The demand for IT architects steadily increases as businesses transition to online platforms. These professionals play a crucial role in developing intricate IT systems, ensuring they align with the customer's technical requirements and business objectives. To uncover what it takes to excel in this field by 2022, we spoke with Ilia Kuznetcov, a Senior Software Engineer at a top media company. He generously shared his wealth of knowledge on how to forge a successful career in information technology (IT) across different countries. What's intriguing is that he embarked on his journey in Russia, worked with partners in Switzerland, and is now involved in groundbreaking international projects.

On-the-Job Training

Ilia Kuznetcov kickstarted his career during his third year at university, honing his skills in software development for a taxi service. Throughout this endeavor, he confidently utilized various technologies like Java, Git, asynchronous programming, Jenkins, among others. By effectively applying the knowledge he gained in university and leveraging hands-on experience, Ilia seamlessly bridged the gap between theory and practice, enhancing his learning journey.

"I believe there's tremendous value in studying and working concurrently," states Ilia Kuznetcov. "If you're seeking guidance on how to forge a successful career in IT, my response would be this: Begin practicing as early as you can. There's no need to wait until you complete your university education. By taking action sooner, those who commence employment in their second or third year will likely find themselves significantly ahead regarding experience and knowledge."

Ilia also emphasizes a crucial aspect: certain technologies taught in universities can swiftly become outdated. The education system in any country is bound to lag behind the rapidly evolving IT landscape perpetually. Thus, it is imperative to consistently strive for self-education and personal growth, extending beyond the confines of traditional textbooks. This is the key to becoming a truly accomplished developer in today's fast-paced and ever-changing industry.

Entering the International Market

When venturing into the global market, Ilia brought with him prior experience collaborating on open-source projects and creating his own initiatives on the GitHub platform. He highlights that his involvement in sports programming competitions since his school days proved remarkably beneficial, enabling him to excel in interviews and capture the interest of potential employers.

Then, the next phase of his career commenced—joining a significant project, the development of the Swissinfo.ch application. As a young programmer, Ilia's responsibilities included overseeing the development and support of Switzerland's most prominent news platform. He possessed all the essential skills and knowledge to fulfill his role within a team of fellow professionals effectively. Ilia was well-versed in various technologies and programming languages, adept at orchestrating the development team's workflow and maintaining a high standard of development quality despite encountering particular challenges. This accomplishment was made possible by his unwavering commitment to self-education. To that end, Kuznetcov suggests that any source of information, be it books, webinars, lectures, or even interaction with senior colleagues, including online forums, can be valuable resources for continuous learning.

"Reflecting on my experience, I can conclude that during that period, it was slightly easier for an inexperienced developer to make an impression in the industry," remarks Ilia Kuznetcov. "The competition has certainly become more intense, but there are strategies to navigate through it. My advice to all aspiring young developers with whom I engage is to embark on their projects, conduct original research, share insights through blogging, and collaborate on established open-source initiatives. These endeavors present exceptional prospects to demonstrate your capabilities and distinguish yourself from the crowd."

5 Years Before Apple

Although it was possible to pursue a career in development as part of a team during that time, Ilia Kuznetcov chose a different path. What he now advises others to do is to work on their original projects. His motivation was not solely to stand out or receive lucrative offers; instead, he simply had a passion for creating something unique that didn't exist before. This led to the birth of the FindMe application, which aimed to simplify locating and tracking various items like keys, phones, wallets, or backpacks using small electronic devices equipped with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology that could easily be attached to belongings. This venture was remarkable for several reasons.

"I worked on developing the Android application platform alongside another developer who was working on the iOS version," says Ilia. "Our team collaborated closely to create a user-friendly and dependable product. The startup actually managed to outpace Apple AirTag in the market, thanks to our early implementation and the originality of our solution, by more than 5 years! Back then, IoT solutions were just starting to gain traction, and we were able to offer an innovative product that I am still proud of."

