We could start this article by explaining all the ways that a business benefits from a truly inclusive workplace. Increases in productivity, bigger talentpool, broader perspectives. But the hope is, that if you&rsquo;re reading this you&rsquo;re already sold on the why. You&rsquo;re struggling with the how.
How do you create an inclusive future? How can the tech industry support and encourage more women to take on roles in the sector? What else can we do? We don&rsquo;t have all the answers, but we definitely have a starting point.
<h2><a name="_e8ls4e9sx8ip"></a>Current state of the tech industry</h2>
With a surge in demand for tech jobs the sector has seen an incredible recovery from the pandemic, with the number of tech jobs <a href="https://technation.io/jobs-and-skills-report-2021/">42% higher</a> in June 2021 then in June 2019. But what role do women play within those jobs?
As of 2022, women held just <a href="https://explodingtopics.com/blog/women-in-tech">26.7% of technology jobs </a>globally. That&rsquo;s not to say progress hasn&rsquo;t been made. Research by <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/technology/technology-media-and-telecom-predictions/2022/statistics-show-women-in-technology-are-facing-new-headwinds.html">Deloitte </a>shows that the 20 largest tech companies have maintained their momentum in gender inclusivity over the past two years. With overall female representation up just over 2% from 2 years prior.
The tech industry has always been male dominated. A <a href="https://www.pwc.co.uk/who-we-are/women-in-technology/time-to-close-the-gender-gap.html">PwC study</a> found that only 3% of women say a tech career is their first choice. That&rsquo;s something the industry is aware of and taking steps to address. But what&rsquo;s also clear is that more needs to be done to create a truly inclusive future and to make sure that women are front and centre in that future.
<h2><a name="_pxbej9valf8j"></a>How to create a more inclusive future?</h2>
For tech companies that are serious about creating a more inclusive workplace, workforce and future there are basic steps that can be taken. Focusing on supporting your employees, opening doors and leading by example tech firms can start to create a working environment that welcomes and supports women.
<h3><a name="_js7qn3ru2zkn"></a>Recognising the issue</h3>
The starting point is to be truly honest about your company's current situation. What&rsquo;s your gender balance? What&rsquo;s your gender pay gap? What&rsquo;s your flexible working policy and is it adhered to? How are you supporting women&rsquo;s career progression? Have you spoken to women in your workplace about their needs?
Taking an honest look at your inner-workings allows you to make informed decisions that help achieve an inclusive future, rather than guessing about what might help.
<h3><a name="_g8dw4hh97w6k"></a>Working culture</h3>
The tech industry is notorious for burnout and long-hours. For many women who take on the bulk of caring responsibilities that&rsquo;s simply not an option. After having one child, the <a href="https://www.thatworksforme.co.uk/guides-and-tools/careers-after-babies">Career after Babies report</a> found that 89% of all working mothers leave the full time workforce within 3 years of having children. Showing that full time work and long hours simply isn&rsquo;t sustainable with having a young family.
Tech companies need to build flexible working, whether that&rsquo;s compressed hours, working remotely, part time, job shares or any other measures into their working culture. With senior managers fully supporting and enforcing flexible working to make it a success.
<h3><a name="_qr9vk62z9c2d"></a>Support</h3>
With so few female leader role models, it makes it difficult for women to forge a path to the top, or have the belief that they can do it. That&rsquo;s where mentoring comes in.
Being paired up with a mentor helps women have a safe space to discuss any challenges they&rsquo;re facing, and navigate through them. In companies with established mentoring schemes they&rsquo;re found it helps develop leadership skills, increase self-confidence and navigate career obstacles. The results speak for themselves, with <a href="https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/podcast/knowledge-at-wharton-podcast/workplace-loyalties-change-but-the-value-of-mentoring-doesnt/">25% of mentees</a> advancing up a pay grade compared to 5% of non-mentored women.
From an employer&rsquo;s perspective mentoring can improve employee retention rates. With 49% of those surveyed in a case study by <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/07/14/driving-employee-retention-through-mentorship/?sh=5500159e11b6">Randstad </a>less likely to leave after participating in a mentoring program.
A mentoring program is a clever way not only to keep those in the tech industry engaged, but also to attract and support more women into the sector.
<h2><a name="_pxwvv2ysc5ab"></a>Investing in women</h2>
Creating a more inclusive future for women in the tech industry starts early. We need to look at initiatives that create interest from school years in STEM subjects and then keep girls interested throughout their further studies.
That requires investment, it requires forward thinking and it requires commitment.
There&rsquo;s no quick fix to creating a more inclusive future. But the tech industry can be the ones to pioneer change, to flex to support women and to create an environment where women thrive alongside their male counterparts.
Listening, flexibility and mentorship might not be the only things needed but they&rsquo;re a great starting point for any business to show their commitment to inclusivity and to start to move forward.
Source Technology, as part of Source Group International are dedicated to discovering technology talent to drive your business forward. If you&rsquo;re passionate about building an inclusive future for your organisation then speak to our experts today. Find out more about how we can work with you <a href="../../../../discover-sgi/diversity/">here</a>.

