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As we move into August it’s hard to believe how much has changed since the majority of us walked out of our offices back in March. Many of us had barely heard of Zoom or MS Teams let alone relied on them as part of our everyday lives and whilst flexible working was becoming ‘a thing’ the thought of a fully remote workforce would have been laughed at. But how things have changed - unprecedented you might say! In a period of time that will go down in history and which in my opinion will change the way we live and work forever, I wanted to share some of my experiences, in particular how Covid-19 has shaped and in many ways changed the landscape of the tech market forever as we slowly but surely see the road to recovery on the horizon. I’m no economist nor would I claim to be however following ‘lockdown’ the immediate aftermath was palatable and despite the tech market historically being more resilient to change than others (and in many cases being the catalyst for change itself) even it couldn’t withstand the initial barrage that Covid-19 brought. Uncertainty, panic and leaving many companies and people wondering, “what do we do?” After all, there’s no textbook for this (well not one I’ve come across). Having lived through the crisis these last few months and seeing first-hand the devastation it’s had on so many people and businesses across the board, rather than digging up what we already know (i.e. vacancies down, recruitment spend down, etc) I want to focus on the future; what we’ve learned and where we’re going as an industry (well as I see it anyway) and in particular the positives we can learn as an industry and how we’re all adapting and redefining industry standards. After nearly four months of navigating some fairly choppy waters, we’re now starting to see the mist clearing and companies talking with far greater optimism than ever and looking to the future with more confidence – and hiring! After all, until a successful vaccine is developed, Covid-19 won’t disappear so in the spirit of ‘getting on with it’ that’s exactly what we’re doing and in so many ways are embracing technology to enable the industry and the economy to get going again. A huge part of the recovery and which I’m sure will continue to re-shape working practices has without a doubt been our adaption (whether we wanted to or not) to remote working - and what a seismic shift that’s been. I don’t look back on balancing the running of a business with homeschooling with great fondness (just ask my wife!) but if it taught me anything it’s been the importance of ‘effective’ remote working over a prolonged period, something that would have been alien to so many people before this crisis hit. It’s also taught me and so many people I’ve spoken to the importance of having a clear purpose to our days, managing both our physical and mental well-being and over and above everything, supporting each other, both in our personal and professional lives. How companies have adapted to the new ways of working has shifted beyond recognition, with the likes of tech giants Google, Twitter and Fujitsu offering remote working permanently and many others following suit. Office space is also under further scrutiny and with many companies building even greater flexibility into their workforce planning for the future, including increased use of hot desking, the days of the traditional physical office expansion have changed. In a recent poll, we ran around the future of working from home, 50% of responses said that post-COVID they’d want to be in the office 1-2 days per week, 44% fully remote and only 6% saying they’d want to be back full-time. That in itself tells a story and it’ll be the companies who adapt to the post COVID world who in my opinion will thrive whilst others less willing to adapt will find themselves going backwards. The rules have changed, and employers need to embrace them. And with this shift, the approach to hiring is also changing. Remote interviewing and remote onboarding across so many organisations has broken down the barriers that would have existed before and in many ways make the recruitment process from both sides much quicker and simpler than ever. It has also opened up a whole new talent pool for companies looking to hire with far fewer restrictions on location as a barrier and in turn, providing even greater options for the rich tech talent out there too so a win-win for everyone – well almost. Tech talent now more than ever needs to be nurtured and supported and the winners will be those companies more willing and able to engage and provide a community (in many cases remotely) that keeps people feeling valued and with a clear sense of purpose that goes well beyond their day to day job, invigorating their Employee Value Proposition (EVP) at every opportunity. There will, of course, be challenging times ahead and tough decisions for companies and people to make however the comeback is on and it’ll be the tech businesses and the talented professionals within the industry who will be a huge driving force in us coming through the other side better than ever before. What do you think? Would you like to share your opinion on the above topic? Connect with me on LinkedIn to start the conversation.

What I've learnt during the lockdown in the UK is that there are many who have thrived in the environment of remote working. I have seen colleagues work on a more intense and productive level than within the walls of our office. However, for some, working remotely can be a very difficult and lonely experience. Personally, I have sat between these two camps. There have been days over the course of the last 3 months that I have been able to complete multiple tasks that would have otherwise taken weeks to get round to. Nevertheless, after the first couple of weeks of working from home, I did find myself staring at my kitchen walls or at the same email for 15 minutes at times. This style of working is not going to be short-term. As social distancing continues in the UK and across the world, remote working will be our safest way of containing the virus when ‘going to work’. Additionally, as workers have been given the opportunity to work from home more regularly, the demand for this will ultimately rise in employment requests. As a recruiter, I have already seen a huge rise in this demand even after the pandemic comes to a close. I spoke with industry leaders within the Machine Learning & AI space about what advice they would give to get the most out of working from home. So whether you love working from home or despise it here's what they said... Senior-level Data Scientist - UK based Medical Research Organization Create a daily working routine at home: start your day with planning the tasks and deliverables for the day and try to maintain your working day organised and structured (including lunch/coffee breaks). Remain in contact with colleagues via Zoom/Microsoft Teams, even outside of scheduled calls. It can help to reduce the feeling of being isolated. Exercise every day: sitting at home working all day long can be frustrating and stressful, even from the comfort of your home. Get your daily endorphin boost to avoid those negative side effects. Leading Computer Vision Scientist Try E-lunches (on video) with different colleagues including people you don't normally have lunch with. Enjoy short sessions of playing computer games with colleagues like skibbl.io. Try to reduce meeting durations by 25%. Reena Singh HR & Recruitment Manager - iProov Communication is key - tell your manager or HR that you are struggling with the transition. Together they can look at what exactly it is that you're struggling with and what support measures can be put in place. Book in a daily break in your diary for the same time every day and be sure to step away from your laptop/computer. Most importantly, remember, it's OK if you're not OK. We're all going through a very unusual time that none of us has experienced before. There will naturally be a lot of anxiety, struggles working from home, strains on the relationships at home - all these feelings are normal and it's OK to feel like this. This is a very small fraction of our life in comparison to the rest of it; things will get better. Founder of a leading start-up organization in London Exercise! Switch-off somehow with an activity. (I cook) After that activity, absolutely no more working. Use the flexibility to make your life easier than it was before (go do the groceries at 10 am if it makes your life easier). Charles Ball, COO at Chronomics Charles has been working remotely during the pandemic and is keen on keeping the team communication levels up. Chronomics organizes regular quizzes in order to keep social interactions consistent. He also explained that there should be an emphasis on employers looking towards the future, rather than solely at the situation right now. He has been actively reviewing where his company is going to be in a year’s time and then discussing that with his current team. These conversations are helping to soothe anxieties about the pandemic, with an honest and open approach to staff. He has also been hosting regular Webinars about producing tests for employers to use on its staff to relieve the pressures of working back in an office, especially in areas such as central London where public transport is more frequently used. Here are a few links where employers can look at options produced by Chronomics for testing and risk assessments: https://www.chronomics.com/coronavirus https://covid.chronomics.com/risk-calculator If your company is interested in Coronavirus testing please contact charles@chronomics.com His top his are as follows: Test your company to instil employee confidence. Provide regular communication to staff, no excuses. Exercise – do not work without leaving your desk, even if it’s a walk to grab a coffee. For more working from home tips check out these blogs:​ 7 Effective Ways to Work From Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak 6 tips to make anyone more successful at remote work, from a reporter who's been doing it for 20 years 5 Tips to Successfully Work at Home ​I would say, all in all, it is really important to separate your working life from your home life. So if you are not a seasoned professional in remote working, it can be a very new and tough challenge. However, what the professionals I interviewed all had in common are the following points: Exercise or just walking in breaks Communicating with colleagues Creating a structured routine that you stick to This ‘new normal’ will undoubtedly cause anxieties and feelings of uncertainty for many, however, it is important to reap the benefits of working from your home as well. For example, you might have a shorter commute or more flexible working hours. Or it could be simply saving a bit more cash than you typically would be able to. There is a light at the end of the tunnel with remote working and I hope these tips will help you cope in the meantime! You might also like: Your guide to remote onboarding Dump the Slump 5 ways to stress less at work Use the 80/20 rule to beat procrastination 5 tips for better work eating Any questions? Feel free to reach out to me via LinkedIn, email at aheneghan@understandingrecruitment.co.uk or phone 01727 809 403.

It’s that time of day again. It has arrived. Your eyes feel sandpapery as you struggle to keep them open. Your whole body feels lethargic, but your workday is far from over. It’s the dreaded 3 pm slump, and it hits hard several times a week, at the very least. Even though you only have a few hours of work left you’re not sure you’re going to make it without a quick desktop nap. Why does this keep happening and how can you avoid the 3 pm slump all together? Here are some ideas to help you out if taking a siesta isn’t an option! Why do I have an afternoon slump? The feeling of tiredness and fatigue is a natural response to circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are our body clocks and control our sleep cycles, making us sleepy between the hours of 2 - 4 am and 1 - 3 pm. Too little sleep, carby lunches, dehydration, and high-stress levels can also be contributors. Here are 5 ways to stress less at work. Get Up The benefits of movement cannot be overstated in this case. Stretching, getting up and moving around can be one of the best ways to wake yourself up. Taking five minutes to get up and walk to the water cooler or to a co-worker’s desk can have great benefits. Hitting the gym on your lunch break also boosts your productivity once you get back to your desk. If you can, sit in the sun for 10 minutes or better yet, go for a quick walk outside. Walking meetings are also something you can put in place. Sunlight helps reset your internal clock. It also reduces the amount of melatonin your body produces. Sunlight is also the best source of Vitamin D proven to have many health benefits. Interact Humans are social animals and interactions with others rev us up. If you’re working from home, having a quick video chat with a colleague can act as a great pick me up. If you’re back in the office, consider talking to a friend in the office to re-energise. Rather than sending that work-related email, go and talk to the recipient in person. Talking, smiling and laughing with others will make you feel less drowsy. Try to schedule collaborative meetings for the afternoon instead of in the morning. You can also give the Pomodoro technique a go. Work in 25-minute bursts with 5-minute breaks between. Then take a longer break after five 25-minute sets. There are several apps you can use for this but a normal timer will do the job. Don't forget to give your eyes a rest from staring at your screen every 20 minutes. Look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Snack Not all snacks are good for you. While you might be craving carbs, cutting them out can help prevent an afternoon slump in the first place. A chocolate bar has a quick energy surge, but an even quicker drop. Go for fruit, veggies, nuts or a small quantity of dark chocolate containing caffeine. Minty chewing gum is also known to be a stimulant and chewing helps the brain fight lethargy. Don’t forget water either. Most of us don’t drink as much water as we should. But staying hydrated can help you stay awake and alert throughout the day. A mid-afternoon cup of green tea (avoid coffee) is also a good idea. For more work eating tips click here. Plan Ahead Review at what times you’re most productive and schedule your most demanding tasks in at that time of day. Save easier tasks for when you’re not at the peak of your productivity curve. Most people’s concentration declines after an hour. So next time you feel your focus fading, switch to another task to change things up a bit. Listening to your favourite high-energy songs will also pick you up and make you feel pumped. Spotify has a great selection of playlists or you can create your own. Lasting throughout the day without hitting a slump starts with getting a good night’s sleep. You know your limits, and you know the consequences of pushing those. Save yourself a lot of effort and headache and stick to a bedtime that’s suitable for your body’s needs. Also, consider what you’re eating throughout the day. Experts say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day for a reason. Find what you like, but also consider the long-lasting health benefits of those foods. Yoghurt and whole-grain cereal are a couple of the many options at your disposal. Your body will thank you. Same goes for lunch. Getting the right nutrients at lunch is still important. Protein is a go for lunch, while you may want to cut back a bit on the carbs.

The annual Stack Overflow Developer Report has been going for almost a decade and holds the record for being the largest and most diverse survey of coders across the world. This year’s survey results bring together a whopping 65,000 developers’ preferences outlining how they learn and upskill, which tools they are using and what they want from their careers. 55% of this year's respondents identify as full-stack developers and about 20% consider themselves mobile developers. The most common combinations include back-end, front-end, and full-stack developers. It is important to remember that this survey was taken before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation and that the salary data does not reflect the economic impact the pandemic has had. For that reason, we haven’t gone into too much detail on the survey’s employment stats in this blog, but you can still view these in the full report here. Most loved tech For the fifth year in a row, Rust held the top spot for the most loved technology. In second place was TypeScript with Python falling into the third position on this year’s list, closely followed by Kotlin and Go. In terms of web frameworks, ASP.NET Core proved to be most popular followed by React.js and Vue.js in third place. When it comes to platforms, Linux, Docker, and Kubernetes make up the top three most loved by developers. On the other hand, WordPress continues to be the most dreaded platform joined by Slack Apps and integrations. Survey data also revealed that just under half of developers use Windows as their primary operating system with the rest split between macOS and Linux. A total of 825 respondents said they use GitHub as their main collaborative tool, followed by Slack and Jira. When asked about researching new tools, 60% of developers said they ask other developers about new tech or visit developer communities like Stack Overflow. Trying out new tools via free trials also proved popular. Unsurprisingly, around 57% of respondent felt they have a great deal of influence over the technology purchased by their organization. Gender Women developers account for almost 12% of developers in the US. In countries such as Germany, Brazil, and Poland, the participation rate is about half of that, which goes to show there is still much work to do to reach appropriate gender representation in the field. This is consistent with other research that women leave tech jobs at higher rates than men, highlighting that the industry has a way to go towards creating an environment where they feel included and can thrive. Approximately 1% of this year’s respondents that write code professionally are transgender. Salaries According to this year’s data, developers who use Perl, Scala and Go tend to have the highest salaries globally averaging at $75k. It is interesting to see that while Perl is among the most dreaded languages, developers willing to use this technology are compensated with a higher salary. In the US, Scala Developers topped the income chart with an average salary of $150k followed by Go with $140k. Approximately 75% of respondents worldwide completed at least the equivalent of a bachelor's degree or higher. Of the respondents that write code professionally and studied at the university level, over 62% have a degree in computer science, computer engineering, or software engineering and just under 10% have a degree in another engineering field. Learning new tech Around 75% of respondents said they like to learn new technology skills every few months to keep up with innovations highlighting how crucial it is for developers to keep their skills fresh in order to stay relevant in their field. Visiting the Stack Overflow developer community was the first thing developers (a huge 90% of respondents) did when they got stuck on a problem. 52.8 % also found that watching tutorial videos or calling a co-worker or a friend was helpful. 78% of respondents said they also code as a hobby. However, developers with children or other caretaking responsibilities were less likely to do so. Working overtime Over 75% of developers surveyed work overtime at least occasionally, defined as one or two days per quarter with 25.5% working overtime 1-2 days a week or more. Almost half of the respondents rated their company’s onboarding process as good while a fifth had no onboarding process at all. It would be interesting to see how the sharp increase in remote onboarding would impact these stats and if companies have invested more in their online onboarding experiences. Overall, developers seem to be satisfied with their jobs, with almost 65% reporting that they are either slightly or very satisfied with their job. When asked about which three characteristics would most influence their decision to choose one job offer over another, the languages and technologies they would be working on were the most important. The office environment, company culture and flexibility of schedule were also top priorities.

Whether you're working from home or are back in the office, stress can creep up on you sometimes. While some low-level stress can be helpful to get motivated, research shows that higher, chronic levels of stress can be detrimental to your mood, body and relationships. Here are some helpful steps to keep your sanity and stress levels in check. 1. Surround yourself with positive people. The people you surround yourself with at work can make a huge impact on your level of peace, satisfaction, and positive outlook. Hanging out with negative colleagues can contribute to your stress, especially if the crowd you’re with likes to complain. Choose who you associate with wisely. Find supportive and relaxed individuals who are fun to be around and nurture rather than hinder your mindset. 2. Take care of yourself. Reducing stress at work is often dependant on what you do outside the workplace. Pay attention to your physical and emotional needs. When these needs are met, you are stronger and more resilient to stressful situations. Regular exercise provides stress relief and improves mood. Being active can also help you burn off nervous energy and see things more clearly. Healthy food choices and plenty of rest also make you more resilient. Remember to put yourself first and meet your basic needs. 3. Work smarter, not harder. Regain control over stressful situations at work by prioritising and organising your work by the level of importance. Splitting up bigger tasks makes them less overwhelming and don't forget to give yourself credit for completing them. Try making a list of to-dos daily then, tackle the tasks by priority level and do the difficult ones first. Be willing to compromise if you are unable to complete everything you wanted to in a day. Developing an end-of-day ritual when you finish work like tidying your desk and making a to-do list for the next day can also help you switch off. Find more tips to help you maximise your productivity and overcome procrastination here. 4. Focus on what you can control. Uncertainty is a source of stress for a lot of us. Try to focus on what you can control instead of getting upset by outcomes you can't. Spend some time identifying your stressors. What triggers your stress? What isn't working for you? What works well? Knowing this makes it easier to communicate with your manager and colleagues who may be able to make some changes to help you. Whether it’s scheduling things back-to-back, double-booking appointments, or trying to fit too much into a single day, over-commitment can also leave you stressed out. Many times, we underestimate how long a project might take us. We set personal goals that go unmet simply because we underestimate time. Unachieved goals may result in added stress. Focus your attention on the should and musts and drop tasks that are unnecessary. Avoid multitasking and give each task your full attention. It often takes longer if you're trying to do too much at the same time. 5. Harvest the good. ​It’s easy to get wrapped up in complaints and what is wrong with the workplace so take some time to think about the good things in your life and at work. Did something good happen today? Is there something you are grateful for? Consider writing it down. You might be surprised by how long the list is at the end of the day. Reviewing the day's highpoints with your colleagues is also a great way to instil more positivity into your team. A healthier focus allows you to reconnect with what you like about your job, rather than what you dislike. Maybe your job highlights a skill you enjoy, such as managing projects or programming. Rather than focusing on the deadline of the project, live in the moment. Focus your attention on the happiness the job brings and what you are contributing by doing it. When you focus on what you love about your job you are happier and more content while doing it.

With the end of lockdown insight for the UK, the recent focus has shifted from survival to how the economy can begin to get back to work. It is estimated that 935,000 businesses signed up for the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Despite its cost of over £10bn, it remains of significant importance to our economic recovery. Employees will continue to receive 80% of their monthly salary up to £2,500 paid for by the government in June and July. From the 1st of July, the government is giving employers the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back on a part-time basis. It will be up to individual businesses to decide the hours and shift patterns their employees work when they return. Claims from July will be restricted to employers currently using the scheme and previously furloughed employees. The scheme will close to new entrants on 30th of June 2020 with the last three-week furloughs before that point commencing on the 10th of June 2020. On the 29th of May, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that employers will have to start sharing the cost of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. From August employers will have to pay Employer National Insurance and pension contributions for their furloughed employees. In September employers will be expected to also pay 10% of furloughed workers' salaries, increasing to 20% in October 2020. This means that people on furlough will continue to receive 80% of their salary up to a cap of £2,500. What will employers be expected to pay for furloughed employees? June & July: - Employers are not required to pay anything. The government will pay 80% of wages up to a cap of £2,500 as well as Employer National Insurance and pension contributions. August: - Employer National Insurance - Pension contributions The government will continue paying 80% of wages capped at £2,500. Employers who have not made a claim for Employer National Insurance costs or employer pension contributions will be unaffected by the change in August as long as their employee's patterns don't change. September: - Employer National Insurance - Pension contributions - 10% of wages to make up the 80% total to a cap of £2,500 The government will pay 70% of wages up to a cap of £2,187.50. October: - Employer National Insurance - Pension contributions for furloughed employees - 20% of wages to make up the 80% total to a cap of £2,500 The government will pay 60% of wages up to a cap of £1,875. ​ There is no doubt that this tapering system will provide some form of relief for the estimated 7.5 million people covered by the scheme and their employers. Guidance for Self Employed The Chancellor also extended the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme with those eligible able to claim a second and final grant in August that will be capped at £6,570. The second grant will be worth 70% of their average monthly trading profits and is paid in a single instalment. Individuals can still apply for the first grant (a taxable grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profits, capped at £7,500) until 13th July. So far this scheme has seen 2.3 million claims worth £6.8 billion. Find out more about both schemes here.

