"In IT, beginners should expand their network," — Behruz Saidjonov on his lifestyle

Behruz Soizhonov, city — Tashkent, team lead, @celestial_apotheosis

About Me

I work as a team lead, and my role combines team management with coding. Additionally, I handle project management and communication with the business side.

I have extensive experience not only in IT but also in teaching at universities and educational centers in Uzbekistan. I have taught at PDP, HALO IT, and with Baburakilkhanov. My teaching experience spans about three years; I have also managed the educational process, developed curricula, and helped students reach junior and middle levels.

My main profile is backend development, but I also have experience in frontend and show interest in artificial intelligence. Currently, I focus on work that is dynamic and requires flexibility. Sometimes I have to work on weekends.

In my free time, I love traveling and enjoying nature. I have visited many countries in Central Asia and engaged in mountaineering, including climbing a five-thousander in Kyrgyzstan. These travels and mountain hikes help me discover myself.

Where and How I Learn

I learn every day because my work constantly presents new tasks and requires learning something new. My main sources of knowledge are books and courses on various platforms. I enjoy studying and mastering new information. In my work, I actively use GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT, which significantly simplify the learning process.

Artificial intelligence is an excellent tool for acquiring knowledge: it provides reliable information, available for free, and can explain it in detail without evaluative judgments. The key is to keep asking questions until you get the answer you need.

In the past, I regularly attended courses, but over time I realized that information provided in a compressed timeframe is often too general. For experienced specialists and those in higher positions, such events are useful mainly for networking.

As a Python developer, I recommend Mark Lutz's book. Despite its impressive size, it provides fundamental knowledge necessary for working in large companies. Many developers mistakenly consider themselves middle-level specialists, although their level often corresponds to junior with basic skills. In large companies, the requirements are much higher than in startups.

Environment

I shape my own environment, and currently, it includes close friends and colleagues. For example, recently my colleagues and I took first place in a hackathon.

My hobbies are mountains, yoga, and reading books about nature and people living simple lives. I was particularly impressed by Daniel Everett's book about the Pirahã tribe living in the Amazon rainforest. The author spent 20–30 years among them, and this experience radically changed his worldview, including his religious beliefs.

I have friends who work in various fields: HR, internet design, 3D modeling, as well as in art, installations, XR, and some engage in volunteer activities.

For IT beginners, it is important to expand their circle of communication. Socialization in IT is an important process, and over time, it becomes easier.

For learning and communication in IT, forums, educational platforms such as Coursera and Udemy, and communities on Discord can be useful. I always advise my students not to be afraid to ask questions, even if they seem silly, and to keep moving forward.

Where I Spend My Free Time

I am not a fan of dacha vacations. My usual evening is as follows: if I am not working until 10:00 PM, I go for a walk along the embankment or meet a friend at a restaurant, where I prefer Japanese cuisine.

As an IT professional, I spend a lot of time at the computer, and in my free time, I also relax by playing games with friends, which helps me unwind. After gaming, I like to do evening stretching, practice yoga, or simply meditate, which contributes to relaxation and better sleep.

My hobbies are teaching, reading, hiking, which my friends consider a way of life, and learning something new. Sometimes I get absorbed in YouTube, like many others.

Where to Buy What

I prefer iPhones for their aesthetic and convenient design. Speaking of brands, Apple stands out for the quality of its products; however, in some cases, I choose other brands because they may be more suitable for specific tasks.

Logitech and Sony produce high-quality headphones and peripheral devices. Regarding monitors, I prefer products from Asus and Dell. For laptops, models from Acer suit me, although generally, any quality laptop costing from $1000 is an excellent choice.

Among sports gadgets, I like Garmin smartwatches. In Uzbekistan, you can find quality goods in stores such as Astor and Labe, which offer products with good discounts and guarantees of authenticity. I also frequently order products through Amazon and other online platforms.