Women in Tech: Leading the way to a more inclusive future

Unless you&rsquo;ve been living under a rock you&rsquo;ll have heard of the gender pay gap. You might also have heard the date 20 November - after which women are effectively working for free. There&rsquo;s a slim chance you might know that businesses with over 250 employees need to report their gender pay gap annually.
It&rsquo;s a real issue, with real implications. How do we close it? That&rsquo;s the question everyone is asking.
Recruitment sits in a unique position of influence, without any closing influence. What do we mean by that? Recruitment teams can play a part in which candidates are put forward for a role but they don&rsquo;t determine who&rsquo;s successful. But that sliver of influence means there&rsquo;s a lot that recruitment can do to promote equality and move towards closing the gap.
<h2><a name="_joujeec3j7o9"></a>What is the gender pay gap?</h2>
In 1970 the Equal Pay Act came into law, making it illegal to discriminate between men and women when it came to terms of employment, i.e. pay. Despite that law being in place for over 50 years there&rsquo;s still a stark contrast between men and women when it comes to their earnings.
The gender pay gap is the difference in average gross hourly earnings between men and women. In the UK the gender pay gap at age <a href="https://www.thatworksforme.co.uk/guides-and-tools/careers-after-babies">30 is 1%</a>, this rises to 14% by the time workers are aged 40.
Covid-19 has played a part in worsening the gender pay gap over recent years, so it&rsquo;s difficult to say whether there&rsquo;s been an improvement over the years. Amongst full-time employees the pay gap was <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/genderpaygapintheuk/2022">8.3% in April 2022</a> compared to 9% in April 2019. This does follow the overarching trend that the gap is slowly declining, but there&rsquo;s still a great deal more to be done.
<h2><a name="_qvsw5y8bdl4s"></a>What role does recruitment play?</h2>
As a recruitment agency it would be easy for us to pass the blame to other people. It&rsquo;s our clients that interview and set the salaries. It&rsquo;s the candidates who don&rsquo;t push for more, or accept low offers. But the truth is for society to close the gender pay gap we all need to take responsibility and all need to play our part.
There are many ways that recruiters, whether external or in-house, can help to promote equality throughout the recruitment process.
●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Encourage women to apply for senior roles
●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Include more women in referral networks
●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Be aware of gender bias
It&rsquo;s the last point that is the most critical. We all hold stereotypes about gender. Whether that&rsquo;s believing that women are suited to certain roles, or the style of working men and women prefer and the impact on their careers.
<h3><a name="_yw1eoubwzopw"></a>Job adverts</h3>
Understanding, and eradicating, gender bias is the foundation to closing the gender pay gap. This starts with the job advert itself and looking at what recruitment channels you&rsquo;re using, the language in the advert and the essential requirements. Are they accessible to both male and female candidates? It&rsquo;s important to examine the language in job adverts as in an <a href="https://www.equalsalary.org/10-hr-tips-to-prevent-gender-bias-in-recruitment/">analysis of 77,000 job adverts </a>- 478,175 words carried gender bias which is an average of 6 male or female-coded words per advert.
<h3><a name="_nxbbrpbw72tv"></a>Anonymous applications</h3>
It&rsquo;s amazing the impact a name can have. Removing personal details from an application or CV such as name, education details and dates levels the playing field instantly. There&rsquo;s no time for your brain to calculate that Sarah is a 35-year-old woman applying for a Senior Manager position and what if she goes on maternity leave. Instead you have to make a decision based on the information you have, not the bias in your mind.
<h3><a name="_m96jqra7klen"></a>Diversity in action</h3>
Women need to see women in the roles they aspire to have. Including senior women in the interview process and demonstrating a commitment to diversity and inclusion is a surefire way to attract and secure more female candidates. It will also help reduce gender bias on a panel through a wider range of experiences and opinions.
<h2><a name="_e6qpwwu63k8t"></a>What more could recruitment do?</h2>
There is always more that can be done by everyone. While the overall trend of the gender pay gap is decreasing, there&rsquo;s still too much of a disparity. The role that recruitment plays in promoting equality is simple.
It&rsquo;s to take the steps they can to level the playing field, through job adverts, language, accessibility. But it&rsquo;s also to champion lesser represented candidates, approaching female candidates to apply for roles, pushing for equal remuneration packages for all candidates and using their position of oversight to help level the playing field.
We can close the gender pay gap, but it requires us all to play our part. To be aware of our bias and to take whatever steps we can to equalise our working environments.
Source Technology are dedicated to discovering technology talent to drive your business forward. If you&rsquo;re passionate about building an inclusive future for your organisation then speak to our experts today. Find out about our process and how we can work with you, <a href="../../../../source-technology/our-process/">here</a>.
&nbsp;

