Maciej Koniarek

Demand for Intermediate-level Software Developers is decreasing, resulting in salary levels on offer declining. For the time being it appears that the days of intermediate developers securing 15% - 20% pay increases when moving jobs are over.   Current advertised salaries for software developers in the UK (3 months to June 2024) are down to 2019 levels.   Is this trend mirrored elsewhere in the world? What are the causes for this?    

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Is your salary appraisal due? Want to know if your salary matches up with other .NET developers with similar experience in the North of England? Based on real and recent data, this guide outlines average salaries of: - Junior - Mid - Senior - Lead / Principal - Head of Dev If you'd like a free copy, drop me a message or email [email protected]

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I speak with Junior Developers day in, day out asking me how they can stand out from the crowd. This is an excellent post with advice from a Tech Leader on how you can help yourself!

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How do you structure your engineering teams for maximum effectiveness? The next London CTOs Lunch Club on 23rd August at 12:30pm BST will explore Effective Team Structures for Product Engineering—at Any Size. It's been 5 years since Team Topologies was published, and those ideas are becoming as ubiquitous in the software industry as agile practices. In this roundtable, you'll share and learn from other engineering leaders how they organise their teams for alignment, effectiveness, and success—and how that has evolved as their organisations have grown. Expect to learn more about: - Team Topologies applied (warts and all) in the wild, from other leaders - How to align Engineering, Product, and other disciplines (think "three amigos") - Patterns for scaling your team as your business grows Hosted by Iago M., this session will explore effective team structures and their impact. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eQcaTUXu This event is organised and sponsored by RecWorks Ltd. #LCTOs #TechCommunity #TeamTopologies #EngineeringLeadership #ProductEngineering #byrecworks

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Feedback is an imperative! What I loved about this post from Michael is that it’s not a one sided love fest and pile on with one sided statements. All bases covered (most at least) - Hiring managers, Candidates and Recruiters. For what can be can be a lesser discussed issue in better economic times, it has actually provided some valuable insights from a spread of different experiences, about what efficiencies we can all help drive when it comes to hiring. I’m definitely taking some of these tips away with me and it’s solidified my belief further there is hope that we can evolve the tech recruiting scene beyond keywords and a pray & spray mentality. Would love to hear extra opinions from my own network on what they also think could help move the needle on recruitment and make it a positive experience for all…..? #drivingconversation #repost #techrecruitment #bestpractices #kureos #energytech #fintech

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🚀 Exploring Solutions to Developer Turnover? 🧲 Tech recruitment is a constant challenge, and in Brighton, retaining top software development talent requires innovative strategies. Are you struggling to attract skilled developers due to the allure of London's booming tech industry? What tactics are you using to stand out? Retention is key. How do you maintain a motivated team excited about your company's future? Turnover can disrupt team unity and company culture. For retention innovation, are you leveraging flexible work options, competitive benefits, and career growth opportunities to make your offer more appealing? Do your workplace practices promote both technological advancement and a sense of community, enhancing Brighton's tech scene allure? Let's exchange insights and strategies to strengthen Brighton as a premier destination for software developers. Join the conversation! #BrightonTech #TechRecruiting #ICPSearch #SoftwareEngineering #SoftwareEngineers

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The most marmite programming language. Its a battle between C#.NET and PHP. I'm a Tech Recruiter of 25+ years I've spoken with 1000's of Developers. Some have stuck with a language for life. Some have switched and are only interested in using their current language. Some are polygots. JAVA & Python. Nobody says bad stuff about these languages Node.js. much loved and there are a fair proportion of fanatics Golang. Loads of fanatics C# & PHP. Strong support BUT Strong dislike. Strong dislike of PHP comes from use of an early version such as PHP3. Usually, they've not even looked at PHP8. PHP also has bad PR as a noddy language, often coupled with Wordpress (not for real programmers). Love for PHP comes from it being an OO language capable of delivering 99% of any other language, but with frameworks which make life easier. Strong dislike of C# comes mainly from the Microsoft PR hangover. It was just not cool to like something Bill Gates created (yes Microsoft did do some shitty things as a corporate, but its time to forgive!). For many years it was platform dependent, that really makes open source developers feel sick. Love for C# comes from it being well supported throughout it's life. With a particular uptick for those using Blazor. Nowadays power is in the cloud and the architecture of your microservices. There is less reason to be fanatical or insulted by any one language. However, if you are a C# Developer, you may be advised to tread carefully when entering a pub full of Golang Developers. #python #csharp #php #golang #blazor

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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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Another case study highlight 🚀 "limitless scaled a telecommunication unicorns UK & EU Engineering team" Hiring managers or key stakeholders hiring, please read 👇 A limitless partnership... 🚀 🤝 Defining EVP 🤝 Designing a custom outreach campaign 🤝 Plugged in directly with stakeholders via Slack to improve communication 🤝 limitless IR35 product for peace of mind 🤝 Streamlined interview process 🤝 limitless candidate aftercare process implemented Case study successes... ✅ Reduced time-to-hire by 84% ✅ Saved over 130 hours of individual hiring managers time ✅ 1.6-1 CV to interview ratio ✅ 3-1 CV to hire ratio ✅ 8 days average time to hire ✅ 7 hires made with 100% offers accepted ✅ 100% retention rate with key relationships built with candidates ✅ Slashed historical recruitment costs by 18% across the project ✅ Limitless Search and TaaS bound partnership introduced If you are a hiring manager or key stakeholder within your organisation where you are experiencing growth pains within your software engineering, product and data teams and the above success has peaked your interest, please book a meeting on the link in the comments as I would love to present this full case study to you and understand how we can replicate this success for your organisation 🙌

