Hey, can we meet you?

My name is Michael, and I’m a content writer currently based in the UK, and yeah, I work remotely for a UK-based company,

Interesting. How did you get into content writing?

It started as a side hustle. Back in uni, I was that guy people would send their CVs to “just take a quick look,” and before I knew it, I was writing personal statements, blogs, and website copy. Then, after graduation, reality hit: I needed a real job. I figured since I was already writing for free, I might as well start getting paid for it. So, I went full-time, writing everything from tech articles to Instagram captions.

But Lagos freelance life humbled me. One day, you’re celebrating a new gig; the next, your client is telling you, “Please, let’s push payment to next month.” That’s when I knew I had to level up and find more stable, high-paying clients.

Being a Nigerian freelancer in general will humble you, lol. How did you land your current job?

I stopped playing small. I updated my LinkedIn, showcased my work, and started applying for remote jobs. The Nigerian economy wasn’t smiling, and neither was my account balance.

I must have applied for over 100 jobs before I finally got an interview. 

How has life changed since moving to the UK?

Let’s just say NEPA no longer has a say in my productivity. But jokes aside, the biggest change is the work culture. People actually respect work-life balance here. Nobody is sending “Hey” on Slack at 11 PM, waiting for you to respond.

Also, the financial stability is unmatched. I’m still doing the same work, but earning in pounds means I can actually breathe. Back in Lagos, it sometimes felt like I was writing just to afford data to keep writing.

Do you use AI at work?

Oh, definitely. AI is like that coworker who does 60% of the work but still lets you take credit. It helps with structuring ideas, editing, and even avoiding writer’s block. But at the end of the day, creativity is still human business, so I just use AI as a tool, not a replacement.

Any professional regrets so far?

Maybe that I didn’t start positioning myself for international jobs earlier? There’s money out here, and the demand for good writers is crazy. I used to think those “Work remotely and earn in dollars” people were lying. Plot twist: they were not.

Any final thoughts?

If you’re a Nigerian writer and you want to level up, start looking beyond the local market. Get your portfolio right, build your LinkedIn presence, and apply like your life depends on it because, low-key, it does. And if you’re still in Lagos, may your clients never tell you, “Please, let’s push payment to next month.”