Entry-level IT specialists in Estonia find it ever harder to land a first job
Estonian IT recruiter Julia Jolkin says artificial intelligence and cost optimisation are changing requirements in the IT sector. Beginners are hit hardest, as employers are less willing to invest in training newcomers.
Artificial intelligence and companies' efforts to cut costs are changing what is expected of information technology (IT) specialists in Estonia. IT recruiter Julia Jolkin said on the programme "Podrobnosti" on Radio 4, part of Estonia's public broadcaster, that employers now look not only for technical skills but also for an understanding of the product and business goals. The change is toughest for those just starting their careers and seeking a first job.
What is changing in the market
Jolkin says the shifts are linked not only to AI adoption but also to broader business optimisation. Companies are dropping experimental and unprofitable projects, while redistributing some tasks among remaining staff or automating them.
Employees who are not critical to a company are the first to be cut. According to the recruiter, a great many testers, middle managers, team leads and support specialists have recently been laid off, because AI can be applied in these roles or the tasks can be split among other team members.
Demand for programmers and engineers remains, but the nature of their work is changing. Systems thinking, architecture design and an understanding of how technology relates to business are gaining importance. The ability to check the results of AI work and spot errors is also valuable.
Hiring is changing too: technical interviews increasingly include system design tasks, and cybersecurity is becoming an important field. Opportunities are also appearing outside traditional technology companies, for example in robotics, drone development and at the intersection of software and hardware.
The hardest part: the first job
Beginners, or junior specialists, find it harder than ever to get a first job because the bar has risen. Jolkin explains that today's juniors are expected to meet the standard once asked of mid-level staff, including good systems thinking. Competition is intense, as fewer companies are willing to invest in newcomers. The largest part of that investment is assigning a senior specialist or architect as a mentor. Without a first job, in turn, it is difficult to gain the experience needed for further professional growth.