Do your healthy eating goals go out of the window every time you’re at work? It's no secret that working environments can have a huge impact on our health and wellbeing both mental and physical. Long periods of sitting at a desk paired with sugary snacks and drinks and lots of caffeine to ‘power’ you through the day are a great recipe for weight gain. But it's not all doom and gloom. If you're working from home at the moment, now is a great time to form healthy habits that will set you up for success when you return to the office environment. Here are our top 5 tips for healthy eating at work to help get you started... 1. Start your day off right Never skip breakfast. According to nutritionists not having breakfast can make you more stressed at work because your cortisol levels are high after losing energy while you were sleeping. If you don’t refuel, your body will start to break down muscle to replenish its energy reserves instead. Starting your day with a healthy breakfast will set the tone for the day and make it easier to snack less. Avoid the tempting bacon sandwiches, pastries and the like and rather opt for unsweetened yoghurt, fruit, porridge, smoothies, or whole-grain cereals with low sugar content. 2. Swap your snacks & make a meal plan High sugar snacks are often the culprits driving up your calorie intake. But that doesn’t mean you should cut out snacks completely. Swap them for healthier choices such as nuts, rice cakes, carrot sticks and hummus or protein bars. Planning all your meals out a week in advance may seem like a lot of work but it’s quite easy really and can even be fun! Plan out what you’re going to have every meal and then try to stick to it. A healthy diet is about variety so make sure you are incorporating plenty of fruit and veg and avoid eating the same things every day. Batch cooking your lunches and freezing them on the weekend for the week ahead means they’re ready to grab when you’re in a rush. If you’ve ever calculated how much you spend on lunches a year, you’ll know that bringing your lunch to work makes sense financially too! 3. Stay hydrated Your body finds it hard to distinguish between thirst and hunger. Not drinking enough water throughout the day can make you tired, easily distracted and irritable. Keeping a bottle of water on your desk and making a habit of carrying a water bottle with you when you’re out and about will remind you to hydrate. If you don’t like the taste of plain water try adding some mint, lemon, cucumber, or fruit to give it some flavour. 4. Respect Lunchtime It’s common knowledge that taking some time out at lunchtime makes you more productive and can boost your concentration for the afternoon. “I didn’t have time to eat” shouldn’t be a badge of honour. Always try to eat away from your desk because chances are you’re not fully enjoying your meal or chewing it properly, and you’re also not fully processing the emails or work tasks you’re trying to complete at the same time. Eating your lunch outside (weather permitting!) is also a great mood booster. Your body and brain need a robust and regular dose of nutrients to keep your decision-making abilities, alertness, and focus sharp. If possible, block out 30 minutes on your schedule every day for lunch, and your colleagues won’t unknowingly schedule meetings during that time. 5. Involve your team In an office environment, it’s easy to build unhealthy rituals as a team. That Friday chocolate run, Sue bringing in biscuits or the endless cycle of office birthdays and the cakes that come with them are just some examples. Deciding as a team to address these unhealthy habits will make it easier to hold each other accountable. When you return to the office environment why not pick one day a week that you go out for lunch with a colleague or your team? This will be great for team building and you’ll get to try somewhere new. It’s also a great networking opportunity with colleagues you may not know well or who work in other departments. You’ll learn more about them and might even make a new friend!

Procrastination creeps into our days in many different forms. Sometimes it’s spending endless time browsing Instagram or watching videos on TikTok, checking your emails obsessively throughout the day, or even spending a chunk of your time on low priority busy work instead of focusing on those more important projects. Have you been feeling guilty about putting projects off that you know would make a real difference to yourself and the company as a whole? Or maybe you just feel overwhelmed at the thought of getting started. Either way, if you want to improve your success, become more productive and overcome procrastination for good, then it’s time to apply the 80/20 rule in your life. What is the 80/20 Rule? The 80/20 rule is the concept that 80% of your revenue or success comes from only 20% of your efforts or customers. If you look at the activities you completed during the day, you will find that the top 20% of your daily activities will result in 80% of the results that you achieve. It’s easy for menial tasks to slip in and keep us distracted from the things that can move us forward and bring success and many people slip back into old habits of procrastination instead of focusing on the 20% that will propel you forward. Ask yourself, what tasks and projects would really propel you forward and then make them happen! How to apply the 80/20 Rule Here are some of our tips to help you maximise your productivity and overcome procrastination: Change the flow of your work. Most people have a habit of looking at their to-do list, and then checking their emails or social media feeds with the idea that they will start on their list after a few mundane and often quick tasks. Instead of letting yourself slip out of productivity like this, jump into your priority to-do items to get them done first, and then you can spend the rest of the day tackling other tasks on your list. Nobody’s perfect. We all have habits that slow down our progress, and many times these habits are rooted in an attempt to achieve perfection. Re-reading and editing a short internal email for 15 minutes before hitting the send button only makes a small, incremental difference in the big picture. Move fast, complete the task as quickly and accurately as possible, and then move onto the next without getting bogged down by trying to achieve perfection. Why not try Grammarly? It’s a free add-on that you can download for your Outlook emails, Word documents and Chrome Browser that helps you improve your grammar instantly, a real time saver. All good things come in 3’s. If someone asks you ‘How was your day at work?’ how many of us can honestly measure how successful we were compared to yesterday? A great way of focusing your endless to-do list is to narrow it down to your top 3 priorities. Every day ask yourself: What are the 3 things I want to have achieved by the end of the day? Make sure these are items that add value, propel you forward and should not be put off. Then make as much headway into your 3 priorities as possible and you’ll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish! Doing this also gives you a much better indication of how effective you are on a day to day basis. Schedule breaks into your calendar. Trying to power through your to-do list without taking any breaks can have negative consequences and will eventually make you burn out. Make sure to schedule some downtime into your calendar: relax, have lunch, read a book, get some fresh air, or play with your kids. These breaks will help to refuel your creativity and make you more effective when you’re focusing on the tasks that really matter. Also, consider taking a day off now and then as a digital detox, where you completely step away from the computer to allow yourself to refresh. Reward yourself. We all have an inner chimp that needs to be kept happy. Set out to accomplish your most important tasks and agree to reward yourself once you’ve made a certain level of progress and once you have accomplished them. Fancy a cuppa? Make a compromise with yourself to accomplish a certain milestone first and then enjoy your cup of tea that much more. Setting yourself small rewards will also give you more of an incentive to tackle meaningful projects instead of the easy busywork. As you see, incorporating the 80/20 rule into your work isn’t rocket science. It only takes a little bit of practice, but once you learn to identify the tasks that are propelling your success, then you can optimise the way you work and decrease procrastination. Seeing how effective you can be by applying the 80/20 rule in your own life and reaping the benefits of maximising your productivity is simply a fantastic feeling. So, what are you waiting for?

The tech market continues to boom in 2020 even though COVID-19 has had a significant impact on many organisations' hiring plans. One thing that has not changed is how tricky it can be to find and retain really good developers with .NET skills. The information in our 2020 .NET Developer Report is based on data from our placements, an extensive questionnaire filled out by a highly relevant pool of candidates and from salary ranges provided by our current partners that include some of the best technology-driven businesses across the UK. What’s the current state of the .NET talent pool in the UK? There are 30,000 professionals in the Software Developer talent pool with .NET & C# experience in the UK on LinkedIn. 88% of these are male highlighting the gender gap that is evident across the tech industry, although companies are trying to encourage more gender diversity. Companies are willing to pay above market rate to secure the best talent in the .NET space. With demand this high, many candidates will receive multiple offers, making the hiring process very competitive. On average, .NET Developers decide to move companies to pursue a new job after 1.3 years, highlighting the importance of retaining good talent. We have seen higher salaries being offered to candidates with knowledge and experience of Cloud and DevOps tools. Alongside .NET there is also an increase in demand for TDD / BDD methodologies, CI / CD as well as experience with front-end technologies such as JavaScript, React and Angular. Although an increasing number of companies are taking on .NET Developers without formal degrees, 61% of UK based .NET Developers hold a Bachelor’s degree. To find out more about which universities are producing this talent click here. What does this talent earn? Based on placements we have made in 2019/2020 in London and the surrounding home counties, Senior Developers with 5-10 years’ experience, can expect an annual salary in the range of £60,000 - £100,000 with some earning more than £100,000. A total of 63% of our respondents received an annual bonus with the highest being up to 25% of their base salary. For more salary insights check out the full report.​ Where is this talent located? In the UK, the likes of Lloyds Banking Group, Capgemini and the BBC currently have the largest number of .NET Developers in their workforce. Meanwhile, companies such as Nationwide Building Society, OVO and ClearBank have seen an increase in hiring this type of talent in the last year. Naturally, London has the highest number of .NET professionals with over 7,000 .NET developers choosing to work in the capital. Manchester, Europe’s fastest-growing tech city and Leeds are other top locations for .NET specialists. Flexibility is key in retaining .NET talent 76% said that their company offers flexitime while 73% said that their company offers remote working although only 7% could work from home unlimited. From our research, remote working was clearly a sought-after benefit for .NET Developers with a staggering 45% saying they would not accept a new job offer if it did not offer flexitime or the option of working from home. The average allowance for working from home was 1-2 days a week and only 16% were allowed to fully work from home should they wish, although we see this changing in the future due to most businesses having adopted remote working policies during the COVID-19 epidemic. We have also found that lots of businesses who were sceptical with remote working are now happy to offer it moving forward. They have learnt a lot about their staff and believe they can trust them to work from home. What else is important to .NET Developers? The top 5 employer value propositions most important for this talent are: A good work-life balance Excellent compensation and benefits Colleagues and culture that inspires employees to do their best Employees have influence over tasks and priorities Convenient commute to work Other popular benefits include: Training budgets, training time, dedicated time to work on personal projects Automatic annual pay rise based on inflation & paid overtime Relocation packages & technology discounts To view more benefits, click here. Let’s chat For any further information about the statistics in this report or other information about the .NET market, including competitors, tech on the rise and hiring processes, feel free to contact me for a chat. Arjun Gillard Head of .NET Recruitment agillard@understandingrecruitment.co.uk +44 (0)1727 809079 or +44 (0)7791 141 227 Connect with me on LinkedIn Schedule a call with me

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 690m users. It is also used by an estimated 95% of recruiters to find talent. But are you really making the most of what this platform has to offer? With a hire made every 10 seconds how can you leverage LinkedIn to stand out and help you land your dream job? We know that starting a job search can be incredibly daunting and selling yourself is cringeworthy (at the best of times!), so we’ve compiled everything you need to know wrapped up in 13 handy tips to make your LinkedIn profile shine and get yourself noticed! 1. Complete your profile Your LinkedIn profile is one of the most important aspects of your job search and is much more than just an online version of your CV. Complete profiles rank higher in LinkedIn searches and make it easier for recruiters to find you, so make sure you spend time making your profile awesome and gain ‘all-star’ status. LinkedIn helps you out here by measuring the completeness of your profile and gives you recommendations on how to make it even better. Before making any changes to your profile, make sure you turn off the notifications LinkedIn sends your network in the ‘how others see your LinkedIn activity’ section in your Settings to keep your changes private. 2. Put a face to the name Add a clear headshot without a busy background (avoid selfies and photos with your mates down the pub). First impressions count and your profile photo is the first thing connections, recruiters and potential employers will see. Your photo will also build trust. Are you looking for a new challenge? Check out our latest opportunities here. 3. Choose a cover photo Express your professional identity and set yourself apart by adding a cover photo to your profile. LinkedIn recommends using an image size 1584 x 396 px. 4. Customise your URL​ Customise your profile link (ideally it should be linkedin.com/yourname) so it is easy to read and share, then make sure to add it to your CV to make it easy for recruiters to find your profile. Customise your URL by clicking on ‘Edit public profile & URL’ in the top right corner of your profile. 5. Sell yourself with a compelling headline Your headline is your chance to brand yourself in 120 characters and should be eye-catching to stand out. Sell the benefits of what you do not just your job title. 6. Get found easily Include your contact details. It may sound obvious, but many people actually forget to do this. Next, add your location. If you’d like to be found for opportunities closer to home set your location to be where you live instead of where you work The ‘Show recruiters, you’re open to job opportunities’ feature is great if you’re actively looking for a job. Enabling this feature will mean recruiters can find you more easily and you can specify what type of opportunities and location you are looking for. Don’t worry about your current boss finding out, you can choose whether everyone on LinkedIn or just recruiters can see your status. LinkedIn Recruiter users who work at your current company and related companies will not be able to see your career interests and you can easily disable this feature at any point. 7. Bring your career story to life Give your About section some love and outline the most relevant skills for the jobs you want but avoid these common buzzwords. Ideally, this section will be 3-5 short paragraphs long and can include bullet points. What are you passionate about? What key skills do you have and which industries have you worked in? What makes you different from others? Show your personality here and let people get to know you. With rich media you can turn your profile into a portfolio and show potential employers your projects rather than just write about them. Take advantage of the 'featured content' section at the top of your profile where you can feature status updates, articles you’ve published on LinkedIn, documents, photos, presentations or links to web content such as blogs and videos. Add your positions and highlight your achievements and wins for each role. LinkedIn will now automatically visually group different positions you have held within the same company, showing your progression. What did you do, what was the result and who did it impact? Include stats where you can as well as keywords that are relevant to your skills. A good rule of thumb is to have two paragraphs for each role, outlining your role and responsibilities in the first and briefly outlining the organisation in the second. You can also add media and links for each position or simply add a link to the company’s website. Always include a current position even if you’re currently unemployed, so you aren’t left out of recruiter’s searches that usually only cover current roles to get the most recent and relevant candidates. Create a ‘dummy’ job position with the title you are looking for making it clear that you are ‘Looking for New Opportunities’ in the company name box. Do you speak different languages? Make sure to add them to your profile in the languages section. Add skills and ask people you have worked with to endorse you for them. Alternatively, you can choose to add your skills but opt out of being endorsed for them or even better, use the new LinkedIn skills assessment. This feature tests your knowledge of a particular skill with 15-20 multiple-choice questions. You can find this in the skills section of your profile, and it is currently available for tech, business and design skills. If you pass the test, you get a certificate you can display on your LinkedIn profile. If you don’t pass, your results will remain private. According to LinkedIn data, candidates who completed these skill tests successfully were 30% more likely to get hired than those who didn’t. Ask previous employers or colleagues for recommendations. These testimonials are more valuable than skills endorsements and help paint a picture of you and your work. Don’t be afraid to ask them to mention certain skills or a project you worked on with them. Another great way of getting recommendations is asking for them right after someone has praised you for doing a great job on work you completed recently. You can ask for recommendations from your profile in the recommendations area. Add any volunteering roles, accolades, awards and degrees. 8. Search for that dream job LinkedIn’s job search feature is a great place to start to search for relevant jobs and set up email job alerts for your searches. You can do this using the jobs function or if it is a specific company you want to keep up to date with, navigate to their company page, click to see all jobs and then enable the alert. Doing this will also inform their recruiters that you are interested in working at their company. LinkedIn also helps keep track of your saved and applied-to jobs so you can keep on-top of them more easily. Browse our latest jobs and set up custom email alerts from Understanding Recruitment here. 9. Do your research Follow companies you are interested in to stay up to date with their plans and see when they are hiring. Have an interview or an important meeting coming up? Company pages are also a great information source that’ll help you prepare for your interview. Make sure you know who you’re meeting and check them out on LinkedIn (if you don’t want them to see you’ve looked at their profile you can set yourself to anonymous in the settings, just remember to switch this back or you won’t be able to see who’s looked at your profile anymore). 10. Want advice from the experts? Join LinkedIn’s Career Advice feature to get career advice by conversing with other LinkedIn users who are leaders in their field. This feature can be accessed from your LinkedIn profile. 11. Are you asking for the right salary? LinkedIn also has a Salary Insights feature that enables you to see how your salary compares to others in the community by job title and location based on information provided by employers. This feature can also be accessed from your profile and is free of charge. ​ 12. Keep learning LinkedIn Learning is free for the 1st month and offers an array of learning resources to help you brush up on your skills. 13. Embrace interaction LinkedIn is an interactive platform so use it as such and regularly update your status at least once a week. Share interesting articles from 3rd parties or ones you’ve written yourself and like, comment on or share other people’s stuff too. If you really want to get serious about posting content regularly then you may want to use a scheduling tool for your updates such as the free version of Hootsuite. Writing an article on LinkedIn can be a great way to share your knowledge, build your personal brand and position yourself as a thought leader. Mention others in your post and tag them (when relevant otherwise it’s just weird) to build engagement and reach a wider audience. You can also follow hashtags so you see content relevant to you or to explore new industries you might want to move into. To set these up, type in # followed by what you’re looking for into the search bar at the top, then click on follow to see updates in your feed.

If like me, you are a working parent you’re facing the challenge of balancing work and home life like never before. How do you work remotely – and effectively, at that – when your home has also become a school and a playground? Below are several tips my team and I implemented in our own homes to help our families adjust to this novel situation. 1. Making A Plan Making a plan is a great place to start. Children of all ages thrive on structure, and in these uncertain times, it can help give them a sense of normality. It will also make you more productive. Here are some things to include in your plan: time for meals, quiet time, playtime, online schooling and homework. However, don’t stress over maintaining a strict schedule. Remember, this is new for everyone – your schedule will be a work-in-progress for some time until you sort out what works best for you and your family. Sometimes, it helps to involve your older children in managing their schedule and giving them some options for flexibility, so they feel they have more control over their days. 2. There’s An App For That In addition to reading books Audible is also offering a selection of free books for kids Duolingo is a game style language learning app and the school version is designed for children CBeebies learning area has a range of fun and free learning games Zoo and aquarium live streams - there are quite a few zoos and aquariums live broadcasting their webcam streams for you to pay the animals a virtual visit twinkl is an online educational publishing house which is currently providing free educational resources such as activity sheets and live-streamed phonics lessons Scholastic Learn at Home ABCmouse (for ages 2-8) Adventure Academy (for ages 8-13) ReadingIQ For more great apps including learning how to code with Disney characters click here. 3. Sparking Creativity There are tons of creative activities to get the kids away from screens. Here are just some that we’ve been having fun with: Set up an art station with supplies (indoors or in the garden if the weather is nice) Paint rocks Experiment with clay Make your own slime or playdough Get creative with chalk on the pavements Decorate your windows (window markers can be fun) Face painting (great for surprising grandparents on FaceTime!) Have them write and illustrate their own book Set up a still life scene for them to draw/paint Ask them to write and perform a song or rap about something they love Have them develop a play to perform for you at the end of the day (write the storyline, scripts and songs, design and build set and props, put together costumes, perform) Indoor camping can be fun for the less sunny days Build a den with cushions, pillows and blankets For more inspiration check out these 50 crafty ideas that are sure to keep the kids entertained. 4. Getting Active While staying at home means fewer opportunities to be physically active exercise is a great mood booster and keeps your immune system strong. If you have access to a garden or outdoor space now is the ideal time to involve the kids with growing plants and vegetables. You can easily order bulbs or seeds online and many local garden centres are also offering contact-free delivery straight to your door. Even if you don’t have a garden, you can grow things like tomatoes, cress or sunflowers indoors or on your balcony. My son Leo has also been making the most of the outdoors and has mastered riding a bike. No stabilisers or anything, not bad for a 3yr old! We’ve also been joining in with a few initiatives in our village including putting teddy bears in our windows so that when children go out on their daily walks each day, they can go on a bear hunt. Leo has also been busy painting rocks which people have been putting around the village, for others to spot and brighten up their walks. Here are some more ideas that will get their heartrates up: Joe Wickes The Body Coach is hosting a free PE lesson every weekday at 9 am that you can stream on his YouTube channel – some are even fancy dress themed! Kid’s yoga sessions such as Cosmic Kids Yoga are also a fun way to stay active Bring out the karaoke and have them sing and dance to their favourite tunes Build an obstacle course and run a timed contest at the end of the day with prizes Get them involved with completing chores around the house such as tidying up their rooms (check out TikTok for some ‘Clean Room Challenge’ before and after videos and maybe record your own). 5. Staying Connected At times this situation can be stressful so it’s important to stay connected with others, especially whilst social distancing. My colleague’s two daughters schedule in ‘virtual’ playtime with their school class for 30 minutes each day. My family and I also call friends and family via FaceTime to touch base and see each other which has gone down well. There are also some helpful groups for parents you can join on Facebook to share tips and show support for each other. One of these is Parents Keeping Sane During Coronavirus but there are lots more out there. Writing letters to friends and family is also a great way to stay in touch and can lift spirits! 6. Asking For Flexibility Every family is different and depending on your circumstances and the needs and ages of your children, you may want to adjust your working hours to reflect something realistic. For example, you may find it more productive to work early in the morning before your household is awake and then return to work later in the day. Once you’ve agreed on an arrangement with your manager, make sure to share your availability with your co-workers, reschedule meetings if necessary, and block off time on your diary when you plan to be offline. 7. Enjoying Time Together With no daily commute to navigate, you’re in a unique situation to be able to spend more quality time with your family (as testing as they might be at times!) I have found that trying to finish work on time helps me switch off and gives me more of a distinction between work and home life. Using your daily exercise allowance to take the kids outdoors also gives you (and them) something to look forward to. Now is also a great time to explore the night sky. With most businesses and shops shut in cities around the world, stars are even brighter and easier to spot due to the lack of light pollution interfering with the view of the night sky. Here are some ideas from National Geographic to get your family stargazing in no time.

