27% of surveyed graduates of the EPAM Campus "IT for Veterans" program are already working in IT after retraining. However, one of the main barriers for veterans remains the shortage of Junior vacancies.
27% of surveyed graduates of the EPAM Campus "IT for Veterans" program are already working in IT after retraining. However, one of the main barriers for veterans remains the shortage of Junior vacancies.
EPAM Campus reports this. These are the results of a survey of 55 graduates of the program, which it conducted from June 15 to July 3, 2026.
Among those who found their first job, the largest group, that is, about a quarter, found a job within a period of one week to a month. Another 18% invested in three months. Not everyone can quickly enter IT after studying. Among the main problems, graduates name the lack of Junior vacancies, difficult technical interviews and tests, high competition and English.
Among those who have already found a job, 38% continue to work in the same position, and 18% have already moved to a higher role. The most popular starting position was Junior Developer — indicated by 11% of respondents. Another 8% fall on Business Analyst and QA Engineer.
About a quarter of those surveyed are currently looking for their first job: going for interviews and completing test tasks. 31% do not yet work in IT and are not looking. EPAM explains that some of them are still serving, undergoing rehabilitation, or recovering from injuries.
“We had cases when veterans joined classes right from the trenches,” says EPAM Campus head Hrynyov.
Most often, networking helps graduates find their first job. One in five of those who have already found a job found employment through personal connections. Profile sites such as Work.ua and Djinni helped 14% of respondents, LinkedIn — 11%, and recommendations from teachers — 7%.
One of the program’s graduates, Andriy Zhupnyk, developed a recording studio in Lviv before his military service, and after his demobilization decided to move into IT. After his studies, he became a Junior Software Engineer and is currently working on a volunteer project for Foodbank Ukraine.
"I had practically no time to recover between the army and training. When unresolved military problems are running through my head, you have to try hard to absorb new information," he says.
Another graduate of the program, Vladyslav Hvizd from Kolomyia, was serving in the army under contract when the full-scale invasion began. Returning to civilian work, he saw a parallel between the military and IT: in both cases, much depends on teamwork, trust, and communication.
"Any war is not fought without people - everything there rests solely on the human factor, on the shoulders of a comrade nearby. In IT, everything is arranged the same way: people, trust, and communication decide here," says Vladyslav.
According to him, after the front, it is not easy to immediately join new processes, but the example of other veterans who have already mastered a new profession helps not to quit studying or working when things get difficult.
EPAM Campus is currently recruiting a new group for its free “IT for Veterans” program. Registration for military personnel is open until September 20.
Previously, dev.ua already told the story of Andriy Zhupnyk, who after demobilization completed the "IT for Veterans" program from EPAM, mastered React and AWS, and received an offer in IT.
