Break Into Tech as a Graduate With No Experience
You Don’t Need a Tech Background to Work in Tech
In 2022, Vanessa was a fresh Uniben graduate earning ₦60k as a Virtual Assistant in Lagos. Today, thanks to tech she’s a remote Product Designer earning over ₦350k monthly. And she never wrote a line of code.
This isn’t an isolated case. According to Jobberman, tech and digital skills are now among the top 5 most in-demand skills in Nigeria, but many young people are still on the sidelines, not because they’re not smart enough—but because they don’t know how to get started. This guide shows you how to make your own leap into tech—even if you’re starting from scratch.
Ask around and you’ll hear it:
“Tech is for computer science people.”
“I’ dont know maths.”
“I studied accounting, not IT.”
Tech is often seen as intimidating, complicated, exclusive. But these common beliefs are misleading and holding many people from living the life they dream about. The truth is, tech is an industry—not a skillset. And just like in banking or fashion, there are different roles—some creative, some technical, some managerial.
If you’re organized, love solving problems, enjoy talking to people, or even just curious—you already have the raw materials.
What Tech Jobs Can You Do Without Coding?
1. Digital Marketing
Learn SEO, content writing, social media strategy, and email marketing. You can start with free tools like Google Digital Skills or Hubspot Academy.
2. Product Management
Think of this as coordinating a project: you talk to customers, manage the tech team, and make sure products solve real problems.
3. UI/UX Design
If you’re visually inclined, this is about designing apps and websites that are beautiful and easy to use. Tools like Figma are beginner-friendly.
4. Technical Writing
If you can explain things clearly, this is a great path. Writers document how software works. No coding required, just clarity.
5. Customer Success or Tech Support
If you’re a good communicator, this role involves guiding users and solving customer issues. Most times, it’s remote.
The common excuse is: “I don’t even have a laptop.” But that’s not a deal breaker.
Here’s what you actually need to get started:
- A phone with internet
- Time (1-2 hours daily is enough to start)
- Curiosity
- A supportive community (we’ll talk about this shortly)
Free and beginner-friendly learning platforms include:
- Ingressive For Good – Offers scholarships for Africans
- AltSchool Africa – Learn Product, Design, Engineering
- Tech4Dev – Government and UN-backed free digital training
- LinkedIn Learning – Free trial, tons of beginner courses
- Coursera – Offers Google, Meta, and IBM certification tracks
As more people rush into tech, fake bootcamps and overpriced courses are everywhere. Some red flags to watch for:
- Courses that promise jobs after one month
- No real projects or mentorship
- No Nigerian success stories or case studies
Before paying for any training, ask:
- Does this help me build something real?
- Are there Nigerians who’ve used this path and gotten results?
- Is there community support when I get stuck?
Join a Community That Gets You
If this article helped you see what’s possible, there’s more where that came from.
Follow @TopNotchVibe_ on Twitter and Instagram for tech news, guides, job alerts, courses and real tech product reviews. Or join our WhatsApp Community to connect with others making the leap into tech/ already thriving in tech roles.
We’re not just hyping tech—we’re building people.
