Oleksii Svarychevski

Next week, I will be in #Berlin at LeadDev, speaking about #NeurodiversityInTech which is a topic I care deeply about. I will also attend many other great talks, so I am giving a shoutout to some of the talks I am most excited to see. Ice, confusion, and the 38,000ft crash - Nickolas Means Level up the whole party, not just the hero - Denise Yu How to talk to everyone: Connecting with your reporting chain - Najla Elmachtoub

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🎥 Thrilled to share my first recorded talk with all of you! In this session, I dive into the essentials of achieving a clean frontend architecture—something I’m truly passionate about. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, these tips are designed to help you build a more maintainable and efficient frontend. I’d love to hear your thoughts—check it out and let’s discuss! 💬 #javascript #angular #iteratec #developingDigitalChampions https://lnkd.in/dG9Fk_3G

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You can't change an agency's interview process. 🚨 But you can take a shortcut with this trick 👇 12 days ago, I talked to a German senior DevOps engineer. He reached out after my post about breaking free from agencies. For 2 years, he worked directly with CTOs as clients. He loved it as… He could connect to those CTOs in the interviews cause… They had a similar mindset. They were devs too in the past. Sadly…this all changed as… His last three roles were through agencies. He had zero connection to the actual client and… He felt like just another number in the system. I gave it to him straight: 🧔🏽‍♂️: “Your problem isn’t the agencies.” 🧔🏽‍♂️: “It’s your positioning.” We reflected on his best clients and… Spotted a pattern: 1) They were German FinTech CTOs 2) They spent hours troubleshooting GCP security issues. That’s when it hit him: 👉 He could position himself to solve that exact problem. 👈 So, we rewrote his LinkedIn headline to: ✅ GCP security for German FinTechs: I implement zero-trust architecture to protect sensitive financial data Suddenly, he wasn’t just another generic “Freelance DevOps Engineer” anymore. He was the solution to a painful problem many CTOs have. Only 5 days later, a startup CTO reached out. No agency. No formal process. Just a direct connection based on an urgent, real need. Remember: You can’t change an agency’s interview process, but… You can change how you position yourself. Try it and… Change your freelance dev life. Now.

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INTERVIEW SCAM ALERT! I want to share an important observation with my network. Over the past few days, we conducted several interviews where candidates were required to build a frontend app using CodeSandbox in a live challenge. We noticed a concerning pattern among three candidates who shared the same ethnicity and were all located in Poland. Upon opening CodeSandbox, a flag appeared indicating "Companion Mode." This feature allows for live or pair programming, enabling someone else to code alongside the candidate. During one of the interviews, it became evident that the candidate was struggling to set things up. We realized they were cheating by having someone else assist them through Companion Mode. Consequently, we terminated the interview. If you use CodeSandbox for your interviews, I strongly suggest stopping the interview immediately if you see the "Companion Mode" flag. Additionally, performing thorough background checks on previous companies and obtaining feedback from referrals has become essential. After blowing off someone's cover this afternoon, the profile of one of the three guys has been removed from Linkedin. I hope this information helps other companies avoid similar issues.

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🇦🇹 I have been working in Austria for 10 months, and here are some characteristics that I perceived about the work culture in Austria: 1. Work-Life balance: In Austria, there is a very significant emphasis on work-life balance. This aspect is prioritized and is deeply ingrained in the work culture. 2. Labor Protection: Coming from Brazil, I was (still am) positively shocked by how many rights and protections workers in Austria have. You can expect very strong work security, vacation period, 13th and 14th salary, paternity, and maternity leave, among other things. 3. Research and Development: Another point that is really interesting (especially for someone who works with technology) is how much space we have to innovate and create new solutions. This can be an impression influenced by the company I work with, but I find the time and space to invest in R&D, which in the short term might not bring significant financial returns, but makes a fundamental difference in the middle- and long-term. Also, because Austria is an advanced economy, we have access to pieces of technology that can also help in this process. 4. Respect for tradition: This can be both a good and a bad thing. This can generate stability in the market, with a clear market structure, but also can stifle disruptive changes and new ideas. 5. The presence of English: At work, I have the chance to speak mainly English, however, it’s clear that German is really important. Since I work with technology, I can get well with English, but other professions might not be that lucky. So, invest the time to learn German (good luck also with the dialect in Austria, you will need it). Even though as a rule Austrians speak English well, they don’t normally feel completely comfortable doing so. 6. Respect for education: In Austria, educational and academic backgrounds are highly appreciated (there is even a high importance given to titles, there are many of them) and through that, you increase your opportunities and social respect. After 10 months, I can say that I enjoy both living in Austria (many cool and beautiful places to visit, safe society, advanced economy, Laberkäse, good beer) and working here. I have been very well-received and I think is one of the best countries in the world for talents to work. Do you work abroad? What experiences do you have with your current country? Also, do you work in Austria as a foreigner? What opinion do you have of it? #LivingInAustria #WorkingAbroad #WorkingInAustria #Austria #LifeInAustria #TechIndustry #WorkCulture #ExpatLife #CareerJourney

