How to Crack the Code to Working Remote [Tunga Dev Hour]

Building your career in Africa as a software developer for European or North American clients has excellent benefits. It is intelligent to work in a job that pays good money. Remote work is now more accepted than ever, allowing for an excellent quality of life. But how do you get there?In the latest episode of the Tunga Dev Hour, Tunga CEO and founder Ernesto Spruyt share many tips to advance your remote coding career. Below you’ll find a summary of his chat with Viola Nuwaha and Roger Kaweesa, but to get the most out of this candid convo, you should listen to the entire podcast – and as a bonus, you’ll learn how to pronounce that tricky last name!

A successful IT career in Africa

Almost right from the start, it is clear that the big man himself, Ernesto, is the right source to pump for knowledge. Things have gone fast since Tunga’s foundation in 2015. The company has come a long way from a marketplace for companies to source developers to a fully-fledged remote IT staffing service. It now boasts a network with more than 500 developers from 24 African countries, with a Tunga Academy and Tunga Testing platform. But importantly, it's not all about work, Tunga is also about fun and joy!

Skills, skills, skills

Your IT career in Africa – of course! – starts with having the right tech skills. Know your programming languages, and know your frameworks. Know how to deliver efficient, scalable, and clean code. The right developers also keep developing themselves – they have the drive to learn, grow, and succeed. But don’t forget the basic stuff. We hear some applicants work with a poor internet connection, show up too late, or neglect their presentation. Come on, guys, that’s Job Interview Skills 101!Communication is a crucial factor. Unclear English is a major fear of clients. But besides speaking clear and concise English, you should be able to develop a quality relationship with the client. You are expected to have good problem-solving skills and be proactive. Your European or North American client will want you to speak up and take the initiative. You may not be used to this at your current employer, but successful developers from Africa are expected to give their unsolicited input on various issues.

Successful developers from Africa are expected to give their unsolicited input

Bridging cultures

One of Ernesto's main lessons is that both the developer and the client must be open to the other’s culture. Understanding each other’s backgrounds and being willing to bridge cultures is crucial. Ernesto recommends interested developers learn as much as possible about their client’s country and business culture, using all available resources: magazines, books, the internet – even movies will be helpful. The relaxed and playful interaction between the Tunga speakers in this podcast illustrates the egalitarian company cultures typical of Northern Europe.

A good employer for good employees

Tunga aims to be a preferred employer for African developers. The company pays well on time and offers opportunities to work with international clients with challenging technology. But the Tunga vision does not stop there. The company fosters a growing community of African developers. The Tunga Academy offers free training courses for all African IT talent. Budding developers can practice their skills and identify training needs on the Tunga Testing platform.Tunga creates various in-person events for the developer community, runs a Slack community group, and organizes Retros, where developers can interact and learn from each other. The company also listens to complaints and other input from freelancers. So perhaps, if we all ask nicely, Ernesto may start paying in Bitcoin again…

Tunga fosters the growing community of African developers

Your code for success

So there you have it: your code for a successful IT career in Africa. It is all about expertise and attitude. So sharpen your skills and not just the hard ones. Yes, you should be an experienced and knowledge-hungry techie, but you must also possess excellent soft skills. Clients expect a good command of English and clear and concise communication. They seek proactive problem solvers. And if you can nurture your relationships and bridge that culture gap, you’re good to go!Check out the podcast for more information about your IT career and your opportunities at Tunga and to get a taste of that Tunga flavor. Once you’re ready to advance, get yourself over here.