EMPLOYMENT OF GRADUATES OF SECONDARY VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AND INFORMATION SECURITY: CAREER PREFERENCES AND JOB SEARCH

Abstract

The article presents the study results of job search tactics and career preferences of graduates in the field of information technology and information security (hereinafter referred to as IT specialties) who graduated from educational institutions of secondary vocational education (hereinafter referred to as SVE) in 2016–2019. The main method to collect data was a formalized quantitative survey of 1,500 graduates, including those living in regional centers (cities with a population of over one million) in 17 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, by means of a structured online questionnaire. The respondents took part in the study by filling out the questionnaire online, by telephone and in person filling out a printed copy of the questionnaire. To improve the quality of the data and to form a holistic view of the peculiarities of recruiting graduates of secondary vocational education in IT specialties, the questionnaire survey was supplemented by 15 profound interviews on a structured guide with representatives of professional educational organizations who deal with the employment of graduates. The study results may help determine the main employment practices and career guidelines for young IT specialists (channels and duration of job search, demand for professional competencies, salary expectations, etc.), identify the main reasons why young specialists refuse to work by profession, develop conceptual schemes, and key directions for their employment.