“I no longer felt any sense.” The story of a designer who left a high-paying job in IT for nutrition and is now self-employed

How it all began

Yevgenia received a diploma with honors in journalism, but even before graduation she realized that she did not want to work in the media. At the age of 20, the girl realized that she wanted to “get out” of her rented apartment on Minska Street and see the world.

Evgenia's childhood friend, a programmer, gave her a link to HTML and CSS courses. That's how her journey in design began, which later led the girl to UX.

The only person in my circle who earned a decent living was my childhood friend and fellow countryman, Roman Lyutikov. I asked him what he did for a living and he said he was a programmer. Roman sent me a website where they taught me how to write HTML and CSS code. While writing my diploma on the topic of "Journalistic Ethics in the System of Political Communication" (electoral aspect), in the evenings I studied all sorts of divs (smiles).

I was okay with that, but I didn't like the fact that I didn't decide what color the button would be on the website. So Roma said that the WEB DESIGNER decides that. And I was like, "wooooow, that sounds so cool." So I went to study at SVC, that's where I learned that UX existed. Back then, it was something incredible for Ukraine, and Donald Norman, with his heuristics, was the only and unattainable icon. It's 2014, Projector is just starting out, there aren't any conferences for designers, there are only developer conferences, so I go there and start working. The design community is just starting to emerge. These are bright and cool times.

Working as a designer

Evgenia notes that what she liked most about being a designer was creating meaning. Doing something not for beauty, but for people.

Five out of six years in my profession, I worked at a small agency called Angle2, which at that time created user-oriented design. It was something very cool, and few people knew about it. We worked on big products, for example, an EHR system - a hospital management system. With patient data, doctors, access, all test results and telemedicine! And this is what we did, ATTENTION, in the pre-Covid times. We created design systems, conducted cool research. Now it all seems normal, but back then it was exceptional. We did great things in the field of health, education, finance.

In 2019 I went to London and got certified at NN/g, which was also really cool at the time (and probably still is). It's a fantastic experience and the best team in the world.

Burnout and breakdown

For the first time, I burned out after four years. There was a lot of work, I started managing a team of UX designers, there was not much knowledge about how to be a leader and a designer at the same time. Like, for example, what the incredible Natalia Tachynska is creating now. I decided to leave and look for a job in product, it seemed better than an agency, but I stayed for another year.

This whole year was hard for me, I worked with dreamers, people who have their own ideas, want to implement them, create products, but I didn't know what I was dreaming about myself. I was constantly working, having six meetings a day, and I no longer felt the same feelings that kept me going before.

So I resigned on February 14, 2022, and ten days later the war began.

Exiting IT into a new field

Evgenia said that she was so “burned out” that the decision to leave IT came easily to her. Because of the burnout, she was not concerned about the consequences of such a step and the impending war. The reasons for choosing nutrition were personal.

Then a full-scale war began and Yevgenia began to master a new profession in parallel with news about a possible nuclear bombing and the approach of Russian troops to the Poltava region.

At that time, there wasn't much Ukrainian education like there is now. Until 2022, all Ukrainian nutritionists studied either in Russia or online abroad. But I started with what was on Coursera (Oxford, University of Copenhagen, etc) and Ukrainian courses, which were then translated from Russian on the fly. Now the Ukrainian education market is booming and I'm glad that there is a great choice.

University experience helps — I write texts, take photos, film, and edit. And UX experience, of course — I know English, create a great experience for my students, constantly take feedback, test ideas, make a website, etc.

Self-employment and finances

Evgenia's income in IT was about $3,000 per month, and she almost reached this level in her new profession.

Now I have a turnover of around $2–3 thousand, but my net salary is not enough, because I pay taxes and accountant services myself, I pay for the website, targeted advertising if I delegate design or installation, all subscriptions to software like Notion, and so on, I pay for my education, which comes to about 100–150,000 hryvnias annually, and much more.

I need to save for vacation or sick leave, because no one compensates me for these days except me. And there are many other little things that need to be managed. Also, the salary of a self-employed person may not always be the same every month and you need to try to build a record so that there are clients, test new products or work formats.

In a company, you don't care whether there is a client or whether he paid on time. Everything I earn belonged to me as a person. Whereas now, everything belongs to the Zhenya Klysha enterprise, as I joke. And then you have to prioritize what I save for and what I give to myself as a person.

About inspiration and drawing strength

What Evgenia likes most is the meaning she creates in her work as a nutritionist.

I feel like I'm doing something that's really important right now. Also, it's satisfying, because I love food — growing it, studying it, cooking it, sharing my knowledge about it. It gives me a sense of authenticity and self-identity. That I'm in my place, among my values, that I'm myself.

The former IT worker also recalls the benefits of working in IT, and with respect and sadness about her former managers.

Yuriy Lazebny and Viktor Novikov, you are the best bosses in the world, remember that. I miss the team and the opportunity to be around cool, smart people.

Evgenia said that she felt like a "real" nutritionist as soon as she started practicing and said that the competition in this field is tangible, but notes that the community of professionals is quite friendly.

Yes, I certainly feel the competition, but I react, because I always have my own plan and strategy. I go my own way. Also, slowly, a more adequate community is emerging, where nutritionists can be colleagues, friends, support each other and share experiences. This year, I became a member of the Union of Naturopaths of Ukraine and I am very happy about it.

Advice for IT professionals who want change

I would recommend that Aitians not change their field of activity, because you will lose stability. Go only if you can't help but go. Only if some business calls you so much that you are ready to give more than you receive. At least for a certain time. Or save money for such an adventure. Or do it part-time. And it is better to have a psychologist and a coach and create a plan with them, according to your character, tolerance for chaos and the unknown. It will not be easy.

Currently, Evgenia loves her job and her students, she likes to create new products, experiment, and learn. Her plans are to save money in her ex-IT career and enroll in the London CNM, write a book, start making videos on YouTube, and many, many other plans.

Read the country's main IT news in our Telegram

On the topic

Read the country's main IT news in our Telegram

“In just one month, my team and I evacuated over 700 wounded.” The story of a Senior Operations Specialist at EPAM and a hospital worker who combines work in IT and saving defenders on the front lines

On the topic

“In just one month, my team and I evacuated over 700 wounded.” The story of a Senior Operations Specialist at EPAM and a hospital worker who combines work in IT and saving defenders on the front lines

“I couldn’t be in a ‘warm bath’ abroad. Now I’m a dad in a smartphone.” The story of a Senior Software Quality Engineer from EPAM who, despite the opportunity to live in Europe, returned to Ukraine during the war

On the topic

“I couldn’t be in a ‘warm bath’ abroad. Now I’m a dad in a smartphone.” The story of a Senior Software Quality Engineer from EPAM who, despite the opportunity to live in Europe, returned to Ukraine during the war

"For half a year we worked as partisans in the steppes." The story of a veteran who chose civilian life and entered IT despite a significant number of military offers

On the topic

"For half a year we worked as partisans in the steppes." The story of a veteran who chose civilian life and entered IT despite a significant number of military offers

"We are a country with PTSD." An interview with Christian Zheregy, a war veteran who is developing a cinematic game about the Russian invasion

On the topic

"We are a country with PTSD." An interview with Christian Zheregy, a war veteran who is developing a cinematic game about the Russian invasion