Cegeka Level Up Program: growing together in a changing IT landscape

It’s no secret that the IT landscape has changed. The expectations are evolving, and what once felt stable now requires constant adaptation. In Romania especially, we’ve seen a wave of changes across the industry: from layoffs and restructurings to a growing need for more specialized, tech roles. For many professionals, whether in development, support, testing, or project roles, these shifts have brought some real uncertainty. And the question a lot of people are asking right now is: “What’s next?”

And the effects have been visible. The Romanian IT industry has faced serious slowdowns, especially in the last two quarters of 2024, due to fewer contracts and general fiscal uncertanty. Then, to top it off, the tax exemptions that supported IT salaries for over 20 years were removed in early 2025. All of this has left many professionals wondering how to adapt and move forward.

A clear example of how the IT landscape is shifting can be seen in the QA space. One of the strongest trends we’re observing is the move away from manual testing toward QA Automation. More and more companies are prioritizing automation skills, and roles are evolving rapidly.

This is where upskilling and reskilling come into play. According to the EY Upskilling Survey Romania 2024, a full 94% of respondents believe learning new skills is critical to staying relevant in the job market. The main reasons? Personal growth, career development, and the need to shift into new roles altogether. AI is on the list too, as 72% believe AI skills will open new opportunities for them.

At Cegeka Romania, we’ve been paying attention to all of this, and we’re doing something about it. We’ve launched a dedicated upskilling program called Cegeka Level Up Program to help engineers gain the skills they need to thrive in today’s IT market. Whether that means transitioning from manual to automated testing or exploring entirely new areas, our goal is simple: help people grow and adapt.

But we’re not only focused on our internal teams. We think long term, not just about our own business, but about the business success and sustainability of our clients. That’s why Cegeka Level Up Program includes not only Cegeka employees, but also people from client teams. By investing in both, we amplify the program’s impact: we support our clients by helping their people grow, too. This dual approach brings stronger results  by enabling teams that are better aligned, more skilled, and more resilient.

Our first session kicked off in May, in partnership with 4Mayo Academy, and brought together 20 QA Manual engineers, from both Cegeka and client teams, who were ready to grow into QA Automation roles. The feedback was positive and it was a clear sign that not only is the need there, but so is the motivation.

We believe that growth starts from within. By investing in our people, we’re not just reacting to market changes, we’re helping shape the ecosystem and sustainability of the Romanian IT community. With curious minds, we always act a step ahead, anticipating change, embracing learning, and building a stronger foundation for the road ahead. And as we continue to shape digital together, we remain committed to creating opportunities that help our teams and partners grow and adapt.

Stay tuned for more details about the program.