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      Tech Candidate Spotlight – Myron Yao, Software Application Engineer

      by

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

      My Bachelor’s Degree is in Computer Science from the University of British Columbia. I learned general software development principles but the most practically relevant language taught at the time was Java. I taught myself Javascript in two weeks on my first job to adapt to a role as a full-stack developer and continue to maintain a general interest in programming language design.

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

      In terms of certifications, I completed a short course on the Google Cloud Platform while with my previous employer.

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

      I still highly appreciate my education at a traditional institution for equipping me with a high-level understanding of hardware, algorithms and data structures, concurrency, language design, parallelism, operating systems, distributed computing, and human-computer interfaces.

      Aside from equipping me to tackle complex and technically demanding design and debugging tasks in a large enterprise software system, my theoretical interest in how languages structure programming made me an enthusiastic adopter of new language standards. This includes the introduction of patterns of Functional programming to Java and Javascript.

      What would you like to learn more about?

      I have a deep interest in physics and biology particularly as they relate to Neuroscience. AI really fascinates me. It’s not necessarily the statistical models currently driving a lot of the mainstream hype and economic development, but more so the biologically-inspired models. They provide incredible insights into human behaviour, experience, and consciousness.

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      Coming from a background/environment with an emphasis on academic achievement, I gravitated toward tech as an applied field with a high degree of freedom in what it created. Computing and automation are fundamentally about learning to harness non-human intelligence. Programming is an incredible force-multiplying tool for anybody with novel ideas.

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

      I began my career cramming on front-end technologies to become a full-stack developer. But as I gained experience, I pivoted into backend performance/stability, leading to system design and architecture.

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

      In my previous role, I gradually focused on backend development because the firm’s product was targeted at an enterprise client base. Improvements to the core system had the greatest impact on the widest audience.

      Is your new role different from previous ones?

      My new role is somewhat different from my previous one. The internal platform is mature so development manpower is presently focused on feature development for customers (externally as opposed to internally facing). I am excited about the mission and social impact of the product and I don’t have any issues with customer-facing development.

      Nonetheless, it is not out of the question for my new job to parallel how I started out with my previous role. I began with a focus on front-end development but ended up contributing to the core platform after gaining knowledge and experience as a full-stack developer.

      What are you most excited about in your new role?

      My new role is with a team in a growth area for the company, which also has significant room for positive social impact – student information systems for large educational institutions. Besides the huge addressable market, the company’s mission – digital transformation of information systems of large enterprises to help them reduce the acceleration gap between technical debt and innovation – means that, particularly for the student product, the platform may even eventually be in a position to improve the learning experiences of students directly.

      Additionally, I am excited to work with the in-house internal platform at Workday. This sounded more bold and efficient the more I learned about it. For example, eliminating the inefficiencies of object-relational mapping for its crucial core data models by keeping business objects fully in memory. I look forward to deepening my understanding of software architecture by studying the system and reaping the productivity benefits of actually working with it.

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

      Hired was one of the first services I looked into when I began my job search. However, with regard to my job search outside of Hired, it was fairly difficult due to several barriers:

      Importantly, I was coming off of a 2.5-year employment gap involving an international Master’s Degree. COVID and several months of exploring possibilities for self-employment interrupted my degree completion.

      As a Canadian without a US work permit, I was limited to local opportunities.

      Unfamiliarity with the non-tech firms doing the majority of tech hiring in the current job climate meant I was mostly applying to big tech firms. Unfortunately, those firms were the ones downsizing after over-hiring during the pandemic. In anticipation of a recession, they weren’t very responsive.

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

      The two key differentiators which make the Hired platform uniquely effective are the Assessments and Preferences features.

      Assessments

      Take the time to fully use all three attempts on each assessment, even if you get a decent grade. Candidates are ranked on the basis of both correctness and completion time. So, it is preferable to get the best score possible. Furthermore, if you plan to complete multiple assessments, space your attempts between them instead of completing an assessment all at once. The material in the assessments overlap (e.g. Full Stack with Front-end with Programming Skills), providing opportunities for more practice.

      Preferences

      Given the present job market, keep an open mind regarding which industries you’re willing to work in. Do some research into which ones are actually hiring. Definitely, DO take the time to specify some preferences. A strong match between a candidate and a company will predict cultural fit, giving you greater visibility.

      Related: Want More Interviews and Better Matches? 8 Key Tips!

      Remember the recruiting process is costly for hirers (e.g. sacrificing work hours for devs or managers to conduct interviews). Recruiters who perform candidate searches on Hired want to have as high of a hire-through rate as possible. If you manage to get an initial interview request, you are already highly likely to meet their basic requirements. All that remains is for you to demonstrate you are authentic and motivated. At the same time, the bias toward a high recruiting success rate means the initial screening process can be all the more stringent and impersonal.

      In this sense, my honest experience was that optimizing my profile for initial views and interview requests was the hardest part of the journey. Once you land an interview request:

      Research the company

      Identify what you like or want to know more about

      Review the ample tips and preparatory materials Hired provides for interviews

      This should put you well on the way to passing the final screening!

