Oleksandra Kardash

🎙 Thrilled to be part of #BluzBrothersPodcast! We discussed everything you need to know about transitioning into IT careers: 🤔 Is it the right move for you? 📚Top learning resources & strategies 💼My personal journey into the tech world Put on your headphones and join us on this journey into the world of IT! 🔊

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What level of English is needed to work in the US? And what about dealing with your accent? In yesterday's live stream with André Remati, we discussed a crucial topic for everyone learning English and planning to move to the States - the language barrier and accent during job interviews and at work. 🎭 The language barrier is more of a psychological issue than a linguistic one. Even knowing just 5-10 words, some people can communicate effectively, while others with a good language level may feel shy about speaking. 🌍 You'll always have an accent if you weren't born in an English-speaking country. The goal isn't to get rid of the accent, but to work on clear pronunciation so that people can understand you. 🎧 Listening is a very important skill that many underestimate. You need to learn to understand different accents by ear, not just the speech of English teachers. 🧠 Perfectionism can hinder free communication and create a language barrier. It's important to find a balance between striving for perfect English and being able to simply communicate using the language in practice. For everyone worried about their English level, this is a must-watch: https://lnkd.in/gt-Y55Cb

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🔍 Recently, I was searching for a new job and was attending numerous interviews for Senior Front-End Engineer positions. This had been my first time exploring job opportunities worldwide; previously, my experience had been limited to the Ukrainian market. 📊 For beginning a little bit of statistics: 📉 Conversion from application to HR call: 5-10% — Many of my applications were ignored or received an auto-response. ⏳ Duration of the hiring pipeline: from 2 weeks up to 5 months — a surprisingly lengthy process! 🤯 Number of interviews: between 3 and 7 — typically starting with an initial HR call, followed by an online or offline test assignment, several technical interviews, and one with a manager. 🥶 Worst time for candidates: winter is particularly challenging. 🛠️ Common Steps in the Hiring Process: 📞 Initial HR call. This usually involves a basic introduction to your background, technologies, and the products you've worked on. The HR checks your communication skills, values, and motivation. 🖥️ Technical screening. This might be conducted via an online platform like HackerRank or a short call with an outsourced interviewer. You typically face 1-3 tasks or verbal questions to evaluate your knowledge of JavaScript fundamentals, framework-specific tasks, or algorithms. 💻 Technical Interviews. This stage includes up to three sessions. Interviews are more challenging and dive deeper into your expertise. Usually cover JavaScript core concepts (arrays, objects, promises, DOM), framework-specific challenges (like building applications or components), and algorithms (arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, graphs). Sometimes, you encounter tricky data transformation or iteration problems. 🙋‍♂️ Behavioral Interview. In this final stage, a manager or HR talks about your experience, strengths and weaknesses, conflict resolution, achievements, and the most challenging projects you’ve handled. 📩 After this extensive process, you receive either an offer or feedback via email or a personal call from HR. If you receive a rejection, ask when you can reapply. If you pass all stages, it's time for offer negotiation! 📢 In my next post, I’ll share tips and resources on how to prepare for each stage of the hiring process.

