Excel academically.
Whether it's a
four-year college or vocational training, some successful people pursue further
education beyond high school. In the early stages of a career, your employers
have little by which to judge you besides your educational background. Higher
grades usually lead to higher salaries.
Choose the right profession.
Look at salary surveys which
indicate average annual incomes for specific professions. Your odds of getting
rich are diminished if you pursue a career in teaching as opposed to a career
in finance. Here are some of the highest paying jobs in Nigeria:
·
Petroleum engineers:
Engineers who work with gas and oil companies can make a very good living. In
most cases they make upwards of $135,000 per year.
·
Attorneys: Lawyers top
out at just above $130,000 per year, making this a lucrative field if you can
put in the time.
·
IT managers and
software engineers: If you're good at programming and a whiz at computers,
consider this very well-compensated field. IT managers regularly make $125,000
per year.
Choose the right location.
Go where the good jobs
are. If you want to pursue finance, for example, there are far greater
opportunities in big cities than in rural, low-populated areas. If you want to
build a startup, you'll probably want to consider going to Port Harcourt,
Lagos, Abuja and probably Ibadan. If you want to make it big in the entertainment
industry, go to Lagos.
Get an entry-level job and work your way up.
Play the numbers game.
Apply to many places and subject yourself to lots of interviews. When you get
your job, stick with it and get the experience you need to advance.
Change jobs and employer.
Once you've gotten
some experience under your belt, consider finding a new job. By changing your
environment, you can increase your pay and experience different corporate
cultures. Don't be afraid to do this several times. If you're a valued
employee, it's also likely your current company may offer you a raise or other
benefits if they know you're looking at leaving.
Career
,
Finance
