Before moving abroad, it is easy to imagine the life waiting for you on the other side. You picture the better salary, the independence, the new experiences and, perhaps most importantly, the relief of finally saying, “I have japa-ed.” What you do not always picture is standing for 10 hours in a warehouse, or cleaning for three hours a day for people who make you feel like they are doing you a favor.
For many Africans who move abroad, the first job is rarely the dream job. Sometimes, it is simply the job that pays the bills. Comfort Joseph, who left Nigeria for the UK in 2023, spoke to FunTimes about her experience working five different jobs there. Each job came with its own shock, its own lesson, and its own reminder that migration is not just about moving countries; it’s about rebuilding yourself from the ground up.
Comfort’s first job in the UK was in hospitality, selling drinks and snacks at a stadium every Saturday. The work itself was simple: smile, take the order, say “cheers.” The real challenge was the accent.
“Every Saturday, you would see us in our all-black outfits heading to the stadium. It was an easy job. The hard part was the accent. Sometimes, I had to ask people to repeat themselves. Other times, I had to slow down when speaking so they could understand me. It was one of those little things you do not necessarily think about before moving abroad, but suddenly you realize that communication is not just about speaking English.
“The shift was supposed to be five hours, from 12pm to 5pm. On my first day, we finished around 4:30pm and were asked to sign out. When my payslip came, I realized I had been paid for four and a half hours. The next time my bar finished early, and everyone was getting ready to sign out, I went to the restroom to buy myself some extra time just to get closer to my five hours. It worked, as I got my full five hours. The following week, I wanted to try the same thing, but by the time I returned, my boss had already signed me out while others from my bar were signing out. This was also the first time in my life I’d stood for over four hours at work. Back home, I sat in an air-conditioned office. This job taught me that every hour counts. When you are starting out in a new country, you have to pay attention to the small things, including your hours, payslips, and what you are actually being paid for.
Desperate for more hours, Comfort took a warehouse job, the kind people warn you about, but you think they are exaggerating.
“I had heard stories about warehouse jobs, but I kept thinking, ‘How hard can it be?’ I found out very quickly. My first shift was 10 hours, from 8pm to 6am. I was put in the sorting section. The first hour was fine. By the sixth hour, I was already asking God questions like “Is this the life you promised me?” The job required standing throughout the shift, but it was not just standing in one spot. I was constantly moving from one end to another. And then there were the safety boots. They were heavy and uncomfortable. When the shift finally ended, I did not feel like I was walking. My feet had completely disconnected from my body.
“When I got home, I cried. I kept thinking about how I was a “baby girl” in Nigeria, and here I was, standing for 10 hours in uncomfortable shoes, sorting parcels. Unfortunately, the boots caused problems that lasted much longer than the job. For months afterwards, my little toe hurt whenever I wore certain shoes. This job quickly taught me how migration can humble you. Whatever picture you had of yourself before you moved doesn’t matter, especially when you are in desperate need of a job.”
Comfort’s next job was cleaning, five days a week, three hours daily. According to her, she was still being treated as though they were doing her a huge favor by giving her the job. She could not simply walk away because she had signed a one-year contract.
“Eventually, when I could no longer take it, I resorted to telling them I was unwell and had not been cleared to return. That was how I eventually left the job.”
She has one piece of advice for new immigrants: “Read your contract before signing it. Understand the terms. Know what is expected of you, and pay attention to how you are being treated. You may need a job, but that does not mean you should stop valuing yourself.”
Comfort’s fourth job was in an African restaurant where she learnt one of the hardest lessons. Sometimes, the people you expect to treat you fairly are the ones who disappoint you.
“I sold food and sometimes helped with food preparation and cleaning afterwards. The restaurant was owned by a friend’s relative. I only lasted a month. I stopped because they refused to pay me; it was one excuse after another. Eventually, I received the money, but it came almost three months later, after many back-and-forths.”
Then she found healthcare and learned that patience is a skill. Her first shift was an experience she will never forget. When she entered a service user’s home, she could not believe her eyes. The house was a mess, and the smell was overwhelming.
“I could barely breathe. I could not swallow my saliva. My colleague had to get me a nose mask. Thankfully, we were not staying there for long. We only needed to get the service user ready before taking him out to the park. But that was only the beginning. Working in care means dealing with different personalities and different needs. Some days, service users are calm, happy and easy to support. Other times, they become unsettled and can lash out, and you have to stay composed either way. You quickly learn that every day will not be the same.”
Her biggest takeaway from these experiences is that migration is not glamorous at first. The early jobs may shock you, but they are stepping stones, not your final destination.
