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    Tech Candidate Spotlight – Evan Feliciano, Senior Product Designer

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    Can you share a little bit about your educational background? 

    I studied Marketing at the University of Pittsburgh. I started working in tech during and after college. Then, I completed a product design bootcamp and transitioned into design after completing it.

    Working in tech, the bootcamp, and mentorship from experienced designers and other tech workers definitely had a big impact on my career trajectory.

    Related: Thinking About a Career Transition? General Assembly’s 4 Immersive Tech Programs to Help You Pivot

    What would you like to learn more about?

    I am very interested in getting more into animation, 3D modeling, and developing my software engineering skills. I built my own website from scratch, but haven’t had as much time to continue learning in this area yet.

    Related: Hired’s 2023 State of Software Engineers report

    What led you to pursue a career in tech?

    I actually first started working part-time for a tech company while in college. It was in a business and operations role and I loved the startup environment. That was my first exposure to product design and research. I knew right away I wanted to work in tech – and more specifically, product design.

    How has your skill set evolved over the course of your career?

    Early in my career, design was all about design. While my visual and research skills have definitely evolved, the biggest change has been adopting a business mindset as a designer with a focus on product strategy.

    What did you choose to specialize in?

    Definitely visual design. To me, this area of design is the most fun and allows for the most creativity. Visual design is also a great place for designers to infuse their personality into the product.

    Is your new role different from previous ones?

    My role is a bit different, as this is a true tech company selling software. In my last role, I was in the fintech space where technology was only a part of the product.

    What are you most excited about in your new role?

    I am really excited about working with very smart teammates! I’m also looking forward to helping scale the business and improve the product experience for users and partners.

    What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?

    Before Hired, there were a lot of cold applications and time wasted typing the same information in over and over and over again – just to never even hear back from most places. Using Hired was by far the best hiring experience I’ve had in a long time!

    The best part about Hired to me is that it’s very low maintenance. Apart from keeping your profile up to date, the most important thing is to respond to companies as quickly as possible.

    Related: Want More Interviews and Better Matches? 5 Key Tips!

    What would you tell someone who’s curious about Hired?

    I would definitely recommend it! Even if you don’t get hired right away, it provides a much better hiring experience. It’s easier to make meaningful connections with hiring managers at various companies for future opportunities too.

    Related: How to Get Approved on Hired

    About Lob

    Lob is the only direct mail automation platform that enables businesses to transform campaign ROI and employee productivity. Lob is looking to make the world programmable by providing tools for enterprise companies to automate their workflows. Founded in 2013, Lob has 51-200 employees and is headquartered in San Francisco.

    Tech Stack

    Node.js, Postgres, Docker, Elixir, Go

    Benefits

    401K plan, RSUs, health insurance, maternity/paternity benefits, unlimited time off, flexible working hours, employee groups and committees, and more. More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight – Karina Celis, Engineering Manager

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      Let’s kick off by hearing a bit about your educational background! 

      I studied Computer Engineering in my hometown of Caracas, Venezuela at the University of Simon Bolivar. Later, I did a Master’s in Online Marketing in Madrid, Spain at ESDEN College. I believe in our field we need to improve and keep up with technology every day. So, I try to do courses on programming languages or management skills and do Katas every now and then. 

      My university experience taught me the most important things for my career. I remember clearly what my first algorithm professor told us in our first class. He said, “Forget everything you have learned so far on programming if you know anything at all. Here, you will really learn all you need to know to succeed. You will learn to solve a problem, think logically, and then apply any language to it.” Boy, he was telling the truth!

      I learned to deeply understand languages, take the best of them, and work around the bad to make them great! I learned to write effective, efficient code and be critical of key functionalities and behaviors. Even today, 14 years since I graduated, I find my education to be the base of every single situation.

      What would you like to learn more about?

      I am constantly reading about Cloud Technologies, AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure! Also – plus new monitoring and reporting tools. Today’s world is not meant for failure. We have no patience when it happens. It is important to achieve low latency and high availability in all our systems. We want to make sure we are on top of any failures and can fix them promptly. 

