Billet: Empowering African Tech Talent Through Remote Work Opportunities

BILLET, a new Namibian talent matchmaking service founded in 2022 by Emmerita Ambata, Asteria Pirola and Magnaem Ambata, is connecting firms in search of tech talent with sub-Saharan African tech professionals.

This first-of-its-kind service in Namibia is making it easier for businesses to find tech talent, providing less administration, risk, and a better experience.

King Hiholike and Takudzwa Kucherera, both computer science students in their final year at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, are part of the newly launched Billet intern cohort.

They are excited to gain real-life work experience and develop their skills through the remote working opportunities provided by Billet.

“A lot of African tech talent goes untapped because companies don’t know how to find us,” said King. “Billet is solving that problem by connecting us with international companies in need of our skills.”

Takudzwa added: “Through Billet, we are gaining experience and exposure to the global market. This will make us more competitive and better equipped to enter the workforce.”

Billet is not only benefiting tech talent but also companies looking to outsource their tech needs. With over 70% of Africa’s population below the age of 30, the continent has a youthful and skilled workforce crucial to long-term economic progress. This is backed by data that has shown European-based companies are increasingly looking to outsource tech talent to African countries.

The Billet team agrees that soft skills play an ever-increasing role in every industry, especially when it comes to remote working.

“To succeed as a remote worker, you must know how to effectively communicate via email, video calls, and internal communication apps such as Slack and Asana. Moreover, time management is crucial.

“Other soft skills remote workers need include emotional intelligence, adaptability, critical thinking, and team working,” said the Billet team.

Billet ensures that tech talent working with them is fairly compensated according to field, experience, and company.

Being compensated in an international currency may further elevate a salary. However, acquiring a position with Billet requires a flawless profile, and this can be achieved by creating a professional LinkedIn account.

“We encourage tech professionals to showcase their strong points and minimise their weak points in their resumes,” said the Billet team. “If you don’t have experience, highlight software you’re proficient in, case studies and courses you’ve completed, and activities you participated in that are relevant to your career.”

Billet recently launched the Billet Intern Cohort in Namibia, a programme that connects sub-Saharan African tech professionals with hiring clients outside of Africa.

This grassroots-level approach allows Billet to work with aspiring tech professionals like King and Takudzwa to build their skills through remote working opportunities, giving them real-life working experience and equipping them for the workforce.

“Once the current members of the cohort complete their internship placements, we will expand the programme to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring that we have a diverse range of tech talent available to match with companies,” said the Billet team.

“We’ll also be working with companies outside of Africa to make hiring and managing talent from sub-Saharan Africa easier. And we’ll be developing partnerships with universities to give students access to remote internships. We look forward to launching new training and development programmes for tech talent across sub-Saharan Africa to ensure they continue to be equipped with the latest skills and technologies. This may include hackathons, workshops, and mentorship programmes.”

With Billet’s vision for the future and the growth opportunities it offers, King and Takudzwa are confident that they will not only be equipped for the workforce but will also be able to make significant contributions to it.