Despite the difficult period in the tech sector, the interest in IT among newcomers is not decreasing. However, finding your first job is becoming increasingly difficult: competition is high, and there are few vacancies for «juniors».
Despite the difficult period in the tech sector, the interest in IT among newcomers is not decreasing. However, finding your first job is becoming increasingly difficult: competition is high, and there are few vacancies for «juniors».
In a new article, DOU analyzed more than 20 IT areas based on seven criteria. Among them are the number of vacancies, reviews, salaries, and work format. It turned out that despite the crisis, it is still possible to enter the industry if you choose the right niche.
Each of these specializations has its own advantages. For example, marketing is characterized by relatively low competition and a large number of remote vacancies. Support is generally an underestimated direction, although it is where many DevOps, testers, and managers started. Sales has stable demand and flexible conditions, even if salaries are slightly lower.
Development is a classic goal for many beginners, and the demand here is really high. But the competition is also serious: one position without experience receives an average of 96 reviews. Analytics also looks promising — here the salaries are high, but most often you have to work from the office.
Good old fields like QA are no longer so easy to get into: 85 applications for one position is the new reality. The situation is even worse in Data Science, AI, and DevOps: despite the high final remuneration, it is almost impossible to start in these industries without experience.
In 2024, 48% of newcomers found their first job in product companies, and another 35% in service companies. Most often, young specialists are hired by medium-sized companies (10–200 people). At the same time, marketers, analysts, designers and HR specialists are more likely to be employed in product businesses, while DevOps, project managers and developers are more likely to be employed in service companies and startups.
It is also worth considering time: 43% of those looking for their first IT job apply for more than 20 vacancies, and for 17% the search lasts for more than a year.
The Ukrainian IT sector is no longer the «entry» zone it was a few years ago. War, competition, and market contraction are changing the rules of the game. At the same time, the demand for flexible, ready-to-learn specialists remains — especially in those areas that combine a low entry threshold, remote work, and business benefits. That is why it is important not to just «want to be in IT,» but to strategically choose where to start.
We also recently wrote about Ruslana Kovalchuk, Director of Career Center at GoIT. She published a list of tips for novice IT professionals that will help them get an offer faster.