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      When I was 13 years old, around 1998, we got our first computer at home. It was a 3GB hard drive, Intel 3. It was the best we could get at the time. My aunt’s boyfriend was a Software Engineer working at Unisys. He lent it to her so she could work on her degree thesis. One day it broke down and the system was not booting. My aunt was in a crisis because months of work was lost.

      I sat next to her boyfriend, watching him fix it. He re-installed the software and recovered the data. I was fascinated by this! That day I asked him, “What do I have to study to do what you do?” It was Computer Engineering. I set a goal in life to understand and work on that black box machine. I wanted to make sure it was always up and running and doing everything right to help others achieve their goals. 

      How has your skill set evolved over the course of your career?

      Since graduating, I’ve had several roles:

      Full Stack Engineer at an E-com company in Venezuela (Python and Django)

      Front-end and TV App Engineer at a startup in Madrid (Samsung SDK written in JavaScript and Java in the Back-end)

      Technical Support Engineer at SmartADServer, which is a great company to work for! (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Every now and then, I read Android and Apple apps code)

      Front-End Engineer at eDreams Odigeo (JavaScript and an in-house version of Angular). Then, I had the chance to move up the ladder as Team Leader in that company before moving to London.

      I learned so many technologies over the years and even now as a manager, I continue to do so. In my new role, my team mostly uses C# for day-to-day work. This is a language I have not worked with yet so I am looking forward to learning! 

      Related: Engineering Manager or IC? Which Tech Career is Best for Me? (Video)

      If you chose to specialize in one area, what was it and why?

      I chose to specialize in people. I help them become better Software Engineers, work effectively on a team, and hopefully grow as people too. As an Individual Contributor, I learned how much managers can impact your career. If I can make a difference in helping others achieve their goals, why not do it?

      Related: Code Your Career: Staying Competitive in the Developer Job Market (VIDEO)

      Is your new role different from previous ones?

      I changed industries. My previous role was at Expedia, a travel company. Now, I am moving into Fintech. I will still hold the Engineering Manager role but will work with different languages and manage a different team size.

      What are some of the things you’re most excited about in your new role?

      I have always been very cautious about roles in the finance world. I think traditional, older banking companies can be intimidating. But there is something about tech companies specializing in finance that intrigued me. In this industry, the software is prioritized – good, reliable, efficient software – and I’m all for that.

      What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?

      There were usually two ways of looking for a new job. First, lots of recruiters contacting via LinkedIn. It would be endless amounts of calls with them. Then, the waiting. It sometimes felt like ages before I would finally hear back from the hiring managers to start the process.

      The second way was to apply directly to companies or go to job post sites like LinkedIn. I’d submit my CV and cover letter. Then I’d wait until one day (after I completely forgot about that job application!) I received an email from the company to begin the process.

      In summary, it was a waiting game. I must add though, I met incredible people through these searches and have collaborated with them on other endeavors. I am thankful for each and every minute all recruiters and HR professionals spent with me or on me!

      What’s your best advice for jobseekers registered on the Hired platform? 

      With Hired, the coin is flipped. You are not looking, you are being looked at. Make sure you are presenting your experience in a way that makes companies curious about you.

      Here are a few tips:

      Give constant, quick responses (even if it is a thank you or a no, thank you). 

      Salaries are negotiable, so put your expectation on the table and hear the company out. 

      Inquire about the hiring process if it is not mentioned in the first contact email or initial conversation.

      With Hired, it’s true you can find a job in less than a month. In fact, you can even find one as quickly as two weeks – I’ve done that twice! 

      Any general advice you’d like to give other tech professionals?

      Learn to solve problems, not just how to work on a specific language. Tech evolves every day but that’s not necessarily the same for logic. Also, listen to other people’s ideas. You never know who might help you see a problem in a different way!

      Congrats on the job, Karina! Interested in landing a great role in the UK like Karina did? Complete your free profile on Hired today!

      About TrueLayer

      TrueLayer is building universal APIs that allow companies to access the financial data of their end-user and initiate direct bank payments, securely, reliably, and efficiently. Founded in 2016, TrueLayer has 51-200 employees and is headquartered in London.