As more and more employers take their interview process online, the chances are that you’ll be interviewed via video at some point during your job search. Whether you’ve had previous remote interviews or if this is a completely new experience for you, these seven tips will help you avoid the pitfalls and take the stress out of video interviews! 1. Test Your Tech Is your internet connection fast enough to chat in real-time? What room do you have the best reception in? Does your webcam work? Have you checked if your microphone picks up your speech well? Make sure to check these things well in advance of your interview and do a trial run with a friend or family member beforehand to make sure everything is working as it should. Your interview could be taking place on a variety of different platforms such as Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts etc. so find out which one they’ll be using. Then get signed up to it and have a play around to make sure you know how everything works before your interview. Don’t forget to send them (or your recruiter if you’re going through one) your contact details so the interviewer can set up the call. You may want to share your screen during the interview (e.g. to show your portfolio or to complete a live tech test), so double-check that there are no other irrelevant windows open on your desktop. 2. Set The Scene Before your interview carefully assess the background that will appear. Are you in a messy room? A neutral background with plenty of natural light works best. Have a play around to find what computer height and angle looks the most flattering and raise your laptop on some books if needed. How’s the lighting? Arrange some lights so that your face is lit and there are no major shadows, but avoid placing lights directly behind you, since they can interfere with the camera’s ability to focus. Seeing yourself on video can be distracting so practise looking straight at the camera for that all-important eye contact. Finally, keep a pen (that works!) and paper close by in case you want to make any notes or write down any questions you want to ask at the end. 3. Avoid Distractions Your interview is not the time to replicate the famous BBC live interview that went viral for all the wrong reasons. So if there’s anyone else in the house make them aware of your interview. Be sure you schedule the interview for a time when you will have some privacy, and when any children or animals are out of the house or are being supervised in a non-adjacent room. Remove any distractions such as children’s toys or personal items that may distract from your interview. Also, make sure to either switch off your phone or put it on silent. This also goes for your radio and/or television. 4. Look The Part Even if you’ve spent all day in your loungewear, you want to make sure you still dress appropriately for your interview. Dress as if you were going to meet your interviewer face to face. Not only will this leave a much better impression but also gets you into the right frame of mind. Do your research into the company to establish their dress code (if you are working with a recruitment agency, you can always ask your recruiter for this information). Remember, your appearance also reflects your attitude! Practice speaking clearly and, calmly, and rehearse a bit in the clothing that you intend to wear so that you can spot any potential wardrobe issues ahead of time. 5. Do Your Research Research and prepare for the interview as much as you would for an in-person interview. Delve into their website, look at their social pages and their company news – dig up as much information as possible! Not only will this make a good impression on your interviewer, but it will leave you feeling confident and prepared. If you need to refer to any notes, keep them as minimal as possible so that your eyes aren’t always flitting away from the screen. Are you working through a recruitment agency? Make some time to speak to your recruiter before and after your interview (a good recruiter will schedule these with you). 6. Ask Questions Make sure you go into your interview armed with questions for your interviewer. As a rule of thumb, you should always have at least five questions prepared as some might be forgotten or answered during the interview. If something about the role is unclear now’s the time to ask. You’ll find more great questions to ask in this blog. 7. Show Your Personality Showing enthusiasm about the company and the role in your interview can go a long way. Think about your posture and your tone when speaking to your interviewer – if you are perceived as being bored or restless, it will seem like you’re not interested in the role. Remember - employers want to hire people who want to work for them! Of course, it’s important to be professional and get your points across succinctly but you also have to make sure your personality shines through. Wasting time badmouthing your former manager and the company you worked for is a massive no go. Instead, take the time to highlight your successes and contributions and how you can apply these to your new role. As with any interview, make sure to thank the interviewer for their time and express your interest in the company/position a final time. Finish your interview on a positive and don’t forget to follow up with a thank you message. If you’d like any more help with prepping for remote interviews please get in touch with us to schedule a call with one of the team. Good luck from all of us at Understanding Recruitment!

Onboarding is one of the most important times for a new person joining your company. Done well, it immerses them in your culture and sets the tone for their engagement right from the start. ​Having to onboard new starters without physically being in the office may seem challenging but companies of all sizes are taking this experience online and we’re here to help you find out how they do it. Getting Started Find out what common challenges your employees faced when they joined your business. To get this information send out a quick survey to existing onsite and remote employees. Once you're aware of any issues you’ll be in a better place to mitigate these in your remote onboarding. Pre-Onboarding 1. Have the right tech Send your new starters IT hardware and manuals and make sure to order these well ahead of their start date. A client in the financial cloud space sends their candidate's laptops across the EU using private couriers, who are still operating during the lockdown. Don’t forget that the current situation may cause delays to delivery dates. Make sure to check with your candidate if they’ve received their equipment and need any help getting it set up. 2. Send a welcome package Time to get creative! Sending out a welcome package by post is a nice touch and will make them feel excited to join the team. Here are some things you could include: Items that embody your company culture Information about your company Welcome letter from your CEO (handwritten is always a nice touch) Postcard from the team they’re joining Branded merchandise including homeworking essentials – mugs, hoodies, stress balls Some sweet treats 3. Induction documents Prepping a comprehensive ‘guide’ for their role will make sure new starters get off to a flying start. Here’s what to include: List of tasks to help them learn about the role and what's expected of them List of handy tools your company uses Where to download useful apps Logins/passwords they’ll need Contact details for their team members Regular meetings 4. Prep for their first day A schedule for their first day/week can help new starters know what to expect and stay on track. We also recommend sending legal and formal documents using an e-signature tool, like HelloSign or DocuSign, so that employees can add their signatures digitally and share contracts with you in a secure environment. Their First Week 1. Introduce your new team member to the rest of the team on their first day Your weekly team meetings are a great time to introduce new faces. You can also get them to write a short bio about themselves and send it to the team so everyone can get to know them. At the end of the first week get the whole team to check in with the new starter to introduce themselves and their role. 2. Communicate, communicate, communicate Communication is key to making remote onboarding a success and there is an array of tools at your disposal (we’re fans of Microsoft Teams!). Employees at Stack Overflow are mostly home-based across 12 countries and enjoy orientation calls with each member of the executive team where they learn about the company’s history, culture and goals. A healthcare technology company we work with recommends setting up video calls with: Their co-workers Their manager and direct reports Employees from other departments they’ll work closely with HR (as needed) 3. Set up a buddying system Mentors are a great way to guide new starters through your onboarding. They can help make them feel welcome and answer any questions. 4. Set up social events for the team Remote working can be lonely so make sure your new starters stay connected with the rest of the team! This could be online fitness sessions, a Friday happy hour on Skype or team tea breaks on Zoom. There are loads of fun things you can do so make sure to get the team involved in planning these! 5. Create training goals Starting a new job can be overwhelming. Setting smaller milestones can make new joiners feel more at ease. Agree on the targets and goals for their first 30 days as soon as possible and adjust them as needed. Their manager should also discuss goals for their first 30, 60 and 90 days. 6. Have regular check-ins You should schedule important appointments such as reviews and team meetings in advance. Less formal check-ins are ideal to discuss personal and professional goals. They are also a great forum for new starters to share their ideas and suggestions. Don’t try to force your way of working because it has worked until now – be open to change! For the More Advanced Dell, who have 160k employees worldwide, have a dedicated onboarding website. They also have a "Day 1 success team" providing support via chat, email and calls during the onboarding process. Some companies enable people to learn at their own pace, housing all of their onboarding materials such as pre-recorded videos, guides and company news on their existing intranets. In a mobile-first world, many companies have also designed their own onboarding apps. Feedback Is Everything To get the onboarding process right make them feel welcome, encourage honest conversations and feedback. New starters bring a fresh perspective so make sure you listen to their feedback, not just about their onboarding experience but on the business as a whole. Would you like more advice? Download our complete Remote Onboarding Guide here or contact us to schedule a call with one of the team.

Unprecedented times. This has to be one of the most used phrases over the last few weeks. The monumental impact the COVID-19 outbreak has had on so many lives and how it has turned our world as we know it upside down so quickly is unbelievable. With offices all over the world emptying out, employees working from home and supermarket shelves bare, companies are facing tough choices. One of which is what to do with their hiring plans. So, what now? There probably isn’t a single business out there that has been unaffected by COVID-19. Uncertainty is not good for business, people or the economy. But one thing is for sure, the choices companies make over the coming days and weeks will no doubt impact on how they navigate and come through this crisis. Roughly 50% of our client base has frozen their recruitment (especially those within aviation, hospitality and other highly impacted sectors) whilst others aren’t showing signs of slowing down and have simply moved their hiring processes online at record speed. And while for most of our clients this has been a seamless process thanks to their tech infrastructure, some are choosing to put jobs on hold or defer their candidates’ interview dates. However, with it being unclear how long the current situation could last, these companies are in real danger of losing out on talent to their competitors. Chris Jackson, our Founding Director commented “Some clients are being really open-minded to adapt within the current climate and they’re the ones that will probably come out of this period of uncertainty in better shape, equipped and ready once the recovery starts. There’s also going to be potentially less competition at the moment for some of the most sought-after talent, so those that are prepared to take the plunge will probably be the ones that benefit the most in the longer term. We’re always here to help and support our clients in whatever way we can do to accommodate this.” 1. Benefits of remote hiring Access to the market has probably never been this good and with most people working from home, it is easier to have a conversation about making a career move with them. Access to a bigger talent pool is another major benefit to hiring remotely. With many EU countries on lockdown, using the likes of Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts, Skype or Zoom means you can still access these candidates quicker, and without the cost of flying them in for a face to face interview. 2. Remote interviewing A strong online employer brand is crucial to attracting talent that will have to rely on your digital presence to experience your company and its culture during the remote interview process. Luckily, we live in the age of connectivity with tools like Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts, Skype, Zoom etc. at your fingertips. Paired with phone interviews these will be your primary communication channels to connect with candidates during the recruitment process. Many of these tools will also let you record interviews and watch them back later to help make objective hiring decisions, even if you're not meeting the candidate in person. We can also help you facilitate all types of remote testing that is a great way of evaluating a candidate’s code. For example, many of our clients use Codility, an online technical interview and coding challenge to help evaluate candidate’s code easily. If you’re looking for a new role check out our latest vacancies interviewing remotely. 3. Delayed start dates or remote onboarding? When it comes to the onboarding process many companies take this experience digital too. Check out our Guide to Remote Onboarding to get some inspiration. With the help of websites, documentation, and videos alongside digital communication with their team and manager, this process can be just as welcoming as onboarding at the office. Download Your Guide to Remote Onboarding It will be interesting to see if COVID-19 revolutionises where and how we work in the future even after the restrictions are lifted. Whether remote hiring will ever become the preferred method of hiring remains to be seen. Working remotely is already mainstream for so many professions and proving that it works in this situation could revolutionise a lot of office-based jobs in the future, making a remote workforce a reality going forward for many companies. If you’d like some advice about how to move your interview process online or would just like to speak to us about your market, we are here to help and support you with your hiring needs. Java - James Hunt Charity - Tom Rankin Contracts - Jack Carscarino DevOps - Tom Parker Javascript - Simran Hundal .NET - Arjun Gillard Machine Learning & AI - Anna Heneghan Delivery - Nicola Parker Germany - Alex Bloisi USA - Matthew Ferdenzi

You expect lots of questions to come your way during the interview but are you prepared for your interview to be a two-way street? Preparing a set of questions you can ask the hiring manager at the end of an interview will show your interest in the role and company, but it's also the prime opportunity to find out if the job is right for you. Not having any questions makes you look unprepared and uninterested, so make sure you research the company and make notes of topics you can ask about. Your best bet is to prepare at least five questions in case some are answered during the interview or you forget any. Here are a few suggestions about what to ask when it’s your turn to call the shots. Have I answered all your questions? – This gives you a good chance to clarify any questions or doubts the interviewer still has. You can also expand on answers you may have given during the interview and it will give you a good idea of how you’re doing so far. What is your company culture like? – It’s a good idea to find out what the company’s philosophy is and if you can see yourself fitting into their environment. What are the day to day responsibilities of this job? – Hopefully, this will shed some light on what your day to day in your new job would look like and if it sounds like something you want to be doing. What are your expectations for this role during the first 30 days, 60 days, year? – Find out what expectations they have for the role to see if it aligns with what you’re looking for in your new role. What are the biggest challenges you’re facing? – Asking about their challenges not only makes them think but also is a way of uncovering trends and issues in the industry. Who do you consider to be your major competitor? – You should have already researched the company’s competitors but getting your interviewer’s insights can be useful and could be different from the information available on the internet. What are the challenges of this position? – This question will help you identify areas the role will be focussing on over the next months. What qualities are the most important for doing well and advancing at this company? – This question can uncover information that’s not in the job description and gives you a chance to show you’re a good fit for the team. Is this a new position? If not, why did the person before me leave this role? – Asking this will uncover what happened to the person doing the job before and why and how they left. If you had to sum up the company in three words what would they be? – This can give you an interesting and spontaneous insight into what the company is really like and gets the interviewer thinking. What do you like best about working for this company? – Asking your interviewer about their personal experience at the company is a great way to gain insight into the company and to make a more personal connection. Watch for any telltale signs here in their expression or body language that might indicate some issues or underlying negativity. Where is the company headed in the next 5 years and how can I grow in this job? – Find out if the company is growing and if there is room for you to progress your career over the coming years. Can you tell me a bit about the team I would be working with? – Some companies will volunteer this information and even introduce you to the people you’d be working with during the interview process. If not, it’s a good idea to clarify what the team looks like and what the pecking order is. What are the next steps in the interview process? – This is a great way of finding out how many stages are left in the hiring process and clarifies when you can expect to hear from them.

Joe Snowdon joined Understanding Recruitment with two years’ experience in a London based recruitment consultancy. Previously a BI, Database & Data Warehousing Recruitment Consultant, Joe started off in our Berlin Java team and now specialises in the .NET space. We caught up with him to see what his experience has been like so far... What was your career journey before joining Understanding Recruitment? Towards the end of my final year at university, I was looking at careers in recruitment. I graduated on the Monday and started work at a recruitment consultancy on the Tuesday. I was there for over two years before joining UR. What do you like best about working for Understanding Recruitment? Compared to where I was working before, there is a much greater customer satisfaction approach. Within the recruitment industry, there are several companies that focus on mindless KPI’s. The targets at Understanding Recruitment are a lot more relevant to the job (no targets of 30+ calls a day, cumulative time on the phone etc.) and reflect a quality over quantity approach which makes us come across a lot better to candidates and clients.​ What would your advice be to recruiters thinking about moving to a different company/different industry? Recruitment is an industry where if you’re not satisfied at your current company, it can be hard to be motivated and work to your full potential. When I was looking for a new company, I interviewed at a few other organisations, but it was only really Understanding Recruitment that I was interested in. Everyone I met during interview stage seemed genuinely invested in the company, and it was clear that every employee is treated well and given the support and encouragement to be the best version of themselves and progress through the company. The opportunities for learning (both internally and externally) started the day I joined and have continued to this day. ​How does the earning potential in the tech market differ to the industry you worked in before? The earning potential at Understanding Recruitment is greater and the commission structure is better. At my previous company, you were only able to earn a commission and there was no option to earn any bonuses. For example, if I hit my annual target here, I earn a bonus, and if I can bring a certain amount of business on, I will also earn a bonus for that. How would you describe the culture at Understanding Recruitment? Everyone works as one. Recruitment is a very competitive industry and can lead to rivalries within businesses, but at Understanding Recruitment that is not the case at all. It has a really nice social environment, and everyone has been welcoming from day one. The learning environment and personal development is something that is really appealing here. Across all the teams here, everyone is supportive of individuals achieving their goals. There is no favouritism based on your level within the company – everyone is treated equally and on merit. What would your advice be to your younger self? Work is where you spend most of your time awake, so pick somewhere where you are supported and encouraged to achieve your goals, both personal and professional. Curious about #LifeAtUR? We'd love to hear from you. Message Emily Kitamura on LinkedIn or drop her an email emily@understandingrecruitment.co.uk to have chat about the opportunities we have for you.

The salaries presented have come from candidate placements within the Understanding Recruitment JavaScript team in 2019 and from salary ranges for active vacancies with current partners. The JavaScript market has given more power to the candidate, so if a Front End Developer is actively looking, they have more options than ever, and are on the market for a much shorter amount of time. This means that London companies and start-ups have had to adapt to create more sophisticated and quicker interview processes. This year has seen a growing demand for JavaScript developers as companies understand that a great user experience of their product / platform is critical for their reputation and brand image. We have also seen higher salaries being given to candidates with Cloud and DevOps tools experience and knowledge. Alongside JavaScript, highly sought after skills across the London market include AWS/GCP/Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD, TDD and BDD methodologies. PLACEMENT SALARIES IN 2019 Lead Front End Developer up to £110,000 Normally 4 years+ working with a modern JavaScript framework either React.js, Vue.js or Angular2+. Also team management and mentoring experience. Senior Front End Developer up to £90,000 Normally 4 years+ working with JavaScript framework such as React.js, Vue.js or Angular 2+. Mid-level Front End Developer up to £75,000 Normally 2 ½; - 4 years working with either React.js, Vue.js or Angular2+. Junior Front End Developer up to £50,000 2 years working with either React.js, Vue.js or Angular2+. BENEFITS (in addition to standard benefits) Remote working -candidates will often prioritise a role that offers remote working. Paid leave to attend conferences & Meet-Ups. Relocation packages – for candidates relocating across the UK or overseas. Shares/stocks in the company particularly common in start-ups. Free food on-site, or ordered in meals such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats etc. Unlimited annual leave Private health insurance Season ticket loans – commonly offered in London. Personal development and training courses e.g. flying candidates out to attend training in different sites across the world. Free technology e.g. MacBook, Laptops, Company Phones etc WORKING EXPECTATIONS & CULTURE Flat line structure – candidates are increasingly asking about company structure and ability to progress within an organisation. Mutual trust / flexible work times, trust in getting the work done and meeting deadlines without micro-management. Budgets for personal development – companies are actively increasing spending on training facilities/programmes. Extended parental leave for both parents (not gender exclusive). Having clear company values that employees must uphold & "being heard". For any further information about the statistics above or other information about the UK JavaSript market, including competitors, tech on the rise and hiring processes, feel free to contact me Let's have a chat! 01727 228 231 Drop me an email simran@understandingrecruitment.co.uk or Connect with me on LinkedIn.

