Марія Бровінська Історії 10 January 2025, 08:30

"Do you know that they plan to fire Vova and Petya? Now we are quietly looking for a replacement." Confession of a former recruiter who left IT forever, where managers not only tolerate intrigue and "sniffing", but also support it

«I left IT almost a year ago. There’s no going back. I just put an end to it, because it’s not mine,» says Olga Popova, a graduate of Kyiv Linguistic University, who entered IT right after university, but didn’t stay in the most promising industry for long. To understand that IT is not the area where she would like to develop, the former IT recruiter needed experience working in three companies. dev.ua Olga told why she left the area that many Ukrainians dream of entering, what’s wrong with IT from the inside, and what she does now. Next is the heroine’s direct speech.

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"Do you know that they plan to fire Vova and Petya? Now we are quietly looking for a replacement." Confession of a former recruiter who left IT forever, where managers not only tolerate intrigue and "sniffing", but also support it

«I left IT almost a year ago. There’s no going back. I just put an end to it, because it’s not mine,» says Olga Popova, a graduate of Kyiv Linguistic University, who entered IT right after university, but didn’t stay in the most promising industry for long. To understand that IT is not the area where she would like to develop, the former IT recruiter needed experience working in three companies. dev.ua Olga told why she left the area that many Ukrainians dream of entering, what’s wrong with IT from the inside, and what she does now. Next is the heroine’s direct speech.

IT login

IT was my first professional environment right after university. I chose this field because it was associated with progressivity, dynamism, and innovation. I was inspired by the people who worked there, their energy, and their desire to change the world through technology.

I liked the dynamics of the work: constant learning, the need to adapt to new conditions and challenges, the rapid pace of change. The IT environment had a great impact on me: I became more confident in communicating with people of different status, age and cultures. Constant communication with candidates, colleagues and business partners taught me to find a common language, adapt to different communication styles and build productive dialogues even in difficult conditions.

This experience helped me develop the ability to be flexible, professional, and open to new challenges, which became valuable in my further development.

Course change

When I first started working in recruiting, I was inspired by the idea of “matching» talented people with cool Ukrainian businesses. This role seemed like a golden mean between business and people. But I quickly realized that the priority in this area is always business goals, not the candidate’s personality.

I saw people burn out, face problems, worry about their challenges, and I wanted to work with that—their emotions, their inner experiences, and not just «sell» the company or the role. That was the key trigger for change in my professional life.

I made the decision to change my profession about six months ago. The main challenge was not the fear of not being fulfilled, but the psychological difficulty of «letting go» of the results already achieved and starting all over again. This is probably familiar to many: when you put a lot of effort into something, giving it up seems difficult.

However, I always say that such changes will never be «from scratch». Every experience shapes us, even if it is not directly related to the new field. The hardest and easiest thing at the same time is to follow your own values and goals, even if it means starting «from scratch».

Switching to psychology

Of the six applications I submitted to universities, five were for philology and one for psychology. This application was made «at the call of the heart,» and later turned out to be the best decision of my life.

I have been interested in psychology since childhood. I observed how people make decisions, why the same situations cause different reactions in them, how their personality is formed. Over time, these observations turned into a deep fascination: how the psyche works, how internal processes affect the external world.

Contrary to the common stereotype that psychology is chosen to solve one’s own problems, I made this choice out of sincere interest and a desire to positively impact the lives of other people.

I am currently a member of the National Association of Psychologists of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian Psychodiagnostic Association. I have also improved my qualifications as a consulting psychologist in the method of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

I run a blog on TikTok, where I have over 10,000 followers, and I accept clients with a schedule set out a month in advance.

I am inspired by the opportunity to see people for who they are: not where they want to appear perfect or «sell» themselves, but as they are. Most importantly, watching how their lives change, not only professionally, but also personally.

Never again

My plan for the coming years is to develop in psychotherapy. This year I am starting my studies at the Institute of Transactional Analysis and Integrative Psychotherapy.

I am not interested in returning to IT at the moment, even as a corporate psychologist. My main goal now is to focus on learning and personal development in my chosen field.

Systems, especially hierarchical ones, often impose their shortcomings on employees. They disguise them as «corporate culture» — a set of rules that are not usually discussed. And if you feel burned out or uncomfortable, you are made to understand: it is only your problem. «You are not trying hard enough,» «You do not fit in with the team,» «Your values do not correspond to the corporate ones.» Behind these words lies an unwillingness to admit that the problem is in the system itself.

In my experience working at three companies, I saw how systems can work differently. Of those three, only one was healthy. It had management that openly talked about challenges, was interested in resolving conflicts, and created an environment where everyone was valued.

But in other companies, the situation was completely different. Instead, the last place of work became a perfect example of how a toxic organization works against people. Managers do not just tolerate intrigues and «sniffing», they support them. «Do you know that Vova and Petya are planning to be fired? We are now quietly looking for a replacement.» And instead of transparent conversation, we will create an «informant» role: the current HR Generalist will be engaged in purposeful collection of gossip for management, «sniffing out» and forwarding personal information of team members. And this is perceived as value.

Such approaches not only oppress employees, but also create an atmosphere of distrust, shame and fear. People do not dare to openly talk about problems, because they understand that everything they say can come back to haunt them. Instead of resolving internal conflicts, the system creates even more tension that accumulates over the years.

I agree that such mechanisms are maintained even unconsciously. They are part of a big game where managers try to maintain control. Moreover, people who move from the position of an «ordinary» employee to the role of team leader and above begin to worry that they will lose trusting and friendly relations with the team, because a leadership position will involve them in the context of responsibility to the system, and not just to people.

In such a «culture» you have no choice but to adapt (adaptation here means you start to question yourself) or to leave it by finding another one or creating your own.

The main conclusion: systems rarely change. But we can change our attitude towards them and towards ourselves. And if you feel that you are being made to doubt yourself — maybe this is not your problem. Maybe the problem is much deeper.

Advice for those who are uncomfortable where they are

Clearly define the problem. Understand what exactly you are unhappy with: the team, the tasks, the finances, or something else. It is better to do this in writing.
Assess the depth of the problem. Ask yourself: «Is this a temporary situation or a sign of serious dissatisfaction?» Figure out if the situation can be fixed, if it is worth reviewing the role or even changing the field.
Make a plan. Write down your goals, break them down into small tasks: update your resume, look for training opportunities, etc. Small steps reduce anxiety and increase motivation.
Seek support. Consulting with a psychologist or career coach can help you deal with your fears and find healthy coping strategies.

Remember that change is not a leap into the unknown, it is a gradual process that you can control.