I just got my first job. How do I start building my credit history?

Landing your first job is a huge success. Congratulations to you!
Now that you're pursuing financial independence, one of the smartest things you can do is start building your credit history. Good credit history opens doors: loan interest rates are lower, credit limits are higher, apartments get approved, and even job prospects in some industries. Here's how to get started with no credit history.

Know your credit history.
Your credit history is how you've managed borrowed money in the past. It includes your credit accounts, payment history, and amounts owed. This information forms your credit report and is calculated to determine your credit score, a three-digit number that lenders use to decide how risky it is to lend you money.

Open a bank account.
A savings or current account is your entry point to formal finance. Choose a bank with good digital services, such as salary-backed loans or microloans.
Use it for small, regular purchases like gas or a streaming service, and pay the full balance on time every month.

Start small with digital credit services.
Use trusted platforms that can offer small, short-term loans. These loans are reported to credit bureaus and can help you build a good credit history. Be cautious: Borrow only what you can pay back on time. Late payment will damage your credit score and make it harder to get loans in the future.

Pay bills on time, especially for postpaid services
If you use postpaid services like mobile data, electricity (e.g., Ikeja Electric's postpaid plan), or internet subscriptions, paying your bills on time can help build your credit history, provided the service provider reports to a credit bureau.
Some fintech platforms allow you to report rent payments to credit bureaus. That's a great way to build credit by paying your landlord on time.

Check Your Credit Report
Once you've started building credit, review your report to check for errors and track your progress.

Use BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) responsibly.
Another great way to build credit is to pay for gadgets or home appliances in installments from a BNPL platform. Make your payments on time to build a positive credit history. However, if you aren't responsible, it can affect your credit score, so always pay on time and stay accountable. A good example of this is Oja by Tendar

Try to get a salary advance. Some banks and companies offer salary advance loans or overdrafts. These are temporary facilities that you repay when you receive your next salary. They usually have low limits, but if repaid on time, they can also help you build your credit history.
Credit is not necessarily borrowing large amounts, but rather borrowing wisely.

Check your credit score growth as you do these.
Download Scorewise on the Apple store or Play store to check your credit score as you build a healthy credit history.