How to Start a Career in IT Without Work Experience: Tips from a UX/UI Designer

Aidana Bayzhanova, city — Almaty, UX/UI designer, Instagram

About me

I am a UX/UI designer in the FinTech sector, and by education, I am an economist who graduated from Nazarbayev University. Design has interested me since my studies, so I began my conscious journey into design with graphic design courses at Digital Creativity Lab. Despite my strong interest in the design field, I worked for several years in tax consulting at KPMG. But at some point, I decided to develop my UI/UX skills and transition into the IT sector.

My transition was organic. It all started with a passion for graphic design, then I discovered UX/UI, and this coincided with my desire to change careers. Currently, I work as a UX/UI designer at Investbanq. I like that in this field, I can combine analytics, creativity, and impact on user experience.

About my first job in IT

I began my professional career at KPMG as a tax consultant. While working at KPMG, I drafted legislative amendments, advised clients from various industries on tax issues, and analyzed the tax implications for businesses. KPMG became a school of discipline and a structured approach to problem-solving for me, where you often encounter the "think outside the box" mindset. These skills proved useful in design.

When I was looking for a new job, I wasn't just looking for interesting design tasks, but for a project that would be genuinely interesting. Investbanq attracted me with the opportunity to work at the intersection of technology and investments. I applied for the vacancy, sent my portfolio, completed a test assignment, passed the interview, and after a short while, became part of the Investbanq team.

The interview consisted of three stages: screening, then a test assignment, and an interview with the team. I prepared by reading recent articles about new cases and design processes, as well as common interview questions. I approached the test assignment seriously and tried to meet as many requirements as possible outlined in the brief. During the interview, they asked about my approach to solving unusual design tasks, communication, teamwork skills, and past experience.

Each stage of learning gave me not only knowledge but also vast experience. My economic education helped me see the value of the product for the business, while personal qualities—such as openness to learning, critical thinking, flexibility, and creativity—proved even more important when changing fields.

About difficulties

When I decided to switch from consulting to design, it was scary and unclear. My resume had three years of experience in consulting and zero years of practical experience in design. But I continued to develop in this field, create projects for my portfolio, and apply to various companies.

A rejection is never the end; it is always a zone for growth and part of the process. Sometimes certain rejections were felt more acutely than others, but in the end, everything always turned out for the best. Whenever possible, I asked for feedback to understand my weak points. Sometimes I switched to other projects and changed my search strategies. Over time, the search process became easier: it's like training where each attempt makes it easier.

One of the main difficulties for beginners when looking for their first job in IT is the lack of confidence in their skills and the absence of real cases in their portfolio. It is important not only to show beautiful prototypes but also to explain how you arrived at such decisions. You need to be able to convey the value of yourself as a designer who solves specific user problems, even if it's just a pet project.

3 tips that will help a young specialist find a job in IT

1. Do, don't just study. Courses are great, but real projects, even small or free ones, will give you much more experience and understanding.
2. Learn to talk about your decisions. How you present and explain your design decisions is often more important than the image itself and plays a significant role.
3. And don't give up; everything is just beginning. Sometimes the path may seem endless, but even a small step brings you closer to your goal, even if it's not very noticeable.