From Zero to Lead Developer: Iskandar Dadabaev on Starting a Career in IT

Iskandar Dadaev, city — Bishkek, Lead Java Developer, LinkedIn

About Me

I was born and raised in the south of Kyrgyzstan, in the village of Uch-Korgon in the Batken region, in a family of farmers. My mother is a homemaker, and my father is a construction worker; my parents are also engaged in agriculture.

The upbringing I received shaped my character: never give up, achieve your goals, and do not be afraid of new things. My parents always said, “If you are confident, act. I may not be able to help, but I will not hinder you.” They gave me the freedom to choose and act, for which I am infinitely grateful to them.

I clearly remember the moment when my father gave me my first computer — it opened up an amazing world of technology to me. And the books he bought, even though they were in Russian, awakened in me a thirst for knowledge and a desire for self-improvement.

About My First IT Job

I started learning practically from scratch. My career in IT began at Megalab, where I gained my first practical skills under the guidance of an experienced mentor. The course consists of three stages: from the basics of the chosen programming language to mastering modern frameworks. The training includes theory, practical assignments, and project work.

After the second month of training, I was invited to work as an assistant mentor in the same school, in beginner groups.

Real competition for a position in the company began in the fifth month of the internship. Senior developers warned us about the high competition: to stay in the company, we had to demonstrate our best qualities.

After successfully completing the training at the IT school, I was invited to join MEGA. Accepting the internship offer was a natural step for me, as I have always considered MEGA a leader in the telecommunications industry. The company was associated with me with reliability and innovation, since I myself have been its subscriber for many years.

Thanks to the knowledge I gained, I successfully handled the assigned tasks, passed the interview, and was hired by the company. Currently, I work in the “Development and Testing” department of Alfa Telecom CJSC on a state project, where I serve as a lead developer. Our team works on it as a contractor.

The interview took place in two stages. It was my first interview, so I didn’t quite understand what exactly to prepare for — I mainly focused on theory.

The main difficulty for me was the lack of experience in public speaking and oratory skills. Although I prepared well for the technical part, I lacked confidence in how to present my ideas. However, I realized that even with gaps, it is important to show the desire to learn and develop.

At MEGA, sociability is one of the key factors. Upon joining the team, I was able to develop not only professional skills but also personal qualities.

About Difficulties

At first, it was difficult because it was my first experience working in IT: there were many unclear tasks, but over time, hard work and perseverance helped overcome the difficulties.

The difficulty in finding the first job lies in the lack of experience in passing interviews. You need to prepare carefully for them: watch videos on YouTube, read articles and forums, and if necessary, seek help from specialists who assist with preparation. It is better to look for the first job in large IT companies, where the processes for training newcomers are usually well-established, which facilitates adaptation.

3 Tips to Help a Young Specialist Find a Job in IT

The most important thing is self-discipline and understanding what you want. When you have a specific goal, it is easier to grow and abstract from the limitations you set for yourself.

Secondly — do not give up. There are moments when everything is so unclear that imposter syndrome appears. You need to hold on to the idea, to the idea you believe in yourself, and grind through the granite of science!

Thirdly, of course, networking. Surround yourself with people with similar interests or professions — this helps form an IT mindset and thereby makes passing interviews easier.