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🚀 Exciting News: I've Completed the "AI_devs2" Course! 🚀 I am thrilled to announce that I have successfully completed the "AI_devs2" course, a comprehensive program designed to dive deep into the world of Generative AI, focusing on OpenAI's GPT-4 technology. This course has armed me with the skills to program and automate processes using GPT-4, setting a new benchmark in my professional development. 🤖 Throughout this journey, I had the privilege of learning from some of the brightest minds in the industry, who brought real-world applications and cutting-edge research into the classroom. The curriculum was a perfect amalgamation of theoretical foundations and practical implementations, helping me understand the nuances of Generative AI technologies and their transformative potential.🌟 One of the highlights was gaining hands-on experience with OpenAI models, which allowed me to build, test, and refine AI-driven applications. This sharpened my technical skills and enriched my problem-solving strategies, making me better equipped to tackle complex challenges in the AI space. 💻 The course also delved deep into AI's ethical considerations and societal impacts, a crucial aspect that enriches the technological discourse. Discussions around AI ethics have inspired me to advocate for responsible AI usage and to strive to implement AI solutions that are both innovative and ethical. 🌐 As I receive my certificate, I am not just celebrating the end of a course but the beginning of a journey. Armed with the knowledge and skills confirmed by this certification, I am eager to explore new opportunities where I can apply my learning to drive impact. 🚀 To my instructors, peers, and everyone involved in the "AI_devs2" program, thank you for making this one of the best educational experiences I've ever had. Your mentorship, support, and insights have been invaluable. 🔥 Jakub Mrugalski Mateusz Chrobok Adam Gospodarczyk Here’s to future projects where I can bring all these learnings to life! Let's connect and explore potential collaborations that leverage AI to solve real-world problems. 🌐🤖 #AI_devs2 #aidevs #AI #GenerativeAI #OpenAI #GPT4 #Programming #Automation #ContinuousLearning #ProfessionalGrowth

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#GOTOEDADay #Warsaw 2024 Speakers update! Discount code below :) (yes, it was a bait) I'm super happy to announce that James Eastham is going to join the fantastic speakers lineup in Warsaw! James is a content creator, and he creates amazing content on his YouTube channel, which you can find here: https://lnkd.in/dQTmHWkr. Apart from that, he is a super active user of the vibrant community called Believe In Serverless (https://lnkd.in/dhdMNN23), where he runs tons of great sessions and, recently, even a podcast. Fantastic opportunity to meet him in person and discuss event-driven everything and observability (#o11y). James recently joined Datadog so he might be great person to talk to. My pro tips: ask him about SpanLinks in OpenTelemetry and not about your bill. If you want to read the official BIO, you can find it here: https://lnkd.in/ddbAEbzc Another speaker who will share his expertise with all of us (thank you for that!) is Filip Pýrek 🍬 from Purple Technology. I know what Filip will talk about, and I can't wait for his presentation! If you don't know him, he is a Serverless Hero with years of practical expertise in building Serverless solutions. He also created a set of great 3D printable merch that you can find here: https://lnkd.in/daAN_59g. Check out that badass Serverless Brass Knuckles. Perfect birthday gift or Kubecon accessory. If you want to read the official BIO, you have to wait, as this information is coming to the website :) I am just a whistleblower, but he confirmed, so what the hell! :) You can check out his AWS Hero page: https://lnkd.in/dvzJTExD Event details: 📅 When: 19 September 2024 🔍 More details & registration: https://lnkd.in/dHjvtZ-G 💰 Use discount code: m&s10. 💰 💰 A little bird told me that there might be bigger discounts for groups. So gather your team and ping me if you are interested :) #notafinancialadvice #eda #serverless #awscommunity #aws #poland

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Two job offers from American companies while in Europe 🇺🇸🇪🇺 I had a detailed discussion on this topic with Data Scientist Alexey Konoshenkov in our new episode. Watch the video at link, and below I've selected some of the most interesting ideas from our conversation: 🎯 Focus in your resume is crucial. Instead of presenting yourself as a jack of all trades, concentrate on one area and show how well you know it. 🧪 Test different approaches to job hunting. Alexey experimented with the placement of the skills section in his resume and found that putting it at the bottom works better than at the top. 📱 An American phone number can be useful. Alexey used the OpenPhone app to get a U.S. number for a small fee, which made communication with recruiters easier. 💼 Remote work in the U.S. often implies physical presence in the country. Many job postings labeled as "remote" actually require being located in the U.S., even if they allow working from home. 🌟 Always be ready for new opportunities. Alexey advises keeping your LinkedIn profile up-to-date and being open to offers, even if you're not actively job hunting. Has anyone managed to find a job in the U.S. while being in another country? Share your experience in the comments!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ https://lnkd.in/g8rpYcY9

