Lewis Evans

☕📃☕📃☕📃☕📃☕📃☕📃 Every quarter, I release a Newsletter packed with the latest Java and Kotlin trends, insights, and updates shaping the market. From emerging frameworks to real-world applications and innovations in the UK tech scene, it's a must-read for staying ahead in the Java and Kotlin world. 🌍✨ The next edition is going live soon! 🎉 If you'd like to receive a copy, drop a comment below or send me a message, and I'll make sure you're on the list. 📩 #Java #Kotlin #TechTrends #SoftwareEngineering #Newsletter

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Software Developers - 2023 was rubbish wasn't it? However the market is really improving with many more jobs opening up compared to last year. But - there are now a lot of engineers active in the market too.. So some advice.. ⬇ A common complaint now is that you are not hearing back after sending your CV for roles you know/think you are good for. Here are some small pointers from my own recent observations to get you in the door to start with. ✅ You are competing now... your first mistake is having an unattractive, un-readable CV. Think - if you were the hiring manager, would you like this CV? ✅ This is incredibly important for Frontend focused developers.. ⬆ ✅ Less is more... focus on roles you are good for, don't use the spray technique if you know deep down you are not suitable. It's not good for your mental health either to get unnecessary rejections. ✅ Focus on your application properly - If you are applying for a Frontend / React/FS engineer, don't have PHP or Java as a visual focus point as soon as the CV is opened... this applies to all tech roles... ✅ Follow up after a few days - don't sit back and think Linkedin will do it's magic for you once you have clicked submit. ✅ Read the job adverts carefully until the end.. there is usually important information about the working style / location / criteria. Again, saves disappointment and your own time later on. ✅ Attitude - be pleasant and positive throughout. It doesn't matter if you are nervous or maybe you think your english isn't the best, people hire people they want to work with regardless of previous achievements. Finally - interviewing. ✅ Practice and prepare for your interviews well. It might seem a given but know your current stack in-side and out, and any current trends in your area of tech/expertise. ✅ Ask your recruiter or ask the internal HR/talent if there is anything you need to prep/research on. ✅ And of course, have a list of interesting / relevant questions for each opening, and not always the same formulaic ones. ✅ Practice the commons ones - why did you leave the last role, what is clean code for you, what are some projects you failed on / were successful at. Why. ✅ ✅ Please don't give up.

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🚀 September has two incredible .NET events coming up! 🚀 Here's what to expect: 1️⃣ .NET Cardiff Meetup Partnering with Confused.com, we're excited to bring you two insightful talks covering the evolution of programming languages and innovative C# techniques. Whether you're interested in the philosophy of coding or seeking practical ways to improve your code, there's something for everyone! 📅 Event Details 🗓 Date: Thursday, 19th September 🕕 Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 📍 Location: Confused.com, Greyfriars House, Cardiff 2️⃣ Exceptional Security at FISCAL Technologies Dive into the world of cybersecurity and exception handling with two fascinating talks on security strategies and programming best practices. 📅 Event Details 🗓 Date: Wednesday, 25th September 🕕 Time: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm 📍 Location: FISCAL Technologies Ltd, Reading Don't miss these opportunities to learn from top industry experts and network with fellow tech enthusiasts! To sign up for either event head down to the link in the comments! 👇 #DotNetCardiff #Cybersecurity #CSharp #BurpSuite #ConfusedDotCom #TechMeetup #FISCALTech #SoftwareEngineering

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🚀 September has two incredible .NET events coming up! 🚀 Here's what to expect: 1️⃣ .NET Cardiff Meetup Partnering with Confused.com, we're excited to bring you two insightful talks covering the evolution of programming languages and innovative C# techniques. Whether you're interested in the philosophy of coding or seeking practical ways to improve your code, there's something for everyone! 📅 Event Details 🗓 Date: Thursday, 19th September 🕕 Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 📍 Location: Confused.com, Greyfriars House, Cardiff 2️⃣ Exceptional Security at FISCAL Technologies Dive into the world of cybersecurity and exception handling with two fascinating talks on security strategies and programming best practices. 📅 Event Details 🗓 Date: Wednesday, 25th September 🕕 Time: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm 📍 Location: FISCAL Technologies Ltd, Reading Don't miss these opportunities to learn from top industry experts and network with fellow tech enthusiasts! To sign up for either event head down to the link in the comments! 👇 #DotNetCardiff #Cybersecurity #CSharp #BurpSuite #ConfusedDotCom #TechMeetup #FISCALTech #SoftwareEngineering

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What’s the JavaScript market like?? Is a question asked on pretty much every call I have at the moment. ✅ The JavaScript market is slowly bouncing back. We’ve seen an increase in job flow, also in direct adverts from both agency and client side which is great ( mostly on perm ). An uptick in perm roles is usually a good indicator of a strong market and contract will soon be to follow. Candidates are getting involved in multiple processes at once. ✅ Time to hire still seems slow. Interviews are taking longer and feedback is delayed. Clients are saying they are wanting to hire but wont move promptly on signing things off/starting the processes or making offers. ✅ There are more experienced candidates on the market. A lot of contracts weren’t extended so there are more people looking. ✅ Seasoned contractors are more open to taking an interesting perm role. In short, things are slowly but surely improving. Feel free to reach out if you have more questions. #hiring #JavaScript #UK

