#WednesdayThrills: Working On The Island Is Trouble But She Would Rather Continue

 

Navigating a work-life balance across two seemingly distinct realms in Lagos State - the mainland and island - could be really daunting, especially for new employees who are yet to learn the tricks to keeping one's sanity amidst the process of increasing the zeros in that account balance. In this week's maiden edition of Wednesday Thrills, we seek to explore the story of a young Nigerian lady who has sought to turn her lemons into lemonade.

Erm, could you zoom the camera on your name tag so I could read your official name? I don’t trust you Twitter people.

Hahaha. Why go through the stress when you can just ask? Anyway, I’m Ellen.

Hahan. Just that?

Yes nau. Abi will my name tag tell you any more detail? Anyway, I’m a native of Igbere in Bende local government area of Abia State. I'm also a graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Benin, where I finished with second class upper honors around October last year. Oh, sorry, it’s a new year. October 2018, lol.

Sorry, I can’t relate. If you graduated in October 2018 and also started working the same year, when then did you get a job?

I got a job immediately after I left school. Thing is, I had done my internship there the year before so when the chance came, I earnestly grabbed it. That's why it's important to create good impressions wherever you go. However, I started fully at the end of November. Although there were a series of tests and exams since October.

Wawuu. So you got a job immediately after graduation? That's quite a feat in Nigeria. How did it feel getting a job in no distant time?

Yes, it wasn't easy but with God, of course, all things are possible. So I'll say it was God's doing. You can imagine my happiness then. When most of my mates were still battling with their projects, I was already working.

A lot of fresh graduates prefer to take some time to cool off from the strenuous academic years. Why didn't you consider a similar break?

Well, I could have done that as well but I think it's basically time-wasting. Time, they say, waits for no man, although obviously, I'm a woman, lol. I just had to take the bull by its horn. Besides, I was not the only graduate, so I couldn't afford to lose that divine opportunity.

That was a really wise action.

Thank you. (smiling sheepishly)

What kind of organization do you work for and what does your job duty entail?

Well, I work for OUTCESS Solutions Nig. LTD. It's an organization that performs a whole lot of tasks, customer service being part of them. Basically, they work for Multichoice Nigeria - Airtel, Gotv, Branch, Wakabet and a host of other subsidiaries. We serve as the first point of call to customers of these businesses - settling complaints, providing information, solving problems amongst other functions - and I was assigned under GOTV to work as a customer service representative or call center agent.

See somebody’s pikin’s dream job. I envy you o.

So, where in Lagos do you stay?

I stay on the mainland, around Fadeyi to be precise. But my company is situated on the islands, in Lekki.

Staying so far away from the islands must mean you making several sacrifices right?

Very correct. A whole lot of them, you'd have thought I was a second Jesus with the number of stakes I have to endure. First is waking up so early to prepare for work. As early as 4:30 I would be up already, sometimes it gets earlier than that if I want to cook a serious meal.

Youdonminit?

Stay there! Then there's the issue of having to live life like a recluse. There's basically no time for social media or other non-work related activities except during the weekends or at night when I return from work and am obviously exhausted. In fact, some of my friends still feel l am a snob because I no longer have time to reply to their messages and all, plus I pay huge attention to my weekends since it's the one free time I have. I barely have time for myself, since I wake up so early and come back very late at night.

What time do you leave for work and return each day?

I leave my house around 5:35 and come back by 9. Sometimes my return time could be a few minutes to 10 pm or thereafter. Basically, on a good day, I return around past 8 and on my worst days, 11 pm, depending on how friendly the traffic is. But you hardly ever catch that guy in a good mood. (rolls eyes)

Lmao, now I can relate. So, in your more than a year mainland-to-island working experience, you haven't gotten home earlier than 8 pm?

Very unlikely. There was a day, though, we couldn't work due to a power issue. We had to close earlier than usual. (We normally close by 5, unless there are extensions). That was the only day I remember reaching home early. I'm sure I even surprised my door lock.

 

Hahaha, mad oo!.

The streets of Lagos are known to not be so friendly, especially during the sinister parts of the day when you most likely leave and return from work. Have you had any particularly distasteful experience?

Not at all. God has been faithful. I do hear and read about some sad stories but I don't have any experience of mine neither do I seek to have. Though occasionally, I run into street urchins trying to flirt with me, some even go as far as trying to touch me. Na God dey protect person.

Would you leave a high paying job on the island for a lower-paying one on the mainland if you had the chance?

Well, it's complicated. I'll check the cost and see the one that pays better. If after expenses, I still have much then I'll continue with the one on the island not minding the stress.

See this sister o. So money is your major concern? (smirks)

Hahaha. Yes, oo. Are we not both in this same Nigeria? But it depends on the kind of job also, as well as other logistics.

People believe working on the island presents better opportunities for networking and creating connections. What do you think about this?

That's the truth. You meet a lot of influential people here, and of course, the people you associate with influence your manner of thought, you find yourself making higher life goals. This is not to discredit workplaces on the mainland though...

You were already doing that.

.. but it's obvious knowledge most big businesses are situated on the island where you have access to many prominent people and celebrities too nau. It gives you a platform to network easily because we all know that in this country, who you know matters a lot. I'll only work on the mainland if the work isn't stressful and the pay is equivalent to the one on the island.

Would you advise a job seeker to aim for the island in their quest?

Sure if the person can handle the accompanying stress. This is because there are better opportunities here

Working in a customer relations field means, you must have been exposed to several, distinct types of personalities. Do your conversations with these people affect you personally?

Yes, they do. Through my job, I've been able to know how to manage people. People differ and their way of understanding and approach does too. However, some customers could be so cranky, that I find myself exasperated for the rest of the day. I once called a customer who warned me seriously that I shouldn't ever call him again, that our services are sham.

Ah. See gbege!

Hmm. He said he had recorded my voice and that he would take us to court and a whole lot of other gibberish. I just had to endure the call because we're not allowed to end calls. I have a whole lot of unpleasant experiences, some customers would intentionally just want to frustrate you and make you cry and yet after all those quagmires, I would still have to go and battle three or more hours inside Lagos traffic. It hasn't been easy at all.

Erm... I don’t think I envy you anymore.

But you seem to still want to remain on the island, don't you?

Yes now. Abi person no go make New Year money? Hahaha

(Laughs too) Alright, thanks for talking with me. I will leave you to go back to picking your calls now, I can already feel the eyes of the man behind you burning through me.

Lmao. No be small burn. You're welcome.

Like this? Check back next Wednesday by 12 pm for another enthralling peek into the lives of random Nigerians