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Dear friends and colleagues! TL;DR: Looking for a remote job. Full stack, 9 years of experience. Frontend, backend. ==== I’m on the lookout for a great place where I can bring my diverse skills as a product-oriented developer to the table, with a sharp focus on real business needs and practical solutions. My key strengths: • Quickly adapt to new environments, learn fast, and explain things clearly to others; • Build strong relationships with both leadership and the team, always closing gaps to achieve shared goals; • Spot inefficiencies in processes, highlight them, and propose solutions; • Passionate about team growth through workshops, code reviews, design reviews, retrospectives; • Understand the importance of “making it work” over “making it pretty” when needed; • Confident in making decisions and taking full responsibility for them; • Always curious about new programming languages and technologies to broaden my horizons and solve business problems better; • Work seamlessly with product managers and designers. What I dream of: • A company where I can fully develop my potential as a developer, leader, manager; • A strong, close-knit team of skilled professionals where there’s always something to learn; • A project where my work can make a visible impact for both the business and its users; • A project that uses technologies I know and love; • An opportunity to explore and adopt cutting-edge technologies. Currently, I professionally work with JS/TS, React.js, Next.js, Node.js/Golang, PostgreSQL, and Redis. I have hands-on experience with Swift + SwiftUI and Python. I’m actively learning Rust. Next on my agenda: ML engineering. I would greatly appreciate your help. Wishing everyone peace and love! #OpenToWork

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Hello! I'm now in my seventh week of actively seeking a new role, and I'd like to share some observations from my journey in the IT job market: Market Dynamics: Contrary to common beliefs, the IT market isn't as bleak as some suggest, nor as idyllic as it once was. The bubble has indeed burst, leading to a more refined market. Options may be fewer, but demand for highly skilled professionals remains strong. I find it particularly engaging when asked about my achievements in previous projects during interviews—it’s both challenging and exciting. Salary Transparency: Salaries are competitive and often transparent. Most job openings now provide a clear salary range, reflecting a maturation in the job market compared to years past. Recruiter Efficiency: The jokes about recruiters couldn’t be further from the truth! Most recruiters are knowledgeable and precise, with only rare technical misunderstandings—perfectly understandable. Technical Interviews: While they can be intense, they are not the nightmares they’re made out to be. Most interviewers are friendly and trusting, focusing on your actual skills and knowledge, though make no mistake - you will be tested and tried. Feedback Culture: More than half of my job applications receive a personalized response—excluding autoresponders. The further I get in the application process, the more detailed the feedback becomes. I am quite pleased with the level of detail provided as I progress deeper into the process. For those also navigating the IT job market, here are two tips: Diversify Your Search: Explore various job boards. I've found LinkedIn, Just Join IT, and No Fluff Jobs to be particularly helpful. I tried a few other boards but with little results. Smart CV Building: Focus not just on aesthetics but on substance. Clearly articulate what you truly excel at; your resume should serve as a blueprint of your expertise, setting the stage for your interviews. If you have tips or experiences to share, I’d love to hear them! #OpenToWork #ITJobs #JobSearchTips #JobHunt

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❗ Candidate Spotlight: Hypergrowth Tech Recruiter (English and German speaking) Is your company: 1. Scaling up and in need of top tech talent? 2. Looking to build or optimize your recruitment processes? 3. Seeking a leader who can mentor teams and drive success? Anna is open for new opportunities—full-time or contract, in Berlin or remotely within the PL/DE/EU regions. Why Anna stands out: 1. Scaling Startups Like a Pro 🔘 Helped a Polish software house grow from 20 to 100 employees. 2. Leadership & Team Development 🔘Led a team of recruiters as Team Lead at Taledo, managing 360° end-to-end IT recruitment projects. 🔘Collaborated closely with C-level executives, managers, and HR departments to provide the best talent solutions. 3. Process Builder & Problem Solver 🔘Excels at building recruitment strategies from scratch. 🔘Solves complex sourcing challenges and optimizes existing processes. 🔘 Passionate about product development and implemented ATS systems using AI-driven tools. 4. Tech-Savvy & Innovative 🔘 Uses advanced search techniques and automation to find top talent fast. 🔘Utilizes data analytics to guide strategic decisions in recruitment. 5. Community Builder 🔘 Organized events like the Pizza&Tech series on Meetup. 🔘 Active speaker and moderator in the tech community, making recruitment personal and engaging. Don't miss the chance to have a game-changer on your team! P.S. Curious about how Anna can contribute to your organization's success? Reach out and start the conversation!

