It’s a Match! Ilia and CGI Deutschland, From Tech Support to IT Consultant

In a world where knowledge is the key to unlocking endless possibilities, embracing curiosity and a passion for learning can lead to extraordinary transformations. Ilia, a seasoned technical support specialist, understood this well. Due to the war in Ukraine and his wife’s acceptance into a PhD program in Hamburg, Ilia Liseanskii left Ukraine with his wife to begin anew. Having previously worked remotely for an international company, he wanted to find something more local to help him integrate into his new community.  

One day, Ilia found himself doing something out of the ordinary - he was on Facebook, a platform he rarely uses. While scrolling through his feed, he stumbled upon a life-changing post about ReDI School. Driven by curiosity, Ilia decided to explore this opportunity further and reach out. Little did he know that this encounter would set him on a remarkable path of personal and professional growth. 

Within a day of reaching out, he had secured an interview, and in just a few weeks, he was enrolled in his first semester, taking the Introduction to Computer Science course.  

“You can imagine that after ten years in technical support, I already had some experience in programming and general computer knowledge,” Ilia said. “But I didn’t have a lot of experience in English. So, I decided to join the course to solidify my knowledge base and make it more solid.” 

Despite his extensive background, Ilia found immense value in the course. “I learned a lot of new things, learned a lot of new tools—If I knew about these earlier, it could have made my life much easier,” he shared. The course offered more than just technical skills; it provided a vibrant community and a wealth of networking opportunities. 

Ilia attended every class, workshop, and on-site session, eager to absorb as much information as possible. His friendly and social nature helped him connect with classmates, volunteers, and IT professionals. “I used every chance to make new connections, friends, and potential colleagues,” he said. 

He also participated in Demo Day, where ReDI learners present projects they’ve worked on, showcasing what they’ve learned and projects they’ve worked on. “Presenting at Demo Day is the best opportunity to advertise yourself, to show your soft skills, and to show your technical skills. You have five minutes of fame.” 

One of the pivotal moments in Ilia’s journey came during workshops hosted by CGI Deutschland, a global IT consulting firm. His persistent curiosity and enthusiasm led him to reach out to the CGI team. His determination paid off, and he was offered an internship. 

After his first ReDI semester, Ilia began his internship at CGI Deutschland and continued to expand his knowledge by enrolling in a second ReDI semester, taking the Cloud Computing course.  

His advice to others is this: “Stay curious and have fun with the learning process. Make as many new connections as possible in the field you want to work in. We live in an information age with an infinite amount of knowledge available. Choose your path and stick to it.” 

Ilia’s hard work and perseverance have paid off. He has been interning at CGI for over half a year and is happy with his progress, and in the spring, had his internship extended. Reflecting on his journey, Ilia acknowledges that he could never have found this opportunity or received the offer without ReDI School. “ReDI gave me 110% of what it could.” 

Now, Ilia has come full circle and joined ReDI School as a volunteer teacher. He supports the JavaScript 1 course and feels confident enough to teach the same course next semester. 

He has even recommended that his wife join the course, which she has. 

Ilia’s classmates from his first semester are now all employed in Germany’s IT sector. “ReDI School works; it gives lots of opportunities,” Ilia concluded. “ReDI is doing great things, helping a lot of people here in Germany.” 

Ilia demonstrates the power of curiosity, humility, and perseverance. What initially began as a random Facebook scroll has led to a rewarding internship in IT consulting. ReDI School has played a vital role in helping him and many others pursue their passions.