Closing the Gender Gap:  Promoting Equality in Recruitment

The tech industry looks completely different to how it did 20 years&rsquo; ago. Yes there have been fantastic advancements in technology itself, but let&rsquo;s focus on the culture and the gender make up of the workplace.
Tech has always been male-dominated, but that&rsquo;s starting to change. There&rsquo;s a recognition of a need to change. A want to change. And change is beginning to happen. Female leadership numbers have increased, the number of female workers has increased and the spotlight on gender equality has never been stronger. There&rsquo;s more to do, that goes without saying, but there are businesses and initiatives driving forward the transformation of the industry in a truly exciting way.
<h2><a name="_ygi811ysw0cn"></a>Pushing the boundaries</h2>
The tech industry is bursting with options, ideas and opportunities. The size of the industry alone demonstrates the impact it can have on wider society and tech firms are starting to sit up and notice that.
It makes sense then that women are pushing the boundaries from within the industry. According to <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/insights/industry/technology/women-tech-leadership.html">Deloitte</a> the percentage of female workers in the overall global tech workforce has increased by 6.9% since 2019. With the fastest growth area, with a gain of around 20%, in the number of women in leadership roles.
Many tech companies have publicly pledged a commitment to improving gender diversity within their workforce both in technical and leadership roles. HP have set their ambitions at 50% gender equality at director level and above by 2030. Intel wants to double the number of women and underrepresented minorities in leadership roles by 2030. With big players in the industry making such public promises it shows that change is happening and women are becoming more prominent in the industry.
<h2><a name="_8udbn955ibyp"></a>Broadening horizons and ideas</h2>
Recently more and more studies have been published which prove the tangible benefits to a business from having women in senior leadership positions. The most gender-diverse businesses see a <a href="https://www.getsmarter.com/blog/career-advice/4-business-advantages-of-female-leadership/#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20the%20most%20gender,their%20profitability%20by%2021%20percent.&amp;text=Moreover%2C%20a%20McKinsey%20%26%20Company%20study,between%2010%20and%2030%20percent.">21% increase in profitability</a>.
With women firmly established in a tech business, they bring with them a fresh perspective and insight. For those tech companies focused on products and services for women that insight is invaluable and you can see how they start to become more profitable.
Beyond that the rise of women in the tech industry also impacts the overall diversity of a firm, helping improve the representation of all minority groups. Female leaders are generally better communicators, more empathetic and handle crises better than their male counterparts. All of which shifts corporate culture and opens the industry up even more for women in both technical and leadership roles.
The transformation of the industry for women comes from those pioneering women who have managed to break through the glass ceiling and are paving the way for future generations of young women.
<h2><a name="_cri9lik7bq10"></a>Game changing women</h2>
While tech firms are moving in the right direction, there&rsquo;s a long way to go. That&rsquo;s why initiatives that drive forward gender equality are so important. Right now only <a href="https://www.bcg.com/diversity-inclusion/women-in-tech">20%</a> of those studying technical subjects are women. That has to change for the industry to transform. Thankfully, there are specific projects targeting women in tech looking to change the game.
<a href="https://www.23codestreet.com/">23 Code Street</a> |&nbsp; A London based coding school for women and non-binary people who want to launch their career in tech or simply to upskill. Their mission is to tackle gender disparity and create a tech workforce that reflects our society.
<a href="https://www.browngirltech.world/">Brown Girl, Tech World</a> | This organisation&rsquo;s focus to create a safe space for women and girls of colour to advance in the tech industry. By providing scholarships, grants and real life examples they inspire and create an accessible path for success.
<a href="https://codefirstgirls.com/">Code First Girls </a>| Provide coding training to women at no cost to them. Helping them gain the training and knowledge they need to succeed in a tech role at some of the world&rsquo;s biggest companies.
<a href="https://gapsquare.com/">Gapsquare</a> | This Bristol based initiative help employeres to become more inclusive and work with them to solve challenges around gender inequality and pay gaps. Their tech tool produces recommendations to create a fairer, more diverse workplace.
<a href="https://stemettes.org/">Stemettes</a> | Inspiring the next generation of female and non-binary people into Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths by providing diverse role models of those succeeding in a STEM career.
That&rsquo;s just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many great initiatives that are campaigning for change, and helping put the wheels in motion to transform the tech industry and to help establish women in that transformation.
The industry is changing, but there&rsquo;s so much more that needs to be done before the tech industry is a safe and successful sphere for a woman&rsquo;s career. The great news is that the big players are recognising the positive role women can play and making public commitments so they can be held to account. Now it&rsquo;s time to pull everything together and to make that transformation happen.
Source Technology are dedicated to discovering technology talent to drive your business forward. Our platform Source Talks community drives change &amp; collaboration across the technology industry. Find out more about how we can work with you <a href="../../../../source-technology/about/">here.</a>
&nbsp;

