"From System Administrator Assistant to DevOps Engineer," Ayan Satybaldinov on his career start in IT

Ayan Satybaldinov, city — Astana, DevOps Engineer, LinkedIn

About Me

I am originally from the city of Ekibastuz. At the age of 11, I moved with my family to Astana, where I graduated from high school.

I received my higher education at the Kazakh University of Technology and Business, majoring in "Information Systems and Business."

My path into the IT field began by chance. I had planned to become a power engineer, but I didn't have enough points on the Unified National Testing (UNT) to enroll in that major, so I chose information technology. This decision shaped my future career trajectory. After graduating from university, I decided to work in my field, and I eventually returned to engineering through a different path. Currently, I hold the position of DevOps Engineer at Kazdream Group. Kazdream Group is a group of companies within the corporate ecosystem of Butterfly Effect.

About My First IT Job

I started my career at the age of 22 in the same company where I work today. At that time, it was still called Kazdream Technologies.

I was hired as a System Administrator Assistant. My responsibilities included providing technical support to company employees. I was the person who installed new operating systems and Microsoft Office.

I found the vacancy on HeadHunter, submitted my application without any particular expectations, and received an interview invitation from a recruiter. During the interview, I realized I wanted to work for this company — I was drawn to the cozy office, the warm atmosphere, and the great people.

There is a funny story connected with my hiring. At that time, the company's office was located in a residential complex with many shops and offices. Upon arriving for the interview, I couldn't find the entrance to the building for a long time. At one point, I decided to give up and went to a computer club. During the hour I spent in the club, the recruiter called me several times, but I didn't know because my phone battery had died. Fortunately, when I finally got in touch with the recruiter, she calmly accepted my lateness and allowed me to proceed with the interview.

My hiring process involved two stages of interviews: the first was a phone call with the recruiter, and the second was an in-person meeting with my first manager. I hardly prepared for the interviews since I initially went in without any expectations. Fortunately, my knowledge was sufficient, and the first manager wanted to hire me. I received the job offer on the same day.

My personal qualities helped me secure the job: proactivity, eagerness to learn, and readiness for challenges and workloads. Additionally, the knowledge I acquired out of curiosity and with the help of Google played a significant role.

About Challenges

In 2019, the IT sector in Kazakhstan was just gaining momentum, and the demand for specialists was high. Therefore, finding a job was not difficult.

In my role at that time, the main challenge was burnout due to heavy workloads and the routine nature of tasks. I lacked authority and opportunities for growth, so I didn't settle for what was available and began actively studying. My strategy was to do more than I was capable of and constantly learn new things. I continuously developed my skills, which quickly brought results. Within a year, I became a System Administrator, and two and a half years later, I transitioned into DevOps.

Years later, my strategy has not changed: I still dedicate a lot of time to learning and continue to do more than is required of me. I actively study OSINT and cybersecurity and run the Telegram channel OsinTeka.

The difficulty for newcomers is the rising barrier to entry into IT. Currently, the market is saturated with specialists, and to stand out from the crowd, you need to put in more effort than you did five years ago. However, do not give up on your goals. Be bold and proactive, and you will definitely be noticed.

3 Tips to Help You Find a Job in IT

These tips are not only for IT specialists but for everyone just starting their career:

1. Decide for yourself: are you looking for a job for a high salary or for valuable experience? Once you answer this question, stay committed to your goal.

2. If your plan is professional growth, do not focus solely on money. Accept any conditions, try yourself in different companies and roles. This way, you will better understand what you want to achieve and what you do not accept.

3. Do not underestimate entry-level positions. If you are truly a great specialist, you will definitely be noticed and helped to grow.

Also, make sure to optimize your LinkedIn profile.