      Tech Stack

      .NET Core, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, PostgreSQL, Redis, Elasticsearch, Python, TypeScript, React, C#

      Benefits

      Stock options, paid time off, work-from-home flexibility, management training, employee discount programs, and more. More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight: Nathan Reynolds, Integration Engineer

      by

      Thanks for joining, Nathan! Let’s start by talking about your educational background.

      I have a relatively traditional path in technology. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. After a few years of working, I got an MBA to advance my career.

      My MBA was surprisingly more impactful than my Bachelor’s degree. It’s helped prepare me for customer-facing roles like implementation.

      What would you like to learn more about?

      I’m always interested in learning more about web development, technologically.

      As for interests outside of the tech realm, I am constantly learning more and more about coffee. My next adventure will probably be in roasting my own beans!

      Related: Thinking About a Career Transition? General Assembly’s 4 Immersive Tech Programs to Help You Pivot

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      I’ve always been interested in computers. My first aspiration was to be a game developer. I eventually discovered I prefer B2B software because it allowed for more varied work. It is also an industry that is easier to build a career in.

      How has your skill set evolved throughout your career?

      I started my career in a traditional IT role maintaining servers, updating old applications, and fielding service requests. Then, I eventually moved into implementation and fell in love. I have continually learned new technologies throughout my career starting with a Java/Weblogic/Oracle SQL stack and moving into React/Node/Kotlin/Postgres. I’m always expanding my skill set!

      Related: Hired Releases 2023 State of Software Engineers Report

      Is your new role different from previous ones?

      I’m now an integration engineer rather than an implementation engineer. Much of my work will remain the same but with a slightly different focus. The industry I’m working in is very closely related too — B2B software.

      What are some of the things you’re most excited about in your new role?

      I’m excited to work at a business with a counter-recessionary business proposition. I’m looking forward to helping businesses optimize their costs and weather economic hardships.

      What’s your best advice for jobseekers on the Hired platform? 

      Really tailor your resume to the specific type of role you want. Being as specific as possible helps recruiters pick up the keywords they’re trained to look for.

      Related: Want More Interviews and Better Matches? 5 Key Tips!

      What would you tell someone curious about Hired?

      You have, literally, nothing to lose. It is nice having companies reach out to you rather than constantly sending out dozens of applications daily. That being said, you still need to put forth an effort to land the job.

      Any general advice you’d like to give other tech professionals?

      Be open to learning new things. Don’t over-fit to any one position. You may think your end goal is one specific position but trying other things will allow you to validate that idea.

      About Pricefx

      Pricefx provides the leading SaaS Pricing Platform with best-in-class Price Management, Optimization, and CPQ capabilities covering all key processes for B2B and B2C companies. Founded in 2011, Pricefx has 501-1,000 employees and is headquartered in Chicago.

      Tech Stack

      Java, Groovy, JavaScript, Spring, ETL, AWS, JSON, React, REST, SOAP

      Benefits

      Health/dental/vision/life/disability insurance, maternity/paternity benefits, 401k plan/matching, mental health benefits, paid time off, mentorship opportunities, management training, and more. More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight: Rory Scott, Leader, Software Engineering

      by

      Let’s kick off by talking about your educational background!

      I have a degree in Sociology and Media Studies. I am a self-taught/mentored software engineer and started in this industry in the data and ETL space. Then, I gradually shifted to infrastructure and back-end development, eventually going into people management.

      Which educational opportunities have made the biggest impact on your tech career? 

      Connecting with the people around me and being able to spot opportunities in companies is where I’ve had the most success. I’ve actually been able to drive my own career growth more than educational opportunities have. The biggest educational impacts I have had were on a mentorship and opportunistic basis.

      Related: Job Searching? Online Networking Strategies to Get you Started

      What would you like to learn more about?

      I stopped studying jazz guitar in college and wish I had stuck with it a little more. I consider myself a pretty good player and would love to dive into that space again.

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      I traditionally worked with very small companies where I had to wear many hats. As a data person, I often didn’t have software, tooling, QA, or infrastructure engineers to help build what I needed. It was often up to me and my team(s) to fill those gaps. It wasn’t always pretty or elegant but we learned a lot and got the job done. This paved the road for my career in tech.

      How has your skill set evolved over the course of your career?

