This Unilag Graduate ventured into Software Engineering because he had an idea of an app and needed the right experience to develop it. He has long ditched the app idea but through his network and Andela he was able to secure multiple mouth watering roles at US companies from Nigeria, before eventually landing a role at Google and moving to Zurich.
Interviewed by: Samuel Davies
My tech journey
Techuncode: Thank you for joining us on this interview, can we meet you?
IK: My name is Issa Kudus. I’m a Software engineer
Techuncode: Can you tell us about your background?
IK: I studied Mechanical engineering at the University of lagos. Graduated 2017
Techuncode: The Great Akokite!
IK: Of course. Proud to be a Unilag Alumnus!
Techuncode: Oshey, Unilag students always have this sweet pride
IK: Abi na. Unilag is a competitive school, at the heart of a bustling city, and with lots of exposure. It’s a great university to attend, in Nigeria.
Techuncode: How was the transition from school into the job market like?
IK: It was an interesting journey because initially I hadn’t decided exactly what I wanted to do. It was only towards the end of my NYSC service that I decided I wanted to be a Software engineer and started scouting good companies to work for and gain experience
…while at the same time learning web development and the other aspects of software engineering
I wouldn’t say it was a very difficult process for me, I finished serving by September and already had an offer by December
Techuncode: Offer from?
IK: Sendbox Software Inc. They are a logistics and e-commerce company
Techuncode: What was your role there?
IK: A software engineer, entry level
Techuncode: How was the pay like?
IK: I considered it a very good pay for the time and I was happy about it. This was 2020 just before the onset of COVID.
Techuncode: Can you share a range?
IK: It was NGN 200K
Techuncode: Wow! For an entry level role 😳
IK: It wasn’t really a no-prior experience role. It was my first real paid engineering experience that was why I considered it entry-level
Techuncode: I see. But why software engineering though?
IK: I had an idea for an app and wanted to build it myself so I decided I had to first learn software engineering
Then I decided I had to gain actual software engineering experience
Techuncode: So have you built the app yet?
IK: No 🙃 I have dropped the idea and I have other ones I am working on
Techuncode: So bigger goals now?
IK: BIGGER goals
Techuncode: 📌
So what came after Sendbox?
IK: I worked for a Business intelligence Startup after Sendbox. I also worked with a Corporate expense Management firm, an insurance aggregator – both in the US
And then I worked as a Data engineer at Kudi (now Nomba)
Techuncode: Two US firms, interesting!
Were you working from Nigeria?
IK: Yes
Techuncode: See flex
How did you do it?
Like how did you get the jobs?
IK: Through Andela
Andela is a talent network for tech workers
They help link engineers, PMs, designers, with local and foreign clients
Techuncode: Can you walk us through how you got into Andela?
IK: I applied to join their network, did a few coding interviews and got in
Techuncode: What would you say is the ratio of applicants to selected candidates
IK: I would just say that they select experienced candidates who are skilled at their craft
Techuncode: Alright, I guess the key is connecting yourself to available opportunities as they come
IK: Yes. And you do that by networking with others in the same field as you are and doing regular job searches
Techuncode: Makes sense, You really cracked the code.
IK: 😄. I was lucky and I had good engineer friends
Techuncode: Luck is a very s*xy name for SOAP 😁
IK: 😂
Techuncode: Where are you working now?
IK: I currently work at Google as a software engineer
Techuncode: Excuse me.. Come again
Same Google?
IK: Yes. Same Google
Techuncode: Still working from Nigeria?
IK: No, I currently live in Zürich Switzerland.
I work at the Google Switzerland Office.
Techuncode: So Google took you away?
IK: Yes. The role I applied for was based in Zurich Switzerland and required me to move here
So Google handled the whole immigration process
Techuncode: And you spent no penny?
IK: I paid for my flight here, but that got reimbursed
There were other minor expenses though. For example traveling to the embassy in Abuja to obtain my visa
Techuncode: Omo, How did the Google thing happen?
Andela?
IK: No. I applied directly to their website and got invited for an interview.
I remember considering applying at a point but not really taking it seriously, then after talking with my siblings about it, I decided to just apply
Techuncode: Just like that?
IK: Yes
Techuncode: That’s incredible! How long did it take?
From when you applied to when you were given an offer
IK: About half a year
I started the process late 2021 and finally got an offer by February 2022
Techuncode: Interesting. How much do you earn now?
IK: 😄 enough to live comfortably here
Techuncode: Nice one 😂😂
How much were you earning at the US firms?
IK: Between 3 – 5k dollars monthly
Techuncode: Sweet!
What’s the lowest amount you’ve been paid for a job?
IK: Oh…that would be during my industrial service year
Techuncode: How much was that?
IK: 40k a month
Techuncode: Growth!
What are your aspirations now? What’s next for you?
IK: Progress my career, possibly start my own firm and spend more time pursuing my true passion, astronomy
Techuncode: Would it be an astronomy or software engineering firm?
IK: It’s really hard to define what an astronomy firm would be, even if I’d like that to be the case. It’d probably be solving a problem and would employ software engineering as well as other disciples of engineering in doing so
Techuncode: I see. But what do you enjoy most about what you currently do?
IK: Getting to see users enjoy AND talk about the projects you spent months working on, that’s the most exciting thing for me.
Techuncode: How many hours a day do you work?
IK: 8 hours, 40 a week.
Techuncode: So that means you get enough time for yourself
IK: Yes. One could always use more time but it is enough
Techuncode: That’s actually very good. How do you spend your leisure?
IK: Reading, cycling, swimming and gaming
Techuncode: Considering the current state of things, how would you rate your satisfaction on a scale of 1-10?
IK: Job satisfaction? 8
There’s always room to do more and get more fulfillment
But it’s a great job and I don’t see myself moving anywhere else in the short term
Techuncode: That’s beautiful
Thank you for joining us Issa.
IK: You’re welcome!
and then