From Cruise Ships to IT: Elena Minkov, Graduate of the Intro to IT and Business Analysis Courses

From cruise ships to IT courses: how Elena managed to get hired from her very first interview, right after graduating

Imagine the following scenario: you work for 11 years on the biggest cruise ships in the world, and you decide to go back home and start a new career. From scratch.

You look for IT courses, you choose Informal School of IT. Right after graduating, you prepare for the job interview. “First interview taken, first interview passed”. In short, that's how Elena's story begins — she tells us, 6 years later, how grateful she still is for the chance at a new life. Elena Minkov graduated from the Intro to IT and Business Analysis courses.

A career on the biggest cruise ships in the world

“It was 11 years abroad, outside the country, but not just as an assistant manager. 

I started at the bottom, as a waiter's assistant, and indeed, my last position was assistant general manager. But like everyone, I started at the bottom. If in 2004 I had the courage to interview to go work on the biggest cruise ships in the world, in 2017 I was in Carmen Ciulacu's office (site manager at Informal School of IT Bucharest)  interviewing for a career in IT,  which I had absolutely no clue about.”

IT courses at 39. Why?

“I was 39 and going through a turning point. I simply didn't want to keep doing what I was doing anymore. I no longer wanted to travel across seas and lands, to foreign places. And it was time to find my own path and carve it out myself. On dry land, at home, with my family. 

The reason was clear: I didn't want to do hospitality anymore. Hence my desire to do something else. 

I'm naturally brave. Ever since I was little, I used to do all kinds of mischief, which now, looking back, I consider not brave, but dangerous. But that's pretty much what I did in the jobs I had before too”. 

Why Informal School of IT?

“I remember spending a good few weeks searching for such a program. In the end I was left with two options that seemed the most interesting to me.

Informal School of IT, however, had one essential thing that shaped my decision: the success stories.

I wondered whether the success stories I'd read at the time were true. I decided to believe them and chose Informal School of IT. Then, I myself became a success story.

I used to say that my new career was a 90-degree change. But now I'll correct that, it's a 180-degree change.”

Read other success stories too:
Alina Ivan: “I'm 100% convinced that I couldn't have worked in programming without Informal School of IT”
Talking with Elena Cantemir, QA Complete Software Testing graduate

Elena's journey in IT 

“When I came back home, I looked into the market a bit and wanted to see what Romania needed, what it was looking for, what was missing, and what I could do here. Everyone was talking about IT as the industry with the most sought-after jobs. And I had the courage to look toward this field. I felt so insignificant and so small, and IT was so far above me, that it seemed abstract. 

I had no experience in IT at all and started from scratch. I went to the Intro to IT – Introduction to Programming and Software Testing course, to actually see what this field means and what its branches are: there I did programming, testing, and learned the basics of SQL.

I didn't necessarily learn business analysis concepts there, but I found out enough information and chose the Business Analysis course next, in my development.

Fear of a new beginning? Or excitement?

“I wasn't afraid during the Introduction to IT course, but I was a bit afraid during the Business Analyst course. 

In the Intro course, you actually learn how to program and how to test, and you see everything come to life through your own hands.

But business analysis involves so much analysis and so much thinking that all the information can feel overwhelming. Instead, I had patient mentors who answered all my questions with understanding, and that mattered a great deal to me.

Also read: How to build a successful career as a Business Analyst, and the trends in the field

I think the level of skill and ease you have in communicating was my strong suit, and it was a huge advantage for me going forward, in the business analyst career I chose.”

First interview taken, first interview passed

“5 years ago, in October, I finished the Business Analysis course. In November I worked on my CV, and in December I started applying for jobs. I had my first interview then, a first interview that was taken and passed. 

I had several calls, and was called in for more interviews afterward, but at the very first interview I attended, it was taken and passed. I work at a well-known banking company, in the leasing department. Since I got hired, I haven't wanted to leave. The environment is very beneficial for me. I get to work with wonderful people who stand by me and whom I enjoy working with. 

The environment you work in matters a great deal, both for professional development and for our physical and mental wellbeing.

A piece of advice for you, if you want to take IT courses

“Every beginning is hard, and when you start from scratch, you need a lot of willpower and a lot of confidence. But perseverance speaks for itself. Persevere! Don't give up! Always look ahead.  Informal School of IT made the difference for me. I'm proud that I graduated from IT courses here. Funnily enough, I can say I was a mediocre student, but now I excel. Right now, I like to believe I excel”.

Nothing should stop you from excelling where you know your passion lies. Enroll in the IT course that suits you and redefine your future. We'll be with you every step of the way.

Also read: Whoever has Business Analysis knowledge has a competitive advantage in the job market

Why take the Business Analyst in IT course?

In the Business Analyst in IT course, you'll understand the aspects that influence business outcomes, the key role of the business analyst throughout a project, and you'll learn how to work effectively in Agile & Waterfall environments.

By gaining knowledge of solution architecture in business analysis, change implementation, planning, and management, you'll be able to analyze and recommend solutions that bring benefits and value to the organization.

The course will give you essential data analysis skills, helping you interpret information and make fact-based decisions.

You'll also develop stakeholder management skills, learning how to collaborate effectively with various project stakeholders and negotiate their requirements.

This way, you'll be able to contribute to delivering IT solutions that meet the business's real needs, leading to improved performance and increased customer satisfaction. In the end, the course will prepare you to successfully navigate your business analyst career, giving you a solid foundation for professional advancement in IT.

Online Business Analyst Course. Enroll here!