      It has evolved immensely. I started out only being an excel expert, automated through macros, then moved on to database management. Then, I went on to automate ETL, build services to automate the data munging, and finally, build internal platforms for other software teams to use. 

      If you choose to specialize in one area, what was it and why?

      Developer Productivity is a space I am extremely passionate about. I’ve seen really good platforms, really bad platforms, and just about everything in between. For engineers who have never been able to experience what life could be like with a solid platform, I love showing them how their life can be improved, bottlenecks removed, and wait times reduced to virtually nothing.

      Is your new role different from previous ones?

      It’s actually very similar to my previous role. I am managing a platform team made up of a handful of extremely talented folks. However, in some ways it is different. For example, instead of being globally distributed, the team is centralized in one US state. The industry is also very different. Instead of retail, we work with security.

      What are some of the things you’re most excited about in your new role?

      Using my interviewing process as a basis, both the team and my manager are extremely good at and passionate about what they do. They care deeply about people and enjoy many of the same cultural ideals that I have. That includes empathy, empowerment, and psychological safety.

      What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?

      Before Hired, the process was what you’d expect. You’d send many resumes and cover letters, hoping to hear back from a percentage either way. Once you could speak with someone, it was typically pretty positive, but it was a percentage-based game if you didn’t have a referral.

      What’s your best advice for jobseekers registered on the Hired platform? 

      I had more than one really good experience with the Hired platform. My advice for others would be to trust it, use it, and not neglect common courtesies in terms of speaking with people — that goes for whether the opportunity seems like a good fit or not. 

      What would you tell someone who’s curious about Hired?

      I would 100% recommend it and would use it again. It’s a passive way to cast a wide net. You know that anyone who reaches out to you has a real need and wants to talk to you.

      Any general advice you’d like to give other tech professionals?

      Tech is fun, exciting, and always changing. One thing that shouldn’t change, however, is how we treat each other. To quote my favorite characters: “Be excellent to each other. Party on dudes.”

      About Cisco

      Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that make networks possible. Founded in 1984, Cisco has 5,001+ employees and is headquartered in San Jose.

      Tech Stack

      Python, Spark, Javascript, React, AWS, Kubernetes, Java, Go, Docker, Microservices, Kafka, iOS, Android, Kotlin, Kibana, Datadog, Terraform

      Benefits

      Health/dental/vision/life/disability insurance, 401k plan/matching, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, stock options, employee discount programs, job training, and more. More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight: Adam Gerard, Senior Software Engineer

      by

      Can you share a little bit about your educational background? 

      My educational background is decidedly mixed. I have 40+ skill or knowledge-based industry assessments/certifications along with more traditional degrees including a bachelor’s and master’s.

      The assessments and certifications (including Hired Assessments) have had the single biggest overall impact so far. They establish my ability, what I know, and how I compare with others.

      What would you like to learn more about?

      Computer Science fundamentals! I plan to go back for a second master’s and pick up more certifications in key specialization areas. They include Hashicorp Terraform, Amazon AWS, Triplebyte, and Oracle Java.

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      I have converging interests in computer hardware, IT, logic, language, and machines. I think it’s natural for me to gravitate toward highly technical, thinking-centric, and machine-centric jobs involving the deep use of language.

      How has your skillset evolved over the course of your career?

      I’ve branched out from Java and SQL to JavaScript, then React, Node, Python, Ruby, WordPress, and so on. I’ve been tinkering around with Haskell, Elixir, and other newer languages too. I’ve also recently prioritized various infrastructure and DevOps tools since they are of nearly equal importance and demand in most roles.

      Related: Discover the most in-demand coding skills in the 2023 State of Software Engineers

      Do you specialize in a particular area?

      I enjoy full stack work since it requires integrated, systems-type thinking. There’s often a clear path through the stack that reveals itself in this type of engineering. It’s more difficult to trace the cause and effect with other, more specialized approaches. I also think full stack specializations align well with Agile practices.

      Related: Want to Ace Technical Interviews? A Guide to Prep Software Engineers

      Is your new role different from previous ones?

      Yes, I’ve been hired as a Senior Software Engineer. I’ve steadily earned promotions or have been hired at increasingly more advanced levels over the years. However, this is the first time I’ve been hired outright as a Senior Software Engineer!

