Six Figure is a biweekly PiggyVest series that focuses on how real Nigerians achieved dramatic income growth that made them millionaires.

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For this week’s episode of Six Figure, we spoke to a product designer earning €2,000 (₦1.2 million) monthly. He tells us how transitioning from accounting to product design made him a millionaire. 

What was your first job and salary? 

I was an accountant earning ₦15k. This was in 2018 and during my NYSC. 

What do you do now? 

I’m a product designer. 

Explain that to me like I’m 5.

I study user problems and use my design skills to make apps and websites that provide a solution.

Nice. How much do you earn? 

€2000/month. I sometimes make €5000 extra (₦3.1million) from my side gig. 

Interesting. Please tell me how your career change happened and the income progression over the years. 

After my accounting internship, I decided to learn digital marketing. While doing this, I got a job paying ₦10k/month. Shortly after, I secured a seemingly better job offer of ₦29k [Laughs]. Things turned sour after some months because my next job offered a lower salary of ₦20k.

That must have been frustrating.

It was. Tired of digital marketing, I took the courage to transition to product design, leaving my ₦20k job. A few months after learning product design, I landed an internship paying ₦50k. Subsequently, I got a full-time job paying ₦200k. 

During my 8th month in that role, I received a message from a recruiter at a German company asking me to join his company. I agreed to an interview, did a technical test, and landed the job. This was how I became a product designer earning €2,000 (₦1.2 million). 

How long did your transition to product design take?

About five months. I learned the basics of product design for about two months, then I did an internship for another three months before getting a full-time position.

Amazing. What would you say is your most valuable skill(s)? 

Design is my most valuable hard skill. Also, while not a typical skill, I believe my resilience has dramatically contributed to my career growth. It has pushed me to pursue goals I usually wouldn’t.

Do you have a career coach or mentor? 

No. 

Why not? 

I got ignored when I tried to get a career coach and mentor at the start of my design career. So right now, I simply seek career advice from my friends or senior colleagues who are open to helping. 

What is your piece of advice to anyone trying to earn six figures? 

Learn a high-income skill and focus on being excellent. Once you master your desired high-income skill, don’t settle. Keep trying to aim higher. There are better amounts to earn. 

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Key Takeaways 

• Don’t be afraid to start over. Our subject changed his career 3 times before he eventually succeeded. This proves you shouldn’t shy away from testing unfamiliar waters. Being used to a career path shouldn’t hinder you from exploring. 
• Embrace the learning process. Internship was a common trend in our subject’s story, meaning you can’t escape the basics. You have to put in the work to master a high-income skill, no matter what that is. 
• Invest in personal branding, especially on LinkedIn. Having a great LinkedIn profile obviously contributed to our subject landing his high-paying job. Similarly, you should invest in constantly updating your LinkedIn profile and staying active on the platform to attract your desired opportunities.