What is the Placement of Young Specialists

IT specialists are in demand in all fields of activity, and working in this area opens up broad prospects for professional growth and development. However, to become a part of the team of a successful IT company, you must not only have the necessary skills and knowledge but also have the opportunity to prove yourself in practice. In this case, the distribution can be a great chance to start a career in your chosen field.

In the modern labor market, where competition for qualified personnel is high, many IT speciality students ask: Is it possible to get a placement in an IT company? In this article, we will look at the placement, the requirements for candidates, and the opportunities it provides for young professionals and IT companies.

What is a placement?

Placement is a state-established practice of employment of students who studied at the expense of budget funds or in the areas of IT companies (under contracts with the condition of working out in the company after training).

Graduates of higher and secondary specialized educational institutions receive their first job during the placement. Placements can be organized for state-owned enterprises and private companies cooperating with academic institutions.

The placement process begins when an educational institution receives information from companies about vacancies for which companies are willing to accept graduates. This often happens before students graduate.

On the other hand, the student may get a letter of guarantee from the company with a request for placement with this company. 

This applies, among other things, to IT companies that are residents of the Hi-Tech Park, where the most active students can get an internship and then a placement.

What to do when you want to work for an HTP resident IT company

To get distribution to an IT company that is a resident of the Belarusian Hi-Tech Park, we recommend following these steps:

Step 1. Choose a speciality and university.
Several universities in Belarus train specialists in information technology. Among them are the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics( BSUIR), the Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU), and others. Students can choose a speciality that suits their interests and skills.

Step 2. Learn well.
Good grades and knowledge are essential for being assigned to a prestigious company. This will help students stand out from other candidates and attract the attention of potential employers.

Step 3. Participate in projects and contests.
During their studies, students can participate in various projects, competitions, and Olympiads related to information technology. This will allow them to gain work experience and show their skills to potential employers.

Step 4. Create a portfolio.
Students can create portfolios that show their projects, achievements, and skills. This will be an additional advantage when considering a student’s candidacy for a vacancy.

Step 5. Search for vacancies.
Students can search for vacancies in companies that are residents of the Hi-Tech Park on specialized websites or through social networks. You can also contact teachers or university staff who can help you find a job.

Step 6. Complete interviews.
If a student receives an invitation to an interview, they must prepare for it. You need to study the company’s information, products and services and be ready to answer questions about your skills and work experience.

Step 7. Be active.
The student must be active and proactive. They can attend events related to information technology, communicate with representatives of companies and ask them questions about their work.

Step 8. Don’t be afraid of competition.
Competition for places in IT companies is high, but this should not frighten the student. It is essential to be confident in yourself and your abilities and strive for constant development and learning.

Step 9. Participate in IT startups at an educational institution
Participation in IT startups under the mentorship of IT specialists and IT companies can help students find a job. This is how you can get information about vacancies, training, and advice on employment issues.
Following these steps will help increase your chances of successful employment.

What professions are in demand in the IT sector

Professions that are in demand in the IT sector often change, but we can highlight some that are relevant today:

• Programmer (Software Engineer).
• Specialist in software testing (Tester).
• Business Analyst.
• Software Quality Assurance Engineer (QA Engineer).
• A Data Scientist.
• Data Analyst.
• Data Engineer.
• Web Designer.
• Specialist in artificial intelligence (AI developer) and UI / UX designer.
• Game Designer.
• IоT-специалист (Internet of Things Specialist).
• Cyber Security Specialist DevOps engineer.
• A cloud Services Engineer.

Companies that are residents of the Hi-Tech Park and need novice IT specialists in such professions are hiring students from higher educational institutions for placement.

What does the placement mean for yesterday’s student?

A student receives a two-part Certificate of Employment and a diploma of Education to apply for a job. The educational institution issues part of the Certificate. In this part, indicate the name of the company to which the graduate was assigned, the position, and the salary amount. The Certificate also shows the time of arrival at work and mandatory work placement. 

Currently, the terms of mandatory placement work are as follows: 

• Two years — for graduates of higher educational institutions.
• One year — for college graduates. 
• Term by the training agreement – for young professionals who have signed a contract to pay for their training with an IT company.

The IT company employer fills out part of the Certificate (date of arrival at work, employment, and position). Within a month of hiring a young specialist, this part is returned to the educational institution.

The period of mandatory completion starts on the date the Certificate of referral was issued, even if the specialist already works in the IT company.

Young Specialist status

1. An employee hired for placement receives the status of a young specialist. He can not be dismissed for several reasons. Also, in the mandatory work period at the request of a young specialist, you can count the time of urgent military service (under contract, conscription) and the time of parental leave for up to three years.
2. Young professionals do not have a probationary period when applying for a job.
3. When applying for a job for young professionals, the company pays cash assistance in the amount of the last scholarship or social scholarship if the student did not receive one. To do this, young professionals need a certificate of the scholarship’s amount.
4. When the placement means that the graduate moves to another location, he is paid compensation related to the move.

How can a student get a placement with an IT company resident of the Hi-Tech Park?

There are several ways to get a placement to the desired company that is a resident of the Hi-Tech Park. Let’s look at the main methods.

1. Participation in student IT startups
The Secretariat of the Supervisory Board of the Hi-Tech Park cooperates with several Belarusian universities to develop the startup ecosystem in Belarus. Homel State University was named after F. A. Skaryna, Gomel State Technical University named after P. O. Sukhoi, Brest State Technical University and Polesie State University (Pinsk). Theoretically, graduates of IT specialties of these educational institutions can get a distribution to IT companies that are residents of the Hi-Tech Park, which sends applications to fill vacancies for novice specialists to the Secretariat of the HTP Supervisory Board.

2. Internship, work in IT companies during your studies
Students who have interned or even worked in an IT company during their studies or pre-graduate practice can ask their supervisor for a letter of guarantee about the placement. Such a letter guarantees the student’s admission to work after receiving a diploma, prescribes the position for which he will be accepted, and specifies the salary amount. The letter addresses the educational institution where the trainee (employee) studies. Usually, educational institutions easily place students according to letters of guarantee.

3. Under the training agreement
An IT company can agree with an educational institution and a student to pay for their Education and hire them after receiving a diploma. In such a contract, you can specify the period of mandatory working time for a replacement. In this case, the student is assigned to this company under the contract for a mandatory work period specified in the contract.