      That’s exciting! Speaking of exciting – what are you looking forward to most in your new role?

      It’s a great company doing amazing things with a strong engineering culture and reputation. For instance, Capital One is known for pioneering cutting-edge and world-changing digital and financial products (credit cards, mobile banking, online banking, etc.). I’m thrilled about the opportunity to use more Java and Java Spring too since many of my recent roles prioritized other tools and technologies.

      What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?

      Hired has been decisive in finding great roles. It’s a better job search platform than Triplebyte and HackerRank (both of which added job search functionalities only after the fact). Recruiters reach out to qualified candidates after a vetting process and with the aid of strong testing tools (Hired Assessments are comparable to those of Triplebyte, CodeSignal, and HackerRank).

      What’s your best advice for jobseekers on Hired? 

      Refine your resume. Be succinct and highlight keywords, technologies, tools, and accomplishments. Take Hired’s assessments too. Supplement them with certifications and strong exam scores from other platforms as well.

      What would you tell someone who’s curious about Hired?

      Definitely give it a try. It’s a platform that connects recruiters from top VC-Startups, Fortune 500, and other great companies with highly qualified candidates.

      Related: How to Get Approved on Hired

      Any general advice for other tech professionals?

      Keep learning and join different practice sites (Codewars, LeetCode, HackerRank). Practice, practice, practice as you interview and search for a job! Pick up respected industry certifications or skill-based assessments to showcase on your resume (Hired.com, HackerRank, Triplebyte, CodeSignal, AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.).

      About Capital One

      Capital One is building a leading information-based technology company. We’re on a mission to help our customers succeed by bringing ingenuity, simplicity, and humanity to banking. Founded in 1988, Capital One has 5001+ employees and is headquartered in Virginia.

      Tech Stack

      Java, Spring, Angular 2, Node.JS, React, AWS, Python, Spark, Scala, Go

      Benefits

      Health/dental/vision insurance, 401K plan, performance bonus, paid time off, employee discount programs, career growth, tuition reimbursement. and more. More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight: Andre Almar, Site Reliability Engineer

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      Why did you choose Hired for your search?

      I liked the simplicity of the platform and processes in general. It’s very easy to fill in your information there. The quality of the companies searching for talent on Hired’s platform is excellent. The whole platform as a whole is great!      

      Related: Meet Hired’s Candidate Experience Team: Supporting Jobseekers Every Step of the Way

      What would you tell someone who’s curious about Hired?

      Try the platform and see for yourself. Personally, I believe it’s much better to have companies reaching out to you as opposed to the other way around. Finding a new job can be a pretty miserable process if you are doing it the “old way.” 

      Hired is similar to other platforms I’ve tried before but the main difference is in the quality of the companies searching for talent. We get to connect with larger companies all around the world!

      What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?

      It was the “same old” in the sense of me having to reach out to companies, then be vetted by each one with a different test (which is very time-consuming). Hired accelerates this process, which saves time for both sides. 

      If you’re thinking about using Hired or are currently a jobseeker on the platform, my advice is to be yourself and present yourself transparently. Don’t be afraid to show what makes you the candidate you are and what you accomplished during your past experiences.

      Related: How to Get Approved on Hired

      About Site Reliability Engineering

      Companies need Site Reliability Engineers when computer systems are not operating up to snuff. Those interested in this role likely know there is much more to it than just building and maintaining computer systems. These engineers are involved in all aspects of the application, software, and system development. 

      Top industries hiring Site Reliability Engineers

      eCommerce

      Analytics

      Security

      Platform

      Learn more about this tech role. More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight – Decebal Dobrica, Software Architect

      by

      Why did you choose Hired for your search?

      Compared to other platforms I’ve tried, Hired stands out because of the quality of employers, especially those in London.

      Related: How to Get Approved on Hired

      When searching for a new role, the ability to have a direct contact with the company looking to hire is extremely useful. It’s more efficient to be in touch with a CTO or someone with an active role, as opposed to going through an agency.

      As for specific features on Hired, I love the “Profile Preferences” section. It allows me to filter out specific technologies and characteristics. I can get search results that reduce the need for further filtering after meeting the companies.

