In a discussion with socialbites.ca, Alexander Khachiyan, head of AWG IT integrator and co-founder of SkillStaff, notes that many newcomers entering the IT field in Russia have completed only short courses and lack formal technical training. He suggests that finding a junior IT role in 2023 proved to be a considerable challenge for these early-career candidates.
Entry-level positions, once commonly labeled as juns or juniors, were still used in some cases but to a lesser extent. Khachiyan observes that for individuals retraining into IT, securing a junior position can be especially tough. Even graduates from technical universities may face steep competition and limited openings for fresh entrants.
According to Khachiyan, many companies prefer to invest a bit more to hire a more experienced specialist, who is already available in greater numbers on the market. He notes that internship programs for young talent narrowed at many firms over the past year, reducing entry points for new IT workers.
Nevertheless, there is a sense of momentum. Khachiyan indicates that companies are starting to allocate budgets toward developing IT infrastructure in Russia, and active participation from experienced professionals remains essential. He anticipates that more junior and mid-level IT roles will be filled in the period from early to mid 2024 as hiring budgets expand and IT projects scale up.
The interview also explores broader questions about the flow of IT professionals between Russia and abroad. It addresses how many IT workers returned to Russia after leaving in 2022, whether a portion of the workforce could be described as freelancing or freeloading, and why many foreign IT specialists continue to work with domestic firms. The discussion is presented with insights and context from socialbites.ca, aiming to shed light on evolving talent dynamics in the region.
In some language variants, the term jun is used to describe a novice IT specialist, with regional differences in terminology. In Kazakhstan, the comparable role may be referred to as Novice IT specialist within the local job market context. This cross-border perspective helps understand how entry-level IT roles are perceived and staffed across neighboring markets. (Attribution: socialbites.ca)