Making a Difference: How Women  in Tech are Transforming the Industry

Java enthusiast but wondering what the future is for the language?
Looking to move your career into developing android apps?
Heard of Kotlin but not sure whether it&rsquo;s any good?
&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s time to examine Kotlin&rsquo;s reputation for android development, and to find out whether it&rsquo;s deserved. Ready to get started? Let&rsquo;s go.
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The rise in popularity of Kotlin</h2>
&nbsp;
Developed by JetBrain in 2017 Kotlin was originally designed to make coding in Java more productive. But with support from Google it was introduced as its own official programming language and introduced as an alternative to Java for mobile development.
In just 3 years, 7.7% of industry experts use Kotlin and it&rsquo;s among the top 3 languages that most businesses are planning to migrate their apps to (SOURCE). That&rsquo;s a phenomenal rise in popularity in such a short time.
With such an increase in popularity it&rsquo;s easy to see why many in the android community are championing Kotlin. Netflix, Trello, Uber, Twitter and Pinterest all use Kotlin to develop their Android apps and many others will follow suit.
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>Kotlin vs Java</h2>
&nbsp;
Java was always the norm. It was the go-to for developers and everyone was happy with that status quo, until Kotlin arrived. Now the debate has turned to Kotlin vs Java, which is better.
Both languages have their own strengths and weaknesses. So there is no overarching rule on which to use, instead it&rsquo;s a case of choosing the right tool for the job. If you&rsquo;re looking to develop large applications packed with features and functions and they need to work across all platforms, then choose Java.
If you&rsquo;re looking to develop an android application then it&rsquo;s going to be Kotlin.
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>What&rsquo;s so special about Kotlin for android development?</h2>
&nbsp;
With <a style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/17/15654988/google-jet-brains-kotlin-programming-language-android-development-io-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Google</a> declaring Kotlin as the preferred programming language for Android app development, it&rsquo;s clear that the weight of the programming world is behind Kotlin. But what is it about Kotlin that makes it so good for android development?
&nbsp;
<h3>Easy to learn, easy to apply</h3>
As a modern language Kotlin has some major advantages over Java for creating faster and higher quality android applications. As a result, it&rsquo;s much easier to use, and to learn thanks to its straightforward syntax. Those with Java knowledge will pick up Kotlin with no issues and as Kotlin is 100% interoperable with Java you&rsquo;ll be bale to call Kotlin code from Java and Java code from Kotlin.
&nbsp;
<h3>Reduced errors</h3>
As an expressive and concise programming language Kotlin reduces common code errors. For a start, Kotlin reduces the number of code lines by an estimated 40% compared to Java, providing less opportunity for errors to be made. But it has also eliminated the danger of null references to avoid costly mistakes.
&nbsp;
<h3>Data Classes</h3>
Data classes within Kotlin replace common classes, but with one big difference. Data classes contain a huge amount of self-generated code, eliminating lines of code and acting as a store for data properties. They save developers from creating a lot of boilerplate code that has to be manually generated in Java.
&nbsp;
<h3>Extension functions</h3>
Unlike Java which doesn&rsquo;t support extension functions. Kotlin gives you the ability to extend a class by adding new features, without having to inherit it. These extensions let you add functions to a class without needing to modify it and you can then use the functions as if they were part of the original class.
&nbsp;
<h3>Community support</h3>
Despite its relatively young age, the online support and communities for Kotlin developers is staggering. Whether you&rsquo;re looking for a Kotlin library or simply to check a line of code there are active communities full of helpful developers waiting to be of assistance.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s clear that compared to Java, Kotlin&rsquo;s features and style makes it a great partner for Android development. When you throw into the mix Google&rsquo;s endorsement and the names that are already championing it as the language for android applications and it&rsquo;s easy to see why it&rsquo;s gained its reputation. But it's a reputation that&rsquo;s well deserved. It&rsquo;s quick, it&rsquo;s easy to use, it reduces errors and load times and it&rsquo;s quickly received the backing of the developer community.
&nbsp;
Source Technology have a growing global Kotlin Community, and our Kotlin meetup
supported by Jet Brains, connect with the team today to find out more. hello@source-technology.com

