"My career began at the age of 23 at Altel Digital," — Asem Aliakbar on professional growth in IT

Assem Aliakbar, city — Almaty, Product Owner, TikTok

About Me

I graduated from Nazarbayev University with a degree in Economics. The university gave me a strong foundation for analytical and systematic thinking, which now works excellently in product roles.

I entered IT in 2023, as they say — I jumped into the #womintech movement, and stayed for the long haul. Today, I work at Tele2/Altel Kazakhstan, where I am responsible for the development of ecosystem products. We are building not just a mobile app, but a whole digital ecosystem with loyalty programs, content, services, and a cool user experience.

About My First Job in IT

My career began even while I was studying at Nazarbayev University. I completed internships at Coca-Cola and Beeline, where I first tried my hand at analytics.

After graduation, I started working at Japan Tobacco International, where I was involved in market and sales analysis, conducted research, and helped the team make data-driven decisions. At the same time, I launched my own EdTech startup, where I was responsible for the product side and marketing. This experience came in handy later in IT.

My first experience in IT began at Tele2/Altel Kazakhstan at the age of 23. I was lucky: I was noticed on hh.kz, probably because I know how to write resumes correctly and with numbers. I even share this tip on TikTok.

I had several offers: from startups, FMCG, marketing, and IT companies. I chose Tele2/Altel Kazakhstan because the hiring process was human and clear. From the very first calls, I felt "that vibe" — that the team is passionate about their work, and I really saw that there was room for growth here. Additionally, at that time, IT in Kazakhstan was growing at a furious pace — and I wanted to be at the epicenter.

I joined the company as a Product Analyst. I analyzed user funnels, extracted insights from data, calculated conversions, identified growth points, and evaluated the effectiveness of digital channels and product features.

After a year and a half in analytics, I moved into the role of Product Owner. Now, I not only analyze data but also shape product strategy, gather and formalize requirements, prioritize the backlog, test hypotheses, and manage products from idea to release.

The interview process consisted of several stages: first, a call with HR, then a test assignment, followed by an interview with the team lead, and finally, an in-person meeting at the office.

For preparation, I used YouTube breakdowns and articles, as well as my startup experience, which helped me greatly understand what MVP, hypotheses, and metrics are.

Education provided a good foundation, but the key was the ability to present my experience correctly. I learned to package it in my resume and LinkedIn with an emphasis on numbers and specific results:

— "Increased conversion by 15%"
— "Saved 500,000 tenge"
— "Found a bug, saved 1,000 users" — examples like these work. And, of course, charisma played no small role.

About Difficulties

To be honest, I was lucky when looking for my first job in IT. I entered the industry smoothly, having ready-made cases and an understanding of my own value. But if you are having trouble breaking through platforms like hh.kz, do not hesitate to write directly on LinkedIn or Telegram and ask for a referral — it really works. People are always willing to help, especially those who clearly understand what they want.

I perceive rejections not as "I wasn't hired," but as "we didn't match in expectations."

This is a normal story. Every "no" is simply not your match. As modern philosophers say: "Thank you, next."

The most difficult part is taking on more and more responsibility. Every six months, you face a new challenge: a new product, new users, and deadlines. And you need to be ready to perform tasks quickly and with high quality, while learning from the best.

The biggest problem for beginners is not understanding exactly what the employer is looking for. When you draw a competency map for the position you want, everything falls into place: which hard skills to develop, which projects to gather in your portfolio, and how to answer questions in interviews.

3 Tips to Help You Find a Job in IT

1. Pack yourself wisely. Your resume, LinkedIn, and portfolio should all be about numbers and results. Not just "I did it," but "I did it and here is what happened."
2. Don't wait to be found. Write first, ask for referrals, attend meetups, and communicate within the community.
3. Work strategically. Clearly define the role you want to achieve and the steps that will lead you there. Without strategy, it's just wandering.