      What would you tell someone who’s curious about Hired?

      Hired puts you in front of the best employers in London while helping you refine the way you present yourself to them. Hired gives you tips based on employer feedback to optimize your profile. This makes your edits so much more relevant than what you might come up with yourself, and helps you stand out to companies on the platform.

      Related: Meet Hired’s Candidate Experience Team: Supporting Jobseekers Every Step of the Way

      How does Hired compare to other methods you have used in your job search?

      Hired was the fastest in terms of helping me connect with new employers and streamlining the recruitment process. Companies come to you, instead of the other way around, which I have experienced with many other platforms. When I get matched with an employer, I already know the company wants to have a conversation tailored to me. I don’t have to make the effort to convince them my profile is what they should search for.

      What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?

      Before Hired, I was jumping between recruitment agencies to get more exposure to different types of employers. Most couldn’t even tell the difference between Java and JavaScript, as most of their own filters were backfiring!

      What tips would you give to other jobseekers using the platform?

      Take advantage of the tips Hired offers and remember to apply them when creating your profile. Most importantly, make sure to be available and be respectful to employers. Being responsive and active helps build employers’ impression of you when making a decision about whether to interview you. More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight – Efrem T., Sr Software Engineer

      by

      Welcome, Efrem! Can you start us off by sharing a bit about your educational background? 

      I am an Electrical Engineer by training. I was excited on the impact of software and its scale. To develop my skills, I joined a Master’s program in Computer Science. This led me to roles in Software Engineering. 

      My Computer Science degree made a huge impact by offering me a holistic understanding of software development and the infrastructure involved with it. 

      What areas would you like to learn more about?

      I would love to improve my leadership skills and emotional intelligence, which would help me take more ownership of projects. I also hope to have a better understanding of the start-up world to help me work toward entrepreneurial goals. 

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      I believe the network effect of tech is quite impressive. Once built, it can scale without having a huge cost. From the development point of view, it is engaging as I can immediately see the impact of my work on users all over. 

      How has your skillset evolved over the course of your career?

      I have grown from being a person who found it hard to write one piece of code to someone who can visualize the different intricacies of applications. This led me to challenge myself with problems and algorithms to find optimal solutions that improve performance. 

      What are did you choose to specialize in?

      Building software from scratch involving the front-end, back-end, and architecture of a system. I would also like to specialize in using data to assist in better decision making. 

      Is your new role different from previous ones?

      Yes, I am now working for start-up. In the past I worked for larger companies. My current role is also in a fast paced environment with a smaller team. 

      I’m excited for the chance to work with a growing start-up and in that process, wear many hats involving multiple facets of the software development cycle. I will be work alongside smart and engaged individuals who, I know, will push me to build my craft. 

      What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?

      It involved a lot of calls just to set up an interview – and many times for an opportunity that doesn’t lead anywhere. With Hired, the process was smooth and companies that interviewed me were committed. The matching was precise! 

      If you are using Hired to find your next role, do as many interviews as possible. I encourage you to enjoy the process of interviewing as it challenges you mentally and is rewarding. Respect the time and effort of everyone involved in potentially offering you your next job. Also, don’t forget you can negotiate your salary. 

      Hired is a robust platform that does a lot of filtering to send you openings that are relevant, increasing your chances of landing a job in a short period of time.

      Any advice for other tech professionals?

      During the interview process, don’t stress yourself. Be as mentally prepared as possible and mitigate fear as much as you can. Anyone coming to interview you is there because they see your potential. So, all you have to do is shine!

      Great advice and congrats on the job! If you’d like to level up your career like Efrem did, complete your free profile on Hired today!

      About Lilt

      Lilt combines people, processes, and technology to guarantee the highest quality language translation services with the industry’s most rigorous QA program. Founded in 2015, Lilt has between 51-200 employees and is headquartered in San Francisco.

      Benefits

      Health/dental/vision/life/disability insurance, 401k matching, unlimited time off, work from home flexibility, management training, mental health benefits, and more. More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight – Manuel Cheta, Senior Software Engineer in the UK

      by

      Can you start by sharing a bit bit about your educational background? 