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Over the past few months I’ve written an extensive tutorial on how to build software applications with Node.js and React. I’m sorry to tell you that this experience didn’t teach me anything about B2B sales, though. But hopefully, it’s still useful for some people out there. From the introduction: The approach of this tutorial is to teach its readers how to build a fully working software application from zero to production. This means two things: 1. You are not required to have done any kind of software development before getting started with this tutorial. It will introduce and explain everything that is needed to build applications in full detail, assuming no prior knowledge or experience. This is the “from zero” part. 2. Building on the foundational knowledge it teaches in the first half, the tutorial will then, step by step, guide you through the process of building a real, full-fledged, and completely working software application, again explaining every detail along the way, and shows how to “deploy” that application — that is, how to make that application available on the Internet for anyone to use. This is the “to production” part. Speaking of B2B sales: I’m afraid you cannot buy this tutorial. That’s because I’m making it available for free, as a series of posts on my blog. The first three parts are already published: https://lnkd.in/e2XCYm3p https://lnkd.in/eW7wUc_d https://lnkd.in/eAU6kgH9 No, you do not need to sign up to my newsletter to get access to the tutorial. That’s mainly because I don’t have a newsletter. Also, no need to follow me (although admittedly, it might help to get you notified whenever I’m publishing a new chapter). Furthermore, please don’t be disappointed if clicking on the tutorial links won’t present you with a cookie banner. That’s because my blog doesn’t use any cookies. No, not even those from Google Analytics, as I’m not using that either. This means I will have no idea how many people will read the tutorial — which makes sense because let’s face it, who is going to consume this kind of long-form, deep-dive technical content nowadays anyway. And in text-only form, of all things! Should you nevertheless decide to dive into the text, expect to learn how to program using JavaScript and TypeScript, how to use these languages to build rock-stable backend applications with Node.js as well as elegant frontend applications with React and Redux, and finally, how publish a complete and integrated software solution on Amazon AWS. Ok, that’s it. If you want to access the bonus chapters, simply subscribe to… — just kidding. There are no bonus chapters. Everything you need to learn to build useful software products is right in the… normal chapters, I guess? Happy reading!

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🎤 Milestone Moment: My Debut on the Big Stage Now on YouTube! 🚀 My first major conference talk has just been published on YouTube. It's surreal to see myself talking to such a large audience - what an experience! What I realize now: 1. Watching yourself is really difficult. Watching and not thinking "Oh, why did I said that again?" 2. The adrenaline rush is real - half my speech is a blur! Despite the nerves, I'm thrilled to share this moment with you all. Curious to see how it went? Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/evRRMtg5 What was your first public speaking experience like? Any tips for improvement? Let's chat in the comments! #PublicSpeaking #ProfessionalGrowth #ConferenceTalk __ Yes, AI helped me with the content. :)

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🚀 **Calling All IT Developers, Project Managers, and QAs! ** 🚀  I'm currently working on Master’s thesis and need your valuable insights to make a real impact in the field of **IT Project Management**. This research aims to not only fulfill academic requirements but also contribute to improving project management practices across the IT sector.  I’m conducting a quick survey designed, and I’d love your participation!   - ⏳ **Time required:** Just 2–3 minutes   - 👥 **Goal:** Responses from 500 professionals (max 6–7 participants per company)  Your input is crucial to the success of this study. If you’re interested, please take a moment to fill out the survey: https://lnkd.in/dSd9X58r **Thank you in advance for your time and support—it truly means a lot!** 🙌  #IT #ProjectManagement #Survey #AcademicResearch #MastersThesis #LeadershipInIT #Projectmanager #Developers #QA #Develop