At Understanding Recruitment we put a huge emphasis on self development. So much so that one of our values is dedicated to being 'the very best you'. We also host our monthly Bookclub meetup where we discuss our latest reads. Here are the team's favourites for you to enjoy! THE SLIGHT EDGE BY JEFF OLSON What it’s about The Slight Edge shows you how to create powerful results from the simple daily activities in your life, by using tools that are already within you. And all you need to make that happen? Discover that "one" thing that will help you achieve that goal, realize a life-long dream or propel you up the ladder to success. About the Author Jeff Olson has built several multimillion-dollar sales and marketing organisations, hosted seminars in every major city in the United States and produced more than 900 television programmes centred on personal development. Over the past twenty years, Jeff has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals achieve better levels of financial freedom and personal excellence. Order it here SHOE DOG: A MEMOIR BY THE CREATOR OF NIKE BY PHIL KNIGHT What it’s about In 1962, fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his father and created a company with a simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost athletic shoes from Japan. Selling the shoes from the boot of his Plymouth, Knight grossed $8000 in his first year. Today, Nike's annual sales top $30 billion. In an age of start-ups, Nike is the ne plus ultra of all start-ups, and the swoosh has become a revolutionary, globe-spanning icon, one of the most ubiquitous and recognisable symbols in the world today. But Knight, the man behind the swoosh, has always remained a mystery. Now, for the first time, he tells his story. About the Author One of the world’s most influential business executives, Phil Knight is the founder of Nike, Inc. He served as CEO of the company from 1964 to 2004, as board chairman through 2016, and he is currently Chairman Emeritus. Order it here CAN’T HURT ME: MASTER YOUR MIND AND DEFY THE ODDS BY DAVID GOGGINS What it’s about For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare — poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse coloured his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events, inspiring Outside magazine to name him “The Fittest (Real) Man in America.” In Can't Hurt Me, he shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. Goggins calls this the 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential. About the Author Goggins has competed in more than sixty ultra-marathons, triathlons, and ultra-triathlons, setting new course records and regularly placing in the top five. A former Guinness World Record holder for completing 4,030 pull-ups in seventeen hours, he's a much-sought-after public speaker who's shared his story with the staffs of Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, and hundreds of thousands of students across the country. Order it here THE COACHING HABIT: SAY LESS, ASK MORE & CHANGE THE WAY YOU LEAD FOREVER BY MICHAEL BUNGAY STAINER What it’s about In Michael Bungay Stanier's The Coaching Habit, coaching becomes a regular, informal part of your day so managers and their teams can work less hard and have more impact. Drawing on years of experience training more than 10,000 busy managers from around the globe in practical, everyday coaching skills, Bungay Stanier reveals how to unlock your peoples' potential. He unpacks seven essential coaching questions to demonstrate how--by saying less and asking more--you can develop coaching methods that produce great results. About the Author Michael is the founder of Box of Crayons, a company that helps organizations do less good work and more great work. Michael has written for or been featured in numerous publications including Business Insider, Fast Company, Forbes, The Globe & Mail and The Huffington Post. Order it here 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE BY STEPHEN COVEY What it’s about To live with security and wisdom, and to have the power to take advantages of the opportunities that change creates, we need fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity. Quite a tall order when you consider that most of us live our lives in a permanent state of flux, questioning our ideals and values and fighting a daily battle with the lack of self-confidence that stops us from taking risks of any kind. But, in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey manages to make it sound as if changing the way, we look at ourselves and the world around us so that we can become more successful both personally and professionally an absolute doddle. About the Author Stephen R. Covey is a renowned leadership authority, family expert, teacher, organizational consultant, and co-founder of FranklinCovey Co. He is author of several international bestsellers and was named one of TIME Magazine's 25 Most Influential Americans. Order it here FIRST MAN IN: LEADING FROM THE FRONT BY ANT MIDDLETON What it’s about No one is born a leader. But through sheer determination and by confronting life’s challenges, Ant Middleton has come to know the meaning of true leadership. In First Man In, he shares the core lessons he’s learned over the course of his fascinating, exhilarating life. About the Author Ant Middleton is the front man for Channel 4’s hit show, SAS: Who Dares Wins. Born in Portsmouth and raised in rural France, Ant set his sights on a career in the armed forces and didn’t stop striving until he achieved his goal. Over the course of his career he has served in the Special Boat Service, the Royal Marines and 9 Parachute Squadron Royal, achieving what is known as the ‘Holy Trinity’ of the UK’s Elite Forces. Order it here HIGH PERFORMANCE HABITS: HOW EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE BECOME THAT WAY BY BRENDON BURCHARD What it’s about It's one thing to know that habits are important, it's another to know the secret rituals of the world's most successful people. Twenty years ago, author Brendon Burchard set out to discover why some people can easily change, develop skill rapidly and rise in their chosen career field, while others work hard but struggle for decades. What he discovered is a unique set of habits that apply across all areas of our lives, that when practiced lead to success across any domain. In this book, you'll learn: How the world's highest-performing people think, respond to challenge and achieve goals faster than their peers Why high performers shirk the advice of 'just be yourself' and 'do what comes naturally to you' Why motivation, grit and practice are not enough despite the recent buzz When to give up or start over so that you can move ahead faster Tactical advantage habits that help you become 30% more productive in 7 days Absolutely must-do habits to immediately follow for your health, relationships and career. And much more! About the Author Brendon Burchard is one of the most watched personal development trainers in the world. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, his books include The Motivation Manifesto, The Millionaire Messenger and Life's Golden Ticket. Brendon dedicates his life to helping others find their charge and share their voice with the world. Order it here HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE: SMART TACTICS FOR OVERCOMING THE PROBLEM PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE BY GILL HASSON What it’s about Whether it’s a manager who keeps moving the goal posts, an uncooperative colleague, negative friend, or critical family member, some people are just plain hard to get along with. Often, your immediate response is to shrink or sulk, become defensive or attack. But there are smarter moves to make when dealing with difficult people. This book explains how to cope with a range of situations with difficult people and to focus on what you can change. This book will help you to: Understand what makes difficult people tick and how best to handle them Learn ways to confidently stand up to others and resist the urge to attack back Develop strategies to calmly navigate emotionally charged situations Deal with all kinds of difficult people hostile, manipulative and the impossible Know when to choose your battles, and when to walk away About the Author Gill Hasson delivers teaching and training for educational organisations, voluntary and business organisations and the public sector. She has 20 years’ experience teaching and writing on a range of personal development issues; confidence and self-esteem, communication skills, assertiveness and resilience. Order it here THE CHIMP PARADOX: THE MIND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE SUCCESS, CONFIDENCE AND HAPPINESS BY DR STEVE PETERS What it’s about Do you sabotage your own happiness and success? Are you struggling to make sense of yourself? Do your emotions sometimes dictate your life? The Chimp Paradox is an incredibly powerful mind management model that can help you become a happy, confident, healthier and more successful person. Prof Steve Peters explains the struggle that takes place within your mind and then shows how to apply this understanding to every area of your life so you can: Recognise how your mind is working Understand and manage your emotions and thoughts Manage yourself and become the person you’d like to be The Chimp Mind Management Model is based on scientific facts and principles, which have been simplified into a workable model for easy use. It will help you to develop yourself and give you the skills, for example, to remove anxiety, have confidence and choose your emotions. The book will do this by giving you an understanding of the way in which your mind works and how you can manage it. It will also help you to identify what is holding you back or preventing you from having a happier and more successful life. About the Author Dr Steve Peters is a Consultant Psychiatrist and has worked in the clinical field of psychiatry for over 20 years. He specialises in optimising the functioning of the mind and holds degrees in mathematics and medicine. Dr Peters is Undergraduate Dean at Sheffield University Medical School and resident psychiatrist with the British Cycling and Sky ProCycling teams. Order it here GRIT: WHY PASSION AND RESILIENCE ARE THE SECRETS TO SUCCESS BY ANGELA DUCKWORTH What it’s about In this must-read for anyone seeking to succeed, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth takes us on an eye-opening journey to discover the true qualities that lead to outstanding achievement. Winningly personal, insightful and powerful, Grit is a book about what goes through your head when you fall down, and how that – not talent or luck – makes all the difference. About the Author Dr Angela Duckworth is a 2013 MacArthur Fellow and an associate professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is an expert in non-IQ competencies, including grit and self-control. A highly sought-after international speaker, her TED talk on grit has been viewed by over 10 million people. Order it here MINDSET: CHANGING THE WAY YOU THINK TO FULFIL YOUR POTENTIAL BY CAROL DWECK What it’s about Dweck explains why it's not just our abilities and talent that bring us success-but whether we approach them with a fixed or growth mindset. She makes clear why praising intelligence and ability doesn't foster self-esteem and lead to accomplishment but may jeopardize success. With the right mindset, we can motivate our kids and help them to raise their grades, as well as reach our own goals-personal and professional. Dweck reveals what all great parents, teachers, CEOs, and athletes already know: how a simple idea about the brain can create a love of learning and a resilience that is the basis of great accomplishment in every area. About the Author Carol S. Dweck is an American Professor of Psychology. She is best known for her work on the mindset of psychological traits. Order it here LEGACY: WHAT THE ALL BLACKS CAN TEACH US ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF LIFE BY JAMES KERR What it’s about Champions do extra. They sweep the sheds. They follow the spearhead. They keep a blue head. They are good ancestors. In Legacy, best-selling author James Kerr goes deep into the heart of the world’s most successful sporting team, the legendary All Blacks of New Zealand, to reveal 15 powerful and practical lessons for leadership and business. Legacy is a unique, inspiring handbook for leaders in all fields, and asks: What are the secrets of success sustained success? How do you achieve world-class standards, day after day, week after week, year after year? How do you handle pressure? How do you train to win at the highest level? What do you leave behind you after you’re gone? What will be your legacy? About the Author James Kerr specialises in leadership and high performance. He is the co-founder of Fable Partners, the Leadership and Change Consultancy. Order it here UNSTOPPABLE: A 90-DAY PLAN TO BIOHACK YOUR MIND AND BODY FOR SUCCESS BY BEN ANGEL What it’s about Unable to overcome debilitating fatigue and depression, bestselling author and personal development expert Ben Angel set out on a 90-day mission to find and conquer the root of his rut. The result of his journey is Unstoppable, a highly revealing book where Ben gives you a look into the world of nootropics, wearable devices, and nutrition and delivers a guide to help you reduce stress, increase focus, improve physical performance, and eliminate your fears. You’ll hear from world-leading biohackers, neuroscientists, doctors, and New York Times bestselling author Dave Asprey as Ben helps you: Identify the seven triggers causing your brain fog Discover the key to better health, more energy, and a better mood Optimize your mental performance and feel more alert with six nootropics Form new behaviours and break old patterns (the real secret to your success) Interrupt your stress response through breathing Align your biochemistry with your soul’s purpose in three easy steps Use progressive overload to become an upgraded version of yourself About the Author Ben Angel, author of CLICK, Sleeping Your Way to The Top in Business and Flee 9-5, is Australia's leading marketing authority. Founder of benangel.co, a site dedicated to providing entrepreneurs advanced online marketing courses and education, Ben provides easy-to-apply and even easier-to-understand strategies for reaching new customers with ease. Order it here EGO IS THE ENEMY: THE FIGHT TO MASTER OUR GREATEST OPPONENT BY RYAN HOLIDAY What it’s about It's wrecked the careers of promising young geniuses. It's evaporated great fortunes and run companies into the ground. It's made adversity unbearable and turned struggle into shame. Every great philosopher has warned against it, in our most lasting stories and countless works of art, in all culture and all ages. Its name? Ego, and it is the enemy - of ambition, of success and of resilience. In Ego is the Enemy, Ryan Holiday shows us how and why ego is such a powerful internal opponent to be guarded against at all stages of our careers and lives, and that we can only create our best work when we identify, acknowledge and disarm its dangers. Drawing on an array of inspiring characters and narratives from literature, philosophy and history, the book explores the nature and dangers of ego to illustrate how you can be humble in your aspirations, gracious in your success and resilient in your failures. About the Author Ryan Holiday is the bestselling author of Trust Me, I'm Lying, Growth Hacker Marketing and The Obstacle is the Way. His books have been translated into seventeen languages and his writing has appeared everywhere from the Columbia Journalism Review to Fast Company. He was director of marketing at American Apparel for many years, and his strategies in growth hacking and advertising are used as case studies by Twitter, YouTube and Google. Order it here THE POWER OF HABIT: WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO, AND HOW TO CHANGE BY CHARLES DUHIGG What it’s about We can always change. In The Power of Habit, award-winning New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg translates cutting-edge behavioural science into practical self-improvement action, distilling advanced neuroscience into fascinating narratives of transformation. Why can some people and companies change overnight, and some stay stuck in their old ruts? The answer lies deep in the human brain, and The Power of Habits reveals the secret pressure points that can change a life. From Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps to Martin Luther King Jr., from the CEO of Starbucks to the locker rooms of the NFL, Duhigg explores the incredible results of keystone habits, and how they can make all the difference between billions and millions, failure and success – or even life and death. About the Author Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Business School, he has received the George Polk, the National Academies of Science and other awards. Order it here

Towards the end of 2018, I broke away from the London Java market to embark on a fresh Berlin Java Developer recruiting operation here at Understanding Recruitment. Building something from scratch has its challenges, however, myself and the growing team knew we had Java recruiting expertise that would benefit tech companies in Berlin. Of course, there were still the apprehensions of stepping into the unknown. Sometimes I found myself asking the question, were we relevant here?! Every tech hub has its nuances, but recruitment will always be recruitment wherever you are in the world, but I did find people in Berlin to be open, honest, and happy to work with you providing you are offering a niche product that can cut through the noise (In our case this was Java, just in Berlin, and only the best). Our pure specialism approach has really helped us because let’s face it, people only use external agencies when they really need to. When it is business-critical. When you really need a service, you want the peace of mind that it can deliver and do the best job. If you really need Elbow surgery, you choose the surgeon who does Elbow surgeries all day every day. Not the one who does a bit of Elbow, Heads, and Knees and as a result dilutes their expertise. When it counts specialism always wins, and with a small team we have used this to build up a valuable network that can be mobilized at any time – and the whole network is relevant to our current and future clients. In 2019 I have had to manage and train up new recruits myself and say goodbye to some great recruiting talent all in a constantly moving market. I wanted to highlight some trends that I have noticed about the Berlin Java market in 2019 that I think could give us an idea to what 2020 might look like. The Powerful Candidate There are more Java Developer vacancies in Berlin than Java Developers – and in 2019 this gap has intensified. The hiring landscape has given more power to the candidate, so if a Java Developer is actively looking, they have more options than ever, and are on the market for a shorter amount of time. Berlin companies have had to adapt to create more sophisticated and quicker interview processes, and we have had to educate on the growing demand for our Java network. It still has not reached the levels of London where if you are a strong Java Developer who starts looking around on a Monday morning, you will have interviews booked in by lunchtime and could find yourself signing a new contract within 7 to 14 days. I feel Berlin will move in that way especially as numerous heavyweights are opening tech hubs in Berlin over the next couple of years – I am sure Elon Musk will have something to do with it… The German language is more of a plus now When the team and I came into the Berlin market it was very international and most tech teams were international speaking. However, this year the ones who required fluent German have struggled more than ever to find and hire top German-speaking tech talent. This has led some companies to relax their German-speaking requirements with some parts of the team being English speaking. However, if done incorrectly some Software Developers can feel alienated when there are languages being spoken that they do not understand. It seems trivial but it is us tech recruiters who speak to these Software Developers when they want to leave. It happens! Relocation Perks never looked so good! In 2019, 56% of our placements were in Berlin already whilst 44% relocated. People relocated from the EU Block, Egypt, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, Mexico, and Brazil. Someone looking for a move to Berlin has now numerous lucrative relocation packages to choose from, and it is not just the Unicorns offering it anymore. We have seen some impressive temporary accommodation being offered, big relocation lump sums up front, moving costs covered, and close and personal support to help you settle into your new surroundings. Some companies are really going the extra mile to help candidates with the emotional side of relocating to a new city. 2020... Berlin currently ranks 10th globally for Unicorns with 11 and is still regarded as the 2nd largest Tech Hub in Europe behind London. Furthermore, between 2014 and 2018 there was €474 million in investment per Capita, so there is still plenty of room for Berlin to grow (Stat from Dealroom). Although it is a mature tech hub it can still “mature” a hell of a lot more, and the hiring process of Java Developers and tech teams, in general, will not be excluded from this exciting maturing process! Bring on 2020!!!

The information in this report is based on our personal data from placements made in 2019 and comes from three major locations – London, Cambridge and Oxford. The reason we've used brackets is due to the difference in location costs. Based on our information, London would be in the higher salary bracket due to the cost of living associated with living in the capital. For start-up companies, there's been more of an emphasis on a lower salary package but with vested equity in the company. On the other hand, larger scale organisations are able to offer a higher salary with a bonus instead of equity. For Research based positions, a PhD has been influential in securing a higher salary – in some cases, without industry/commercial based experience. Several publications at highly contested conferences are always a huge attraction to companies looking to hire Research talent. We have also seen higher salaries offered to graduates from an Engineering and Research background with internship experience and/or an up-to-date Github (or similar) account. PLACEMENT SALARIES IN 2019 Graduate Machine Learning Engineer £40,000-£50,000 Machine Learning Engineer (1-2 years) £55,000-£65,000 Senior Machine Learning Engineer (3 years+) £85,000-£120,000 Python Engineer (Grad to 1 year) £40,000 Mid-level Python Engineer (2-4 years) £50,000-£70,000 Senior Python Engineer (5 years+) £75,000 - £100,000 Data Scientist £65,000 Senior Data Scientist £70,000-£90,000 Robotics Engineer (Experienced) £50,000 Research Scientist (PhD – 2 years) £83,000 Senior Research Scientist (3 years+) £95,000 - £120,000 BENEFITS (in addition to standard benefits) Remote working - candidates will often prioritise a role that offers remote working. Paid leave to attend conferences & Meet-Ups. Relocation packages – for candidates relocating across the UK or overseas. Shares/stocks in the company particularly common in start-ups. Free food on-site, or ordered in meals such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats etc. Unlimited annual leave Private health insurance Season ticket loans – commonly offered in London. Personal development and training courses e.g. flying candidates out to attend training in different sites across the world. Free technology e.g. MacBook, Laptops, Company Phones etc. WORKING EXPECTATIONS & CULTURE Flat line structure – candidates are increasingly asking about company structure and ability to progress within an organisation. Mutual trust / flexible work times, trust in getting the work done and meeting deadlines without micro-management. Budgets for personal development – companies are actively increasing spending on training facilities/programmes. Extended parental leave for both parents (not gender exclusive). Having clear company values that employees must uphold & "being heard". For any further information about the statistics above or other information about the UK Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence market, including competitors, tech on the rise and hiring processes, feel free to contact me. Let's have a chat! 01727 809 403 Drop me an email aheneghan@understandingrecruitment.co.uk or Connect with me on LinkedIn.

The salaries presented below have come from candidate placements within the Understanding Recruitment Java team in 2019 and also from salary ranges for active vacancies with current partners. This year has seen a growing demand for Java developers (also the case for other areas in development including Python, ML etc.) and higher salaries given to candidates with Cloud and DevOps tools experience and knowledge. Alongside Java, highly requested skills that are sought after across the London market include AWS/GCP/Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD, TDD and BDD methodologies. PLACEMENT SALARIES IN 2019 GRADUATE JAVA DEVELOPER £35,000 - £50,000 JUNIOR JAVA DEVELOPER (1-3YRS) £40,000 - £65,000 MID-LEVEL JAVA DEVELOPER (4-5YRS) £60,000 - £75,000 SENIOR/LEAD JAVA DEVELOPER (5YRS+) £70,000 - £130,000 BENEFITS (in addition to standard benefits) Remote working is the benefit in most demand. The majority of clients are offering it and candidates will often prioritise a role that offers 1 / 2 / 3 days remote working per week. Unlimited annual leave is also becoming more popular. Paid time off for charity work is increasing. Weekly Deliveroos / meals or similar. WORKING EXPECTATIONS & CULTURE Flexible working hours in different guises. Some companies give employees full autonomy and say as long as employees work their total contracted hours. Most are happy for people to start / finish early as and when required. There’s a move towards companies that value professional development. They may facilitate people going to relevant conferences (or even if they can represent their company at a conference), offering training budgets, 10% time working on personal projects during the week etc. For any further information about the statistics above or other information about the Java London market, including competitors, tech on the rise and hiring processes, feel free to contact me. Let's have a chat! 01727 809830 Email me at cyoung@understandingrecruitment.co.uk or Connect with me on LinkedIn.

There are more Java Developer vacancies in Berlin than Java Developers – and in 2019 this gap intensified. The hiring landscape has given more power to the candidate, so if a Java Developer is actively looking, they have more options than ever, and are on the market for a shorter amount of time. Berlin companies have had to adapt to create more sophisticated and quicker interview processes. In 2019 we found 56% of our placements were living in Berlin already whilst 44% relocated to the German capital. People relocated from the likes of EU countries, Egypt, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, Mexico, and Brazil. Berlin currently ranks 10th globally for Unicorns and is still regarded as the number 2 Tech Hub in Europe behind London. Furthermore, between 2014 and 2018 there was €474 million in investment per Capita, so there is still plenty of room for Berlin to grow (Source: Dealroom). PLACEMENT SALARIES IN 2019 BACKEND ENGINEERS (4-8 YEARS EXPERIENCE) 65,250€ BACKEND ENGINEERS (8+ YEARS EXPERIENCE) 79,354€ Data source: 2019 internal placement data from the Understanding Recruitment Berlin Java team LANGUAGE BARRIERS When the team and I came into the Berlin market it was very international and most tech teams were international speaking. However, this year the ones who required fluent German have struggled more than ever to find and hire top German speaking tech talent. This has led some companies to relax their German speaking requirements. However, if done incorrectly some Software Developers can feel alienated when there are languages being spoken that they don't understand. It seems trivial but it's us tech recruiters who speak to these Software Developers when they want to leave. It happens! RELOCATION PERKS: Some quite impressive temporary accommodation. Relocation packages offered upfront to help with moving. Flights all paid for upfront. Help in finding new accommodation. A dedicated relocation manager to walk you through the Visa process. Signing on Bonuses. Personal support to help to settle into your new surroundings. For any further information about the statistics above or other information about the Java Berlin market, including competitors, tech on the rise and hiring processes, feel free to contact me. Let's have a chat! +49 3076758396 Ext: 1001 or +44 (0)1727 228 235 Drop me an email abloisi@understandingrecruitment.co.uk or Connect with me on LinkedIn.

You may be a New Year’s resolutions sceptic, but researchers have proven that goals set around this time of year are more likely to be achieved than resolutions we undertake at any other time of the year! As the famous saying “new year, new job” goes, research also shows that the decision to change jobs is one of the most common resolutions that people make every New Year’s Eve (even more popular than joining the gym!). So, if you’ve been thinking about making a change lately, now is the time to set yourself up for success in the new year. Here are my top 10 tips for staying committed to your goals: Your career resolutions should be specific, measurable and realistic - while ambitious goals are good, they’re not always achievable so make sure you set yourself up to succeed by making your goals achievable in the timeframe you set. It’s important not to make them when you’re intoxicated, stressed, or feeling particularly emotional (all common states around this time of year). You need a clear head - think about what you want to change, but also consider whether it is achievable. Do you need more money? Do you want to expand your skill set? Will you need to upskill for your next role and how long will this take? Are you looking for management opportunities that you currently don’t have? Plan your change step by step – making changes to your career is easier when you break them down into more actionable chunks. List what you need to do to get to your goal and get started one step at a time. Formulate your decision constructively - instead of thinking “I will quit my job because I’m unhappy” you need to be more specific if you want to succeed. An example of a better resolution might be: “I will find a better-paid job as a DevOps Engineer where I will use modern technologies like Kubernetes”. Prepare your CV and tailor it to each opportunity you’re applying to, check what’s going on in your industry’s job market, decide what type of role would excite you, search in the right places, get ready for potential interviews and most importantly give it your all! A half-hearted approach to your job searches rarely ends successfully. Focus on what it is you want and forget the rest – it’s easy to get carried away at the applying stage but don’t fall for the temptation to apply for jobs you don’t have the skills for or that don’t get you revved up. Your time is too valuable to be wasted like this. Recruiters will also wonder about your focus if you apply to multiple roles that aren’t related and will be cautious about working with you. Don’t panic if you don’t hear back from a recruiter right away about your application. Giving them a call will set you apart from other applicants and speedier feedback. Be smart with your planning; it’s important to stick at it and have a strategy that won’t burn you out. Stay confident in your own abilities and don’t give up. Keep track of your applications – working with a single recruiter makes this much easier. There is nothing worse that not having a clue which roles you’ve applied to when you receive a phone call from a recruiter. It’s all about first impressions! Finally remember to reward yourself for even the smallest successes that arise on your way to finding your new dream job! In other words, don’t be like Kevin: Kevin does not like his job as a DevOps Engineer in a small town in Northern England. His boss irritates him, he works with old technologies and all his ideas for improvements are rejected. As his New Year's resolution, Kevin decides that he wants to work in a better-paid job in the centre of London. He starts sending his CV to every company that he thinks might be interested in hiring him. Even though he wants to be a DevOps Engineer, he decides to maximise his chances of finding a new position by applying for nearly every job that he sees advertised. During stage one interviews, he finds that he can’t always remember where he applied, which role they’re talking about and what specific skills the role requires. The interviewers are not impressed, and they all reject him without having had a face to face meeting. By the end of January, Kevin has become frustrated with job hunting. He’s exhausted from the effort of applying for new positions whilst simultaneously working full-time. He gives up and decides to stay in the job where he feels underappreciated. But what if he had made a better plan before he started looking for new positions? What if he had only applied for a small number of jobs that really interested him, and had given his all to the interview process? Perhaps he would still have had some rejections (that’s an unfortunate reality of looking for jobs). But the process would not have been so draining on him. He would have been more likely to get through the first stage to face to face interviews. And whilst it might not have happened immediately, the odds would have been on his side in the medium-term. If you'd like to discuss your 2020 careers plans connect with me on LinkedIn, drop me an email or give me a call on 01727 225 558. I look forward to speaking with you and wish you a Happy New Year!