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Bit late to it... but better late than never, right? Rundown of Q2 in Team Java & Kotlin incoming ➡➡➡ 💪🏼 122% of our quarterly target 💸 Highest billing UK team at Understanding Recruitment 🏆 We hit our team incentive 📅 23 new client meetings ✅ 1.09 CV : 1 Interview ratio It's no secret that the last 18 months haven't been the smoothest sailing for the tech market, but one thing for certain is that things are moving in the right direction. What have we got in store for Q3? 💥 If you're looking to scale your engineering team this quarter and need some advice or support, feel free to reachout for a chat about how we can alleviate some of the headaches that come with hiring! #quarterlyupdate #hiring #techrecruitment #java #kotlin

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How the UK Autumn Budget Will Impact the Software Industry The recent UK Autumn Budget introduces significant changes that could reshape the software market. Here’s a breakdown of what’s ahead: 1. Employers' National Insurance Increase From April 2025, employers' National Insurance contributions will rise to 15%. For software companies that rely on skilled talent, this could increase operational costs, affecting hiring strategies and investment in growth. 2. Capital Gains Tax Adjustments The expected changes in capital gains tax may impact venture capital and entrepreneurial activities—key drivers for software start-ups. Higher taxes on gains might dampen risk-taking, which could hinder innovation and scaling for early-stage firms. 3. Continued R&D Support On a positive note, R&D tax relief remains in place. This is crucial for innovation, enabling companies to invest in areas such as AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, helping them remain competitive on a global scale. Industry Sentiment & Market Resilience While industry leaders have expressed concerns about the increased financial burden, the software market in the UK is still expected to grow at a solid rate, with forecasts predicting a 6.18% CAGR, reaching £48.3 billion by 2029. However, the need for skilled IT talent and rising costs remain pressing issues. Looking Ahead Software companies in the UK will need to balance innovation with financial pragmatism to succeed in this evolving landscape. With smart strategies that leverage R&D incentives, there is strong potential to thrive despite the challenges. With the new budget changes, where do you see the biggest opportunities and challenges for the software industry in the coming year?

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Results from last weeks poll. Very close call - seems we're split on this one. With demand for work / life balance on the rise. Is this an approach we might see adopted more in 2025? #4dayweek #prorated #softwareengineering

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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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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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The Agile Manifesto has shaped software development for over 21 years. However, empirical research into its real-world effectiveness remains scarce. Recent findings highlight a pressing concern: 81% of business decision-makers in the UK and 89% in the USA worry about on-time software project delivery within their organisations. A new study, conducted for the book “Impact Engineering,” reveals that 65% of software projects using Agile principles fail to meet deadlines, budgets, and quality standards. In contrast, projects employing the Impact Engineering approach show a failure rate of just 10%.

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With the recent news around employers needing to pay an extra 1.2% in NI, hiring freelancers seems like an even smarter move! Not only can you bring in talented engineers with extensive project experience, but you also avoid all those extra costs! 🚀 With a full-time employee, you’re looking at paying for: Salary 💸 NI - 15% extra 👀 Pension Contribution - 3% minimum 📈 Equipment 💻 And that’s not even counting... bonuses, equity, and any other perks you might be offering! 🤷🏽‍♂️ When hiring a freelancer, you set the rate with no hidden costs. Plus, you don’t pay for holidays, equipment, or anything other than the days they work! 💼 Of course, culture is crucial, and roles like Tech Leads or Engineering Managers should be full-time team members. But for development work, could hiring freelancers be the way forward? 💡

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Software, DevOps & Platform Engineers you are selling yourselves short🗣️ I have received roughly 40 resumes this week since offering to give advice and feedback. I learnt a lot during this process, especially when people are applying for positions more than ever, and the need to stand out is crucial. My biggest observation was that it took me too long to understand the following⬇️ What are your specialisms? Where have you made or had an impact in your role? Which key technologies have you been using regularly? What do you want to be seen as? ➡️This is a biggie What soft skills do you have? Too may resumes make it difficult for the reader to actually understand what you are doing and what you are good at. Make it easy for people to see HOW YOU CAN ADD VALUE Drop me a message if you want some feedback on your resume📩 I will come back to you as quickly as possible.

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"I saw a Senior Developer role advertised for £40,000 last week Josh" 🤯 This is what a candidate said to me yesterday. I have 45 calls lines up across Monday to Wednesday this week for a project I am working on for a SaaS company (Exciting!) One thing I noticed yesterday speaking to developers on how they are finding the market is that salary bandings are just so broad. I have seen it myself. 👀 There are companies that are paying what they need to to get the right talent in and doing some bl**dy good hiring 🔥 And then there are companies that I can't help but feel are still trying to take advantage of the market and paying way under the market value. What do you think? Are they trying to save the pennies, avoid paying more than their current staff (which need a pay rise) or do they just not have the budget? 🤷‍♂️ #softwarejobs #marketinsights #salaries

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