How My Career as an IT Sourcer Began: A Journey of Courage and Transformation

In 2022, my life took an unexpected turn that set me on a path I’d never imagined. At the time, I was living in Kyiv, Ukraine, dating someone from the Netherlands. When the war began, he suggested I leave Ukraine with him and move to the Netherlands. It was a difficult decision—I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving my family, my mom and sister, and a close friend behind. But he promised we could all go together, which gave me some relief.

The very day that the first missile struck, he found us bus tickets to Moldova. We planned to leave that same day, but in the chaos, my friend went to the wrong address, and we missed the bus. We ended up sheltering in a basement in Kyiv, surrounded by panic and uncertainty. The situation was terrifying, and all of Ukraine felt like it was falling apart.

A friend of his then suggested we go to Vinnytsia, where things were a bit calmer. So, we made our way there and stayed for about a week. Finally, we faced the inevitable choice: leave for the Netherlands. Convincing my mom to make the move was not easy—she was reluctant, afraid of the unknown. But after a long talk, we agreed to go. My friend, however, couldn’t leave the country due to martial law, which meant saying goodbye to someone who had been like family. It was heart-wrenching, but I knew we had to go.

After arriving in the Netherlands, we began adjusting to this new life. I reconnected with a friend who lived there, and during one of our conversations, she mentioned that her company was hiring. My friend worked in HR and thought I’d be a good fit, even though I had no tech background, minimal English, and very limited computer skills. Still, she reassured me that everyone was willing to help me learn. The role was mostly remote, which suited me, so I decided to take a leap and try something new.

The beginning was challenging. Everything felt foreign, and I wasn’t sure if I would ever understand how it all worked. But after a few months of training, I surprised everyone by finding my first candidate for a role. That success sparked something in me—a curiosity and determination to keep improving. Bit by bit, I started to grasp the nuances of IT sourcing, a field I never thought I’d enter. It took about a year to truly feel confident, but along the way, I was lucky to have a supportive team. Twice a week, we’d meet with my boss in person, gathering with other team members in the Netherlands, while some joined remotely from Ukraine. These sessions became our learning and bonding time, which brought a sense of camaraderie despite everything.

As time went on, a shift happened in our team. My friend, who had first introduced me to the job, decided to pursue another opportunity and invited me to join her. By then, however, I had developed a genuine passion for my work. I wanted to stay. Gradually, more people moved on, leaving just me and my boss to keep things going. It was bittersweet—who would have guessed that the newest, least experienced member would be the last one standing? But now, two years in, I’m still here, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Through this journey, I’ve grown both personally and professionally. I’ve learned how to communicate effectively with candidates, mastered search techniques, and closed several important deals. Some companies proved to be a perfect fit, and we found strong candidates together. Others were more challenging, with differences in expectations that taught me the value of aligning with the right partners.

Reflecting on everything, I can say that this unexpected path led me to a rewarding career I would never have discovered on my own. Life threw me into the world of IT sourcing, and I’m glad I took the risk. For anyone else considering a major change, my advice is simple: embrace the unknown, because sometimes the best journeys begin when you least expect them.