James Bowler graduated from Swansea University with a BSc in Economics and now recruits Front-End Web Developers across the UK. Here's what he has to say about his experience of tech recruitment so far... 1. Why did you decide to get into a career in recruitment? Coming from an academic background that is traditionally linked with a career in the financial sector, I was looking for an opportunity that offered similar earning potentials without the narrow confines of a role in economic analysis. I gained an appreciation from meeting key members of Understanding Recruitment of the breadth of their client base, from start-ups to established companies and the daily interaction with a diverse range of international people. I have found rewarding the insight into businesses and specifically the importance of technology in shaping their development. 2. What’s the best thing about working at Understanding Recruitment? What has impressed me most at Understanding Recruitment is the supportive culture present within an intrinsically competitive profession and the management style that both motivates and rewards, giving us all a sense of achievement. 3. What would your advice be to a graduate looking for a career in recruitment? No day is ever the same and working in such a competitive field brings high points as well as low points. But if you are prepared to be resilient with a positive outlook then your success is both financially and motivationally rewarding, all within a workplace environment like no other. Curious about a career in tech recruitment? If you are ambitous, financially driven and outgoing we would love to hear from you. Drop Emily Kitamura or Jessie Edwards a message on LinkedIn, send an email to emily@understandingrecruitment.co.uk or call 01727 228 255.

I recently released a 6 question, multiple-choice survey to my Java Developer network to uncover some insights about the job-changing market for Java Developers in the UK. I was inspired by Stack Overflow’s annual software developer survey to explore my market in greater depth. In this article, we’ll be looking at current trends and comparing data across workplace and job-hunting experiences for Java Developers. 1. Current Workplace Experiences ‘Tech stack’ was rated most highly by Java Developers when asked about their favourite aspect of their current work. These results corroborate Stack Overflow's 2019 developer survey. ‘Opportunities for self-development’ were also valued more than ‘company culture and values’. Instead of internal recruiters marketing their offices as being ‘dog-friendly’ and ‘newly refurbed’ – what the market is actually telling us is that, as recruiters (both internal and agency), we should be proactively highlighting career-progression opportunities and aspects like training budgets. Surprisingly, the graph makes for some interesting interpretations as no respondents brought up flexible/remote working options as one of the best aspects of their current work. Either not enough companies are currently introducing these options into work practice or, contrary to current market demand, other factors are still favoured. Realistically, are there any major benefits to working from home if the project/tech you’re working with daily is boring? 2. Challenges to Productivity Three key answers account for approximately 75% of respondents' opinions when asked about their biggest challenges to productivity at work: Lack of career progression opportunities – this is one of the many reasons why the average Java job cycle lasts 18-24 months. It is typically easier to move as a Mid- or Senior Level developer via a company change. Distracting work environment – increased meetings and noisy environments. Being tasked with non-development work – a lot of the Java Developers I’m talking to now are looking elsewhere because their employer has been pushing them towards more hands-off responsibilities. Interestingly, 10% of respondents said that their teams are currently understaffed for the workload. The software development market is notoriously competitive and candidate short. With a record £5.5bn investment in the London tech scene so far in 2019, it’s no wonder most tech companies are looking to hire! 3. Most Important Factors in Decision Making The survey shows that ‘opportunities for professional development’, ‘tech stack’ and ‘remuneration’ are the most influential factors in decision-making processes for Java Developers. This corroborates the data discussed for questions 1 and 2. I was surprised to not see ‘company values and culture’ with a higher number of votes. A lot of Java Developers I have spoken with recently have highlighted the struggle to progress in bureaucratic environments where decision-making is out of their hands/too top-down. My own insights from conversations within this market would rank ‘tech stack’, ‘company values and culture’ and ‘remuneration’ as top factors steering job-decision making. 4. Approaches to Looking for Opportunities There were few surprises here with 46% of respondents mentioning something LinkedIn related as a tool for finding a new opportunity. Whether this is ‘opening yourself to new opportunities’ or applying to the jobs posted on the social media platform, it’s no wonder that LinkedIn is becoming increasingly popular for developers to find jobs that match their specialism. It currently has 20 million jobs listed on its platform! Arguably, 5 years ago this graph would have looked very different as the ‘job board’ option has drastically reduced but does remain present nonetheless with 22% of developers using them! I was expecting slightly more responses for the use of personal networks given the number of forums, slack communities and blogs in the programming space but understand that developers are most probably interested and curious about market insights on various projects and salary info which they would discuss in greater detail with recruiters. Reaching out to recruiters accounted for 12.2% of responses. 5. Working with Recruiters? Good news for all recruiters reading this! Over 36% of responses highlight the value of working with recruiters. This is due to our direct contact with hiring managers and key members in the recruitment process to keep track of applications, prepare candidates for interviews and what questions to expect and provide relevant feedback which can help with the rest of their job searches. Approximately 1 in 4 Java respondents use recruiters as a tool to find out more about the job market and industry insights. From speaking to software developers and hiring managers daily - recruiters (in general) have beneficial knowledge about salary expectations, new projects/tech worth getting experience with and opportunities across various industries. 6. What about Specialist Recruiters? An overwhelming 70% of Java Developers who took part in the survey said that they would work with a specialist recruiter. With the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) predicting that 56% of vacancies in the next 12 months will be filled by agencies, the role of the recruiter is pivotal. Insights around salary ranges, ‘up and coming’ technologies that are worth getting your hands on and specific information about career progression opportunities are just a few things that you won’t be able to get from a LinkedIn advert. Specialist recruiters (in any sector/industry!) speak to many candidates with similar profiles and can have invaluable knowledge on how you compare to others within your profession and importantly, which companies are looking for someone exactly like you. We know the interview processes too, have direct relationships with hiring managers, have case studies of candidates we have placed who have been promoted, negotiate salaries for you – and best of all, our entire service is free! Why wouldn’t you use a specialist recruiter? Overall, for the first survey I have done on my Java market, the research across the Java Development conducted makes for some interesting talking points for both hiring managers and recruiters (internal and agency). Tech stacks and opportunities for career progression are pulling factors to new opportunities whilst distracting working environments are pushing people to new projects. Next time you’re interested in a new role, why not use a specialist recruiter to give you some insights? You could really be missing out if you don’t! If you'd like to discuss the Java market with me in more detail or want to hear more about how we can work together, message me on LinkedIn, drop me an email or give me a call 01727 809830.

Carina Panchal graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a BSc in Psychology before joining Understanding Recruitment in our HQ in St. Albans, Hertfordshire. As part of our Delivery team, she now recruits a wide range of tech related roles, from iOS Software Developers to Marketing Analysts. 1. Why did you decide to get into a career in recruitment? After graduating I wasn’t sure what career path I wanted to take at the time, so I spent a lot of time researching different jobs and I finally stumbled upon recruitment. Having looked at some recruitment job ads and descriptions, I realized I would be well suited to a recruitment role, as it involves a lot of talking to different people on a daily basis and helping to find these people their dream job! In recruitment, your work is also attributed to you and only you, so it's easy to take responsibility for your hard work. Plus the earning potential and chance for career progression are a great bonus! 2. What’s the best thing about working at Understanding Recruitment? The best thing about working at UR is the company culture. In a very competitive and cut throat industry, UR really look after their staff and invest a lot in training us up and making sure we have all the tools we need to succeed. UR is very much about building each other up, and using the competitive nature of the job in a healthy way, to drive everyone to be their best. Everyone has been very supportive, friendly and helpful, and this has allowed me to have the best possible start to my career in recruitment! 3. What would your advice be to a graduate looking for a career in recruitment? To any graduates looking for a career in recruitment, my best advice would be to thoroughly get stuck in and give everything a go. In this industry, you only get out what you put in, so be prepared to work really hard! Resilience is very important, and being able to keep going after a bad day or week makes it that much better when things do start to fall into place! Curious about a career in tech recruitment? If you are ambitous, financially driven and outgoing we would love to hear from you. Drop Emily Kitamura or Jessie Edwards a message on LinkedIn, send an email to emily@understandingrecruitment.co.uk or call 01727 228 255.

If you are in the Tech world you may have heard of Berlin and its rise in the Tech standings. But when it comes down to it, what can Berlin really offer you as a Software Developer if you decide to make the move? Berlin is the fastest-growing tech hub in Europe and 2nd biggest when it comes to tech investment. In 2018 €3.4 billion was ploughed into the Berlin tech ecosystem. Following where people are prepared to put their money is usually a good start to see if something is worthwhile. Right now, investors are not shying away from putting their money into Berlin Tech companies, and because of this companies have to attract great talent into Berlin in order to keep it growing - and also keep the products and projects world-leading! Because of this Berlin can now offer a lot for a Software Developer. The 3 most important things I have highlighted below. 1. Truly International To attract great talent Berlin has opened its doors to some of the brightest and best from all over the world. In 2018 the number of EU Blue Cards issued in Germany was 27,241. Compared to 11,290 in 2013. As a result, it has created a tech melting pot where no matter where you are in the world you can join, work and learn from highly skilled people from different backgrounds. When a team comes together from different cultures the diversity of ideas is huge. They do say 10 people coming up with 10 different ideas = 100 ideas. 10 people with the same outlook coming up with the same 10 ideas are still just 10 ideas. The international approach seems to be working with some Berlin Tech companies offering the highest rates of growth in the whole of Europe. With many companies offering sophisticated relocation support from impressive temporary accommodation, relocation packages upfront, signing on bonuses, relocation managers to walk you through the Visa process, and personal support to help you adapt to your new settings. "It is hard to explain in words but 1 visit to Berlin and seeing the freedom on offer and how accepting people are it really is a city where you can be whoever you want to be!" 2. Cost of living For such an established Tech Hub the cost of living is pretty good compared to other cities in Europe and in Germany. Any research on Berlin rents would point you to the news articles of rent increases in the news, but in relative terms, the rents are still 26% lower than in Munich, and 32% lower than in London. This coupled with rising tech salaries (€61,000 on average for a Software Engineer) it is still making it economical place to pursue your Tech ambitions and start a new future. 3. You can be whoever you want to be In one of my first-ever meetings in Berlin, the Internal Recruiter said to me that Berlin was a place, “Where you can be whoever you want to be”. At the time I was fresh-faced and really did not get what that meant. Since then, from speaking to people and numerous visits, I see it is a place where people come from all over the world and there is little judgment, stereotyping and so much freedom to explore who you are and be completely accepted for it.

We’re proud that 47% of our Understanding Recruitment team are females and to further cement our commitment to supporting women in recruitment, we’ve joined APSCo’s (Association of Professional Staffing Companies) Women in Recruitment initiative. Together with over 40 other recruitment companies of all sizes we’ve pledged ourselves to the initiative and aim to attract more females to the tech recruitment profession while also investing in developing and retaining our current female talent. Here’s what our Founding Director Chris Jackson had to say "At Understanding Recruitment we firmly promote gender diversity across our business. 53% of the recruitment market is female yet research identifies specific barriers preventing females from fulfilling their potential within the industry. Joining 'Women in Recruitment' is another positive step in supporting our staff to ensure all genders within Understanding Recruitment have an equal chance of success. We are extremely proud to be part of this hugely worthwhile initiative." ​ As a result of joining the initiative, all our female employees have access to unique benefits provided including: The Power of Me personal development programme - an online personal development programme for aspiring talent in recruitment. The programme aims to help women reach their potential with the help of Leadership Development Coach Katie Botten. It also includes a personal Strengthscope® profile and report based on an online psychometric assessment which provides a detailed insight into an individual’s significant strengths and sources of energy. Access to all WIR networking events Regular WIR updates, research and white papers In addition to the above, members get tips on cultivating a winning mindset and building a support system, which are crucial factors to a successful career in recruitment.

If you’ve been keeping up with the latest updates in the contracting world, you’ll know that IR35 is the main topic of conversation. But what is IR35, and what does it mean for contractors? What is IR35? Implemented in the year 2000, IR35 was and still is a tax law designed to combat tax avoidance through the use of ‘disguised employment’. Simply put, ‘disguised employment’ is when a person engages with a business through a limited company to carry out work that would usually be completed by an employee. Operating this way means they take advantage of tax efficiencies, allowing them to pay comparatively less tax and National Insurance. The purpose of the legislation is to ensure that contractors that are in ‘disguised employment’ are paying the correct amount of tax. If you’re genuinely in business on your own account then you will not be caught by the legislation and can therefore, take advantage of the tax benefits available when working through a limited company. The IR35 rules are applied on an assignment-by-assignment basis; and currently contractors working within the private sector are responsible for determining the IR35 status of the contract and paying the correct Income Tax and National Insurance contributions for each contract they take on. However, this is due to change on the 6th April 2020, when the current IR35 rules in the public sector are extended to the private sector. The release of detailed plans On the 11th July 2019, as part of the release of the Draft Finance Bill 2020, the government revealed its detailed plans for next year’s reforms to off-payroll working. These reforms are due to be introduced to medium and large businesses, leaving small businesses unaffected. These medium and large businesses will then become responsible and liable for determining the IR35 status of the contractors they work with. What does all of this actually mean? We’ve explored some of the key points below: The small business exemption As mentioned above, the reforms will not apply to small businesses – as defined by the Companies Act 2006. Income Tax and National Insurance deductions will be paid by the fee payer If your contract is deemed to be inside IR35, then the amount paid for your services will be seen as employment income. The fee payer, the organisation that pays the personal service company, becomes the employer for tax purposes and is required to make deductions for PAYE tax and National Insurance contributions from the contract income. Debt transfer provisions This gives HMRC the power to collect unpaid Income Tax and National Insurance contributions from another organisation in the supply chain, should the entity responsible for paying the limited company (referred to as the fee payer) fail to pay these. Improvements to the Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool The CEST tool is a digital tool designed by HMRC, to help decide if your contract falls inside or outside IR35. There has been a lot of debate surrounding its accuracy, HMRC have advised that they are making improvements to the tool and this will be made available later in 2019. The impact on contractors in the private sector The employment status tests are not changing. The only change is in who is responsible for applying the legislation. If your contract and working relationships are similar to those of an employee then you could be deemed as falling inside IR35, meaning the income from your contract will be subject to PAYE Tax and National Insurance deductions like an employee. Though there is a significant amount of nuanced details for IR35, there are also three key pillars to determining your status: Control: If your client imposes a level of control over your work the project is likely to fall inside IR35. Some things to consider – does your client set your working hours, keep a close eye on your work, and dictate how you approach the work? Do you need consent to be given time off work, and are you able to choose the location in which you carry out the work for your client? Mutuality of Obligation: In permanent employment your manager would typically give you work to complete, and when that was done, they would have more for you. You would accept this further work and the cycle would continue. Both you and the employer are obliged to keep this relationship going until one party terminates the contract. However, if your contract is outside IR35 then you have no obligation to accept any additional work offered and the deliverables may be renegotiated at the end of each contract. Personal Service / Right to substitution: One hallmark of an employment relationship is the fact that you are engaged to complete the work personally. If you have an unfettered right to send a suitably qualified substitute in your place without requiring your employer’s permission, this points towards a business to business relationship Providing support We hope our overview of IR35 has been useful, and that we’ve answered some of your questions. It is important to note that determining the IR35 status of a contract is not a tick box exercise, and a holistic approach is needed. If you are unsure of your IR35 status or have any questions regarding IR35, it is important to contact a specialist contractor accountant. You can also contact our Head of Contracts Alex Martuccio by email alex@understandingrecruitment.co.uk or by phone 01727 228 244. Check out our latest contract roles here. ​Leading umbrella company Parasol offers contractors the flexibility which is part and parcel of self-employment, but with the added reassurance and support which comes with permanent employment.

Relocating cities or even countries for a new job can be an exciting but also daunting prospect. There are lots of things to consider before packing up, so we’ve put together the most important things to think about before accepting that new job abroad. 1. Find your why Before relocating, take some time to write down the pros and cons of the move. Why is it that you want to change your current situation? Is it a step up for your career or are you looking for more job satisfaction? Is the pay package better and will your quality of life improve in the new location? Also take into consideration the negatives such as being further away from family and friends, cost of living and possible language barriers. If you have real doubts about moving, then discuss them with family or friends and remember it’s an option and your choice to make. 2. Get to know your new home Before making the final decision about your move, visit your new home and try to experience it as if you already live and work there. This will help you see if you can picture yourself living and laying down roots there in the long-term. You’d be surprised how much places can vary from online photos and information and your gut feel will give you a good indication if the move is right for you. Research the place you’re moving to as much as possible. It’s a good idea to see some different areas while you’re there so you can find the one that suits your lifestyle best. If you can’t visit before you move, speak to people already living there to get a better picture. Local social media groups can be helpful to join, and your new employer will be able to offer some advice. 3. Ask for help Many companies offer a variety of relocation services including practical and financial assistance to employees who are relocating, so it’s worth asking about this during the hiring process. Even if your employer doesn’t typically offer relocation services, it’s worth negotiating this with them if it’s crucial for you to be able to make the move. Make sure to find out what your moving expenses will look like and if your goods need to be shipped so that you have a basis for negotiation. Some companies may also offer corporate housing. 4. Research, research, research Research your future company as much as possible and find out who you will be reporting into and what the team is like. You can find out more about the organisation’s ethic and culture by asking to speak to someone in a similar role as the one you’ll be doing. Next up think through the logistics of your move. Is it a permanent move? Will you be gone for a few months or a couple of years? Selling a house is one of the biggest complications that relocating homeowners face. So, analysing how permanent your move is will influence if you keep your current property, put your things into storage or opt for the full move. Renting your accommodation is also a great choice to settle into a new city without making a huge commitment. Make sure you know how much your cost of living will be, including accommodation, transport, childcare, other expenses, and tax rates. Your new job may offer a better salary package overall, but it may soon lose its novelty when compared to your cost of living. You also need to find out if you need a visa or residency permit to live in the new county. Visas can take quite a lot of time to process, so tackle it early on. If you already have found a job, the company is likely to sort this part out for you. But you should double check if this is the case before accepting the position. It is also worth looking into taxation as many countries have different tax guidelines especially if you are self-employed. Several countries also have bilateral tax treaties in place for non-residents to avoid being double taxed in your home nation and abroad. The UK for example, has over 100 of these treaties with different states. Your move can also affect your state pension so it’s best to clarify your pension status. To make the whole process easier, the best thing to do is to become a list person and keep a to do list for your current location and one for your destination. That way you have an overview of everything you need to keep on top of and don’t forget anything important during this busy time. 5. Think family If you have family, you need to take into consideration how they feel about the move. Will your partner be able to find work and what is the education system, schools and childcare like? Are there language barriers that will affect integration for your whole family? Is an international school the best option? 6. Your new start Once settled in your new city, make sure you’ve done the trial commute to your new place of work and know how long it takes you. The last thing you want is to turn up late on your first day. Networking will help you make new friends and build your safety net. Your new company may offer social clubs and activities to help you meet new people. Joining sports groups is also a great way to meet people with similar interests. The trick is to say yes, get out and be social. 7. If it doesn’t work out You’ve moved to a new city or country and started a new job. Now it’s turned out to be different than what you expected. Remember that it can take some time to get used to new surroundings and cultural differences which can be stressful but it’s important to stick with it and give your new situation a chance. If you’re still not happy after months and you don’t think that will change, you need to have a backup plan. Is it something job specific that is bothering you and could it change if you discuss it with your Manager or is it the location you are living in? Perhaps your commute is too long which is adding on stress or you’re not making any friends. Analyse why you're unhappy with the situation and see if a simple change could have a positive impact. If after this, the situation is still not working out for you, consider what your other options are. Overall, experiencing a different city or country can be the boost you and your career need. The key is that if you don’t like it, you can always go back, but chances are you won’t want to...