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As a senior developer, working with juniors has taught me a great deal. It’s all about perspective and taking responsibility, regardless of your position on the org chart. Fresh Ideas: Juniors bring new approaches that challenge my thinking and spark innovation. Patience & Communication: Explaining things simply has improved my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. Adapting to Learning Styles: Juniors teach me to be flexible in how I mentor, helping me become a better leader. Back to Basics: Explaining fundamentals helps me strengthen my own understanding of core principles. Soft Skills: Mentoring has improved my leadership, motivation, and team-building abilities. Staying Updated: Juniors often know the latest tools, keeping me informed about new technologies. Empathy & Teamwork: Working with juniors helps me understand their challenges, improving our collaboration. Continuous Improvement: Engaging with juniors encourages me to reflect on my own practices and grow. Mentoring isn’t just about helping juniors—it helps me grow too, creating a stronger, more dynamic team. #WhatILearned #Mentoring #JuniorDevelopers #SeniorDeveloper #Teamwork #Leadership #TechGrowth #ContinuousImprovement #CommunicationSkills #FreshIdeas #EmpathyInTech #SoftwareDevelopment #LearningTogether #TechMentorship

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A few weeks have passed since my last day at Vinted. I started more than 3 years ago as one of the first Engineering Managers for the new Hub in Berlin and helped to establish an engineering culture for this brand new office. While hiring was one of my first goals, I managed to grow the team up to 20 people within the first 6 months. One of my personal achievements was building a very diverse team at the end, with 8 different nationalities and a gender split of 50:50. I also contributed a lot to support the company to move into a more modern architecture away from a monolithic towards a more service oriented architecture by organising the first EventStorming workshop with Marco Heimeshoff 3 years ago, running and facilitating workshops with multiple teams in different parts of the organisation and presenting at internal learning sessions topics like DDD introduction and Bounded Context Mapping. I’m very grateful for having the chance to explore my facilitation skills during that time and using my learning budget to participate in multiple workshops like EventStorming Masterclass with Alberto Brandolini, Software Design Masterclass with Eric Evans and all those amazing conferences (i.e. KanDDDinsky, Domain-Driven Design Europe or ComoCamp, The Collaborative Modeling Unconference). While the journey within the organisation brought me to different parts of the app, it also helped me to meet a lot of amazing people. I would like to give some special thanks to Adam Mullen (who hired me back than), Dejan Menges, Adnan Karač, Akvilė Rykovė 🎈, Aida Adomaite, Ornela Vasiliauskaite, Rugile Kundrotaite, Stephan Grasmeijer, Marius Tverijonas, Marcus Schaefer and of course my whole team. And all those I’ve forgotten to list here! After more than 12 years in various positions that include people management, I decided to have a break and used the time to travel around a bit, improving my Spanish skills and meeting interesting people. Now I’m fully recharged and open for my next adventure: Finding a new job. While I was thinking a lot about what I want to do next, I still consider people leadership roles like Director but rather in a smaller environment with not more than 200 people. I’m also very much up for getting back to the IC track and can see myself in a Staff Engineer or Architect position. In a direct leadership position I always preferred face-to-face conversations, however I also enjoy much the flexibility of working in a fully remote or hybrid setup. So if you know someone who needs someone like me, feel free to share this post or reach out to me. Thanks a lot! #farewell #newjob #jobsearch #opportunities #engineering

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The below screenshot is from my private Google account (free tier, so not a Workspace account) when I visit meet.google.com - I used to be able to see upcoming meetings that were scheduled in Google Calendar directly in Google Meet. Looks like there is now an agreement with a German regulator that prevents this information from being displayed. I noticed this change only recently and the only related article[1] I found on Google Search[2] is from January 2023, which described some issue that the German cartel office had with how Google exchanges data between its services. Do other German Google users also see this either in the free tier or in Workspace? Does anyone have more information on this topic? [1] https://lnkd.in/dk9BWXzK [2] Using this footnote to appreciate the irony of using Google Search in this context