Why is Kotlin good for android development?

With big companies adding Kotlin to their tech stack there’s no doubt that it’s a force to be reckoned with. For developers that brings the question, should they take the time to learn it? As far as programming languages go, it’s easy to learn and easy to apply. There are large communities out there willing to share their knowledge and a wealth of resources to help you along the way. Not only that, but it could be the factor that advances your career. Can you afford to miss out? For us, it’s not worth the risk. Let’s explore Kotlin and why it should be your next career move.<h2> </h2><h2>What is Kotlin used for?</h2> Designed to work with Java, Kotlin is an open-source programming language used by some of the biggest apps today. Want some examples? Trello, Tinder and Pinterest all benefit from Kotlin’s clear and concise coding architecture. One of the perks of Kotlin is its concise nature, saving time, particularly when compared to writing boilerplate code in Java. It can run on multiple platforms, handles nulls and has a large support community. Making it the coding language of choice for Android developers. <h2> </h2><h2>Is Kotlin the future?</h2> Within the next few years we predict that Kotlin will become the next big programming language. Its popularity in emerging fields such as mobile, web and cloud development is increasing and that’s set to continue.&nbsp;For programmers now is the time to add Kotlin to your repertoire and use that knowledge to boost your career prospects. <h2> </h2><h2>How can Kotlin put you ahead of the competition?</h2> <h3>You’ll be more efficient at your job</h3>Why create 10 lines of code when one will do? Java has ruled the programming language world for a long time but you can accomplish the same tasks with Kotlin, only quicker. Kotlin is a concise language that uses abstractions without impacting the readability of the code. As a developer, that means you can write more code and spend less time reviewing code. <h3>You’ll create higher quality apps</h3>There are features built into Kotlin to reduce the number of bugs and system failures. Improving the quality of your apps and making it easier for developers. You won’t be making the “billion dollar mistake” like Tony Hoare, as in Kotlin by default variables can’t be null. You can also reuse code making it easier to maintain. <h3>You’ll become multilingual</h3>Kotlin has been developed to work alongside Java. Apps you’ve created in Java can be migrated to Kotlin, it’s interoperability allows seamless integration where you’re already using Java. It’s not a case of stopping using one and starting with the next, it’s about picking the right solution for the job. If you’re a Java developer and add Kotlin to your skillset you’ll be one step ahead of everyone else and your work will benefit. <h3>You’ll be more versatile</h3>While Kotlin is the go-to for Android development it can also be used for web applications. Kotlin can generate JavaScript and native code and its multiplatform fluency allows you to be diverse. Flitting between languages and platforms depending on the project. That type of flexibility makes you an incredible asset to any team. <h3>You’ll be in demand</h3>There’s no denying it, Kotlin experience is in demand. If you take a look at many Android Developer roles Kotlin is an essential requirement. Failing to upskill in Kotlin may result in you ruling yourself out of certain careers. It’s a high risk strategy and not one that we’d advise. <h2>What are the career options for a Kotlin developer?</h2>A solid understanding of Kotlin programming opens a world of possibilities to work on leading projects in a variety of fields. Some of those opportunities are:●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Android app developer●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Data science projects●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Web developer●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Back end developer●&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Software analysis&nbsp;Kotlin isn’t a passing trend. Something that might hang around and then disappear. It’s here to stay, and it’s going to shake up the industry. If you learn Kotlin now, there’s no doubt that it will boost your career prospects. It’ll set you up to work on different projects, different platforms and in a different way to many of your peers. What’s stopping you?&nbsp;Are you a skilled developer looking to add Kotlin to your tech stack? Want to join ourgrowing Kotlin Community? Reach out to our Source Technology team today. hello@source-technology.com

