"Finding 'your' company is a process that takes time," — Ulugbek Abdurakhmanov on starting a career in IT

Ulugbek Abdurakhmanov, city — Tashkent, product manager, Linkedin

About me

I have been working in IT for over 10 years. Currently, I am a product manager at Click, where I am responsible for creating and developing products in the B2C segment of our mobile application.

My journey in IT began when I received a technical education at the Tashkent University of Information Technologies, which I graduated from in 2016. I studied at the IT faculty, which is now divided into software and computer engineering. The university provided me with a solid foundation for further development; before enrolling, I knew almost nothing about programming or IT in general.

About my first job in IT

In my second year of university, I got an internship at the IT company BRAND.uz as a web designer. At that time, this profession was not yet called UX/UI designer; I was always attracted to user experience and how one could improve human interaction with interfaces. I got the internship thanks to a friend who was already working at the company. After passing the interview, I gained my first work experience in IT.

The first few months were particularly difficult — I had no experience, and I often encountered problems that I got stuck on for a long time. Creating the design for a single-page website took me more than three months. However, thanks to perseverance and a strong desire to finish what I started, I did not quit the internship. After nine months, I was hired for a permanent position.

My technical education became an important advantage. It helped me in design and later in product management. Understanding programming and technology always set me apart from my colleagues, and today many product managers have a technical background, as our work is closely related to technology and analytics.

Challenges

Of course, there were failures along my path. I repeatedly faced rejections at various stages of interviews. This can be somewhat demoralizing, but it is important to understand that in such cases, you simply do not fit a specific company, just as the company does not fit you. Finding "your" company is a process that takes time.

3 tips to help you find a job in IT

Here are a few tips for beginners in IT:

1. "Burning eyes" and a desire to learn

Employers often hire people without experience if they see a sincere desire to learn. Those who come with "burning eyes" quickly master new knowledge and grow in their profession. Enthusiasm and passion for the work are just as important as technical skills.

2. Do not be afraid to show your work and discuss mistakes

Mistakes are an inevitable part of the learning process. If you are not afraid to discuss them and show your work, you can receive feedback faster and understand what can be improved. This also demonstrates a readiness for open communication and development, which is highly valued in IT. I can recommend Austin Kleon's book "Steal Like an Artist" — it will tell you how to get noticed.

3. Perseverance in your chosen field

Young specialists often lack perseverance. Due to the rapid development of technology, there is a temptation to switch from one technology to another, but this leads to a superficial understanding of many tools. To achieve mastery, it is important to deeply study your chosen field and not give up halfway. I experienced this myself: in the early stages of my internship, nothing seemed to work out, but thanks to perseverance, I was able to overcome difficulties and continue my path.

Ultimately, to succeed in IT, it is important to find a field where you can become a master. Decide what truly interests you and strive to deepen your knowledge in your chosen area. Do not be afraid to learn, search for information, and ask questions — courage in learning and a constant pursuit of new knowledge will lead to success.