Journey to a Dream Job in Estonia: UT Alumni Experiences
Entering the job market after university can be daunting, but for two remarkable alumni, it was a challenge they embraced and conquered. In our interviews, we’re getting real about their job hunt journeys – the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned. They’ve got some invaluable advice to share with current and future students, so buckle up for a real talk on how to nail that post-grad hustle!
Meet our alumni: Matin Manafov from Azerbaijan, MSc Software Engineering, who works as the Software Engineer at Microsoft and Aruzhan Taufikova from Kazakhstan, MA Quantitative Economics, who works as the Model Validation Specialist at Swedbank.
- About the most exciting courses within your programmes at the University of Tartu and how they have helped at work
Aruzhan:
Quantitative Economics is a very demanding programme that equips students with the analytical skills and knowledge to tackle economic problems; it is challenging but also interesting. You are also able to choose different specialisations within it. So, even though my major is Quantitative Economics, I pursued a specialisation in finance during my time in the Erasmus programme in Germany, which is another advantage of this programme.
I generally liked the structure and content of the curriculum. The course I enjoyed the most was “Game Theory”. It teaches you to analyse social behaviour, think critically, make strategic decisions, and think about the long term. This is what economics is like a combination of math and sociology.
Next, we had programming classes. In these classes, we were introduced to Python and R. Usually, for people with no programming experience like myself, this field seems very complex and complicated. However, I appreciated how the professors taught us. They emphasised that, most importantly, anyone can start programming. In today’s real world, knowing how to code has become increasingly important, especially if you want to work in tech. As part of the course, we had access to “DataCamp”, a platform where you can learn programming languages or specialisations like data analytics and data science to build portfolios, which I believe helped enhance my CV. Therefore, I’m grateful for our professors’ approach to teaching in-demand skills.
Third, we embarked on a research project. The full second year was dedicated to our thesis. Writing a research paper was a new challenge for me. Overcoming this challenge expanded my skillset in various ways by providing hands-on experience in applying quantitative methods to real-world problems. It improved my problem-solving, project management, and communication skills as well.
Overall, this experience emphasised the importance of adaptability, curiosity and the ability to learn quickly. These are skills that have proven invaluable in my job search and will continue to be crucial in my career.
Matin:
Within the Software Engineering programme, “Agile Software Development”, was a good course for me because I worked in a team with coursemates, and we had the opportunity to build something together using agile methodologies, such as Scrum. I learned a lot about agile methodologies, and we use this stuff frequently at work, too. I understand everything because of my background at university.
There was also a cool course that I took in my second year. It was short, actually only three credits; it’s called “Interactive Front End Development”. It was mostly focused on React, and I took it along with a job at university, which required React. And I didn’t know React at all. I just knew some of the front-end development, and I thought, “Okay, I’m going to take this course, I’m going to get this job, and I’m going to learn and try to work”. I’ve been using React for two years, and I’m very comfortable with it. I’m using it at Microsoft right now, as well. So the course was definitely useful.
- About the job search
Matin:
I applied to the Microsoft internship early, which sometimes gives you more of a chance to get to the top of the list. You can get passed over sometimes if you apply too late. Especially when your CV is average, then you’ll probably not be accepted just because there are already other people.
I wasn’t sure if I was even going to start doing that internship or not. So, I applied to other places like Wise and Twilio and some other local companies in Estonia as well. Unfortunately, I got rejected by those companies.
Honestly, I think my CV was just average (I don’t know if I’m being humble). There was nothing really special because I had no prior professional experience in software development. I just had some projects in GitHub, and I built some stuff myself at university, that’s all! I tactfully reflected all my skills and experiences in my CV, and I got the job at Microsoft!
There are a lot of factors that you have to take into consideration. You have to be on the lookout. Try to apply as early as possible, then try to reflect yourself through your CV as best as you can. Take into account everything you’ve done before. During the interview, talk about results, achievements, and accomplishments.
Aruzhan:
As data science has become more popular in the job market, I got interested in transitioning my career into this field. Unfortunately, my journey started with rejections and it seemed to me that candidates with a strong programming background were prioritised. However, I didn’t give up, and instead, I started improving my portfolio. I recognised my strengths and weaknesses and focused on leveraging my analytical skills to find the niche where my background was valued. Hence, my advice would be to identify your strong points and seek out opportunities where those strengths are in demand.
