“Be delusional. Confidence will catch up.” — Funmi

I hated cover letters. There, I said it.

While everyone else complained about rejection emails and ghosting, my real enemy during job hunting was that dreaded “Tell us why you’re the best fit for this role” page. I mean, can we skip the essay and just get to the part where I work and get paid?

But let’s back up a bit.

Hi strangers, I’m Funmi.  

No nicknames, no cutesy stuff, just plain old Funmi.

I studied Political Science and once dreamt of becoming a Nigerian ambassador or working at the UN. Now, I’m in HR, and honestly, I love it here.

I currently serve as the Operations Assistant at Accretio Africa. Yes, the Operations Assistant, because I’m the only one.

The Job Hunt Era (a short one, thankfully)  

I wrapped up my exams in August and got a job by October. I wasn’t even done with my final project yet. Looking back, I’d say I got lucky. I worked hard, but luck definitely played its part.

Still, it wasn’t all smooth. The worst part was those cover letters. Then some companies decided to take it a step further with the instruction, “Record a short video telling us why we should hire you.”
Excuse me, who’s watching all these videos?

Also, remote jobs that accepted corps members were rare, and I was planning ahead for NYSC. I didn’t want to serve in a ministry where “buying amala for my boss” would be part of my job description. I wanted control over my career path, not the government’s.

Then Came the Interview  

Before Accretio, I had only attended one physical interview in my life. So yes, I was nervous. I had read online that interviews were Herculean tasks that required rehearsing, impressing, and performing.

So there I was, trying to stay calm during my virtual interview, when my laptop suddenly died mid-call.

I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I remember telling my friend, “My life is over.”

But it wasn’t. The recruiter who is now my boss, Ify, was understanding and let me reschedule. That was when I realized that this was different. It was human.

The interview turned out to be more about fit than formality. It felt like a real conversation about personality and culture, not a test I had to ace.

I think I even said, “I’m afraid of poverty,” when asked about my motivation. I still got hired, so maybe honesty really is the best policy.

From Intern to Operations Assistant  

I started off as a Virtual Assistant Intern. Today, I’m Accretio’s Operations Assistant.

What excites me the most about my role is interfacing with interviewees. Every call is different, sometimes funny, sometimes frustrating, and sometimes surprisingly inspiring. It is never boring. I also love organizing meetings and making sure everyone is in sync.

It is the kind of role that makes you feel at the center of how things flow. And that’s something I value deeply.

If I Could Talk to My Past Self  

I’d tell her to be delusional. Seriously.

She used to struggle with imposter syndrome, reading every “how to overcome it” article she could find. Nothing worked until she decided to take what I call “audacity pills.”

Be delusional. Confidence will catch up.

And to Anyone Job Hunting Right Now  

Never stop learning. Stay curious, whether you are reading, watching, or observing. Keep feeding your hunger for knowledge and growth.

Even when life seems still, you are still moving.
Keep going, and maybe, be a little delusional too.

Final Word  

Funmi’s story reminds us that career journeys do not have to be perfect; they just have to be real.
At Accretio, we believe that the right attitude matters more than a flawless CV.

So, here’s your reminder to stay bold, keep learning, and take those audacity pills.

Got your own story?  

We are always celebrating the people behind the roles.
Share your journey with us here and tag us @AccretioAfrica on social media using #TalentStories.