“Jobs You Never Dreamed of Until You Japa – The Humbling Chronicles”

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For many Nigerians, the dream of leaving the country—”japa”—is wrapped in aspirations of better opportunities, improved quality of life, and, let’s be honest, earning in foreign currency. However, one thing many don’t factor in is the rude awakening that comes when you realize that your well-polished CV, first-class degree, and years of experience in Nigeria may not immediately translate to a corporate office job abroad. Welcome to the humbling chronicles of the jobs you never imagined doing until you japa!

1. Caregiving: Wiping, Washing, and Wondering How You Got Here

Once a respected bank manager or IT consultant in Lagos, you now find yourself in a care home, assisting elderly clients with their daily needs—including those that involve adult diapers. You quickly learn the difference between a “bed bath” and a “shower assist” and wonder why your B.Sc. in Biochemistry didn’t prepare you for this.

2. Security Guard: Watching Cameras Like It’s Big Brother Naija

You spent years managing multimillion-naira projects, but now, you are stationed at a mall or office building, dressed in a fluorescent vest, ensuring no unauthorized person enters. You’ve developed a new skill: looking busy while standing for 12-hour shifts and pretending you’re not questioning your life choices.

3. Warehouse Worker: The Gym You Never Paid For

Forget FitFam; here, the gym comes to you. Lifting, packing, and arranging boxes in a warehouse makes you wonder if all those years of solving complex mathematical problems were in vain. At least, you get free muscles and the occasional back pain to show for it.

4. Uber/Bolt Driver: From CEO to “Where Are You Going, Sir?”

You once had an office, an assistant, and even your own parking spot. Now, your car is your office, your passengers are your daily meetings, and the only KPI you track is your star rating. The worst part? When your old colleague enters your car and shouts, “Ah! Oga Tunde! Is this you?!”

5. Supermarket or Fast-Food Worker: From Managing Teams to “Welcome to McDonald’s”

Back home, you supervised a team of professionals. Now, you supervise how many fries go into a bag. You learn how to say “Have a nice day” with a straight face, even when a rude customer shouts at you for getting their order wrong.

6. Janitorial Services: Making the Floor Shine Like Your Dreams

Your previous job title was something fancy like “Operations Manager,” but here, you operate a mop and broom. You’ve become an expert in cleaning chemicals, knowing which

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So, you’ve finally japa’d—passport stamped, fresh air of freedom inhaled, and dreams of a better life dancing in your head. But guess what? Europe didn’t get the memo about your BSc, MSc, PhD, or ‘I’m-too-qualified-for-this’ energy.

Reality check? The job market’s got a funny way of whispering, “Oga, start from somewhere.”

I’ve seen doctors trading stethoscopes for mop handles, bankers balancing shelves instead of spreadsheets, engineers engineering the perfect way to stack boxes, and lawyers arguing with vacuum cleaners. Japa will humble you like an unpaid internship with extra cardio.

But here’s the plot twist—every shift, every sore muscle, every “what am I doing here?” moment is just preparing you for the good days ahead. It’s character development, with a sprinkle of survival mode.

Welcome to the “Jobs You Never Thought You’d Do” Starter Pack:

1. Care Jobs: Get ready to pack more than just lunch. Caring for the elderly? You’ll meet poop—up close and personal. This isn’t Grey’s Anatomy; it’s more like Grey’s Reality.

2. Warehouse Hustle: Lifting heavy boxes like your life depends on it—because your rent kinda does. Bonus challenge? Working in cold rooms during winter. Hope you like ice, because you’ll be one with it.

3. Delivery Driver: Think of it as paid cardio. You’ll know every street, every shortcut, and probably every dog in the neighbourhood. Winter? Yeah, your tears might freeze before they hit your cheeks.

4. Cleaning Service: Remember that office cleaner back home you barely noticed? Now you’ll appreciate them like a long-lost cousin. Spoiler: toilets don’t clean themselves.

5. Housekeeping: You thought making your bed was a chore? Try flipping 15 hotel rooms in one shift. Guests leave surprises too—some pleasant, most… not so much.

6. Replenishment Assistant: Like a warehouse gig, but make it retail chic. Less heavy lifting, more standing. For hours. And hours. Your feet will file for divorce.

The Silver Lining? Every job is a stepping stone. You’re stacking experiences, not just shelves. So chin up, sleeves up, and remember—it’s not where you start, but where you’re headed.

Japa will humble you, but it’ll also build you.