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👀 Ever feel like LinkedIn's job matching algorithm is completely missing the mark? 🤔 I just received a job proposal for a "Senior QA Automation Engineer" role in Riga. (Not the first time, but this is the boiling point, considering the million emails for each job search )The only problem? While I do have a little experience in QA automation, I'm not at the senior level yet! It's frustrating when LinkedIn suggests roles that don’t accurately match my current level of expertise. These mismatches waste time and effort, both for job seekers and recruiters. And despite these inaccuracies, LinkedIn keeps asking for money to improve their services! Why should we have to deal with LinkedIn's imperfect algorithms when they keep charging us for their services? Is anyone else experiencing this? How can we push LinkedIn to improve their algorithms to better understand our true skills and experiences? Let’s discuss! 💬 #JobSearch #LinkedIn #Recruitment #JobMatch #Tech #QA

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Once, quite a long time ago, when a well-known American company was just opening a hub in Kyiv, I decided to shake things up a bit and try interviewing with them. It all started with a coding interview. The problem didn’t seem too difficult – I immediately understood which data structure and algorithm I needed. However: 1) at that point, it had been about five years since I had any real experience with competitive programming 2) even during my peak years as a competitive programmer, I always avoided graph theory like the plague 3) with PHP, I was basically just a form-handler, and my C++ skills were hopelessly rusty by then In the end, I couldn’t come up with a working solution within the given time. Right after the interview, I found the problem on LeetCode – it’s this one: https://lnkd.in/ggMyymAp. I had always wanted to tackle it properly at some point, but never got around to it. Finally, yesterday, I did. Armed with Golang, I closed this embarrassing chapter of my career once and for all.

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Some questions should remain unanswered. 🤔 Or not even asked in the first place. According to Pracuj.pl research, a staggering 32% of women and 19% of men report being asked about their family plans during job interviews. While such questions are illegal, they remain alarmingly common, undermining trust in employers and creating a risk of discrimination.  These practices invade privacy and negatively impact organizational culture. They raise questions about whether a company that tolerates such behaviour truly respects its employees. And that’s not the only issue. Candidates have also highlighted other unethical practices: 📌 lack of follow-up after interviews - experienced by as many as 44% of applicants; 📌 discrepancies between job postings and actual offers - reported by 36% of candidates. Such behaviours increase stress, which 56% of jobseekers already feel during the interview stage. The impact is significant: 42% of candidates drop out of the recruitment process altogether - and these could be the very talents the company needs. 💡 I believe that a professional and transparent recruitment process is absolutely essential today. It attracts top talent and builds the image of an employer who values fair play.  What’s the worst question you’ve ever been asked during a job interview? #work #HR #recruitment

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I will speak about #nocode at the main stage of Poland's biggest tech conference! 🚀 Code Europe will be held in my hometown (Krakow) on June 10-11, 2024. My presentation about the impact of no-code on software development is scheduled on Day 2 at 11:30 AM. I'm so happy that no-code is finally becoming mainstream in development thanks to events like this. 😍 Who else is coming to Code Europe this year? #CodeEurope24 #software #development

