's be honest here, Nigerians are the most terrible people to work with online. This is coming from someone who has worked with more than 100 Nigerians remotely. My most recent experience. A nairalander who provided his name as fnep2smooth was commissioned to do a job on my site. After failed attempts to deliver, this guy ghosted me. I had to log him out of my site and get someone else to do it. Who does that? Only a Nigerian. I have worked with people from other countries, and I have not met anyone as bad as the average Nigerian.

Don't get me wrong. I have worked with very wonderful guys from Nigeria. Two of them are presently working with me on a project, but people like these guys are rare (Like 1 out of 40 or 50).

I need legit websites and areas that I can get remote job. Someone should please help me.

Interesting.

monteriza:


Sorry about your experience, but let's be honest here, Nigerians are the most terrible people to work with online. This is coming from someone who has worked with more than 100 Nigerians remotely. My most recent experience. A nairalander who provided his name as fnep2smooth was commissioned to do a job on my site. After failed attempts to deliver, this guy ghosted me. I had to log him out of my site and get someone else to do it. Who does that? Only a Nigerian. I have worked with people from other countries, and I have not met anyone as bad as the average Nigerian.

Don't get me wrong. I have worked with very wonderful guys from Nigeria. Two of them are presently working with me on a project, but people like these guys are rare (Like 1 out of 40 or 50).

monteriza:

Don't get me wrong. I have worked with very wonderful guys from Nigeria. Two of them are presently working with me on a project but people like these guys are rare (Like 1 out of 40 or 50).

Then why generalise that Nigerians are the most terrible people to work with online if the text highlighted in bold has been your experience?

Don't you guys get sick and tired of constantly dissing, demarketing and devaluing your own people and country? I ask this with no offence meant on my part.

The power of the tongue is real, so stop saying things like Nigerians are the most terrible people to work with online and start saying things like I am always fortunate to find diligent and honest Nigerians to work with.

We are snared by the words of our mouth and a snare is a trap. So if you are saying things like Nigerians are the most terrible people to work with online, you just trapped yourself into encountering Nigerians who will prove to be terrible workers to you.

Think about it, again, no offence meant.

Klass99:


Then why generalise that Nigerians are the most terrible people to work with online if the text highlighted in bold has been your experience?

Don't you guys get sick and tired of constantly dissing, demarketing and devaluing your own people and country? I ask this with no offence meant on my part.

The power of the tongue is real, so stop saying things like Nigerians are the most terrible people to work with online and start saying things like I am always fortunate to find diligent and honest Nigerians to work with.

We are snared by the words of our mouth and a snare is a trap. So if you are saying things like Nigerians are the most terrible people to work with online, you just trapped yourself into encountering Nigerians who will prove to be terrible workers to you.

Think about it, again, no offence meant.

I take this to mean that you didn’t fully understand my post. I started outsourcing more than 12 years ago. My overall experience with Nigerians has been awful. Positive confession will not change my next experience.

monteriza:


Sorry about your experience, but let's be honest here, Nigerians are the most terrible people to work with online. This is coming from someone who has worked with more than 100 Nigerians remotely. My most recent experience. A nairalander who provided his name as fnep2smooth was commissioned to do a job on my site. After failed attempts to deliver, this guy ghosted me. I had to log him out of my site and get someone else to do it. Who does that? Only a Nigerian. I have worked with people from other countries, and I have not met anyone as bad as the average Nigerian.

Don't get me wrong. I have worked with very wonderful guys from Nigeria. Two of them are presently working with me on a project, but people like these guys are rare (Like 1 out of 40 or 50).

I am so disappointment in you sir, you approach me a to fix your live chat, first I observed the layout is custom CSS ( who use custom CSS), secondly more than 5 Dev have worked on the script making it look like a mess, and also it's a legacy code with more than 5000 CSS line l, I backup your site and its was more than 4gb (empty site for that matter) zip files and rar files there that is more than 200mb are in all the folders, which means that everyone that works on that script don't delete there .

After fixing the CSS issue just as you want it to look ike the Microsoft team chat UI. You still rejected it. I then suggest to use a third-party library for live chat that will work better with pusher, but you refuse.

How can someone in this 2025 still want to create is own live chat features using CSS and JavaScript, without no modern library to simplify the orocess. Why reinventing the wheel.

That's how you told me to revert the code which I did.

There are hundreds of third party library that will give you a perfect job and save you all this UI and text issue.. so I noticed you most be one of those difficult people who love using legacy code and are not open to new innovations

Thanks , don't mention my name again.

fnep2smooth:


I am so disappointment in you sir, you approach me a to fix your live chat, first I observed the layout is custom CSS ( who use custom CSS), secondly more than 5 Dev have worked on the script making it look like a mess, and also it's a legacy code with more than 5000 CSS line l, I backup your site and its was more than 4gb (empty site for that matter) zip files and rar files there that is more than 200mb are in all the folders, which means that everyone that works on that script don't delete there .

After fixing the CSS issue just as you want it to look ike the Microsoft team chat UI. You still rejected it. I then suggest to use a third-party library for live chat that will work better with pusher, but you refuse.

How can someone in this 2025 still want to create is own live chat features using CSS and JavaScript, without no modern library to simplify the orocess. Why reinventing the wheel.

That's how you told me to revert the code which I did.

There are hundreds of third party library that will give you a perfect job and save you all this UI and text issue.. so I noticed you most be one of those difficult people who love using legacy code and are not open to new innovations

Thanks , don't mention my name again.

