"A good education is not enough for a successful job search," — Stefan Lin on starting a career in IT

Stefan Lin, City — Tashkent, founder of Swift Launch, LinkedIn

About Me

I graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor's degree in Political Economy and a Bachelor of Business Administration. Later, I earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.

Outside of Central Asia, I also worked in the information technology sector in the United States, where I worked on implementing a major IT project and innovative policy for one of the largest healthcare companies in the US.

Today, I am happy to work in Uzbekistan as the founder of Swift Launch, where there are many opportunities and the youth are incredibly talented.

About My First Job in IT

My first experience working with Impact startups began in Singapore and Malaysia many years ago. After graduating from college, I worked as a stockbroker at a French bank in Taiwan. This experience helped me develop ways to stimulate investments in energy efficiency.

In 2013, I launched one of the first university entrepreneurship programs in Almaty. I was invited to Almaty to conduct a three-week seminar on IT and entrepreneurship for an energy company, but I ended up staying for three years. It was then that I fell in love with Central Asia.

To secure a paid position, I had to go through several rounds of interviews, just like in any large company. I had already interned at this university, so they knew me beforehand.

Earning a good education is an important step, but it is not enough on its own to successfully find a job. Networking plays a key role. Imagine yourself in the recruiter's shoes: hiring a new employee is always a risk of losing time and money. If recruiters already know you, this significantly reduces that risk.

Challenges

Currently, the IT hiring market in the US is tense: companies overstaffed during the pandemic, and the market is currently in a downturn. The situation in Uzbekistan is somewhat better, as American companies are cutting costs and increasingly turning to outsourcing. It is important to stay up-to-date with new tools, especially in the field of artificial intelligence.

I recommend recent graduates focus on demonstrating their real achievements. These can be projects on GitHub, freelance experience, or internships. Also, do not forget about the importance of soft skills. For a manager, it is important not only what you can do on your own but also how you interact with the team and improve its performance.

Undoubtedly, the job market situation is difficult for most, especially for those just starting their careers. It becomes even more challenging during an economic downturn, when there are many factors beyond the control of job seekers.

Rejections and failures are normal. What matters is what lessons you learn from them, how you improve, and how positive you can remain after a rejection. Ultimately, this determines success.

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is the importance of communication. It should be timely, frequent, simple, and clear. Misunderstanding is one of the main causes of conflicts, so it is necessary to communicate as early and as often as possible. It is important to take the initiative to ensure that everyone understands the essence of the matter equally.

It is important to remember that the work environment is very different from school or university. Beginners need to make an effort to understand the needs of the company and management, complete tasks quickly, and ensure that their achievements are visible and recognized, and their value is obvious.

3 Tips to Help You Find a Job in IT

1. Join Swift Launch. We make every effort to enable our corporate partners to utilize Swifters. Thanks to Swift Launch, our employees have secured excellent jobs at companies like Uzcard. Our program teaches students to create products, build networks, and think from a customer's perspective — these are important skills in the high-tech industry. At Swift Launch, you will develop a product and work on creating a real company, making the learning process practical.

2. Connect with IT communities, such as IT Community. In Uzbekistan, the ecosystem is developing rapidly, and such communities help find and attend events where you can meet with companies and experts. Work hard and build relationships with people in the community.

3. Continue learning. The situation changes quickly, and graduating from university does not mean the end of your education. Programs such as Mohirdev, Uacademy, and Digital Camp offer key skills in programming, product management, and much more. They are designed for people at different levels and stages of their careers.