BOSTON, Mass., July 10, 2019 (UNDERSTANDING RECRUITMENT) -- This past week award-winning technology, software and digital staffing consultancy Understanding Recruitment, has opened its first stateside office in Boston, Massachusetts. In the city dubbed to become the AI capital of the world the team will be working closely with candidates to bring them the most relevant, challenging and innovative career opportunities within Artificial Intelligence and Backend Engineering. The new office is being led by one of Understanding Recruitment’s most successful consultants, Matthew Ferdenzi, who successfully developed a team of six consultants specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning recruitment in the UK. Matt will now be focusing on growing the Boston office over the next few years and brings with him a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. Understanding Recruitment Inc. Chief Operating Officer Matthew Ferdenzi commented “Moving to the U.S. has always been one of my personal goals and Understanding Recruitment have given me the platform to go to Boston and set up my own office and take the bull by the horns really. It’s a massive opportunity and I’m hugely proud to be taking our business stateside. We think that Boston is a global hub with a flourishing tech market and a lot of potential and I’m looking forward to speaking to new candidates and expanding our client base over the coming years.” Ideally located between Boston’s historic North End and ever-evolving West End, Understanding Recruitment has opted to make the WeWork 200 Portland Coworking space their new Boston address. As well as covering Boston and the surrounding cities, Understanding Recruitment recently expanded into the Berlin tech market specializing in Java technology recruitment. With exciting plans for continued growth across new geographical territories the business is also aiming to boost their worldwide headcount from 50 employees to 100 by 2022. Founding Director of Understanding Recruitment Inc. Chris Jackson concluded “We’re thrilled with the success we’ve had in Boston so far and with Massachusetts recruiting more Artificial Intelligence jobs per capita than all other U.S. states except Washington, I look forward to seeing the business go from strength to strength. Opening up in Boston was a very strategic decision that we took because we truly believe that the Boston tech market is strong and is evolving from its biotech roots towards Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies.” ENDS About Understanding Recruitment Inc. Understanding Recruitment is an award-winning technology, software and digital staffing consultancy with offices in Boston, Massachusetts and the United Kingdom. As well as covering the U.S. and the U.K., Understanding Recruitment also specialize in Java recruitment in Berlin, Germany. Having recently celebrated their first decade in business they have been recognized with several industry awards over the years including 'Best Staffing Firm to Work For 2018'​ at the SIA Awards for the third consecutive year. Their team of specialists operate across all areas of Technology and Digital covering both contract and permanent roles, including Java, DevOps & Cloud, Mobile & Web, .NET, Machine Learning & AI, FinTech, Project / Program and Product Management, Cyber Security, Infrastructure & Support, Testing & QA, Architecture & Design. Contact information: Understanding Recruitment Jana Timm jtimm@understandingrecruitment.co.uk (01144) (0)1727 809 340

As part of our ongoing growth plans, we’re excited to announce that our new Boston, Massachusetts office is now open for business! ​In the city dubbed to become the AI capital of the world the team will be working closely with candidates to bring them the most relevant, challenging and innovative career opportunities within Artificial Intelligence and Backend Engineering. ​ The new office is being led by one of Understanding Recruitment’s most successful consultants, Matthew Ferdenzi, who successfully developed his team of six consultants specialising in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning recruitment in the UK. Matt will now be focusing on growing the Boston office over the next few years while our UK team is now in the capable hands of Hannah Beach. Understanding Recruitment Inc. Chief Operating Officer Matthew Ferdenzi said “Moving to the U.S. has always been one of my personal goals and Understanding Recruitment have given me the platform to go to Boston and set up my own office and take the bull by the horns really. It’s a massive opportunity and I’m hugely proud to be taking our business stateside. We think that Boston is a global hub with a flourishing tech market and a lot of potential and I’m looking forward to speaking to new candidates and expanding our client base over the coming years.” Ideally located between Boston’s historic North End and ever-evolving West End, we’ve opted to make the WeWork 200 Portland Coworking space our new Boston address. As well as covering Boston and the surrounding cities, we recently expanded into the Berlin tech market specialising in Java technology recruitment. With exciting plans for continued growth across new geographical territories we’re also aiming to boost our worldwide team from 50 employees to 100 by 2022. Our Founding Director Chris Jackson concluded “We’re thrilled with the success we’ve had in Boston so far and with Massachusetts recruiting more Artificial Intelligence jobs per capita than all other U.S. states except Washington, I look forward to seeing the business go from strength to strength. Opening up in Boston was a very strategic decision that we took because we truly believe that the Boston tech market is strong and is evolving from its biotech roots towards Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies.” If you'd like to find out how we can help your business grow in The States get in touch with Matthew Ferdenzi mferdenzi@understandingrecruitment.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Lily joined us as part of our Digital and Data team based in St. Albans, Hertfordshire that specialises in placing tech talent in the Charity Sector. She has made a fantastic impression on the business so far, breaking the Understanding Recruitment record by placing three candidates within her first two months. She also recently won our ‘UR of the month’ award at the monthly stand-up that acknowledges team members who live and breathe our values. In this blog she shares her experience of working in recruitment so far… I joined Understanding Recruitment just over two months ago now and it has been the best decision I have made in my career so far! I can quite easily say I’ve enjoyed every part of the journey. I started as a Data Recruiter with absolutely no prior experience within the Recruitment sector, in fact no sales experience at all. At first, I was a little apprehensive about starting my new job and I really didn’t know what to expect. Prior to joining Understanding Recruitment, I went to Sandringham School and studied Geography, Sociology and Psychology at A Levels. I really enjoyed my time in sixth form and found my subjects fascinating however I wasn’t passionate enough about any of them for me to think that going to University would be beneficial. I was more passionate about starting to make money straight away and getting a head start in my career, so I became the Manager of a local café. Although I had a rough idea of what I thought recruitment would be like, I imagined it was going to be a very simple process and that there wouldn’t be much to it. I soon realised that there is a lot more to recruitment than most would think. There are so many different factors that contribute to being a successful Recruitment Consultant but fortunately I can confidently say that I’m learning from some of the best in the industry! My experience so far in recruitment has overall been very successful but I’m aware that not all days are good days. Due to the nature of the role every day is very different, and I have experienced very good days but also not so positive days. It’s normal and I have realised already that those not so good days just motivate me to work even harder the following week. "I’d say the most important thing to remember is not to take things personally when things don’t always go the way you’d hope as there are always highs just around the corner." A typical day for me as a Resourcer consists of checking emails and adverts, speaking to candidates, searching for CVs on job boards and LinkedIn, prepping candidates for upcoming interviews and much more. "My favourite part of my day would be getting on the phone and building good relationships with my candidates and helping people find the perfect job for them. Of course, the best part is placing candidates and I was extremely happy when I placed my first candidate last month, it was the best feeling!" My advice to anyone thinking about starting a career in recruitment who is in the same position I was two months ago is that if you’re financially driven, hardworking and passionate about being successful then definitely give it a go. I was provided with excellent training which has set me up for what I’m hoping will be a very successful career ahead and I can’t wait to progress further within the industry.

This past week, Understanding Recruitment achieved a significant milestone: we expanded to more than 50 employees worldwide and moved into newly refurbished headquarters in St. Albans, Hertfordshire. In line with our company values, renowned motivational keynote speaker Pete Wilkinson delivered an impactful talk on winning teams, everyone playing their part and being the best, they can be. Pete, who has managed a large team of 300 people is massively passionate about professionals achieving their potential and spends his time business coaching and supporting Chief Executives and Managing Directors in a range of businesses from small micro businesses up to £130m Engineering Businesses. Following the inaugural opening speech from founding directors Chris Jackson and Dale Swords, the ribbon was cut marking the official opening! The UR team then enjoyed an afternoon socialising in the new office space with a range of canapes and bubbly on tap. As well as covering the UK, we've recently expanded into Berlin and Boston with exciting plans for continued growth across new geographical territories. But despite the growth, we’ve not gone all corporate. Giving both our clients and candidates a top-notch experience is still our priority! It was also important for us to stay true to our roots and keep the office in St. Albans where Understanding Recruitment was founded in 2007. The only major difference between then and now is that we have a spacious 3,346 square feet to stretch out in. We also have what feels like limitless meeting space with a boardroom that seats 12 people that is ideal for our expansive internal training scheme. The new layout also boasts four smaller meeting rooms fully equipped with state-of-the-art Zoom video conferencing capabilities which means we can meet all our clients and candidates face to face! And there’s two fully stocked kitchens, a large breakout area perfect for team lunches, a custom-made pool table, individual lockers to store gym gear, a library, and plenty of room for expansion. In fact, we still have plenty of job openings and have ambitious plans to grow our team to 100 people by 2020. We have roles in recruitment, account management, business development and back office with openings in St. Albans and Boston. So why not join the team? Working here is pretty ace! Our newly refurbished offices are in the heart of St. Albans in The Maltings Shopping Centre on the 2nd Floor of the 38-40 Abbeyview building. If you’re curious and want to come by and visit, just let us know!

ST. ALBANS, Hertfordshire, 24th June 2019 (UNDERSTANDING RECRUITMENT) -- This past week award-winning technology, software and digital recruitment consultancy Understanding Recruitment, achieved a significant milestone in their growth: they expanded to more than 50 employees worldwide and moved into newly refurbished headquarters in St. Albans, Hertfordshire. In line with their company values, renowned motivational keynote speaker Pete Wilkinson kicked off the day with an impactful talk on winning teams, everyone playing their part and being the best they can be. Pete, who has managed a large team of 300 people is passionate about professionals achieving their potential and spends his time business coaching and supporting Chief Executives and Managing Directors in a range of businesses from small micro businesses up to £130m engineering businesses. Following the inaugural opening speech from Founding Directors Chris Jackson and Dale Swords, the ribbon was cut marking the official opening. The UR team then enjoyed an afternoon socialising in the new office space with a range of canapes and bubbly on tap. In his opening speech Founding Director Chris Jackson applauded the team for their fantastic achievements over the past years but also thanked Workplace Interiors for their great work on the office refurb and finished off by saying “We’re just at the beginning of where we are going and this office is a massive statement of where we’re looking to go as a business.” As well as covering the UK, Understanding Recruitment recently expanded into Berlin and Boston, Massachusetts with exciting plans for continued growth across new geographical territories. But despite the growth it remained the Founding Director’s priority to stay true to the companies’ roots, keeping the office in St. Albans where Understanding Recruitment was founded back in 2007. The new spacious office boasts 3,346 square feet to stretch out in. There is a new boardroom that seats 12 people and is ideal for delivering Understanding Recruitment’s internal training scheme to new starters. The new layout also boasts four smaller meeting rooms fully equipped with state-of-the-art Zoom video conferencing capabilities. There are also two fully stocked kitchens, a large breakout area perfect for team lunches, a custom-made pool table, individual lockers to store gym gear, a library, and plenty of room for expansion. In fact, Understanding Recruitment still have plenty of job openings and as stated by Founding Director Dale Swords “have ambitious plans to grow the team to 100 people by 2022.” ENDS About Understanding Recruitment Understanding Recruitment is an award-winning technology, software and digital recruitment consultancy based in St. Albans, Hertfordshire. As well as covering London and the surrounding areas, Understanding Recruitment have recently expanded into Berlin, Germany and are opening their first office stateside in Boston, Massachusetts. Having recently celebrated their first decade in business they have been recognised with several industry awards over the years including 'Best Staffing Firm to Work For 2018'​ at the SIA Awards for the third consecutive year and ‘Business of the Year 2017’ at the SME Hertfordshire Business Awards. Their team of specialists operate across all areas of Technology and Digital, including Java, DevOps & Cloud, Mobile & Web, .NET, Machine Learning & AI, FinTech, Project / Programme and Product Management, Cyber Security, Infrastructure & Support, Testing & QA, Architecture & Design. Contact information: Understanding Recruitment Jana Timm jtimm@understandingrecruitment.co.uk 01727 809 340

Making the switch from permanent employment to contracting can be one of the most exciting times of your career. The first major decision you need to make as a contractor is how to operate; do you work as an employee of an umbrella company or through your own limited company? You may be wondering, which option is the best for you? Thankfully, help is at hand. We have all the information you need from the experts at Parasol, including the pros and cons of each pathway, so read on for advice to help you make a well-informed decision. What is an umbrella company? An umbrella company is an excellent choice if this is your first venture into contracting or you’re planning on only contracting for a short period of time (for three-six months, for example). The main reason many contractors choose an umbrella company is the ease of use and less administration. If you decide to go down this route, you are considered an employee of the umbrella company. You will receive a contract of employment; as well as giving you peace of mind, this also entitles you to the benefits given to a permanent employee. This includes: Holiday pay Sick pay Maternity/paternity pay As well as receiving these benefits, you will also be able to claim business costs and expenses. The only drawback is that you can only claim these back if they are incurred during an assignment. Advantages of working as an umbrella employee Working as an umbrella employee can be the simplest way of operating whilst you’re contracting. The umbrella company will automatically deduct Income Tax and National Insurance contributions on your behalf, so once you receive your salary, the money is yours with no need to worry about additional liabilities. What is a limited company? A limited company is a company which you can set up in order to carry out your services. They have their own legal identity; this allows you to own company assets as well as having a business bank account – this account must be separate from your personal finances. If your limited company makes any profit, it then owns this profit. Although contractors working through a limited company can receive more money than those working under an umbrella company, this increase in income is a result of slightly more paperwork each month. You will need to raise your own invoices with your client and – with the help of your accountant – make your own National Insurance and tax contributions. Advantages of contracting through a limited company Forming your own limited company and working as a limited company director can be the most tax efficient way of working. In terms of expenses, limited company directors are also able to claim on a bigger selection of expenses than those working through an umbrella company. Forming a limited company gives you the ultimate control over your business finances, providing the freedom you perhaps first expected when you decided to become self-employed. Working as a limited company director is a great option for those who are planning on contracting for the long-term. A quick overview of both options So far, we’ve explored both contracting under an umbrella company, and through a limited company. It’s now your choice to take charge of your career, and decide which way is best for you. To summarise, an umbrella company could be the best option if you’re new to contracting and want to avoid the hassle of paperwork. It is also the best option for you if you’re intending on contracting only for a couple of months at a time. A limited company does come bundled with slightly more paperwork and added responsibility but if you’re planning on contracting long-term working through your own limited company could be a great option. Helping you decide Whether it’s a limited company or umbrella company you choose, we hope our guide has been useful in helping you decide which option fits you best. For a tailored recommendation, leading umbrella company Parasol offers a set of simple questions designed to point you in the right direction. You can also contact our Head of Contracts Jack Cascarino by email: jcascarino@understandingrecruitment.co.uk or by phone 01727 220 104 Check out our latest contract roles here.

Mike Sowerbutts is the Head of Engineering at White Springs, a technology provider dedicated to improving sales performance. They employ approximately 20 employees across offices in London, Banbury, Oxfordshire and San Diego. After ten years of progressing through the ranks at White Springs, Mike took on the Head of Engineering role with the challenge of recruiting a permanent team of highly skilled software development professionals to be based out of the Banbury office. We spoke to Mike to find out how he did it and what advice he'd give others who face similar challenges in this talent short market. Background UR: First off Mike tell me a bit about yourself. MS: I studied IT & Media at Lancaster University and was based in Oxford before I joined White Springs in March 2009. I then moved to Banbury in order to be able to walk to work, it’s been a long time since I’ve had to jump in the car and commute to work! I now live just outside of York. UR: But that’s quite a commute isn’t it? MS: It’s a good drive yes – but pales in insignificance to a daily commute, given that for the majority of those years, I have been 100% remote! The Challenge MS: Moving into the Head of Engineering role and realising the CEO’s ambitions it was quite clear we had to scale up our team and that two developers wouldn’t be sufficient to deliver on the projects we had lined up. UR: So, what was the plan? MS: I needed to hire six people including a Technical Lead to be based out of our Banbury office. UR: And how did you start to go about doing that? MS: Well, I went out to some recruitment agencies and I managed to make one hire inside the first couple of months. UR: That was good then... MS: Well yes and no. From looking at the candidates and interviews we conducted to make just one hire I wasn’t convinced that I could find another six hires of sufficient quality in the right location within the timescale required. I was ideally looking for experience of microservices, Entity Framework and .NET Core 2.0. I needed to change something… The Solution UR: So, what did you do? MS: I decided to expand the criteria to include the hiring of remote developers who didn’t need to be within a commuting distance of Banbury. UR: Ah okay. What experience, if any, have you had of remote workers previously? MS: I’m one! When I moved to Yorkshire from Banbury I asked to work remotely and while there was initially some hesitation and resistance, the company did have some people in other departments doing it as well as some employees working out of the US so the decision was made to allow me to do it. UR: I’ll come onto what some of that initial reluctance was down to later but for the moment, tell me what your experience was from a recruitment perspective after relaxing the location criteria. MS: I hired the six further people I needed within the timescales I had! I also hired a new recruitment agency to help me as well. UR: What made you choose the recruiter you did? MS: I liked the recruiter, he came across as trustworthy and not too pushy and thankfully he turned out to be able to find the calibre of people I needed. UR: And what did you find with regards to the new candidates that you saw? MS: I started seeing a larger pool of high-quality candidates than I had done previously. It allowed me to be more selective and certain about who I selected as I knew I had more people to choose from. If you are not careful you can hire people for the wrong reasons, i.e. they live locally even if they are not the best for the job. UR: Okay, great, that makes sense. While it seems an obvious positive that you get more candidates to choose from, what about the negatives you hear about employing remote developers? For example, I’ve heard that productivity slumps? Remote Working MS: That hasn’t been an issue. I’ve found that by being more flexible and by hiring the right people they don’t take the mick. UR: Trust people until they give you a reason not to then. What about still being able to foster that team culture and effective communication when everyone isn’t in the same location? MS: I’ve been the sole remote working employee in a team previously and that is difficult, especially when your line manager isn’t the biggest fan of remote working. However, when everyone in the team is remote it becomes easier. We use Microsoft Teams (allows multiple communication channels, syncs through Outlook…) to foster collaboration while also having an open chat where we can have some non-work communication and share our love of Star Wars etc! That may become more difficult with bigger teams but for the size we have it works. We also get together at least once every 2 months and go to developer conferences etc. UR: Sounds great! I’ve also heard that companies are concerned about sensitive data becoming unsafe through the use of remote workers – what do you do to mitigate this? MS: We use BitLocker (a full volume encryption feature included with Microsoft Windows) and Microsoft Intune (a device management solution) to handle this. Hiring UR: How would you summarise the impact that offering remote work has played in your hiring efforts? MS: It’s definitely been advantageous. I always ask our current developers for any negatives / improvements but there hasn’t been anything up to now. Given that all of them were 100% office based in prior positions, this is telling UR: And what about the interview process has that had to change? MS: Not too much, I do a telephone interview first (anything from 20-60 mins), then invite them into Banbury for a face to face interview including technical tests). Though sometimes it makes more sense to interview at a location closer to both of us. Fortunately, the recruiter I worked with was able to provide a space for this. And Finally... UR: Thanks a lot for taking the time to do this Mike, finally, for anyone reading this who is considering hiring remote developers what tips would you give them? MS: Okay, first one – look for more than just skillset. If someone’s personal skills are poor then working remotely doesn’t mitigate this, don’t change your team & cultural fit requirements just because they aren’t going to be in the same office. It’s still really important to get the right fit for the team. Secondly, ask the candidate where they plan to work from. You don’t want someone who says the sofa! Someone who can separate themselves from family distractions when needed and ideally has a separate workspace is better. It shows they are taking it seriously as well. And finally, you need the candidate to have fibre broadband so it’s worth checking their location, connection and speeds. For more information about White Springs and what they can do for your sales performance click here or contact them on 020 7754 5924.

One of the many benefits of working at Understanding Recruitment is that you’re entitled to a three-month sabbatical after you’ve been with us for five years. Our Delivery Manager Nicola and her husband Tom who is our Head of DevOps and Cloud went on Sabbatical before tying the knot in 2018, as our first Understanding Recruitment love story. We caught up with them to reminisce about their three months of exotic travels… Why did you decide to go travelling? We both love visiting new countries and experiencing new cultures, and the sabbatical offered us the opportunity to do this for an extended period. We could comfortably afford to travel how we wanted to during this time with the added security and benefit that our jobs would be there for us to return to. Which countries did you visit on your sabbatical and why did you choose them? We travelled to Japan, Australia, Bali, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, and Dubai. We had been to Thailand several times before and were really keen to further explore South East Asia. I have family in Australia on the East Coast, so it was a great excuse to visit them. Tokyo has always been an area of interest and we thought it was a great opportunity to go there too whilst being in that part of the world. Dubai was a stop off on the return to the UK so thought it made sense to stay there for a few days too! How did you go about planning your sabbatical? We used specialist travel agents to help us plan most effectively and to advise us on our route. We also contacted family in Australia for advice and did several months of internet-based research, booking most flights and hotels before we went. We also made some bookings whilst we were out there so that we didn’t have to stick to a rigid structure. How did you fund your travel? We worked out an average budget per day and then saved our commission earnt at work to build up to it! What was the most useful thing you packed? We had smaller bags designed to keep all clothes as one within the backpack making them a lot easier to find each day (i.e. one bag for shorts, another for swimwear)! Which place was totally different to how you imagined? Dubai was totally different to what we expected. On the day we arrived there was a storm and the city flooded to the point that we couldn’t get off the plane for an hour when we arrived because it was stuck in a puddle! It is also very cosmopolitan compared to the more rural vibe of Asia where we had just come from. Have you had any bad experiences whilst travelling? Small amounts of money were stolen from our backpacks and rooms where a safe wasn’t available, but this didn’t happen often. What was your favourite moment? It’s a tough call between staying with a wider group on a catamaran for three days whilst sailing around the Whitsundays in Australia; which included snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, swimming with giant sea turtles and going to Whitehaven Beach, and seeing the light and water show at the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. What has been the best food you have eaten and where was it? We went on a Vietnamese street food tour in Hanoi which was amazing. Did you make friends along the way? Yes, we met lots of people in most places, particularly Oz and South East Asia. What, if anything, would you do differently? We would potentially go to less places and spend more time at each by doing so. What destination would you recommend to people? Hands down it would be El Nido in the Philippines – Las Cabanas Beach! Where will you go next? So far, we’ve got Egypt and New York planned for this year.