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Very handy HubSpot knowledge from Samantha Mumby-Harrison in our recent blog on the power of a clean database. Data hygiene is central to making the most out of any CRM 🧠 Read or listen to the full feature on our Karman Digital blog below :) https://lnkd.in/eEqT7Xe5

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There's so many career paths within Software Development, and if you're just starting out, it can be conflicting on deciding on the path to take. Here's a brief outline of some of the niches within development you could do based on conversations I've been having… 💫 Web dev - specialise in building web apps and websites, you'll most likely use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript 💫 Mobile Devs - focus on creating apps for smart phones and tablets - iOS and Android 💫 Frontend Devs - work on the user interface 💫 Backend Devs - work on the server-side of applications and focus on functionality 💫 Full Stack Devs - work on both the front-end and back-end 💫 DevOps - you are bridging the gap between development and operations If you're looking for your next software dev role, pop me a message ✨ #SoftwareDevelopment #Programming #Frontend #Backend #FullStack

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iOS vs Android - The debate that dominates society.   Clearly when most people mention iOS vs Android they are not referring to native development, but mobile developers still tend to have a preferred platform. But why not do both?   If you’re specialised in just one, here’s why expanding your expertise to both could be a game-changer:   🌍Expand Your Opportunities Increased Demand - Companies increasingly seek developers who can handle both iOS and Android, especially in start-ups where teams are small. Being versatile makes you more valuable and opens up more job opportunities. More Freelance Gigs - If you’re a freelancer, offering expertise in both platforms makes you a one-stop shop for clients, giving you a competitive edge in the market. 🔨Broaden Your Skill Set: Master Different Tech Stacks - Learning both Swift/Objective-C for iOS and Kotlin/Java for Android deepens your understanding of mobile development. Cross-Pollination of Ideas - Each platform has unique strengths. By working on both, you can apply best practices from one to improve your work on the other. 🔮 Future-Proof Your Career: Adapt to Industry Trends - With the mobile landscape constantly evolving, being proficient in both platforms ensures you stay relevant. Leadership Opportunities - As a dual-specialist, you can take on leadership roles, guiding teams across both platforms and driving unified strategies for mobile development. While specialising in one platform admittedly has its benefits, learning both native iOS and Android could significantly boost your career. Will you be diversifying your skillset? Or are you going to stick to being specialised? Drop you thoughts below 👇

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Let's talk compensation for interviewing...💬 Tech tests and live coding defiantly splits the community down the middle but yesterday I saw something I've not seen before, this particular company offer a £50 voucher for completing their technical task as they appreciate your time is valuable. 💰 🤝 Some would say if you want to go through an interview process you have to accept that you have to give up some of your time. 🤔 ⏳ Is this something that should be the norm? Share your thoughts below. 👇 #interviewprocess #compensation #technicaltasks #technicaltests

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Why are you using #Go / #golang? Popularity with #Go / #Golang is going through the roof... particularly in the North West tech scene... but why? dcoded. we have been talking to a lot of #SoftwareEngineeringLeaders who are now utilising #Go as one of their primary programming languages within their Tech Stack. WHY? Well... the reasons tended to rhyme with: - Distribution and Compile capability - its quick! - Simplicity, Concurrency and Flexibility - so its easy... - Static Typing, and Code Formatting - its reliable & easy to maintain - The tech community loves it - lots of documentation and support available! - Backed by Google - its got real pedigree Hmmm... I am keen to hear the thoughts of other Software Engineering pro's on this. Why are you using #Go / #Golang?

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Claude 3.5 🚀 Revolutionising JavaScript Development 🚀 Claude 3.5, developed by Anthropic, is generating a lot of excitement among developers in my network. Here are some of the ways Claude Sonnet is being utilised as a reliable coding assistant: 🔹 It can interpret and create graphs making it useful for projects requiring visual reasoning. 🔹 Uses libraries like Requests in Python or Axios in JavaScript to simplify the process. 🔹 Ensures error handling is implemented to manage API rate limits and errors gracefully. 🔹 Can test your API calls to ensure they return the expected results. 🔹 Utilises tools like Postman to prototype and debug your API interactions before integrating them into your main codebase. Employers that empower developers with AI tools like Claude 3.5 will gain a significant velocity advantage, experience cost savings, and enhanced platform agility. By leveraging intelligent code completion, advanced debugging, and seamless integration, companies can accelerate development cycles, reduce errors, and optimise resources. 🚀 🌟 #AI #JavaScript #TechInnovation #DeveloperTools #Claude3.5

