From Journalist to Java Developer: How Ulugbek Found His Calling at 32

Ulugbek Begaliev shared in an interview how he left a stable government job at the age of 32 to start an IT career from scratch.

Ulugbek Begaliev, city — Bishkek, Java Developer, LinkedIn

About Me

I am a Java Developer at Optima Bank, a mentor at Attractor School Bishkek, and a father of three children. Yes, I have enough time, energy, and inspiration for all of this. By education, I am a journalist. I graduated from Kyrgyz National University, but my professional life is like a series with many seasons: I worked in a call center, in advertising, as a lawyer, an economist, and even worked at customs. My life is a kaleidoscope of professions. One of my acquaintances jokes that if I had had LinkedIn in the 2010s, it wouldn’t have fit on one screen.

How I entered the IT field

IT became the answer to my inner calling: I felt that I could do more and wanted something more interesting. It all started in 2020, when I was working at customs and caught myself thinking more and more: “What if I try what I’m truly drawn to?” The decision didn’t come easily, as I had a family, three children, and a stable salary. But the desire to rewrite my fate proved stronger. In short, it was driven by a thirst for change and an inner feeling that I was capable of more. After long reflections, market analysis, and consultations with friends about which languages were in demand, I chose Java. It was logical: strictness, strong typing, and a powerful ecosystem. Also, backend in nearly every second bank is built on Java. Ultimately, against the backdrop of lockdowns and night shifts, I started watching courses, reading books, and then enrolled in courses at Attractor School, leaving the warm chair at customs to start everything from scratch.

Optima Bank is my first employer in the IT sector. It’s a cool company, a team of professionals, the best team. There, I grew into a team lead and continue to develop. At the same time, I mentor students at Attractor School, where I once studied myself. I remember being in the juniors’ shoes, and that helps me be not just a mentor, but a true guide in the profession.

About my first IT job

Here, I was given a chance to show myself. I am still grateful to my manager — that rare case when you meet good people not only in books. I remember walking past their office and catching myself thinking: “I wish I worked here!” And it came true. This place became a real springboard for me. Not because of the pay, but because they trusted me.

I was 32 when I started in IT. My position was Junior Java Developer. I was involved in the development and support of internal banking systems. I still remember it vividly — recalling it with both shivers and humor. The first few months were like jumping into cold water. Lots of unknowns, lots of responsibility. I worked with real production for the first time, wrote features, fixed bugs, deciphered other people’s code, learned the corporate culture, and kept learning. It was difficult, especially with three children and sleepless nights. But when you really want it, neither children nor age nor millions of lines of logs can stop you.

I had long been a client of the bank; I liked their approach to service, products, and technologies. And somehow I felt: “I wish I worked here!” I submitted my resume, and after some time, I was invited for an interview. Here, not only hard skills played a role, but also my soft skills — the ability to communicate, persuade, and be myself. Honestly, I wanted to work there, and the universe didn’t let me down. Why Optima Bank? Because I wanted stability, an excellent team, and a place where I could grow. And I wasn’t mistaken.

The interview lasted more than an hour. Two seniors and the department head participated. It was nerve-wracking, but I felt that I was in the right place. They asked about Java, SQL, Spring, algorithms, logical thinking questions, and gave me test tasks. The atmosphere was relaxed, but the high level was evident. I was nervous, of course. But as soon as the conversation got going, I felt confident. In the end — a job offer. Victory! Victory over myself, over my fears. 

I prepared thoroughly for the interview: reread my notes, reviewed algorithms, and intensively repeated everything I had studied: Java Core, collections, multithreading, databases, Spring, Hibernate. The questions ranged from basic ones, like the difference between an interface and an abstract class, to logical and practical ones. The main thing is to be honest and not be afraid to admit if you don’t know something. Senior specialists appreciate this. The questions were not only technical but also life-related: how I resolve conflicts, whether I can work in a team, and whether I am ready for deadlines. Everything was to the point.

My education and personal qualities also helped me get hired. My journalism background gave me communication skills and the ability to convey ideas, while working in government structures taught me discipline, responsibility, and endurance. Plus, I know how to learn — this is a key skill in IT. If you don’t know something, you’ll figure it out; if it’s hard, you won’t give up.

About difficulties

It felt like standing in line for a BTS concert where everyone had the same certificates. The market was oversaturated. For one position, there were dozens of candidates just like me, while I was just a guy with courses under his belt. It’s hard to believe in yourself when HRs don’t respond for weeks, yet I believed: I would find my place. You just need more boldness and a little luck. I knew that someone would definitely give me a chance, and I waited for it.

I had to refuse to panic. I knew why I had come to IT and that I was ready for difficulties. Several silent HRs couldn’t shake my resolve. Instead of thinking “Oh no, they’re not hiring me,” I thought: “Well, it just means it’s not my project yet.” Each “no” brought me one step closer to a “yes.” I didn’t have the luxury of giving up. Family and children were both my motivation and my support. Thank you to my beloved wife for her patience and support! I perceived each rejection as a filter that brought me closer to my own place. It’s like an interview with fate: if not this time, then definitely next time. Meanwhile — I keep learning, improving, and becoming stronger.

The most difficult part was transitioning from theory to practice. Production bugs are a whole separate chapter. In the first few weeks, I worried about every little thing. I wanted to prove that they hadn’t hired me in vain. And when you dive into a night log file while a child at home is sick — that builds character. The main thing is to stay calm, ask for help, and not be afraid to make mistakes. And always move forward. Real code is not like if-else exercises. At night, I dreamed of logs; in the morning, I dealt with bugs. I had to learn on the fly. The support of colleagues and my internal mindset — “If not me, then who?” — saved me. And, of course, coffee. Coffee always saves the day.

Competition and lack of practical experience are the main barriers. Many are afraid that if you haven’t written backend for NASA, you won’t be hired. But in reality, it’s important to show your thinking, approach to problem-solving, and passion for the profession. Sincere interest is visible immediately. Also, there are internal doubts: “What if I’m not a fit?” or “What if I’m too late?” In fact, there are many suitable candidates, but employers are looking not for perfect people, but for real ones — those who can think, learn, and not give up.

Advice that will help you find a job in IT

1. Be persistent. Rejection is not failure; it’s a filter. Keep going. Never give up. If you give up once, it will happen again next time.

2. Develop soft skills. The ability to communicate and work in a team is half the success.

3. Try to get into the place where your heart draws you. Motivation and love for the product are powerful engines.

4. Believe in yourself and don’t belittle your abilities. After all, every person is unique. Show what you are capable of. Reveal your potential.

5. Remain a human being. It is much easier to acquire something than to keep it. No matter what status or condition you find yourself in, always remain yourself. If you have the opportunity, support and help others. Because once, you were like them too.