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Money is not bad!💰 In recent times, an increasing number of clients have been seeking my assistance in negotiating better job offers. For my most recent client, we successfully secured an additional $20,000. Many people are unaware that the initial offer they receive is not the final one. Recruiters, especially those in the United States and Europe, expect candidates to send a counteroffer and engage in salary negotiations. In Eastern European countries, negotiating is not a common practice. Phrases like "take what you're given," "don't be greedy," and "you're not at a bazaar" are prevalent, and negotiating often carries a negative connotation. As a result, candidates from these regions often refrain from negotiating, thereby missing out on additional benefits and perks. Apart from being unaware that negotiating is not only possible but also necessary, many Russian-speaking candidates feel extremely uncomfortable and lack the knowledge of how to approach the negotiation process effectively. To address this issue, Andrei Mikitiuk and I have decided to host a dedicated live session where we will discuss the psychological barriers that prevent you from negotiating effectively and provide insights on how to overcome them. Additionally, we will share technical skills and strategies to help you craft a compelling message to recruiters, making it difficult for them to refuse your counteroffer. Join us this Sunday at 12 PM New York time (7 PM Moscow time) for this live session. https://lnkd.in/ghBnCxiQ

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🚀 15 Middle, Junior and Intern offers in Ukraine with 50+ passed interviews journey 🚀 End of 2021, I had 5 Middle offers in Ukraine and other ongoing processes. Overall, 15 Middle, Junior and Intern offers with 50+ interviews passed in Ukraine and foreign internships market by the end of 2021. Also, once I figured out the strategies on Intern interviews, I didn’t get rejections for Middle, Junior. In today's challenging IT market, I want to share the strategies that helped me and offer insights on how to nail any interview in Ukraine after the CV screening. There will be several posts to cover this topic. The resources I used for preparation are on https://lnkd.in/dejmHCy7. 🎯 Ace Your IT Interviews: Tailored Tips for Every Level 🎯 Middle:  💡 Talk more about what you’re confident in, and demonstrate how you tackle the unknown. Avoid saying “I don’t know” and instead show your problem-solving process in real-time. 🔍 Research the company on Glassdoor, Leetcode discussions, or other sources to set proper expectations about their interview loop and questions. 🛠️ Be prepared for system design (OOP, high load, low-level), concurrency/integration interviews, alongside typical Junior questions. Some companies had a “big tech loop” with clear separation on the interview type, while others had technical calls to discuss everything. Junior/Strong Junior: 🌟 Even if your CV lacks quantifiable impact, showcase your passion for the industry, your quick learning ability, and any tangible results. 📝 Identify keywords from the job description and study around those areas. 🔄 Expect home assignments and follow-up tasks beyond typical Intern interview questions. Intern/Trainee:  🚀 With zero experience, focus on showcasing pet projects, tech certificates, and your ability to answer algorithmic questions with C++/CS principles from the “list”. 🎓 Attend career tech events at universities, explore internships your peers have taken, or enroll in educational courses that can boost your job prospects. 📅 In Ukraine, use resources like dou.ua/calendar or relevant Telegram channels (listed in the resources) to find opportunities. 💡 Mastering Non-Technical Interviews: Essential Tips 💡 HR/Manager Interview:  - Align your skills and responses with the job requirements and company values. Show how your experience is applicable to the job position instead of describing the CV. - Research the company’s website to create genuine interest. Show why you’re passionate about their mission, not just projects. - Discuss unique aspects of the company, like their product impact on your life or sustainability efforts and why you want to be a part of that. 🌟 Final Words I hope my journey and tips help one in the job search. Next post will shine a light on Leetcode or algo interview preparation. #JobSearch #CareerGrowth #InterviewTips #Ukraine #TechIndustry #Networking #ContinuousLearning

