ITSkills4U: Rediscovering a childhood dream for a career in tech

Ivan Mospan was on a business trip to Sumy, a city near the border with Russia, when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. “I’m from Chernivtsi but my company’s headquarters was in Sumy, on the other side of the country. I was actually there to interview for a promotion.”

A lifelong obsession with computers hadn’t yet translated into a tech career for Ivan, who was a senior sales representative for Ukraine’s largest manufacturer of paints and coatings. But the reality of the war forced Ivan to rethink his career choices.

Ivan Mospan and his family

Determined to make a new start, Ivan settled on shifting to be a DevOps engineer, with a focus on cloud computing. After enrolling to study Cloud & DevOps at EPAM Systems Inc. (EPAM), Ivan learned about AWS’ ITSkills4U program, and was immediately interested, if a bit skeptical about how useful a free program would be.

“I decided to give it a try. Honestly, the benefit I gained from it is hard to overestimate. I’ve already completed three virtual instructor-led courses, got to know the wonderful international team of AWS volunteers, and participated in English language and soft skills training,” he said.

When describing his experience, Ivan emphasizes the combination of fun he’s had meeting new people along with the practical skills and AWS Certifications he’s acquired, which include AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, and AWS Certified SysOps – Associate.

These experiences gave Ivan the confidence to finally quit his day job and take the plunge to find work in the technology industry. This was an especially risky move, because so many Ukrainian IT companies have had to close or downsize due to the war. As a new father, making this leap was extra worrying given his added responsibilities. But Ivan felt like if he didn’t make the leap now, he might never do it.

“I believed in myself, was passionate about this space, and knew I could find something if I persisted. And I was lucky enough to receive a job offer as a DevOps intern after my very first interview, where I was selected from over 100 candidates. The courses and AWS Certifications obtained through ITSkills4U certainly helped my resume stand out, especially because the company (Simloud) focuses on AWS solutions.”

Sadly, war followed Ivan even in his new job. His employer is based in Israel, and was forced to suspend operations after the outbreak of fighting there in October. As a result, Ivan is back on the job market, but remains optimistic.

“It’s incredible to have programs, initiatives, and – most importantly – people who help others not only grow but also start completely new careers during such a challenging time. I am open to new opportunities and excited to find my ‘dream job.’ I want to thank the entire ITSkills4U team for your efforts, and I sincerely hope that my story will inspire your work! Glory to Ukraine!”

Developed by AWS, ITSkills4U is a free, cloud computing workforce development program for Ukrainians. The comprehensive program offers self-paced learning, AWS instructor-led training, exam preparation, language classes, and career support services. With a diverse enrollment of IT professionals, individuals with some experience, and those with no IT background, the program has garnered support from the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the Polish Government. More than 40 AWS customers and AWS Partners serve as ITSkills4U employment partners, and ITSkills4U works alongside education institutions, AWS Training Partners, and AWS re/Start collaborating organizations to deliver the curriculum. The program is funded by AWS with contributions from donors, and led in partnership with Polish NGO ZPP.