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"But we just need something simple..." 👀 Famous last words before a software project spirals out of control! Here's what REALLY needs to happen before you kick off that bespoke software project: Define your ACTUAL problem 🎯 Not just "we need an app" - but what's genuinely broken? What's costing you money? What's making your team curse under their breath? Map your current process 📝 Even the ugly parts. Especially the workarounds Including Sharon's special spreadsheet that somehow keeps everything running Think 5 years ahead 🔮 How fast are you growing? What might change? Who needs to use this system? Get real about hidden costs 💰 Ongoing maintenance. Training time. Integration headaches. Future changes. Support costs Talk to your ACTUAL users 🗣️ Because Karen in accounts does things differently than what your management thinks happens... trust me 😅 The truth? A good bespoke software project starts way before the first line of code. Skip these steps and you'll join the "it seemed simple at first" club - and trust me, nobody wants to be in that club! 🙈 Want to avoid the common pitfalls of custom software development? Let's chat! #SoftwareDevelopment #BusinessSoftware #CTO

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Currently rinsing the team of a scaleup that has their devs on call 24/7. (Keep asking them to do it, they love it, trust me, why would I lie...) Genuine question - why on earth would you ask your devs to do 24/7 on call? Surely you know that nobody who respects themselves is doing that right? You are aware that developers exist in other timezones and you can employ them too right? "But we can't get the quality outside of Australia" 1. Yes you can. The best Australian devs don't even work in Australia. 2. The devs who will agree to do long term 24/7 on call aren't high quality anyway. I can't see any world where it makes sense... Can you?

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A QA engineer walks into a bar. Orders a beer. Orders 0 beers. Orders 99999999999 beers. Orders a lizard. Orders -1 beers. Orders a ueicbksjdhd. First real customer walks in and asks where the bathroom is. The bar bursts into flames, killing everyone. A QA engineer walks into a bar, WITH a team of QA AI agents. Asks AI agents to test the app while drinking an ice-cold Modelo Especial. Trained AI agents order X factor of Y elements in Z universes, in parallel using customer behavior data to identify common patterns in the test coverage. The QA engineer keeps drinking and curates the strategy. Real customer walks in, and shares a Modelo with the QA engineer. Lessons: 1. AI is here to help QAs, not just replace them 2. Modelo Especial es muy deliciosa y refrescante

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8 Tools Software Developers Can Use to Propel Their Career Paths 💻 In the competitive UK tech market, it's vital for developers to stay ahead. Here are 8 tools you can learn to boost your skills and career prospects: 1️⃣ Jira - Track projects efficiently with agile features like Scrum & Kanban boards. 2️⃣ GitHub - Collaborate globally, manage projects, and streamline workflows. 3️⃣ IntelliJ IDEA - Optimised for Java/Kotlin, offering AI-powered code suggestions. 4️⃣ VS Code - Customisable code editor supporting multiple languages. 5️⃣ Slack - Enhance team collaboration with AI-driven communication. 6️⃣ Stripo - Speed up email design with drag-and-drop features and integrations. 7️⃣ Payara Cloud - Automate cloud deployment for Java-centric apps. 8️⃣ Axify - Track team performance with real-time data and improve workflows. Mastering these tools will help you to stay competitive in your tech career! What other tools are you noticing employers increasingly seek? Comment below 👇 #SoftwareDevelopment #TechTools #CareerGrowth

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Software Devs ‼️ Wondering if you're being paid a fair wage against your responsibilities? Earlier this year we wrote a blog all about it, I'll link it below! 🤩 In the blog you'll find info on… ✨ Generic Software Developers ✨ Full Stack Developers ✨ Mobile Developers ✨ Embedded Developers ✨ Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) Click on the image below ⬇️ #SoftwareDevelopment #FullStack #EmbeddedSystems #SDET #SoftwareEngineering

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Developers aren't doing themselves justice with the number of DRY CVs that I’m seeing… We strive to write clean, efficient code, that doesn’t repeat unnecessarily. Many developers stick with the mantra Don’t Repeat Yourself (DRY). But on your CV? It’s time to break that rule. When it comes to writing a CV, repetition is your friend. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and AI scrapers are scanning for the right keywords, and sadly they don't appreciate subtlety. They want to see specific technologies, skills, and achievements repeated. They want you to hammer home what you’re good at. So when writing your CV, think WET instead: Write Everything Twice or even Write Every Time! Emphasise your key skills, make those core technologies pop up more than once, and don’t shy away from restating your impact across different projects. Sometimes, the best way to show your value isn’t by keeping it clean and elegant… it is by making sure it’s loud and clear. If you’re struggling with your CV, I’d be more than happy to take a look and give some feedback. Just drop me a message! #TechHiring #DeveloperCV #JobSearchTips #CareerAdvice #CVWriting #ATS #Recruitment

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Why are Developers leaving their jobs?! Part 1. From my recent conversations, Developers are departing companies clinging to outdated tech stacks. This signals a lack of investment in innovation, ultimately leading to employee stagnation and frustration. Businesses wanting to demonstrate confidence must look at their tech stack first! This is the fastest way to let the tech team know they are a priority. Stand by for part 2 next week! #CorecomConsulting #RecruitmentTips

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