"I am increasingly thinking about leaving Ukraine." The developer admitted that he is thinking about moving to another country and gave his arguments. The people of Aitivka advise him to take off his rose-colored glasses or go work as a cemetery director.

Four «arguments» to leave Ukraine

«I am increasingly thinking about leaving Ukraine, and there are many reasons for this. The most important thing is that I really want to develop normally in the field of programming, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so here,» Dolya wrote and listed the reasons for his intentions to leave.

First, in his opinion, finding a job has turned into a grueling marathon. «Despite my experience and sincere passion for development, finding a stable job with adequate conditions is almost impossible. There are few vacancies, the requirements are growing, and the offers often look like a compromise on all sides,» he explained.

Secondly, the man wants to work in a place where his skills will be truly appreciated. «Where there are opportunities to grow, learn new things, build long-term relationships with the company, and not be constantly looking for the next project,» Alex clarified.

Thirdly, the IT professional strives for broader horizons and stronger teams.
«I want to get into an environment where technology moves faster, where there is competition, development, and a real challenge — that’s why I chose IT,» he added.

And the fourth factor — the specialist says that he needs stability and normal living conditions. «I’m tired of constant uncertainty. I want peace, confidence in the future, and the opportunity to plan life, not adapt to chaos,» he noted.

In the comments to Oleksandr’s post, there are over a hundred assessments from IT professionals regarding the developer’s intentions and stated reasons for leaving. Many experts believe that Alex has rose-colored glasses in his view of foreign IT realities.

«Take off your rose-colored glasses»

«And I have a question — are you not idealizing the European market? And have you tried applying to European offices? Because not everything is rosy there either. Plus such questions — how much experience do you have, because it is not indicated in your profile,» writes IOS Developer Vyacheslav Gudzenko .

Senior Business Process Manager Iryna Oleinnikova agrees with him: «The European market is also shit. There is a lot of English-speaking competition, 100 candidates for one vacancy. If you know the local language, there is some advantage over English-speaking candidates, so the grass is not really greener here.»

In turn, Software Engineer & Architect Lev Vanyan sarcastically jokes: «You cross the border and immediately thousands of recruiters stand there and tear you to shreds in the fight for a programmer, they break through in front of the border guards to be the first. Sarcasm, of course. Now offices that had a rider and a minimum check for clients are fighting for orders for $10,000-$20,000. And there is no more stability. In the states, many programmers are already changing their qualifications. There should be no rose-colored glasses,» he argues.

«Honestly, in Europe the only difference in the IT market is that missiles don’t fly over your head, but it’s also a matter of time. And everything else you described is also a standard picture here,» says Full Stack Developer Stanislav Kucherenko .

«Join the Armed Forces of Ukraine — and you will be busy, and overtime, and the meaning of life, and much more…», — writes developer Leonid Zychkov. In turn, IT worker Artem Bohdan describes the prospects for implementing Alex’s plan: «Pros — going abroad. Cons — $20,000 and a 50/50 opportunity to go to training right from the train to Przemysl.»

In turn, Senior AI Product Manager Alex Polyvany says that Ukraine has the best conditions. «People in the EU and the US have been looking for work for six months or more. I don’t recommend wearing rose-colored glasses about the EU and US labor markets,» he argues.

Senior Software Engineer Oleg Kovalev believes that it is not about the situation in the country, but about the fact that the market has changed dramatically. «Now, cost optimization is happening everywhere. The most important question you have to answer for yourself is: ‘What can I give to the business that will bring it more money?’ If you can clearly answer this question, you will have no problems with your work,» the IT specialist notes.

In his opinion, all this — I want a normal team, normal technologies, I was not appreciated, etc., etc. — is all a relic of the past. «Now only drive business value rules. If it is a legacy system with a lot of technical debt on technologies that are 10 years old, but you can really manage all this, then they will take you away with arms and legs. What is the conclusion? Pump up your hard and soft skills. Take on those tasks that you cannot cope with, but will have to, and in the process of solving them, experience will grow. The main task of a good engineer is to solve non-standard tasks that ordinary engineers cannot handle,» says Oleg.

Not about escape, but about burnout

Maksym Boyarko, Decision Architect, believes that Alex’s post is not about «escape» or «betrayal.» «This is about burnout,» he says, and lays out the developer’s arguments «on the shelves.»

«1. The labor market. You describe not just difficulties, but chronic exhaustion due to the lack of meaning in the hiring processes. This is a really big problem right now. On both sides, job seekers and employers. There are already many posts on this topic on LinkedIn.
2. There is also a need for structure. When people go to countries with stronger IT markets, they rarely want a „better life.“ They want an environment that doesn’t devalue their work.
3. You need a stronger environment and more competition that doesn’t pressure, but inspires.
4. I would say it’s more like a desire for predictability. How much will you earn? What will happen to the country? What and how to plan? Will you be able to live normally, and not in the mode of an anxious suitcase,» the specialist notes.

In Maxim’s opinion, Alex should try this approach:

• honestly answer the question, will he be able to solve his problem if you stay?
• calculate the numbers, not romance, but a specific budget for 3–6 months of living abroad + job search period + reserve.
• Determine not «where I want to go,» but where your skillset will be valued.
• Do cold outreach to 30 companies in the country you are thinking of going to, test the market.
• Make two scenarios: a plan for 3 months if you stay. And if you leave, a plan for 3-6 months.

System Administrator Igor Sniezhko ironically says: «Cemetery director. Perfectly suited to your requirements. Both competition from point 3 (with bandits), and its opposite — stability from point 4 (there are always customers).» According to him, even AWS, Facebook and Microsoft are laying off thousands. «Changing the country will not give much, especially since at this very moment they can be sent to military exploits. Taxes and housing payments will eat up all income (if it’s Europe). If not Europe, then no normal school for children, no clear prospects (unless you are a remote genius). If it’s really hot, I would look towards Kazakhstan / Uzbekistan (no joke),» he noted.

Not only skeptics

However, in addition to skeptics and realists, there are also those IT professionals who say that there is a chance to get a good job in Europe. In particular, Igor Melnychuk, Full-Stack/ Back-end Laravel Developer, said that he has been working in the EU for two years. «This is the best thing I have ever had. There is labor protection, humane attitude, good salary. Yes, it is more expensive to live here, but it is worth it,» he says.

Aitivets also described the realities of the market. «By market: depending on the country. In my case, I found a job in a month. Out of about 80-100 responses, I received six interviews and three offers. This is where people who want to work are needed. I would say that finding a job here is more difficult than in pre-war Ukraine, but much easier than in today’s Ukraine. But you need to look at the situation in a specific country, and in a specific region of the country. Everywhere is different,» he noted.

The specialist advises to focus on the reviews of people who already work in the EU. «They will tell you the truth. Don’t be afraid to write to people and directly ask what interests you. There are those who will condemn or say that you won’t succeed, or that the development market no longer needs you. But you check the information. For example, compare the number of JS vacancies in Ukraine and Germany/Netherlands. Also check the locations of people,» Igor advised.

And Senior PHP Developer Artem Frolov believes that changing the country will give a lot. «Because from the inside I see how hiring from Ukraine is either stopped, then resumed, then stopped again in my company. Working from Ukraine, you transfer your instability to your client (employer), and he is not interested in it and is even scared. That’s the point of teaching you if tomorrow you will unsuccessfully go out for bread and send your belongings to the bank for donation,» he argues.

More comments here.

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