How can Kotlin boost your career?

Application security is facing more and more threats than ever, and companies and organisations are keen to get safe measures in place. That means hiring cyber security experts who can put these measures into place that offer superior protection. The only problem is that cyber security has a major skills gap. Here at Source, we’ve also noticed a lack of cyber security talent ourselves. Today, we’re here to talk about why this is and how to fix it. Cyber Skills GapWhy is there a cyber skills shortage? There are multiple reasons. The main one is that cyber security is constantly changing. You could say this about all technology jobs, but it’s particularly true with cyber security because of the need to keep up with hackers. The speed that software is being developed and delivered is speeding up, meaning there is a divide between developers and cyber security experts – they don’t have enough time to learn the new software. Another reason is that there appears to be a lack of university courses that specialise in cyber security. If people can’t get the training they need, there’s no chance of them becoming cyber security professionals. Bridging the Cyber Skills GapSo, what can we do about bridging the cyber skills gap? Apart from creating more training courses (that are also accessible), the challenge lies mainly with organisations and companies – they must give developers the tools to be able to keep their software safe and secure. What are these tools? One type is security test tools that are automated, meaning they are there at the beginning of the development process, helping to ensure that security is an inbuilt part of the development from the start. These types of testing tools allow developers to address threats in a way that means they don’t have to be cybersecurity experts. This is about the simple fact of using tools that developers can easily understand. The tools need to be integrated into developers’ everyday work processes. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen enough. Software developers should have a basic understanding of cyber security, but this often gets overlooked in interviews, almost like an annoying afterthought – cyber security professionals are needed to turn this into a forethought. Successful cyber security needs to be implemented at&nbsp;every stage of the development journey. Do you work in cyber security?There’s a skills gap to bridge, and we want to make the cyber world a safer place. If you’re a cyber security professional, you can imagine that we would want to hear from you. Apply for one of our jobs, send us your CV, or give us a call, and we’ll get the ball rolling right away. If you’re interested in moving into cyber security, we want to hear from you as well. As you long as you have software and developer skills, we may be able to find a way for you to move in the cyber security direction. Take up the call and help out the struggle against cybercrime. When you contact us, we’ll start the process off by getting to you know a bit better. We want to know about your previous experience, your career goals, and your aspirations. That way, we can put you forward for better job matches. Not all recruitment agencies do this, and we found that they were treating their talent like a commodity to be bartered with. This is something that we’ve always felt passionate about. Get in touch with us now, and we’ll help you take the next step in your career. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Bridging Skills Gap Cyber Security