The app was user-friendly, performed reliably, and offered diverse features. This enabled us to build trust among users and distinguish ourselves from other players in the market. FindMe's remarkable success even led to the app being honored with the prestigious silver Best of Swiss Apps award in the IoT category in 2016. The Best of Swiss Apps competition, which takes place in Switzerland, celebrates outstanding mobile applications and digital solutions across various categories. This accolade served as a significant validation of our product and underscored its significance within the market.

Exchange of Information 

Sharing information and exchanging experiences are invaluable resources for personal and professional development for several reasons. The collective knowledge and diverse perspectives enable us to broaden our horizons, explore new possibilities, and discover better solutions to problems. Following this principle, Ilia embarked on the task of writing articles, with his first one titled "How to Cook WorkManager with Dagger 2" published on the Hackernoon website in 2021.

In this article, Ilia delves into a new framework introduced by Google that streamlines the development of asynchronous actions in Android and its interaction with the popular dependency inversion solution, Dagger 2. This article has been a tremendous source of information for many professionals seeking to enhance their Android development skills. It has garnered significant interest and has been widely read by enthusiastic users.

However, Ilia is not content with stopping there. He is actively contemplating new subjects for his future development, intending to share valuable insights with his colleagues. This commitment to continuous growth and knowledge-sharing exemplifies Ilia's dedication to advancing the field of Android development and fostering a collaborative, supportive environment within the professional community.

What's next for Ilia Kuznetcov?

 Currently serving as a Senior Software Engineer at one of the largest online community platforms, Ilia is actively engaged in a multitude of responsibilities. He tackles various system design, development, scaling, and deployment tasks. His primary focus lies in optimizing service and application performance, enhancing machine learning infrastructure, and contributing to developing recommendation systems and user authentication.

Ilia's role is crucial in delivering high-quality services and achieving the company's objectives. His work is instrumental in advancing science, medicine, industry, and communication, as software programming is pivotal in accelerating progress in these areas. With his expertise and dedication, Ilia continues to drive innovations and propel this major company towards even greater success.

What's inside?

However, it is essential to remember that being a programmer is not just about technical skills; it's also about having a strong personality. Programmers have unique characteristics, interests, and values like any other person. Ilia Kuznetcov, a prominent figure in project discussions and evaluations with clients, willingly shares information about the personal qualities that help achieve the best results.

The first quality that proves instrumental in negotiations is communication skills.

"Always strive to be clear and attentive in your communication," advises Ilia. "Establishing a trusting relationship with the customer requires active listening and asking pertinent questions to understand their needs and expectations fully. This enables you to offer the best solutions that meet their requirements."

The second quality is flexibility. Negotiations often necessitate a willingness to compromise and adapt to changing circumstances.

"Instead of rigidly sticking to a plan, be open to changing course and finding a compromise that satisfies both parties," adds Ilia. "This approach helps maintain a positive and trusting relationship with the customer, ultimately leading to the best results."

The third quality is analytical skills.

"Analyzing the technical and budgetary aspects of projects is crucial in determining optimal solutions," points out Ilia. "By considering the situation from all angles and seeking opportunities for optimization, I can offer various options. This approach helps strike a balance between the customer's needs and the company's capabilities."

Persuasion is also a key quality in negotiations. Ilia emphasizes the importance of supporting points of view with facts, logic, and evidence to reach a convincing agreement. Being persuasive requires showcasing emotional intelligence and highlighting the main advantages of the proposed solution.

Lastly, conflict management is another important quality for successful negotiations. Ilia recognizes the importance of effectively handling conflicts to achieve desired outcomes. He says: Remember that the goal of your collaborative work is to find a common solution, not just to win.

In conclusion, being a successful programmer goes beyond technical expertise. It requires strong communication skills, flexibility, analytical thinking, persuasion, and conflict management. Programmers like Ilia Kuznetcov can achieve the best results by embodying these qualities.