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Flexibility like #workfromanywhere and flexible working hours matters! 66% of women would consider a new job at a different employer if it offers more flexibility according to Melanie Wagner at #WeAreDevelopers World Conference talking about “Successfully promoting your female talents - that's what matters”. #WWC24

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‼️ 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 ‼️ We might find some companies need support from third parties when something needs to be there but out of their expertise (i.e; a software house or consultant). But, it's not always as smooth as expected. Rarely the cooperation runs smoothly as the proposal pitched before. ⛔️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲; (these are based on my experiences) 1. Communication and collaboration - too many manipulations 2. Project management and scope creep 3. Technical expertise and quality 4. Security concerns 5. High cost/ price 6. Bad timeline commitment - late delivery ✅ 𝗦𝗼, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀? 1. Tech expertise - in the both side (client & third party) 2. Secure 3. Transparency - on everything/ obstacles 4. Reasonable cost with options 5. Reestablish workflow - should be clear from the start till the end 6. Rigid timeline 7. Define the "Definition of Ready" and the "Definition of Done" of the project scope So before you deal with them, make sure that you already firmed from your own side to avoid some possible issues and put the same level of expectation. So, good luck ya! 🔥 #thirdparty #thirdparties #issue #tips

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The potential of AI in daily workflows was the hot topic of our discussions when Kenneth Madsø from Krescado AS visited us this week. He and our COO, Kjetil Sinding, are gearing up to give a lecture on AI at HR Tech 2024 next week. We were privileged enough to attend the informal dress rehearsal for both the keynote and the belonging workshop. As a Scrum Master, the prospect of AI smoothing our project management, enhancing team collaboration, and refining our Agile approach is thrilling. A huge shout-out to Krescado AS for fueling our AI curiosity. Eager to delve into how we can leverage AI to not only expedite processes but also amplify the quality of our projects. #ai #scrum #agile

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Thinking about hiring someone new? Before you do, why not see how much of the job could be automated? I've been working on a simple tool with Dejan Sobota where you input details about a job role and instantly discover: 🔹 Which tasks can be automated 🔹 What can't be automated 🔹 How much money you could save Give it a spin and let me know what you think! If you spot any bugs or weirdness, please let me know. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/dpAE_D7W P.S. Built with Webflow and Zapier – amazing what you can create with no-code tools these days!

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Developers these days are so darned lazy. And cheap. OK, sorry, that was not fair. Developers have always been lazy and cheap. I was really surprised by this when I started out as a software developer, fresh out of college 25 years ago. I noticed that whenever my more experienced colleagues were asked to add new functionality, the first thing they did was to check if there was pre-existing code that did the job. Preferably free. This blew my mind. But as I thought more about it, it made sense. Especially after I attended a Business Strategy class at Southern Methodist University SMU Cox School of Business. Build vs Buy vs Reuse is a part of Business Strategy. Why build or buy something if it is freely available? When we start with something good-enough that is freely available, we can customize it to our needs. And if it is well-maintained, we get free upgrades. This frees up more time and money for us to build things that no one else can build as well as us, which makes customers very happy. It reduced the TCO (total cost of ownership) of our solutions and it increases our EBITDA, which usually makes investors very happy, which makes the board of directors very happy. So it turns out that developers are not only lazy and cheap, but they are also strategic and there is a lot we can learn from them. Especially when it comes to building Software Product Development Lifecycles. You may be tempted to reject the pre-existing frameworks and build your own because none of them are good enough for you. Newsflash! You might think you are unique and special and nobody is solving the specific kinds of problems you are. Maybe yes, maybe no. You are just as unique as every other snowflake. And while you might be doing something nobody else has done before, you don't need to develop your own SDLC. Think like a developer. Be lazy, cheap and strategic. Start with a pre-existing framework, make use of all the free training available on the market, and customize only what you need to. Your EBITDA will go up and your customers, investors and Board of Directors will be happy. You are welcome.

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Catch the hightlight of #springio24 in this short video!

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