As we enter the final stretch of 2022 our thoughts naturally turn to what 2023 might bring. The world of tech is constantly changing with new developments constantly happening. It’s exciting to think about what the future will bring and what technological advancements will be made that by this time next year will have directly influenced the way we work. Let’s take a look at the 7 technology trends we think will be the ones to watch in 2023. AIAI has been playing a large part in technology for longer than most realise. Smart algorithms used in online shopping, travel navigation and entertainment rely on AI technology. But it’s not going to stop there. AI is going to continue to embed itself into the fabric of our technological world, becoming more accessible and adaptable. For some industries this could lead to AI taking on some human jobs, but other roles will be created to navigate those changes. It’s an exciting time for AI and 2023 will see it reach new heights. METAVERSEIdeas around what the metaverse is are so varied that it’s best to think of an immersive digital world. 2023 should bring further clarity and development around the opportunities, available tech and its value through broadening the reach and use beyond early adopters and tech enthusiasts. This presents an opportunity for businesses to think about how they engage with the Metaverse - whether that’s targeting customers or training and virtual learning environments to connect remote workers together. Embracing and resourcing these opportunities could be a challenge for the business community. BLOCKCHAINCurrently blockchain is primarily used in the financial sector but throughout 2023 we’ll see this secure technology extended to healthcare, government and education. The ability to decentralise trust and security away from a specific organisation in a way that can’t be tampered with will drive innovations in security and data exchange. Whether that’s in storing and transferring personal data - like health records, or to create long-term authentication of high-end products the applications for blockchain will be endless. ACCELERATED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATIONCOVID-19 saw a rapid acceleration in the adoption and development of technology and that’s not set to slow down anytime soon. Investment in technology and online expansion will continue to increase to accommodate the change in user behaviours and usage. Remote working, cloud technology and online shopping have been transformed over recent years and it looks like 2023 will be another year of accelerated digital transformation. HYPERCONNECTIVITYAn app to turn your kettle on is just the start. Hyperconnectivity - or how devices connect and communicate, will be a trend for 2023. The Internet of Things is set to ramp up and work more effectively across a broader range of tasks. Developments in 5G, and in the not too distant future 6G, mean communication will be faster than ever and you’ll be able to slice communication so it exists in isolation. CLOUD ALTERNATIVESThe cloud has existed since XX and through COVID-19 we’ve seen more businesses adopt cloud working. But now the focus has shifted to alternatives. Edge computing and fog computing have appeared recently, offering faster and easier data processing. Throughout 2023 not only will we see more viable alternatives to cloud computing emerging and working their way into mainstream technology working but we’ll also see hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure emerging. HYPER AUTOMATIONTechnology adds so many possibilities to the world, particularly with the ability to link devices, technologies and platforms together. That’s where hyper-automation comes in. It’s taking automation and putting it on steroids to help automate as many IT and business processes as possible. Doing so reduces human error, increases accuracy and productivity and frees up working time from replicable tasks. Developments in process mapping tools, RPA, AI and machine learning will create more opportunities to hyper automate and that will generate more benefits for businesses. The exciting thing about technology is that something new is bound to make its way onto that list and blow us away with its capabilities. For now, we’re going to keep our eyes on those 7 technologies and see if our predictions come true. Are you looking for talent solutions for your technology organization, or searching for your next opportunity in tech? Reach out to our Source Technology team today. hello@source-technology.com

7 Technology Trends for 2023

Java is one of the most commonly used programming languages, which makes a Java developer a huge asset to your team. A 2021 report by Statista states nearly 65% of software developers worldwide use Java as a programming language. With no formal benchmark of qualifications or experience needed to call yourself a Java developer you often end up with a wide pool of candidates at different experience levels. One disparity we often see with Java developers is a gap around their JVM knowledge. JVM grants applications the "Write once, run anywhere" principle making them platform independent, and while it’s not an essential skill a robust understanding enables developers to write and test high performing code. Why JVM?For any job understanding the essentials is key. You might not need to use that knowledge to complete your daily tasks but they provide a solid foundation for you to progress. The same applies to Java developers understanding the heart of Java - the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Having a strong grasp on JVM, its parts and how they function helps any developer to write high-performing code and indicates that they take their role, and their development seriously. It’s tempting to skip the fundamentals and focus on the newer developments. But as a developer it's helpful for you to learn and understand the layer of software below that you’re working at. For instance, if you’re a C++ developer then you should learn assembly language to understand what the compiler is generating for you. For Java developers, that level is JVM. Historically, JVM only supported Java. Over time other languages such as Scala, Kotlin and Groovy has been incorporated into the Java platform. Fundamentally, a deep understanding of JVM will enable you to write better code while avoiding pitfalls relating to stack and memory errors. Assessing JVM SkillsIt’s not essential to understand JVM as a developer but a solid understanding marks that individual out as a cut above the rest, not only in their rounded technical know-how but also in their desire to develop themselves and their knowledge.&nbsp; Without an understanding of an individual’s current JVM skill level it’s challenging to establish their gaps in knowledge. Their current competency could be assessed via a proficiency test or through a conversation with a Java developer well versed in JVM, asking questions related to Just-in-Time compilation, multithreading, JVM options, class loading, concurrency handling, compile-time and runtime errors.&nbsp; Once their existing level of competency has been established you can then develop a plan to increase their understanding of JVM.Learning JVM The best methods for learning about JVM and bridging the skills gap is through independent learning. There are many courses out there that cover aspects of JVM in more depth including: ●	Oracle university●	Udemy●	Great Learning●	Data Flair Training●	Pluralsight It’s best to identify the specific area of learning you want to focus on then find a course that supports you to do just that. Alternatively, online resources and books like “The Definitve Guide to Java Performance” by Scott Oaks, which covers JVM in-depth. If you’re someone who prefers to take a hands-on approach they may help you learn through doing.&nbsp; The future of JVMJVM now incorporates possibly the biggest collection of languages of any bytecode making it still a crucial part of development connecting older and younger generations of coding languages. It’s not going anywhere in the near future and that’s why it’s still an essential skill for any serious developers.&nbsp; JVM is an essential, but often overlooked skill for developers to have. For developers it can be tempting to focus on newer developments without fully understanding the basic building blocks. Overcoming this requires either a change in recruitment processes to fully evaluate a candidate’s competency or a commitment by that candidate to dedicate time to upskilling their knowledge. This is something an employer can support through training courses, dedicated learning time or working with experienced colleagues to learn on the job.&nbsp; With a wealth of courses and learning available online, a supportive employer and a keen developer then overcoming any skills gaps in JVM should be relatively straightforward.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you need advice on your job search, contact the Source Technology team today. Our recruitment consultants are on hand to help you discover your dream role. hello@source-technology.com