During my job search, my typical day would look like this: I’d start by working on my thesis and then switch to job applications, then again write the thesis, and go back to applying. Remember, for each application, you need to tailor your CV and cover letter to match the job profile, and of course, it all takes time.
Then I began planning, creating an Excel file to organise all my job applications, filling it with deadlines and all other necessary information. I find it particularly helpful because, without it, it’s easy to lose track of where you’ve applied and miss deadlines, especially if some tasks still need to be completed.
It’s been a year since I opened that Excel, and it’s almost red everywhere. There were only three or four green lights, but they were in places I truly wanted. So sometimes it’s about quantity, I think.
I believed that by investing in my knowledge, the right job would eventually come my way. With that mindset and hope, I was happy to get the offer before my graduation. Transitioning from graduation to starting my job right away was mentally relieving.
- Work-life: expectations vs reality
Matin:
Work in Estonia is pretty good. I like the work-life balance here. It’s valued in many companies if not every company. I really like the flexibility in my working hours. It exceeded my expectations at Microsoft because the work conditions are really good.
If I think about the companies in my homeland, there is a really big difference. Azerbaijan is kind of conservative. The managers might micromanage people and behave more toxic. In Estonia, I think it’s better.
I worked for three months and I was going to be taking a long study leave. I talked to my manager, and he said that it was fine, totally fine. “You’re a student, so just take it”. I think it really depends on the company and its culture.
The culture of my company is great, and they’re always supportive. They always encourage you to take leave sometimes and use up all your vacation days. So, I was able to finish the master’s thesis without stress on my study leave. When I submitted it, I was done so I could go back to work and just excel at what I was doing.
Aruzhan:
Now, as a model validation specialist at Swedbank, I apply my analytical skills to ensure the accuracy and compliance of financial models. As someone with a keen interest in finance, I’ve always viewed working in a bank as an exciting opportunity due to its vital role in the economy. Finding this role feels like a perfect match, combining my eagerness to apply statistical knowledge in the financial sector with my background in math and economics.
Initially, I had high expectations for my experience at Swedbank, envisioning a dynamic environment with great opportunities for growth and development. I’m delighted to say that my expectations have been largely fulfilled. One aspect of my experience at Swedbank that pleasantly surprised me was the work-life balance. I value the hybrid working mode for the flexibility it provides, which extends beyond just working hours and location. This balance has allowed me to enjoy my hobbies and interests outside of work, leading to a more fulfilling lifestyle. Additionally, having clear job expectations helps foster a sense of accountability and ownership because you fully understand your role within the organisation and how you contribute to its overall mission and success.
Above all, the most rewarding part of my job is the people I work with, especially my team. From the moment I joined, I felt welcomed and supported by my colleagues. The positive team dynamics have made my work experience truly enjoyable and have contributed to increased efficiency and productivity.
My experience at Swedbank has been fulfilling both personally and professionally, and I look forward to continued growth and success in my role.
- Do not give up!
Matin:
After my internship, I applied to some companies. Sometimes, I got offers to have a call with HR to consider their job positions, which I also tried, and I got rejected. For example, I applied once for a full-time position at Bolt, but I was rejected. I would say that rejection is totally normal. You have to normalise rejection, be comfortable with it, and always apply for several companies. Don’t just think about one company. Apply for everything. The more you do it, the better you get because you get comfortable with the interview process. There is probably less anxiety.
Aruzhan:
Don’t let rejection discourage you. One insight I gained was accepting rejections as part of the journey and turning them into learning opportunities. From this perspective, they serve as valuable practice rounds on the path to finding the right job, helping you refine your skills and approach along the way.
Be confident. Remember that you’re not just being interviewed; you’re also assessing if the company is the right fit for you. Show confidence in yourself during interviews. Making it to the final rounds suggests that you have the necessary hard skills. Seize this opportunity to showcase your personality and demonstrate how you would be a valuable addition to the team. Think Big. Another strategy would be to set long-term goals first, then break them down into smaller, manageable steps. Consistency is key in following through with each step to progress steadily toward achieving your goals.
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