Codility is a leading online technical testing platform for Developers similar to HackerRank, CoderPad etc - they have recently released their 2018 Developer Report. If you are a company looking to hire technical staff (and even more importantly, looking to retain them!) you should download the PDF without hesitation. 'Companies that just rely on how ground-breaking their tech/platform is to sell to candidates is simple arrogance' So many companies make mistakes when it comes to recruiting. Slow candidate offers, not very relevant technical testing and poor communication of the role within interviews are examples which I see happen all the time. One thing is clear, the companies that are hiring the best candidates are the companies with the best processes in place. These processes give a candidate insight into how a company works, what their culture is, how they can progress their career there. Companies that just rely on how ground-breaking their tech/platform is to sell to candidates is simple arrogance. Key insights from the report include: Female Developers are not involved in recruiting Personal Development is more appealing than salary How you should be marketing yourself differently to junior Developers to Senior Developers Majority of Developers jobs are not what they expected. Within the report, there also is a key point on the importance of giving candidate feedback. Many companies miss out on such an easy point-scorer with candidates by not delivering interview feedback, both positive and negative. Plain and simple, the companies giving feedback are beating you at recruitment (real-world example below) 'Many companies miss out on such an easy point-scorer with candidates by not delivering interview feedback, both positive and negative.' It was only yesterday that I was having a chat with one of my candidates, informing him that he had progressed from his initial tech test to a phone interview. Usually, I work with many companies who would just email me around the lines of 'Hi Mat, Phone interview please - send availability'. However on this occasion they had given him detailed feedback on his assessment, listing what they liked about it and what they would have improved about it. I delivered the candidate the feedback. The candidate remarked that he was very impressed that they had taken the time to give him detailed feedback, compared to other companies, and how that has shown him what kind of company they are. The candidate was pretty enthused about the opportunity, though now through a couple of lines of feedback it has heightened his experience one more notch. From doing something seemingly as small as giving candidate feedback, you will be able to positively differentiate yourself from a huge amount of companies in the tech industry. 'From doing something seemingly as small as giving candidate feedback, you will be able to positively differentiate yourself from a huge amount of companies in the tech industry.' When a candidate receives an offer, you have to imagine that they will cast their mind back through the process with your company. What were the positives? What were the negatives? To hire the best people, you must be covering all the bases in terms of candidate experience, many of which are highlighted in the codility report. The best companies already are. Are you? I have helped to scale successful tech companies that have got recruitment right. If you'd like to talk about refining and creating recruitment processes, candidate attraction, the mindset of candidates or the market - let's have a chat. Click here to connect with me on LinkedIn.

Most of you have been there. You’ve felt excited and geared up about a new job opportunity, maybe gone to an interview or two or at least applied, but then - silence. Nothing; no calls, no emails and especially no feedback to let you know where it went pear shaped or if the recruiter is still thinking about you. Unfortunately, mutual “ghosting” and the bad habit of not giving candidates feedback hasn’t helped people’s negative perceptions and experiences of the recruitment industry. And who can blame the critics? The issue of feedback has been a constant conversation within our industry for as long as I’ve been in recruitment (which is a pretty long time). Interestingly, the whole candidate experience was the main discussion topic at Understanding Recruitment’s Strategy Day earlier this year and is an area that we’re keen to improve in our “year of the candidate”. My personal ethos is an aspiration to provide feedback (positive & negative) to all candidates at all stages of the process. I think it’s the only way to provide the best service to those looking to take the next step in their career. Despite this ethos I'm not naive enough to think that we provide feedback to the satisfaction of everyone all of the time, despite having won multiple awards and been recognised for our approach to customer service. There can be a number of reasons behind this: lack of care from the recruiter’s side, lack of feedback from clients, recruiters chasing the short term £ rather than the caring about long term reputation, recruitment companies who advocate the wrong behaviours amongst their employees, recruiters focusing on people who they’ll place now rather than people who could be of interest in the future, human forgetfulness, candidate behaviour and many more. To recruiters who aspire to be better, reputation is key, and we want to exceed expectations. Why then, is giving feedback still an issue? It’s a tricky situation with most recruiters juggling multiple roles, clients and candidates all the time and there only being so many hours in a day. So how can we still give people the personal experience they’ve come to expect without burning ourselves out? I don’t have the perfect solution and we’re still working on what that solution might look like for us as a business. I suspect we’ll end up with a combination of the use of smart recruitment & AI tech for a certain amount of automated feedback while also continuing to provide the vital human and personal contact in order to build long lasting relationships. Like a lot of traditional industries recruitment is experiencing a lot of disruption that will raise standards, put candidates at the centre of the business and give you, the customer a better experience. I hope so anyway! I would love to hear your opinions and suggestions on how we can make the feedback issue a thing of the past. Connect with me on LinkedIn to start a conversation.

Searching for your next career move can be hard work, a bit of a hassle and in some cases pretty nerve-wracking. Although recruiters can’t promise to calm the butterflies in your stomach before the big interview, they're here to help you secure the job you want. Here are 7 thing recruiters wish you knew... Be honest – honesty is the best policy when working with a recruiter. Be transparent about what type of role you’re looking for and let them know straightaway if you’re not open to new positions. This way you’ll get the most out of working together and don’t waste each other’s time. Working exclusively with one recruitment agency is also the best way to simplify the process of finding your next role. Recruiters will always have multiple roles that they’re working on so the chances of you getting a new role increase when you work with one recruiter instead of multiple different agencies. Give feedback – recruiters put a lot of work into getting you that interview and really appreciate a catch up after the interview or at the end of the day (yes, we will probably still be working past 6pm). Although this may seem like a bit of a waste of time, it really helps the recruiter get a better understanding of how the interview went and gives you a chance to share your thoughts on the experience. It also helps your recruiter move you forward in the interview process if you are still interested in pursuing the role. Make time – recruiters know that most candidates are currently employed and probably at work when they call. While this can be a nuisance for candidates, recruiters do try their best not to disturb your day too much and will double check if you can talk. A good recruiter should be discreet and respect that you’re at work and can rarely talk privately. An initial conversation with a recruiter will take around 10 minutes so making time for this at some point is crucial. This initial conversation will help your recruiter understand what you’re looking for and what your expectations are. This will also help them paint a better picture of you when they put you forward to the client. It’s also a way of making sure they find the best role for you and only send you to relevant interviews. Make sure you look at all the information your recruiter sends you before an interview and do the recommended research, so you’re prepared. Also listen to their interview advice as they’ve worked closely with the client and have a pretty good understanding of what type of person they’re looking for. Don’t be shy - recruiters are busy people and work quickly. Having 100+ applicants for a position is not unusual so if you sent in your CV and haven’t heard back from them after a few days, give them a call to follow up. This will help recruiters prioritise your CV as someone who has shown interest and will set you apart from other candidates. Due to the high number of applicants, recruiters can’t always get back to you if you’re not the right fit for the role. So, getting in touch is a sure way to find out if you weren’t the right fit, if the maximum number of candidates have been sent to the client already or if there are other similar roles that you might be more suitable for. Patience is a virtue – recruiters may seem to ask a lot of random questions but it’s all for a reason. They need to build your profile, so they can find you the best roles, tell clients about you and make sure they are aligned with you in your search. For example, we may ask you how you think your employer will react when you hand in your notice. This is not just us being nosey, but actually gives us a good indication if you’re really serious about leaving your current company. Most companies will try and keep candidates with a counteroffer because it costs them more to hire a new person. We genuinely think that companies should pay people what they are worth instead of increasing their salaries when they threaten to leave. In our experience, 90% of candidates who accepted a counteroffer wind up leaving the business within six months anyway. Once you decide you want to leave, commit to the decision and don’t be fooled by short-sighted counteroffers. Remember why you started your job search in the first place. A salary increase won’t change the atmosphere you work in, the work you do or that manager you don’t get along with. Be seen - LinkedIn´s search engine gives priority to fully completed profiles so unless you have completed every section of your profile chances are recruiters can’t find you. You can also share your career interests with recruiters on LinkedIn. This option can be activated on your profile and will not be visible to your network so is a good way to let recruiters know you’re looking for a new challenge and what that looks like. Recruiters also use a wide range of job boards so if you’re looking for a new role make sure your CV is visible here too, so we can contact you with relevant opportunities. Stand out – Looking through CV’s is a huge part of a recruiter’s day and they come across the same buzzwords again and again. Overusing words like motivated, initiative, organised, and driven can actually be an indicator of a lack of time and effort going into your CV creation. To stand out, tailor your CV to each role you apply for. The best way to do this is to run through the job description and highlight the key experiences required for the role. Then show how you tick every box and let your personality shine through.

We all know how important branding is for companies but what about us personally? A personal brand exists whether or not you create it for yourself. Not purposefully building it just means you don’t have control over it. The concept of cultivating a personal brand can seem daunting to most of us. But it doesn’t have to be complex or time intensive and can really help people remember you. Two of our consultants experienced this first hand after recently enrolling in The Recruitment Network Trailblazers programme that aims to develop the next generation of recruitment leaders and runs for a year. As part of the programme’s series of regular London based meetups Hannah and Ben enjoyed a workshop that was all about the importance of personal branding for recruiters. We caught up with Hishem Azzouz from the inbound marketing and creative agency, Hoxo Media, who presented the keynote on the day and shared some of his key takeaways with us: “You can only reach a certain amount of people by calling and meeting them. The amazing part about creating content is that you can reach thousands of people with one post. Recruiters historically just share their new jobs everywhere online, but we all know this isn't successful and quite frankly doesn't work. Recruiters are in a really unique position. They listen to candidates’ challenges and aspirations within their industry along with the businesses in that industry. If you have the courage to start sharing your opinion on candidates/clients’ challenges/aspirations then you can work yourself into an amazing position as a recruiter where you won't just be perceived as someone who helps people get new jobs, but someone who is an expert within their industry. Start sharing your opinion online as a recruiter and take a step closer to becoming a thought leader within your space, which in turn will make you stand out amongst your competitors.” Personal branding isn’t just important for recruiters though. No matter what role or industry you’re in; the more successful you want to be, the more important your personal brand becomes. Whether you just want to improve engagement with your network or you’re aiming for personal branding to open doors to public speaking gigs, you decide how far you take it. As a rule of thumb, the more you put into it the more you’ll get out of it. How to get started Your personality is probably the most unique thing about yourself and being your authentic self is the basis of building your personal brand. Don’t be afraid to let your personality and opinions show in the way you communicate online and the types of stories you tell. It’s all about communicating and creating emotional connections with your audience. Being honest about what you know and don’t know will also help you build credibility in your industry. Ever Googled yourself? We suggest you do! Google automatically gives priority to your social channels and will list the channel you’re most active on above the others. Know what search results are attached to your name by auditing them and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit your vision for your personal brand and could even damage your reputation. Next up, take some time to determine your personality traits and amplify them to make your personal brand stronger. Here are some questions to ask yourself: What makes you unique? What do you stand for? What are your values and beliefs? What are you passionate about? What do you want to be known for? Who are you? What makes you unique? What is your vision for your personal brand? What is your goal with personal branding? What are your professional goals? Who is your audience? Who can you help? How can you help them? What makes you different? Including images in your updates is best practice but make sure they are copyright free. There are multiple sites that offer free images without copyright such as unsplash.com, pixabay.com and pexels.com. You’re now ready to start sharing your personal brand with the world! Start by posting regularly, experiment with short videos and write content online and offline. Ben and Hannah’s top 10 personal branding takeaways: Do a little, often. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Have an opinion and share it online. Connect with relevant people and follow influencers for inspiration. Engage regularly with other people’s content and posts. Pick your channels and post regularly instead of posting sporadically on lots of channels. Include relevant hashtags. LinkedIn is increasingly becoming the tool to search and find high calibre candidates, it has never been more important to have your own personal LinkedIn brand. It’s key you build your influence within your sector by posting articles on your niche, having an opinion on topics related to that industry and asking peoples’ thoughts on current developments. A new feature to LinkedIn that is predicted to take off more and more, is the production of video content. When producing content and engaging with your audience it’s crucial to persist. Initially traction will be slow, but as you continue posting regularly your following and audience will grow and reach more people. Finally, be patient and don’t expect overnight success. Everyone expects a flurry of engagement but how often do you engage with other people’s posts? Simply posting an update is not enough, so make sure to respond to comments and questions from your audience and engage with other people’s post too. As you see, it doesn’t have to as complex as building a whole personal branding strategy and your own website. With tools like LinkedIn publishing at your fingertips, writing short blogs and sharing your take on a topic in your industry has never been easier. Why not challenge yourself to make a start today?

Euan McGonagle, who specialises in the field of Python FinTech at Understanding Recruitment, recently attended the Unthink Tank event in London. This edition explored the concept of 'unthinking', inviting leaders and innovators from the tech, disruptor, and creative communities to discuss the issues that impassion and empower them. Technologist, author, applied Artificial Intelligence designer, technologist, accidental polymath, mental health campaigner, and co-founder of 'Us Ai', Pete Trainor, explored the growing role that Artificial Intelligence plays in our every-day lives, from our mental health to our money. Over the last three years, Pete has helped to pioneer an entirely new approach to AI focused products, one that looks at ‘self-evolving systems’ and ‘minimum viable personality’ to help solve societal and human issues. He was recently voted, by the industry, as one of the 5 most influential people in the British digital industry in Econsultancys 2017 industry report. Here's Euan's take on his evening spent at the Unthink Tank: I thoroughly enjoyed Pete Trainor’s talk on the Future of AI in FinTech. The talk focussed on the use of AI as a tool within Financial applications to identify risks to the user’s mental health. In effect, indicators like credit card debt or unusual spending habits are identified and as a result, help is offered to hopefully prevent any harm coming to the user, with a real emphasis being placed on reducing suicide rates. Firstly, I think the idea is absolutely brilliant and the use of technology to possibly save lives can only be applauded. I also think the tech involved is really cool! The ability of AI to learn what is and isn’t normal behaviour, using the data created by the individual and then tailoring its response based on this is a brilliant idea. In my last post I wrote about the use of Open Banking and The FinTech Revolution. This is a brilliant example of that revolution, the use of technology to bring Financial services into the 21st century. Traditionally from an outside perspective at least, the finance sector has looked to make as much money as possible and not think about the customer. I think it’s brilliant that it is moving completely in the other direction with a far more customer centric approach. I think the revolution of the “Disruptive FinTech” has really driven this. The biggest challenge to this kind of technology is to decide where you draw the line between support and surveillance? Ethically, Artificial Intelligence has always thrown up a number of conundrums (although if you believed the media, sometimes you’d think the robots are taking over!). As AI advances, these kinds of issues are going to become more and more prevalent. How we are going to deal with that? I’m not sure… Pete highlighted this issue and put forward a really interesting question on the topic: "Is one person’s life worth more than the privacy of 99 others?" ​ If you're looking for you next tech role in Fintech get in touch with Euan emcgonagle@understandingrecruitment.co.uk 01727 225 551 or check out our latest roles.

With 750,000 new digital jobs by 2020 the UK is facing a huge tech skills shortage. Brexit could help fill this gap. “Could” being the most important word in that sentence. Before my recruitment days I spent a summer working in parliament between my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Studies. In my time there I witnessed a vote to leave the EU, a change of Prime Minister, and an unprecedented amount of shadow cabinet resignations. It was a crazy time. Almost 3 years on I have left parliament, finished my studies, started my recruitment career finding top talent for the UK tech market and then switched to doing the same for the Berlin Tech scene. Being English and recruiting into an international Berlin naturally the topic of Brexit will come up in conversation whilst I’m on the phone, and sometimes people are interested to hear my opinion. If anything, I was expecting to become much more Europe-centric in my stance whilst recruiting into Berlin. But this has not been the case. Why? Well, one thing that stands out about Berlin tech is its truly international nature. Each day I speak to tech professionals from all corners of the globe: Egypt, Brazil, China, the Lebanon, and I could literally list the countries all day. The relative ease of obtaining a visa goes some way to addressing the huge skills shortages in Berlin. Something I think maybe the UK can learn from as they look to attract talent in a time where a good Software Developer has a large list of vacancies to choose from; or should I say a large list of recruiter’s emails to choose to reply to. In Recruiting into the Berlin market what I’ve realised is that, yes! Europe is a big place and something that should definitely be treasured. But, the rest of the world is even bigger, and in each corner of the globe is an immense amount of talent that can, not only address the skills shortage, but also add some real value to the UK’s tech industry. Of course, Brexit has the potential to make the UK look inwards which would be catastrophic. Conversely, it could actually give the UK Tech market an opportunity to look at the wider world for strong tech talent, and it is this that can make the UK realise how big the world actually is. <br>

Well done on getting a new role! Handing in your resignation can be the most daunting part of the process, so here are some tips on how to do it in style. ​ HOW TO RESIGN GRACEFULLY 90% of all counter offered candidates leave within six months as the underlying issues never go away. 50% become active on job boards within 60 days. 1. Plan ahead. Write down what you want to say and list the reasons why just to remind yourself. If you need to practice it with a partner/friend, then do. 2. Be firm and assertive but always remain professional. 3. Thank your manager for all their time and effort but reinforce that your mind is 100% made up and that you would like them to respect your decision. 4. Have a resignation letter with you and get a leaving date confirmed. 5. Be selective on the reasons why you're leaving or where you're going. This information will only be used to sell against your new opportunity. Usually employers act in one of three ways when you hand in your notice: 1. They may thank you for your time and hard work and wish you all the best in your next role. That's the easiest response to get as the employer has accepted your resignation. However, still make sure it's official with your resignation letter and leaving date secured. 2. They may take it personally and be difficult about the whole situation. Fortunately, it's not that common, however you need to remain professional and rise above this. Remember, you're doing it for your best career interests. 3. They counteroffer. All of a sudden you gain a promotion and a pay rise due to your resignation. Sometimes this is enough to persuade an employee to stay on however beware that 90% of all counter offered candidates leave within 6 months as the underlying issues never go away. Just remember the reasons you started to look for a role in the first place. HOW TO HANDLE COUNTEROFFERS 1. Your employer should pay you what you're worth from the beginning, not when you threaten to leave. 2. If you accept a counteroffer, you'll always be considered a fidelity risk. You've already lost their trust and shown your lack of loyalty. 3. Counteroffers are often made to give the employer time to replace you. 4. While a counteroffer may make the situation more tolerable in the short term, your reason for wanting to leave still remains. 5. Counteroffers are only made in response to a threat to quit. Are you prepared to threaten to quit every time you deserve better compensation?​ 6. Decent and well-managed companies don't make counteroffers. We'll always advise you to decline counteroffers made to you by your current employer.

We can't promise to take away the butterflies, but we can share our interview tips with you. It's time to step up your interview game... Stage 1 Research the company Find out as much as you possibly can about the company. Look at the latest company news, their annual reports, website information, and anything else you can get your hands on. This shows your enthusiasm and interest and will also make you feel more prepared. If it's a close match between you and another candidate, it can make all the difference. Arriving early You should plan your route and give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview. Plan for the worst-case scenario i.e. traffic jams, nowhere to park and so on. Aim to get to the interview at least 20-30 minutes early. If there is a remote chance of being late call a member of Understanding Recruitment so we can make the client aware. Understand your CV Know yourself. What are your strengths, weaknesses and achievements? You should try and plan for what questions may be asked during the interview as well as providing examples to back up your answers. These are typically for competency-based interviews (usually lead by the Human Resources department). First impressions count You should always dress appropriately for interviews. This is your first opportunity to impress the client and get off to a great start. Research the company and figure out what the dress code is for the current employees. If in doubt, always dress smartly. Being overdressed is definitely better than being too casual. Stage 2 Smile and offer a firm handshake As well as being a strong cultural and technical fit, it's also good to portray yourself as someone who would be a real asset to work with. Always offer a firm handshake when you meet interviewers. Even make an effort to get on with reception whilst you're waiting as this feedback does filter through. If an interviewer is unsure about you, they may well poll others you passed in the corridor or briefly met. It may not be fair, but it is common practice. Communicate concisely and listen carefully Thoughtful and concise communication is the key to successful interviewing. Listen very closely to the interviewer and don't interrupt their question as this can be extremely frustrating. Also use positive body language. Be respectful It's important to show the utmost respect to everyone you meet throughout the interview process from the office junior through to the CTO. Everyone you meet will be part of the decision-making process. Don't ramble The most effective interviews are those where an interactive two-way conversation prevails. Make sure you answer the question directly without any rambling. Each answer should be no longer than 1-2 minutes. Stage 3 Provide examples There's nothing more powerful than backing up an answer to a question with an example of how you demonstrated that particular capability/characteristic. That's why it's important to try and predict some of the likely questions and plan out your responses with strong examples. Prepare questions Asking a few questions during or at the end of an interview can be a really positive sign to an interviewer while also answering any lingering queries you may have about the role. Make sure these questions are well thought out and relevant but also of interest, rather than purely for the sake of asking a question. If you're interested in the job, tell them! Too many candidates don't let the client know exactly how interested they are in the opportunity. If you're keen on the position, it's crucial to express your high level of commitment. Don't be afraid to ask what the next stage would be and whether they would want to be informed if you receive another offer in the meantime (this may well speed up the process).​ Communicate concisely and listen carefully Don't blag - you'll eventually be found out. We've already discussed the importance of being prepared for the interview which means that there should be very few hidden surprises. However, if you do get that "difficult question" that you're struggling on, don't blag an answer, be honest, and say you don't know, but that it's an area you'd be keen to learn and explore further.

