Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Maya Osipova graduated from RUDN University in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, and now works at one of the major IT companies, Kaspersky Lab. On the eve of Programmer's Day, which will be celebrated on September 13, she told us in an interview how her experience as a class monitor and some teachers and courses at the university helped her build a successful career. She also shared what skills future programmers should develop, and what hobbies allow her to unwind emotionally after a difficult working day.
Why did you choose RUDN and the programing program? What attracted you to the university?
I entered the RUDN Engineering Academy in 2019. I chose our university for several reasons: the availability of a dormitory, the opportunity to simultaneously obtain a second diploma in translation in the field of professional communications, an increased scholarship and, of course, an educational program that included studying the mechanics of space flight. I wanted to apply theoretical knowledge in practice, and the program at RUDN provided such an opportunity.
What knowledge and skills did you gain at university have proven most valuable in your work at Kaspersky Lab? Was there a particular course or teacher that inspired you?
Initially, the Python programming courses by Alexey Viktorovich Ivanyukhin and the SQL courses by Larisa Vladimirovna Kruglova helped me get into the world of IT. For some time after my studies, I often turned to lectures or lab work to refresh my knowledge. In general, the university taught me to study, search for the necessary information, and adapt to various academic challenges. In addition, the support of teachers and RUDN employees helped me reach my first heights while still studying. In my third year, my classmates and I participated in a hackathon. We solved a case from the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. The idea of the case was to calculate the amount of fuel needed for a satellite flying in low orbit for three years, taking into account disturbing factors. Maxim Olegovich Karatunov, a professional in his field, helped us solve the problem. He gave a lecture on ballistics especially for us beforehand. We won the hackathon.
How did the international atmosphere of RUDN University help you develop “soft skills” (teamwork, communication), which are important for working in a large international company?
At RUDN, I was a class monitor for six years and a first-year student supervisor for three years in a row, and even worked in the admissions office. In addition, for several years I was the head of the Engineering Academy volunteer movement. This helped me learn to take responsibility not only for myself, but also for other people, learn to defend my own and other people's interests. Communication with the dean's office, teachers, and students helped me be more self-confident, take initiative, and solve problems. Plus, since I now work in an international company, and many of my colleagues are foreigners, knowledge of English and German is necessary for me every day in communicating with colleagues, and RUDN helped me overcome the language barrier.
How did you end up at Kaspersky Lab? Share your employment story. What is the main lesson you learned from your journey from a RUDN student to a specialist at one of the world's leading IT companies?
My professional path did not begin at Kaspersky Lab. Initially, I worked in large FMCG and Retail companies as a data analyst and BI solutions developer. As I said earlier, some courses taught at RUDN helped me get into large companies. I can say that the so-called soft skills are no less important than hard skills when applying for a job. How you present yourself at an interview, whether you know how to communicate with the team and customers, how you build communication with difficult customers – all this directly affects what kind of specialist you are. You need to work on your "soft skills" no less than on programming languages. RUDN, as I already said, helped me develop my communication skills. During the interviews, I realized that you need to prepare for interviews like for tests – think through the questions that you may be asked and prepare answers to them so as not to look awkward and not say too much. Also express a willingness to learn new things, highlight your strengths, and study the material additionally.
What projects or products are you currently working on?
I am a Data Analyst in the Premium Services department, the range of my tasks includes the development of dashboards (interactive panels that display key metrics, graphs, tables and charts from different sources) in various BI solutions and using the JavaScript programming language, as well as forecasts, mathematical models (in Python).
What was the most interesting or difficult professional challenge you faced at Kaspersky Lab?
It is often difficult for me to explain something technical to my colleagues in simple terms, but I am actively working on it. If we talk about technically complex tasks, I encounter them regularly. For example, one of such tasks now is creating a model that predicts user requests for support (B2B segment).
Have you encountered stereotypes about the programmer profession, in particular about girls in this profession?
To be honest, no, never. Moreover, I once worked in a team that consisted only of girls. I think this stereotype has long since faded into the background; IT specialists are highly valued in the market. I have had many interviews, and I have never been asked unethical questions about my personal life or plans that are not related to work issues.
How do you manage to maintain a balance between complex intellectual work and your personal life? Do you have any hobbies that help you “reboot”?
RUDN, in addition to a quality education, gave me a husband, and we met when we were already working. He also works in the IT field, so we found common hobbies that help us reboot and relax. Together we make candles, read and discuss books (from teenage dystopias to philosophy) and go to the gym. A change of activity and physical activity help to unload the mind and look at emerging difficulties from a different angle.
What skills and knowledge do you think will be important in IT in the future?
In the world of rapidly developing AI technologies, it is important to be not just a programmer, but also a strategist, a person who can take risks and make decisions based on more than just numbers. It is important to develop what distinguishes us from robots – the so-called emotional intelligence. The digital world is changing by leaps and bounds, and we need to keep up with the times, use existing technologies to do more complex and cool things, and not relieve ourselves of the need to strain and think.
What advice would you give to current RUDN students who dream of building a career in IT? Where should they start now?
I would recommend independently studying the tasks that are solved in practice, reading articles, for example, on Habr, looking for internships that allow you to combine study and work. Do not be afraid to respond to vacancies, even if you are "not quite up to par", since the desire to learn and develop is an important factor. It is worth preparing for interviews, going to them as often as possible to develop confidence in front of HR specialists. It is good if you can get to know your dream company in an informal setting, for example, at a hackathon or conference.
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