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

      Hired is a modern hiring platform leveraging data-driven techniques to make matching candidates and companies more efficient. It also democratizes hiring by surfacing additional information not visible via traditional processes.

      Hired creates value by generating productive matches between jobseekers and employers who might not even be aware of each other. For candidates, this removes the most time-consuming yet inefficient stage of the job hunting process – mass-generating job applications with little guarantee a human will even look at them.

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

      The resources on the Hired blog are extremely informative. By highlighting the perspectives of both past candidates and recruiters representing real conditions on the platform, they provide great examples of success on Hired. A tremendously important skill in all aspects of life is being able to consider things from another person’s perspective. For job-seeking, the advice, suggestions, and testimonials on the Hired blog represent vital data for helping you do so.

      About Workday

      Workday is an on‑demand financial and human capital management software vendor. Founded in 2005, Workday has 5001+ employees and is headquartered in Pleasanton.

      Benefits

      Health/dental/vision/life/disability insurance, 401K plan/matching, performance bonus, paid time off, parental benefits, job training, fitness reimbursement, flexible working hours, and more.

      Tech Stack

      Java, Scala, Ruby, Python, Elasticsearch, iOS, Swift, Android SDK, MySQL, Javascript, Hadoop, Spark, Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Kafka, Apache ZooKeeper, Ruby on Rails, Hive, React, Chef More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight – Abel Hernandez, Lead Product Manager

      by

      Let’s start by discussing your educational background!

      I don’t have a “traditional degree.” I went to trade college for Audio Engineering and I have some unfinished semesters at city colleges. What changed my career trajectory was attending General Assembly’s Full Stack Developer Immersive Bootcamp.

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

      I eventually pivoted into Product Management. While getting real-world experience at tech start-ups, I obtained industry certifications from Scrum Alliance and Product School.

      I’d say the BrightTALK series and being part of the Pivotal Labs practices and culture made the biggest impact on my career. Keeping in touch with my mentors and staying active in the lean UX and agile communities also helped quite a bit.

      What would you like to learn more about?

      Self-care and preventing burnout. I want to learn more about taking better care of myself. Although I’m passionate about tech, it’s important to learn how to unplug and walk barefoot, lay on the grass, and look up at the sky. We spend way too much time in front of screens.

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      I was tired of living paycheck to paycheck and lacking a clear career path. Eventually, I learned about outcomes and had the opportunity to leverage technology to impact people’s lives.

      Related: Expert Tips: How to Manage Your Finances While You Job Hunt

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

      I’m a lot more focused on understanding people’s motivations and pain points. I value problem-solving while leveraging my team’s expertise to help me determine how we can make a powerful impact.

      What did you choose to specialize in?

      Helping people navigate through ambiguity, or problem-solving by prioritizing ruthlessly. In short, I’m focused on being a champion for lean UX and agile methodologies.

      Is your new role different from previous ones and what excites you about it?

      Yes and no. I continue to work in a heavy compliance-driven environment. However, I do get to work with the private sector as opposed to only the public sector. I also have more opportunities to travel outside the US now.

      I’m excited to work with Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in this role! I’m also looking forward to continuing to provide solutions for folks in the military through healthcare tech initiatives.

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

      It was brutal. There were no standards and I came across too many fake recruiters only seeking to get contact details. There was also a lot of ghosting! 

      Related: 9 Smart Tips for Jobseekers to Identify & Avoid Job Scams in 2023

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

      Put in the effort to fill out your profile. Include a recent photo and update your criteria often as potential employers focus on that. Also, make sure you reply ASAP when you get a message. It’s important to show you’re active on Hired.

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

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

      I don’t want to sound cliché but don’t give up! Stay up-to-date and consistent in the community. Don’t make excuses as there are so many useful resources out there for tech jobseekers. If you put in time and effort, you will find the opportunity you’re seeking. 

      About Humana

      Humana creates innovative solutions and resources that help people live their healthiest lives on their terms – when and where they need it. Founded in 1961, Humana has 10,000+ employees and is headquartered in Louisville.

      Benefits

      Health/dental/vision/life/disability insurance, 401K plan/matching, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, work from home flexibility, employee discount programs, and more. More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight – Albert James, Full Stack Engineer

      by

      Please tell us a bit about your educational background! 

      I have a traditional background with a Bachelor’s in Electronics & Communication Engineering and a Master’s in Computer Science. My first introduction to programming was in high school. In the last few years of high school, I was introduced to C++. We wrote code on paper and later tried compiling it on computers once per week to see how it ran. Writing code primarily on paper was helpful in writing errorless code.

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

      As for my overall tech career, I believe my Master’s degree made the biggest impact. It was the first time I learned a lot about programming and computer science fundamentals. I believe a formal education in computer science is really useful, especially if the coursework involves a lot of project work.

      What would you like to learn more about?