What do you mean by fixing it just the way I wanted? I said I wanted it to look like Teams quite alright, but that wasn't even the main goal. I'm attaching a screenshot which contains the task details. you failed to meet these goals.

Just so you know, the project was successfully executed by another dev. He did not use a third party app, just codes. Next time, before you accept a job, make sure it's something you can do. And if midway into the project, you discover it's beyond you, tell the client that you do not have the skills to do it. There's no shame in that.

I have been in the online space before you. I started rendering services online in 2013. I have catered to thousands of clients both Nigerians and foreigners, and I have never taken anybody's money and failed to deliver. And that's partly because I never agreed to do something beyond my skillset.

Edit:

Just so you know, the styling was not affected by the new codes the dev wrote. I recommend you upgrade your skills. It'll do you good.

Pix 1: Task details
Pix 2: Screenshot of your comment insisting the task cannot be achieved without affecting the styling.

fnep2smooth: Another lie of yours is that you reverted the codes. You said you will, but never did. I had to change the credentials and undid all the things you did.

fnep2smooth:

"How can someone in this 2025 still want to create is own live chat features using CSS and JavaScript, without no modern library to simplify the orocess. Why reinventing the wheel."

I can't imagine a service provider thinking like this in this modern age. How is it your business if a client wants to reinvent the wheel?

because remote jobs is for USA and Europe

Akanaz:
The most frustrating part for me is the lack trust in Nigerian professionals by foreign clients.

Just yesterday I sent a dm to a potential client on Facebook. I told him how I can help him solve his current problem.

At first, we had agreed to have a discovery call via zoom meeting where I was going to get to know him and also tell him about me and my skill set.

Would you believe after all the initial talks and rapport between us, he stopped talking to me after he discovered I'm from Nigeria?

The thing is I deliberately told him the meeting was schedule for Nigerian time zone to see his reaction.

But when these people are looking for people who are going to work for on a commission, they can easily settle for Nigerians.

Another problem is WFT setups as most jobs now requires to have a dedicated office space set up for remote opportunity.

Still have an email I'm yet to reply due to lack of WFT.

I mean I do. But I know the standards these people are looking for.

rentable work space de now .

monteriza:

"How can someone in this 2025 still want to create is own live chat features using CSS and JavaScript, without no modern library to simplify the process. Why reinventing the wheel."

I can't imagine a service provider thinking like this in this modern age. How is it your business if a client wants to reinvent the wheel?

Looking at the image you attached, you will know that you are still living in 1994. Oga, please don't talk down to people. Please upgrade your reasoning; not everyone likes to do things rigidly.

Yeah, I just heard of one at Bodija. Thanks!

davillian:

rentable work space de now .

monteriza:

I take this to mean that you didn’t fully understand my post. I started outsourcing more than 12 years ago. My overall experience with Nigerians has been awful. Positive confession will not change my next experience.

Okay. But what kind of drama are you guys playing dragging yourselves out like this?

You're right.

I think this has to do with the wrong mentality of most Nigerians.

Most Nigerians are in most cases motivated by the words of online course sellers that promises them that they can land a remote job after just 3 months of training.

A statement that is not true. It takes years of learning and practising to actually master a skill.

Interestingly, most of these online course sellers have never really had real life job experience.

Most of the just start selling courses after learning the course themselves and not able to find remote jobs.

So they resort into selling false hopes.

For someone who is looking for job with such mentality, even after reading the job description, they will still be motivated to do the work even though they know deep down that they don't have the skill to perform well on the job.

I've been doing digital marketing for 3 years now and I'm still learning.

As Nigerians, we just need to take out time to learn a skill proper before we start applying for jobs.

I'm sure if we ask these foreigners, their experience wouldn't be far from yours.

monteriza:


Sorry about your experience, but let's be honest here, Nigerians are the most terrible people to work with online. This is coming from someone who has worked with more than 100 Nigerians remotely. My most recent experience. A nairalander who provided his name as fnep2smooth was commissioned to do a job on my site. After failed attempts to deliver, this guy ghosted me. I had to log him out of my site and get someone else to do it. Who does that? Only a Nigerian. I have worked with people from other countries, and I have not met anyone as bad as the average Nigerian.

Don't get me wrong. I have worked with very wonderful guys from Nigeria. Two of them are presently working with me on a project, but people like these guys are rare (Like 1 out of 40 or 50).

Akanaz:
You're right.

I think this has to do with the wrong mentality of most Nigerians.

Most Nigerians are in most cases motivated by the words of online course sellers that promises them that they can land a remote job after just 3 months of training.

A statement that is not true. It takes years of learning and practising to actually master a skill.

Interestingly, most of these online course sellers have never really had real life job experience.

Most of the just start selling courses after learning the course themselves and not able to find remote jobs.

So they resort into selling false hopes.

For someone who is looking for job with such mentality, even after reading the job description, they will still be motivated to do the work even though they know deep down that they don't have the skill to perform well on the job.

I've been doing digital marketing for 3 years now and I'm still learning.

As Nigerians, we just need to take out time to learn a skill proper before we start applying for jobs.

I'm sure if we ask these foreigners, their experience wouldn't be far from yours.

You're partly correct—insufficient skill or competence is certainly a factor. However, there are deeper issues, such as poor attitude, a mindset driven by self-interest, and, in some cases, a deliberate intent to take advantage of others. These are far more damaging and difficult to address.

This is some really interesting discussion. would anyone be willing to come chat about this on the AfricaHired Podcast? We would be interested in exploring these topics and others. Reach out to us at [email protected]

AfricaHired: https://www.youtube.com/@AfricaHired