Hello, my name is Marina, and I'm an IT Recruiter at EvoTalents. I'll tell you how I ended up in this role :)

I've been working in personnel recruitment since way back in 2009. I've been through mass hiring, consulting recruitment, a major nationwide retailer, and even departmental leadership.

In this article, I'd like to share not a template of actions but rather notes on what, where, and when to do things to ensure that your expectations of your future profession align as closely as possible with the real results. So, let's get started:

What?

Net-working

Subscribe to (not friend!) industry leaders on social media.

These are the people who are "in the know"; they consistently share high-quality content—relevant articles, participation in conferences and events you might not have heard of, and they raise important questions pertinent to the field.

It's that simple! You should learn from the best.

My first IT recruitment gurus were:

@Анна Стеценко @Марина Хомич and @Вика Придатко

Now, my feed is full of content from: Elena Volk, Narek Aslikyan, Екатерина Осадчук, Ирина Лисовская, Victor Soroka, Darya Nazarkina, Mike Pritula, Vladimir Zheleznyak, Максим Дыбенко, Мария Текуч, Ольга Иванова, and many others.

Be up to date

The IT technology industry is one of the fastest-changing fields, and staying uninformed is simply unacceptable. You won't be able to know all the nuances, but major events should not pass you by.

Recently, I had a candidate for a Project Manager position at a mobile development company who didn't know about the recent presentation of the latest iPhone model =( How he managed to miss that, I can't even imagine!!?

Find a Mentor—an experienced individual who can help you understand the ins and outs of the industry.

London is the capital of Great Britain

You will need to refresh your rusty English (with university knowledge and zero demand in the Ukrainian job market) promptly. If you're fortunate enough to find your first job where they are willing to be patient with it, that's great. However, most recruitment and sourcing blogs are available only in English on the internet. Don't wait for translations; it's better to address this issue sooner rather than later!

Where?

Hello World!

The world won't know about your career change unless you let it know. Update your information and status on Facebook, Vk, Google accounts, and don't forget your email signature.

LinkedIn is your live business card. It deserves special attention. Focus on the skills that will be useful in your new specialization and the qualities you're working on. You should mention "Looking for new opportunity (job, project, etc.)" in your profile. It's a common phrase that will help you be found by those who are searching.

Get social!

And I don't mean this literally; you can do it virtually as well. Be aware of the events happening in your city (not just your favorite band's concert) and don't miss out on them. Frontend developers discussing the benefits of working with React on Wednesday in the office of the city's largest company, .Net enthusiasts planning a conference in Zaporizhia next month, recruiters and HR professionals signing up for a sourcing webinar - you should know about all of this! You can easily join the conversation and capture the attention of valuable candidates.

Use resources like www.meetup.com and relevant Facebook groups to stay informed.

Home is where the work is (and for some, it can be a bit confining!).

You have the freedom to organize your work process and space yourself (I'm talking about transitioning to a new specialization or working remotely). What would you prefer: working from home or a coworking space, a café in the city center, or on your couch under a blanket? Saving time on commuting or changing the environment for better productivity? The choice is yours. Everyone will find pros and cons in all options.

It's important to note that your new status should be accepted by your close and important people. You are working! Even if from their perspective, it may look like you're just spending long hours in front of the computer.

Where?

Carpe Diem

What I've always been fortunate with is having managers who primarily expected results from me, not just the process. They taught me to understand when it's worth taking a step forward.

So, with the moment to change your career path, you should feel it. You've gained basic knowledge, strengthened your terminology, and you're ready to move mountains. That's when you seize the opportunity!

Finances can be tricky

There will be a period of "financial gap" when you've left your old job but the new one hasn't started providing the expected income yet. Don't rush into things, carefully assess how much you need to live each month, and don't make the leap until you've prepared a "financial cushion" for 3 months (or even 6 months). It's an excellent opportunity for a career change, and consider maternity leave as well =) You're already without your main job, your financial commitments are on your partner, and with the desire, you'll definitely find time to learn new information.

It's never too late

The topic of age is still a complex issue. It's challenging both for employers looking for a 25-year-old Senior developer with 5 years of experience in a technology that was released 3 years ago and for career switchers who might think that changing careers at 30 is too late. If you have a youthful mindset, remain open to new knowledge, and eagerly absorb it, it's never too late, even at 40.

If, after reading all of the above, you have three fewer questions, then my efforts and time spent on this article were not in vain!

And if, after reading it, you have 333 more questions on how to become better, that's a perfect Success! :)