Andela, Best Workplace in Nigeria
This year, Andela bagged the award of Jobberman Best 100 Companies to Work for in Nigeria. I have longed to work for Andela since 2014 when it was opened, I was even planning to quit school if I was called but then I wrote the text and failed. No hard feelings though, Andela pushed me to learn a lot and now I am currently at Andela’s bootcamp.
Reflecting on being the best company to work for in Nigeria, having worked with different companies and today is my second day at Andela bootcamp, with the things I have seen and the help Andelans are rendering, I can vividly say Andela is the best company to work for in Nigeria.
The reason Andela rose exponentially in the course of 5 years to become the best company to work for cannot be far-fetched, Andela values have made them stand out among other companies. Andela is one of those few places where you work and have peace of mind. The key points for Andela values are EPIC (Excellence, Passion, Integrity and Collaboration).
Excellence
Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal — a commitment to excellence — that will enable you to attain the success you seek — Mario Andretti
Oxford Learner dictionary defines Excellence as “the quality of being extremely good”.
An average Nigerian sees excellence as being the top in your department and others below you. While in Yaba College of Technology, I see people striving to succeed not minding their peers, not helping others. Their main aim is to be the best in the department.
But in Andela, it is all a different ball game. Andela wants to be the best in their field but in doing that also take others along. Andela’s quest for excellence and developing others have made them create many communities, e.g. Andela Learning Community to empower developers in Nigeria and beyond.
Andelans also believe they can succeed and reach a certain point with the right mindset, determination and commitment.
Passion
The passion for learning and teaching others among Andela fellows is great to experience. Andela fellows reply to questions in a way that soothes me and makes me want to ask more. Andela fellows don't see questions as useless but always try to answer in any way they could.
Andela passion for reaching greater heights have being imbibed in their fellows and they know they can reach their maximum potential through self-learning, collaboration and asking questions.
This passion at Andela has really helped me believe anything is possible, having a growth mindset and also yearning for excellence.
The kind of commitment I find among the best performers across virtually every field is a single-minded passion for what they do, an unwavering desire for excellence in the way they think and the way they work. Genuine confidence is what launches you out of bed in the morning, and through your day with a spring in your step. — James C. Collins
Integrity
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively. — Bob Marley
I came from a background that sees integrity as a must-have, speaking and standing for the truth at all times regardless of the situation.
I did my Internship with one of the big four that sees Integrity as their core value, so I can say, Andela sees Integrity as an important value that must be followed regardless of the situation.
Andela fellows put integrity to heart and also trust each other, Andela fellows can drop their belongings in a place and trust that it will always be there. Andela also sees plagiarism as a lack of integrity. copying and pasting people’s code is seen as a big offence which they won’t condone.
Collaboration
Talent wins games but teamwork and intelligence wins championship — Michael Jordan
No man is an Island of knowledge, Andela sees teamwork as a way to complement various skills, improve efficiency and also improve relationships among Andelans.
Andela believes collaboration makes work faster and let everyone achieve more.
With this, I have decided to enhance my collaboration skills and foster continuous communication with new people so as to learn from them.
Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. — Edward Everett Hale
These values is a must-have among Andela fellows, that is why they are always coming out the best in their field.
Thanks for reading.