Your CV is your digital handshake and the first thing your potential employer sees. Here's how to make a great first impression. The tech market is growing rapidly and there's an increase of talent. This makes your CV a really important tool to help you stand out from the crowd. Your CV should always be role specific and provide a brief, but full account of your working life, including your interests and academic achievements. Personal Information - Name - Address - Telephone number - Email address - DOB (optional) Employment History - List your employers in date order (starting with the most recent) - The role you held in each company - A short summary of your tasks and responsibilities Education - GCSE's & A-levels (or equivalent) - Degree - Any other professional training or qualifications - Relevant skills Interests - What you like to do outside of work Referees -Whether they can be contacted COVER LETTERS Some roles require you to submit a cover letter. It should be a short statement to summarise your CV, highlighting why you're right for the job. Remember to tailor your cover letter to every position you apply for. Here's an example: Dear Name (or Sir/Madam as appropriate), Opening Paragraph: Identify yourself; state what position you're applying for and where the vacancy was advertised. Second Paragraph: Cover: why you're interested in the job/work and why the company appeals to you. Mention your academic background, relevant qualifications and related work experience. Third Paragraph: Mention that you've enclosed your CV/completed application form - and cover any additional points of relevance. Finally: Close with the following: your availability to interview, your expected salary (or current package), and a positive final sentence to encourage a positive response. Yours Sincerely, Your name

We think of Product Managers as the CEOs of the product, responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition for that product or product line. With the tech industry booming, the role of Product Manager, is becoming increasingly significant. But how can you make sure you stand out from the crowd when you’re looking for your next challenge? We've put together some tips for you to step up your game! Your CV 1. Listing your achievements should form the core of your CV and lets employers know what you’ve done. While it does sound like common CV advice, you’d be surprised how few people do it. Did you lead the development of a new product? Did you look after the product from the research phase to release? Did you implement a new way of gathering customer feedback? Were you the champion of the team methodology? Let us know about it! 2. Be clear about what type of product you worked on and were involved in building. Was it data analytics, a B2C restaurant app, a new e-commerce platform, EdTech, or something like a challenger bank? The type of product you have experienced with is crucial to securing your next role. Also mention what size of business you built a product within. For example, you could say: “I work/ed for a global retailer and built the analytics product, that enabled managers across the world, to know which lines were selling and which weren’t.” 3. Be succinct - no one wants to read long statements about everything you’ve ever done. The less you write, the clearer it is to see what you’ve actually done, so focus on the stuff that really matters. 4. Don’t forget to mention challenges you’ve overcome. Did you come into a product behind schedule? Did the stakeholders hate your product ideas? Or did you hate the stakeholders’ ideas but pushed back anyway? Product leaders like to know you can be relied on to make a difference to the business, so make sure to mention the difference you’ve made in past roles! The Job Search 5. Product Managers are some of the most active, when it comes to giving back to the community they work in. At the start of your job search, it’s worth increasing your activity on social media channels, attending meet-ups, or creating something in your own time to showcase your skills. Hiring managers love to see that you’re passionate about creating brilliant products outside of work too. 6. Knowing the market is important to your job search. Understand who the movers and shakers are, and which are the growing sectors. This will give you lots of insight into the type of roles to apply for, but also a lot to talk about at your interviews. Try to be a little savvier in your research, we all know who the challenger banks are. Common Interview Feedback We Get from Clients 7. Too often, candidates don’t have enough specific examples to illustrate what they’ve done. This leaves hiring managers thinking they were just part of a team, told what to do by someone else. To avoid this, be clear about what your involvement was and think of situations you can talk about as examples. 8. Another piece of common feedback we hear a lot, is that the candidate didn’t demonstrate leadership capabilities. Even if you’re joining a large team, Product Managers must be able to lead people in some capacity. They must be able to guide anyone, from stakeholders, to developers, designers, all the way to the CEO. This doesn’t mean you have to be a micromanager, but you do have to be a natural leader of people and demonstrate this. 9. Being clear and concise is difficult to prep for but is always analysed in a Product interview. Many candidates aren’t clear enough. You’re going to have to be able to communicate effectively with everyone, so interviewers need to know you can speak about a subject clearly and concisely. Normally this is judged by asking questions such as “What did your role entail?” or something along the lines of “Tell us about a product you’ve worked on.” General Interview Tips 10. Do your research and make sure you know the company you’re interviewing with. A lot of clients will test your knowledge and ask what you would change about their product. Being prepared will not only avoid any hesitation in your answer but will also show that you’re interested in the role and the company. 11. Avoid talking too much about your team and focus more on talking about yourself. While you want to show that you’re a team player, and speak about your team’s achievements, always saying the team did this or the team did that, makes it seem like you had no real control.

Our Head of Contracts Alexandra Martuccio works with all our Contractors daily. Here are her top tips to secure your next contracting role! 1. Don’t be a generic consultant or jack of all trades. Most clients we work with are looking for specific skill sets for their projects. 2. Make sure to read the role that is advertised in detail. If you have experience in the skills mentioned, make sure to highlight these on your CV. Only include the relevant skills you think match the role and describe what you’ve achieved by applying them in past roles. 3. In addition to skills, list relevant work experience you’ve had that is similar to the role you’re applying for. 4. What is your unique selling point? What makes you stand out from the other 500 applicants? 5. You may have the skills for the role but does your CV tell the same story? It’s the first thing we (and the client) see. 6. Clients and I don’t need to know your blood type or how many pets you have – keep it professional! 7. LinkedIn is your shop window and where clients find you. Double check that your CV and your LinkedIn profile match in terms of contract dates, companies and job titles. 8. Quantity is not always quality. CVs don’t need to be 20 pages long to be good. Just include the most up to date roles over the last 5-8 years in detail including a few bullet points followed by job title, client and dates. 9. Make sure your CV looks presentable and double check for spelling mistakes and alignment issues. Ask someone else to take a look for you and make any changes we might suggest before we put you forward for a role.​ If you're a contractor looking for your next challenge why not get in touch? Click here to email the Contracts team or browse our current vacancies here. Connect with Alexandra Martuccio on LinkedIn.

We caught up with Understanding Recruitment's Founding Director, Dale Swords, to talk about the latest issue affecting the hiring process. We all have biases we aren’t aware of. It’s a human trait, to be more attracted and form stronger bonds with people who act and look similar to ourselves. After all, familiarity is comfortable. But this is exactly the bias that’s breaking your hiring process one interview at a time. Would you say most hiring processes are broken? In my experience, companies that are growing quickly sometimes haven’t been deliberate enough about their hiring process and end up allowing unconscious biases to creep into their decision making. Although a lot of companies are already aware of this issue and claim they are trying to make their hiring processes less bias, it is easy to fall into the trap. In many cases, people don’t even realise they’re doing it. How do people know if they have biases and what do these biases look like? We all have our own biases but aren’t necessarily aware of it. It’s an almost hardwired trait and isn’t necessarily malicious or prejudice. Most CEOs understand the concept of unconscious bias but don’t believe it’s happening at their company. And that’s the problem. If the bias comes from the top down it can easily get embedded into an organisation. Some examples of unconscious bias are judging people on their name, gender, origin, the University they attended, and the titles they’ve held. It can also be the initial feeling they give you based on their looks or even what they’re wearing. Whichever it is, the outcome is that people are discounting the candidate from the hiring process or making them first choice for the wrong reasons. Why is unconscious bias a hazard in the workplace? Encouraging certain hiring processes means they become the norm. Because of the biases, a lot of talent is missed out on because they “didn’t fit” the profile the hiring manager was looking for. When people involved in the hiring process are encouraged to look for a certain profile or behaviours, that negatively impacts business performance. You could be losing out on talent without knowing it. There can also be legal implications around discrimination. Why is it so important for the hiring process to eliminate unconscious bias? It’s all really about fairness and inclusiveness. Companies that embrace diversity are proven to be much better positioned for innovation and perform better. It also creates a more diverse and inclusive company which research proves makes for a far more productive and successful business. Can a broken hiring process be fixed? The good news is that the easiest place to remove unconscious bias is in recruitment. Taking the time to make biases visible will help companies address them and improve the diversity of their teams. We advise our clients to work with standardised competency-based questions, making sure questions don’t vary between candidates so they are interviewed objectively. Letting interviewers pick their own questions means that their experience of the candidate can vary. While some people might just have a friendly chat based on common interests, others interrogate the candidate. This means that candidates often end up being recommended for the role based on a personal connection rather than their ability to do the job, a fact often supported by the company’s staff retention rate, a statistic often ignored. Having different people with multiple perspectives involved can also help check the unconscious bias of any individual during the interview process. Who is responsible for it? I think it’s the job of everyone involved in the hiring process, from the hiring manager to the person writing the job description, to be mindful of diversity every step of the way. What role will artificial intelligence play in the future of recruitment? AI is everywhere. Lots of companies use chat bots to run initial job interviews. For example, Nike and Intel use intelligent video software to analyse 25,000 data points from video interviews. AI can see around our biases and is a great tool to extract human emotion, but at the same time that’s what works against it. While it means people are getting the same chance regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, or University attended, I don’t think AI will take our jobs away any time soon. Technology just doesn’t have the human traits needed to make a well-rounded hiring decision, but it helps make it fairer. ​ How is Understanding Recruitment dealing with the issue? In the long-term, we aim to help clients gradually shift away from contingency based recruitment towards a more dependable and focused search approach which supports them in reducing their staff retention, improving their hiring process and enhancing the recruitment process for everyone.

The tech industry is booming. While that is good news, it means that the war for talent is raging on with no sign of subsiding. Highly skilled IT professionals are finding that they have their pick of jobs, and no matter how great the perks found across the tech industry are, tech organisations (even the giants of the industry) can’t totally avoid the job-hopping nature of today’s workforce. While talent shortage is set to be the single biggest hurdle faced by recruiters across almost all industries, a recent PayScale report shows that the employee turnover rate among Fortune 500 companies in the IT industry is the highest among industries surveyed. Chances are that employee retention is an issue in your business. And you’re not alone. Nearly half of all employees across the UK are worried they won’t be able to find the talent they need with over three quarters saying they are struggling to find relevant candidates. With employers so keen to fill tech roles quickly, there is a temptation to just hire on instinct (or in some cases, desperation), making bad hires a growing issue across the industry. What is a bad hire? We define a bad hire as somebody who leaves your business within the first year of their employment. But it is also someone who just doesn’t have the skills to fulfil their role, who underperforms and doesn’t fit seamlessly into the rest of the team. According to the REC’s latest report, 85% of HR decision-makers admit their business has made a bad hire. 1 in 3 HR decision-makers also think it didn’t cost the business anything when they hired the wrong person, while 1 in 5 stated that they don’t know what the cost of a bad hire is. What is the true cost of a bad hire? Everyone knows that hiring is expensive. But so is re-recruiting to replace people who turned out to be bad hires. There’s the cost of creating job descriptions, advertising roles, reading through CVs, and carrying out interviews all over again. And it doesn’t stop there. After a new hire joins the business, you need to facture in onboarding costs and training. In most cases, the true cost works out to be roughly 3.5 x their annual salary which, clearly has a negative impact on business. What are the consequences of a bad hire? Apart from the substantial monetary cost, a bad hire can affect team morale and lead to low productivity. They also have a detrimental effect on your brand reputation over time as they are likely to interact with your customers. Poor performers lower the bar for other employees and bad habits spread like a virus. If an employee is not working to their full capacity, there is bound to be a knock-on effect on the rest of the team. According to Agency Central, 39% of hiring managers said poor hires had cost them productivity. When a team is struggling with lost productivity they may be urged to start assuming additional duties that aren’t really part of their role. In addition to impacting their own performance, it will also affect their ability to meet deadlines and targets. The negative change in the team’s morale will almost always be one of the first indicators of a bad hire. Disengagement is contagious, and the resulting toxic atmosphere puts your remaining employees at risk of leaving also. In the long run, it’s more difficult for managers and their teams to accommodate a poor performer than it is to invest in recruiting quality candidates. It’s clear that the cost of not firing a bad employee far outweighs the cost of keeping a bad hire in your business. How to avoid bad hires While there’s no obvious formula to avoid making bad hires, there are ways to retain employees for longer and conquer the battle of talent. Businesses can start with promoting a flexible and inclusive workforce, implementing soft skills assessment tools and properly inducting new recruits. Low pay, lack of clear career progression opportunities and no flexible working solutions are the main reasons why employees leave. By boosting these, businesses can increase engagement, productivity and teamwork, while also retaining talent for longer. Investing in learning opportunities and innovative training provides a better and more immersive experience to employees while also developing the next generation of leaders. A recent study by Udemy uncovered that 46% of employees cite limited opportunities to learn new skills as the top reason why they’re bored in their current roles and looking for a change. For more tips on how to fix your recruitment process check out this blog. Tools you can use Using a specialist recruitment agency can dramatically reduce the risk involved in taking on a new employee. Consultants are experienced in matching the right candidates to the right employer daily and are skilled to spot the tell-tale signs of a bad fit from the get go. Dale Swords, Managing Director Understanding Recruitment, recently told the Global Recruiter: “We have a responsibility to our clients to make sure that we offer the solution to an industry wide problem. Ultimately, finding the talent others can’t is what separates the good from the great recruiters.”

Whether you’re at the offer stage for a new job or are gunning for a promotion at your current one, honing your negotiation skills is crucial to getting the salary you want. Yet surprisingly, a survey by Salary.com showed that only 37% of people always negotiate their salaries while 18% never do. In addition, a staggering 44% of respondents claim to have never even approached the subject of a raise during their performance reviews. We’ve put together some tips to help you take your salary negotiation game to the next level! 1. Understand your worth Always use research to inform your negotiation technique. Walking into a negotiation prepared will make the outcome so much better. The better prepared you are the more confident and informed you will come across. If you don’t have an exact salary figure in mind your Manager will have the upper hand from the start and will take control of the conversation very quickly. To avoid this, find out how much the job is worth and then research how much your skills and experience are worth to the company. The Glassdoor salary search is a great tool to do this with but most jobsites have a tool to help you find this information. Speaking to a recruiter can also be useful as they know what people with your experience are worth. Research the salary range for people in similar roles to you to give you a better idea of what you should be earning. Remember this will differ largely depending where you are located and the industry you work in. Once you find a range, set an exact figure that you would be happy with that is both realistic and leaves room for negotiation. To be on the safe side, always ask for more than what you want as your Manager will want to feel like they negotiated with you and got a good deal. 2. Timing is everything After you’ve done your research, you can set the wheels in motion and book a meeting with your Manager. Many people wait till their performance review to start negotiations, but it’s a better idea to start talking to them three to four months in advance, as this is when they set the budgets. According to The Muse, several studies show that you’re most likely to get a raise if you ask on a Thursday as people become more flexible and open to negotiation closer to the weekend. Whichever day you opt for, double check your Manager is available for the meeting and schedule it into their calendar, so they don’t forget. Make sure you have a space for your meeting that is confidential to avoid having an awkward conversation in the hallway. ​ 3. Be persuasive but stay flexible Every negotiation will have an element of back and forth, so you need to be flexible but still stand your ground. Be prepared for some resistance and be sure you have put together a case to show why you deserve the salary figure that you’ve put forward. This is the time to sing your own praises so put together a summary of all your achievements, awards won and testimonials you got from your colleagues. It’s a good idea to talk your Manager through your achievements before you start talking numbers. You can also give them a printed copy of your summary of achievements to look at while you talk them through it. But don’t make it all about the past. Make sure you outline your plans for the future. What projects are you going to take on and how will this help your Manager? Will it free up their time? Do you have ideas that you want to own and implement? Try to put yourself into the shoes of your Manager. What is important to them? Listening during a negotiation is a hugely important part and will let you understand the needs of the person you’re negotiating with. How can you sweeten the deal for both of you? Instead of being forceful, try to convince your Manager that it’ll benefit the business to pay you more. Be sure to listen and understand their views as well as getting your point across. Present all your facts and give them time to consider your proposal, as they will probably have to run it past Human Resources and possibly other Managers. Don’t expect an answer immediately. 4. Consider your options A ‘no’ doesn’t mean the end of the negotiation but usually marks the start of it. If your Manager seems uncomfortable with the figure you have put across ask them why this is and what you can do to convince them to move in your direction. To come to an agreement, you both will have to be flexible, but you need to still stand your ground and not accept an offer that is too low. If your employer has made a counter offer it’s ok for you to ask for some time to consider the offer. Doing this will make sure you don’t panic and accept a minimal increase. When it’s an initial job offer you can also make a counteroffer 10-20% more than their offer. Consider that your benefits are up for negotiation as well, so if your Manager won’t budge on your salary increase, they may be more open to enhancing your benefits such as additional holiday, training or flexible working. Sometimes these can be just as valuable as a salary increase. 5. If it doesn’t work out Most departments have budgets assigned by the wider business and sometimes it might not be possible to give you a pay increase at the time you want one. There may be factors that aren’t known to you so have a plan B in place. It may be that a raise is possible further down the line, but the timing isn’t right now. You need to know the point, you want to walk away from negotiations. Consider what you want to do if the answer is no or the figure is much lower than what you had in mind. Consider the whole package including the working environment, benefits and job role. Is this enough to make you stay without a pay increase? If the company won’t pay you what you’re worth, looking elsewhere may be the best option. But don’t burn your bridges just yet. You still want to keep working with this person for now so staying positive throughout the conversation is important. Once you’ve successfully negotiated a raise, make sure you get a written confirmation of all the details including how your responsibilities will increase.

What was your first job? Working in a clothes shop as a Retail Assistant at 16. How did you get into recruitment? After dancing professionally around the world, I transitioned into dance teaching, but I knew it wasn’t as sustainable as I originally thought (especially with back injuries). I knew I needed to start a new career, somewhere where I could grow. I interviewed for many jobs within sales, customer service and recruitment. As soon as I came into Understanding Recruitment’s offices I knew it was a place where I could see myself working long-term. ​ What do you love most about your job? How busy it can be, the harder you work the more rewarding this job can be. What’s your top job to fill? That’s a tricky question as I work on every single contract role that comes into the business. One minute it’s a QA tester, the next a Senior Architect, the next Programme Manager and interim CTO positions! Who’s your role model – in life or in recruitment? My Dad. He started his first ever job as an Admin Clerk in a major oil organisation the Monday after his O ’levels and worked his way up to the top, travelled the world, relocated with his family to America for his job, and made himself extremely successful. All down to hard-work and determination. What’s your favourite meal? Love a bit of Sushi, Mexican and I have a major sweet tooth so loads of chocolate! What’s been your most memorable experience with a candidate? I placed a Java Developer into a Global Publishing Organisation at the beginning of the year, he is French and went home over Christmas before he started his new contract in January. There was a parcel delivered to me at work with a hand-written note about how happy he was to find this role and he was really complimentary of the whole experience working with me and Understanding Recruitment. Alongside the note were 3 boxes of truffles he bought back with him from France. What would be your theme tune? Beyoncé – Who Run the world What is your top tip for candidates? Be as honest and open with recruiters as possible, it is hard as contractors get contacted by us all the time, but it helps us do our job a lot better if we know your current work status/commitments and avoids surprises along the way!

After recently celebrating his eight year anniversary at Understanding Recruitment, Sam McBroom was promoted to Director in recognition of all his hard work and commitment. We caught up with Sam, who also heads up the Java team, about how he got into recruitment, his career progression and Oasis. What was your first job? Working at a sports park as a ‘Recreation Assistant’ – setting up sports equipment and getting involved in the general day to day running of the park. How did you get into recruitment? I was working in the public sector but grew frustrated about the lack of personal and career progression available in the area that I was in. So I looked for a career offering a meritocratic environment with plenty of opportunities to take on more responsibility dependent on performance and recruitment seemed ideal. What do you love most about your job? Two things mainly. The people here are fantastic to work with and everyone gets on really well, regularly socialising together. When you have a tough day everyone is there for you. Secondly, the opportunity and progression available. Working here truly gives you an opportunity to build a team in a specialist area in a rapidly expanding market! What’s your top job to fill? Ironically we’re recruiting a Senior Java Developer to work specifically for another recruitment company! They don’t have the reach or specialist knowledge so we’re happy to help recruit a Developer for them to re-architect their internal CRM system with AWS & Microservices. Who’s your role model – in life or in recruitment? My grandad was a Lancaster pilot in WW2. Once the war finished, he was liberated from a POW camp and worked in the cutlery business in Sheffield. He ended up employing over 150 people and became a well-liked and respected figure in the city. What’s your favourite meal? Tuna, or Steak. Or Tuna Steak. What’s been your most memorable experience with a candidate? I placed a Graduate Developer with a startup company 6 years ago. They’ve since moved into a Senior / Team Lead position and we now help them recruit for the original position we placed them in! It’s a pleasure to be able to work with this person for an extended period of time and build a great personal and professional relationship with them. What would be your theme tune? Oasis – Live Forever What is your top tip for candidates? Work closely with one specialist recruiter in your area. They’ll have a wide range of suitable opportunities for you, so will work with you to find you the position that is truly what you’re looking for.