Juniors in IT: the benefits of hiring beginners and debunking common myths. A fresh look at the role of young specialists in the development of companies and the industry as a whole.
Juniors in IT
Labor market for beginners
Over the past two decades, IT education in Ukraine has produced more than 600,000 new specialists, most of whom are juniors. These specialists feel the fluctuations of the labor market the most. Last year, an average of 270 resumes and interviews at 2-6 companies were required to get a job. Despite the difficulties, 1,189 Mate academy graduates were successfully employed in 2023. A detailed analysis of the beginning of a career in IT can be found at the link.
Debunking stereotypes about juniors
Vladyslav Solovei, B2B Partnerships Manager at Mate academy, based on his own experience, refutes common myths about hiring beginners in IT.
Myth 1: Lack of knowledge
In fact, juniors already have a basic knowledge of algorithms, OOP and syntax of programming languages. They are willing to perform simple tasks and bring value to the team. For example, one of the partner IT companies hired 15 students in eight months and was satisfied with the result.
Although juniors need a mentor, it helps the professional development of both parties. In addition, newcomers often ask non-standard questions that can reveal systemic flaws in the product or development approach.
Myth 2: Declining team productivity
The Western IT community believes that juniors paired with experienced specialists actually speed up the process developments. They help reduce backlog by working on lower priority tasks. The enthusiasm and flexibility of newcomers combined with the experience of seniors creates a productive synergy.
Myth 3: The need for higher technical education
Although a university education provides a deep understanding of information systems, a strong theoretical base can also be acquired in other ways. Practice and quality feedback play an important role. A Northeastern University study found that 61% of HR leaders trust the quality of online education when considering candidates.
This trend is also observed in Ukraine: 60% of employed Mate academy graduates had a non-technical education, and 7% had no higher education at all.
Myth 4: Quick dismissal from the first company
According to data before the start of full-scale war, 61% of junior Mate academy graduates worked in the first company for over a year. This indicates that newcomers stay in companies where they have opportunities for growth and development.
Conclusion
Wary attitudes toward hiring juniors may lead to a shortage of qualified seniors in the future. Juniors are able to significantly strengthen the team, relieve experienced developers from routine tasks and bring a fresh perspective to development processes. Therefore, it is worth giving a chance to candidates who are objectively suitable for practical skills and soft skills, and experience will come with time and quality mentoring.
Glossary
- Mate academy - an educational platform for training IT specialists
- ELBUZ - information resource about business and technologies
- DOU - the largest community of developers in Ukraine
- Djinni - a platform for finding a job in IT
- KPI - Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, the leading technical university of Ukraine
Links
- Statistics of graduates of IT schools of Ukraine
- Analytics about starting a career in IT
- Northeastern University Research on Online Education
Questions Answered
Why should companies hire juniors?
How do juniors affect team performance?
Is a higher technical education mandatory for a junior developer?
Is it true that juniors leave the first company quickly?
What consequences can the reduction of junior recruitment have for the IT market?
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Discussion of the topic – Why juniors are the future of the IT industry: the advantages of hiring beginners
The article examines the importance of giving juniors a chance in the IT industry, analyzing their impact on the labor market and the potential for the development of companies. The challenges faced by young professionals and the benefits of their involvement for business are discussed.
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Oleksandra
Interesting article! I myself recently got a job as a junior and I can confirm that it is really not easy. But I am grateful to my team for their support and the opportunity to learn 🙏
Maxim
I agree with the author that juniors can bring a fresh perspective. When I first started working, I often noticed things that experienced developers did not see 🧐 It helped to find non-standard solutions!
Natalia
Oleksandra, in which field of IT do you work? I'm currently studying web development courses and I'm a little worried about future employment 😅
Oleksandra
Natalia, I am a frontend developer! Don't worry, if you study hard and do projects for your portfolio, you will definitely find a job. The main thing is not to give up 💪
Viktor
In my opinion, all this fuss about juniors is a waste of time. It is better to hire experienced specialists and not bother with training. Why pay someone who can't do anything yet?
Maxim
Viktor, I do not agree. Juniors are often more motivated and ready to learn quickly. And they can bring fresh ideas to the project. Of course, you need a balance in the team 🤔
Natalia
Thanks for your support, Oleksandra! Your words are inspiring 😊 What about soft skills? Are they important to Junior?
Oleksandra
Natalia, soft skills are very important! The ability to communicate, work in a team, self-organization - all this is valued no less than technical skills. Develop them in parallel with coding 👍