AI takes over entry-level IT work, Kotka says

IT students are finding it harder to get jobs as artificial intelligence takes over entry-level work, Estonian IT school HK Unicorn Squad founder Taavi Kotka told ERR. He said the situation should be temporary, and students would need a couple of years to adapt.

Finding a job is “very difficult, almost impossible” for students competing with many applicants, Kotka said, adding that personal connections can help candidates stand out.

At the same time, sectors that have invested little in IT, such as agriculture, are increasingly seeking technology and can now afford specialists at reasonable rates, he said. The market also has a large pool of highly qualified workers because AI has replaced many people’s jobs.

Kotka said working for a time in a customer service role could also help students find work later, as it demonstrates diligence and discipline.

Riika Seeba, a master’s student in insurance and financial mathematics at the University of Tartu, said students should pursue opportunities while studying. She recalled that applicants sometimes had to complete substantial trial assignments alongside their studies, but employers were willing to accommodate motivated candidates.

Seeba said there had been internships available, though students were sometimes unsure whether the placement would lead to a job at the same company or how best to use their time. A university degree can show employers that a candidate is able and motivated to learn, she said.

Kotka said university studies provide a foundation but do not by themselves make someone a working IT professional. It usually takes three to nine months to train a programmer, he said.

Because AI now performs many of the first-level tasks that were previously given to students, Kotka said the industry still needs to find ways to give young people experience and develop future senior specialists. He said a motivated student working with AI could be a powerful resource, but it would take time for the market to adapt. Seeba said the changes were making young people anxious about their career prospects.

Kotka said IT students had been “spoiled” over the past 20 years.