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My Experience with work visa application for Google Poland Denied twice, reason for denial: "purpose of the trip may be different from what was stated". In August I accepted an exciting offer to join Google Poland's BigQuery team in Warsaw. Work they do sounds exciting, my experience is a good fit and I have a girlfriend and multiple friends living in Poland so I jumped on the opportunity, rejecting other offers and stopping other interview processes. In September my declaration of entrusting work was issued in Poland and my visa appointment was scheduled so resigned from Yandex. As a result I've rejected other opportunities and am unemployed. Despite submitting extensive documentation (far beyond of what was listed on VFS global) on October 28th, my visa was denied on October 30th. The reason? "Reasonable doubts about the veracity of statements regarding the purpose of stay." This was puzzling - I've never misused visas, never visited Poland, and have a clean record in the EU. Even more strange is that consulate haven't contacted me or Google and haven't asked for any clarifications or additional documents. We appealed with additional evidence, including Google's letter that they are still waiting for me to begin working and a letter to consul outlining multiple personal reasons (supported by documents) that prove that I intend to work in Poland. The appeal was denied on November 18th with the same reasoning. Throughout this process, consulate never elaborated on denial or provided actionable way to fix my application, despite multiple attempts to contact them. As I found out later it is a mass problem for applicants from Belarus, who are getting same denials under this blanket reason. The current situation forces applicants to reapply multiple times with hoping they would be approved this time. As everyone gets same vague reason and 0 transparency from consulate genuine applicants submit identical (or near identical) document packages to different cities until approval. Every visa appointment means paying middleman 100-200 euro and waiting unpredictable amount of time to secure an appointment (as they are running bots automating appointment booking). While this may be a response to recent "visa scandal," the current approach primarily affects legitimate applicants with genuine intentions to work in Poland. Google has been supportive and patient throughout this process, though I feel bad about delay for future team. I hope they can seek official clarification from the Polish foreign ministry about their policy (as the document package for new employees from Belarus for Google is exactly the same for everyone). If this fails perhaps they can accommodate remote work in another EU country until this situation is resolved? Before this clarification I advice non-EU applicants: Exercise caution when accepting positions in Poland, and don't resign from your current role until you have secured your visa.

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💰 How to negotiate a better job offer? According to yesterday's poll, only 25% of you have a habit of always negotiating your job offer. Andrei Mikitiuk and I had a live stream where we discussed counter-offers, fear of rejection, worries about appearing greedy, and other daunting aspects of negotiating for a better salary and benefits. Here's a brief summary of the main points and tips: 🟡 In American companies, negotiation is expected, and recruiters anticipate it. If you don't negotiate, recruiters may question your confidence and value as a candidate. 🟡 You can negotiate not only your salary but also other aspects such as sign-on bonus, equity, number of vacation days, remote work arrangements, education reimbursement, enhanced benefits package, and even job title. Securing a higher job title is particularly valuable as it influences how future employers perceive you. 🟡 Never respond to an offer immediately; always take a 2-3 day pause. During this time, research market salaries, consider, and prepare your counter-offer. Responding to an offer right away portrays you as a desperate candidate who jumps at the first opportunity. 🟡 In your counter-offer, be sure to express gratitude for the offer and convey genuine enthusiasm and desire to work for the company. Justify your request for a higher salary with specific figures from your market research and emphasize your skills that will help meet the company's needs. 🟡 If asked about your salary expectations before an offer is made, you can either state your expectations if you don't want to waste time on the process in case of a mismatch, or tactfully dodge the question by saying that money isn't your primary concern and inquire about the company's salary range for the position. Watch the full version of our live stream at: https://lnkd.in/gZdQQUwV

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I am Georgian and 20% of my country is occupied by Russia - this is how we start usually an introduction of ourselves. In fact it is a sentence which we continue saying to remember it. To remember what Russia did to our country.    Now it is getting even worse. The ruling party is adopting a law, which is almost the copy of russian foreign agency law, by which Putin is silencing not comfortable people for him. These people either fled the country or they are in jail. Same will happen to Georgia in addition to all other consecutive results that will occur after adopting the law. This reminds me The Beatles song Back to USSR   Georgians including me, we think that Georgian ruling party will not stop until they experience consequences themselves personally. Therefore, we started a petition and we need your help by signing the petition which is addressed to Council of Europe, to keep visa free travel for Georgians and to sanction Ivanishvili and those members of parliament who voted for the passing of "Foreign Agent Law" aka "russian law". I would be grateful to you and once the processes are over, we will celebrate it together. Here is the link: https://lnkd.in/egMrGWUH   P.S. You are most welcome to share it among your friends. If you have questions about this and about what is happening in Georgia right now, please leave them in the comments and I will do all my best to explain.  #არარუსულკანონს #notorussianlaw

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