      I would like to learn more about Astrophysics. I’m really passionate about physics, and astronomy was something I loved reading about. Eventually, I plan to enroll in a learning course to get formal training in astrophysics. I might even switch careers someday!

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      For me, I think it came down to two aspects: problem-solving and money. Tech and coding are really interesting. You have to constantly learn and the problems you solve are neither mundane nor boring. It also helps that the salary is nice!

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

      I was primarily an electronics engineer who knew some C++ when I started my first job. Over time, I acquired skills in machine learning, database design, back-end engineering, and Android development. I was also exposed to a wider variety of problems and approaches to solving them. 

      If I could choose a specialty, it would be back-end development. I like the technologies in this area and love learning the nitty gritty of database design.

      Is your new role different from previous ones?

      It is similar to my role at DraftKings. There are commonalities in the responsibilities but the role is in a new industry. The day-to-day work is similar to what I did at DraftKings but it’s a deviation from my tasks at Google.

      I really love back-end development and with this role at Arrowstreet Capital, I have the opportunity to be a part of the company’s foray into the cloud. This offers a plethora of interesting problems and projects while providing plenty of opportunities for personal growth.

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

      It mostly consisted of messaging people and applying for jobs via LinkedIn. I’d say I have had mixed experiences with LinkedIn. I found it easier to find job opportunities after landing my first role but before that, I never received responses regarding applications.

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

      Keep your profile up-to-date and stay active on the platform. Don’t be passive in your job search! Take skill assessments and certifications to showcase what you can do and have learned. Keep updating your resume and profile to optimize it and impress prospective employers.

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

      Also, use the resources Hired provides as they are really useful in the job search. This helps you during every aspect, from beginning your job search all the way to negotiating an offer.

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

      I had a wonderful time as a jobseeker using the Hired platform. Hired is really thorough and supports you throughout the job search process. It’s a fantastic platform for jobseekers and I encourage other tech professionals to make the most of it!

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

      Keep up with the job market. Update skills and learn new technologies accordingly. Read at least a few technical books per year to brush up on your skill set. Complete a personal project you enjoy even if it’s silly or lacks a use case. It helps in unexpected ways and demonstrates your drive.

      Thanks for sharing, Albert! Land your next tech or sales role on Hired and complete your free profile today!

      About Arrowstreet Capital

      Arrowstreet Capital is a systematic global equity asset manager providing solutions for institutional investors around the world. Founded in 1999, Arrowstreet Capital has 201-500 employees and is headquartered in Boston.

      Tech Stack

      React, Python, C#, AWS, Infrastructure More

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      Tech Candidate Spotlight – Autumn Skerritt, Site Reliability Engineer in the UK

      by

      Let’s start by talking about your educational background!

      I have a degree from the University of Liverpool in computer science. I have not attended any bootcamps but I do have the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification. 

      What’s made the biggest impact on my tech career is choosing to work on side projects (which have become popular on GitHub!). I realized my degree does not matter nearly as much as my GitHub projects do. I highly suggest others think about projects first and degrees second.

      What would you like to learn more about?

      I’d love to learn more about building solutions for business problems. Right now I code and write solutions for bugs but actually adding business impact is where I find the challenge.

      Related: Site Reliability Engineer Career Path

      What led you to pursue a career in tech?

      I had no other choice! I wanted a job where I could earn money and tech was the right fit. Maybe I could crochet or skateboard but tech is far more viable for me than skating!

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

      I originally started off with a small skill set of Python and Bash. Eventually, I learned more about pen testing. Then I started doing AWS certifications to land my first job. I moved into infrastructure and then security. I currently use a mix of both!

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

      I have not really decided on what I want to specialize in yet. My ideal specialty is being able to make things quickly. I currently work in infrastructure but at a security company, I’m mostly doing IAM projects.

      Is your new role different from previous ones?

      It’s in a different industry but roughly has the same tech stack. I did IAM work before, which used SCIM/ OIDC protocols and I currently work with these a lot.

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

      I’m super excited about innovating and making our team more efficient. Currently, there’s a mishmash of things and we’re not too focused on a specific process to streamline our work. 

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

      It was actually very hard. I applied to 90+ companies and had 27 interviews, most of which were not an ideal match. Hired was super good for my job search! Companies applied to me. Plus, I knew the salary before having to struggle in an interview to find out how much they’d offer.

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

      Generalise the roles you’re looking for. Instead of DevOps, I wrote software engineer, which means a larger pool of companies can see you. Also, reply to employers quickly! Being responsive is really important on Hired. It will show companies how much you care.

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

      Just try it. There’s no harm. It takes maybe an hour to sign up and you get to see the platform. You might also just find a job!

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

      Take a break. It’s not life or death. You’ll survive and it’ll all be okay! Just breathe. If you lose your job, you’ll find another one and life will go on. Be sure to look on the bright side.

      Related: Recently Laid Off? A Jobseeker’s Guide to Bounce Back Better Than Ever

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

      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 – Evan Feliciano, Senior Product Designer

      by

      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

      by

      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

    • 100 Shares179 Views

      in Talent Acquisition

      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