      After finishing Aerospace Engineering university courses I decided to go into the web development world instead. I am a self-taught Front-End Developer. I learned about HTML, CSS, Javascript after opening my first WordPress blog and learning how to modify the website and manage my hosting space as a webmaster. 

      Being self-taught, accessing Youtube videos and development blogs helped enormously. The biggest impact on my career was my decision to press on, inspect the websites, and see how they were built. 

      What would you like to learn more about?

      I recently became interested in psychology and how to help people work together to reach a common goal. In addition, I am interested in deepening my Front-End dev knowledge and connected areas like DevOps, Backend, cloud, and even AI.

      Of course, because I work in fintech, I am also interested in learning as much as I can about personal finance and investing.

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      I always had an interest in computers, ever since playing Prince of Persia on an Intel 286 PC in the 7th grade. Since then, I spent time learning how to install an operating system, how to debug programs, and how to help people set up their own computer or home network. 

      How has your skillset evolved over the course of your career?

      Each year, I start with the hopes of learning a lot. I do learn quite a lot and at the end of the year I feel more stupid than I felt at the start, so the cycle repeats. From learning regular HTML/CSS to working on full-scale single-page apps in various frameworks, I am always on the lookout for a better understanding of the basics and new stuff to learn.

      If you chose to specialize in one area, what was it and why?

      I specialise in Front-End and web accessibility. I love working in Front-End because it gets me as close to the user as possible. My open nature lends itself to creating code, which can be seen, read, and felt by the end user. I am also keenly interested in promoting web accessibility because I firmly believe that when you make your website accessible, you make everyone’s lives way better.

      Is your new role different from previous ones?

      This year, my focus was on fintech and as such, I worked in fintech. I call myself a nano-investor because I am just learning how to better invest my time and money. That was why I moved away from the e-commerce industry to fintech. 

      What are you most excited about in your new role or company?

      We’re starting a new project and I can have the biggest impact right now since my experience as a senior dev can bring in the most value in setting the direction of development. Having worked on many projects I can identify pain points and offer suggestions.

      What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?

      When I was a junior dev, a number of years ago when sites like Hired didn’t exist, I would simply push my CVs to different platforms without any hope of actually getting a response. Now, Hired makes my life way easier because I can tailor my profile to the industry I am interested in and I receive interview requests only from the companies I would be genuinely interested in. 

      What’s your best advice for jobseekers on Hired? 

      Make sure to have a 1-2 page CV that’s not too long. Also, create a specific “keywords” section to help the automated system identify your domain of work. When setting your profile to “open for work,” make sure your short bio concisely explains what your interests are.

      Be sure to use the correct asking price for the role and industry you are in. In terms of the asking price, insert a specific number like 65,789 so you attract more inquisitive recruiter minds. 

      Related: Want More Interviews and Better Matches? 5 Key Tips!

      What would you tell someone who’s curious about Hired?

      Just sign up! Spend a bit of time writing the best descriptions you can in each section and make sure you indicate the specific industry you want to work in. 

      Any general advice you’d like to give other tech professionals?

      Spend time learning about the companies your are interviewing for and what their interview process is like. Being a good tech professional matters. However, companies are looking for people who are enthusiastic about their company and like to work with others. Therefore, soft skills are more highly rated than tech skills. Tech can be learned, but culture and caring for your colleagues is not an easily teachable and transferrable skill.

      Congrats on the job, Manuel! Interested in landing a great role in the UK like Manuel did? Complete your free profile on Hired today!

      About Compare The Market

      Compare The Market is a price comparison website and provides customers with an easy way to make the right choice on a wide range of products including motor, home, life and energy. Founded in 2005, Compare the Market has between 501-1,000 employees and is headquartered in London. In 2021, it made Hired’s List of Top Employers Winning Tech Talent.

      Tech Stack

      JavaScript, Node.js, MongoDB, AWS, C#, .NET, iOS, Android, Docker, Git, HTML, CSS, Scala, Java, Kafka, Kubernetes, Python, React, Redux, Big Data

      Benefits

      Life/disability insurance, work-from-home flexibility, volunteer time off, flexible working hours, employee discount programs, and more. More