IT families: Azamat and Dinara Sheriyanov

Azamat Sheriyazdanov, city — Astana, senior engineer, @kairatovich7152

Dynara Sheriyazdanova, city — Astana, QA engineer, @zhamshitqyzy

About us

Azamat and Dynara. We met at work at KMG PetroChem. Azamat supported the company on the technical side, while Dynara worked as an engineer testing electronic document management in Tengri BPM.

Azamat. We often crossed paths at work. There were moments when we didn't get along, but over time, our arguments smoothly turned into personal conversations. From hate to love is just one step — that’s us. On June 21, 2022, we got married.

How we entered the IT field

Azamat. I graduated from the Magzhan Zhumabayev Higher College in Petropavl. After that, I started working through a youth practice program, teaching people the basics of the IT field. I was involved in repairing PCs, laptops, and various office equipment. Then I went into the army, where my IT specialist skills also came in handy.  

Returning to my hometown, I worked in various private and state-owned companies. Soon I gained experience and decided to move to a promising city, our capital, Astana. Here, I took a position as a junior engineer at a subsidiary of JSC NC “KazMunayGas” — TCO “KMG Kumkol”. Currently, I hold the position of Senior Engineer, supporting various subsidiaries of JSC NC “KazMunayGas” in both online and offline formats.

Dynara. Even in school, I clearly knew what interested and inspired me. Since my teenage years, I could completely disassemble and assemble a PC. After graduating from university, I worked in state institutions as a system administrator. Then, under an employment contract, I flew to the Czech Republic for a year, working as an operator of automated machines, while simultaneously studying to become a tester at an educational IT center. After completing my studies, I joined an IT company developing and providing electronic document management. I was involved in testing and supporting software. Thus began the most interesting part of my professional career in the IT field. 

After working at iSate and taking maternity leave, I decided to find a new company to continue my work in testing, but on a larger scale. I obtained the position of a middle-level testing specialist at the “Republican Center for Electronic Healthcare”.

In my first company, I worked remotely. Now I have switched to an offline format. This type of employment is necessary for me to fully immerse myself in this industry. At the same time, I can always switch to remote work, as we are responsible for the results ourselves. 

Distribution of responsibilities

Azamat. In our family, there is no strict distribution of responsibilities. There are things I don’t like to do, and things Dynara doesn’t like to do. For example: usually, she mops the floors, while I vacuum and take out the trash. At other times, we do everything together, and we are also supported by a nanny. In our free time, we take our son to play areas, organize picnics, meet with friends, and visit our native places. I regularly play football, and Dynara goes to the gym and other sections. We also enjoy attending meetups related to the IT field. 

Family traditions

Dynara. Every season we go out into nature. Usually, this is Borovoe, Zerenda, and Balkhash, where we visit various recreation areas. During holidays, we try to spend time with our parents, so we first stop in Kokshetau, and then in Petropavl. We recharge our energy from them and set off again. 

Another tradition is to visit new establishments and eat delicious food together every Friday evening.

Combining household chores and work

Dynara. For a long time after the birth of our son, it was difficult for us to find a balance between work and household chores. After a year at home on maternity leave, I had difficulties finding a balance between household chores and my personal interests. I critically lacked energy for professional development. And Azamat, to help me with our son, had to come home from work earlier, which also affected his productivity. It took us a year to establish harmony in all areas. 

Then we hired a nanny, and recently I returned to work. Now we can worry less about many household matters, developing and working as efficiently as possible, while also spending time with our family. 

In the evenings, we try to spend time together, but there are sections we attend, so by agreement, we take turns watching our son. Azamat doesn’t like cooking, but he always helps me with it. We don’t go shopping for groceries; we order any goods for delivery.   

How IT families differ from others

Azamat. In the IT environment, continuous learning and professional development are valued. This also influences approaches to children's education, emphasizing learning new skills and using online resources. 

Our family has a specific circle of communication, including colleagues from the industry and friends with similar interests. This strongly affects our family's social life. 

We have similar interests and ways of thinking. So, last year, we actively studied the crypto industry. We engaged in trading and arbitrage. Now we are entering various ecosystems, building investment portfolios. We constantly share new ideas and can discuss and argue about them for hours.

But there is also the flip side. The IT field is often associated with high demands and stress, which can also reflect in family life. Working under deadlines and constant technological updates requires significant time and emotional resources. 

Dynara. In our residential complex, we are known as a young IT family. Any neighbor can ask for help, both from my husband and from me. Interestingly, even our speech is not like everyone else's: we understand each other with half a word. This can also affect our son, and I believe this is a big plus.

Recommendations for a happy family life

Azamat. We are still considered a young family that is just overcoming all obstacles and hardships. First of all, you need to always support your partner and treat them with respect. Spend more time together so that you are connected by shared experiences and memories. Respect personal space. Fairly divide responsibilities and equally spend time with children. 

Dynara. Partners need to look in the same direction. They should have the same family values, then there will be no need to fight for the family. Each partner should strive for development, which reduces the number of conflicts in the family. The main thing is to plan the future together.