Bridging the skills gap in JVM

When you have the best security staff around your priority needs to be on how you retain them. Recruiting staff takes time and is an extra process you don’t always need to go through when you have great staff already in-house.&nbsp; The good news is that there are some simple measures you can put in place to keep your security staff happy where they already are. Work/life balanceWorking remotely, alternate hours, office location or a mixture of all three go a long way to cultivating loyal staff. Particularly in the security sector where working hours can be longer than in other roles, the ability to logon at home or start later and finish later depending on the project they’re working on is seen as a massive benefit. Not only that but empowering staff to have responsibility for their own working style and hours helps them to feel in control of their work life. That ownership is particularly important when it comes to preventing burnout. With employees able to work from home if they need to protect their time from interruptions, or flex their working hours puts them firmly in the driving seat and you’ll see an increase in the retention and loyalty of your security staff. Skills development &amp; opportunitiesDevelopment is part of any role but particularly for those working in security keeping abreast of current developments is an essential part of their role. Building in opportunities and support for development at all levels is a surefire way to not only ensure you have the best staff but also to keep them.&nbsp; If your security staff are all up-to-date with their training then it also provides a pool of candidates for any promotion opportunities. Rewarding staff for their loyalty, dedication and expertise by creating a culture of promoting from within rather than looking outside first. Companies that take time to understand an individual’s ambitions and help them achieve them - even if they’re outside the “normal” route will also feel the difference in an employee's loyalty. Working cultureWhen candidates are looking for a new position, working culture is so important, and that’s true for existing staff too.&nbsp; An employer that has strong values which it embodies in daily practices, puts employee wellbeing first and encourages collaboration will always retain employees over other employers.&nbsp; Wellness is something that’s come to light particularly during the pandemic, with many employees raising awareness around burnout, mental health and work/life balance. Employers who can be seen to take this seriously through in house initiatives, leave packages and healthcare bonuses become a desirable place to work - particularly for those in stressful or high-risk roles like security staff.&nbsp; Rewards &amp; recognitionBeing adequately rewarded for the work we do is a motivating factor regardless of our industry or profession. But for those in the security world dealing with potentially high value threats it’s even more important. Whether that’s benchmarking salaries and ensuring new starters aren’t coming in on higher bands than existing staff, bonuses or incremental pay increases - money really does talk and is one of the most obvious ways to retain key security staff. Recognition for the work done and the impact of that work, whether that’s verbally, financially or through a reward scheme, helps instill a culture of feedback and support. Work isn’t done in silos or behind closed doors and never spoken about again, instead it’s held up as an example of a job well done.&nbsp; Staff need to feel appreciated, particularly in highly competitive, in-demand areas such as security and reassuring staff that they’re valued and their contribution has been seen is at the heart of retaining staff. ChoiceAt the end of the day empowering your employees so they feel they have choice is key. That might be over their IT equipment - whether they have a standing desk, how many monitors, whether they have a trackpad or mouse.&nbsp; When it comes to the equipment security staff use day in and day out giving them choices over the budget allocated to their set-up create a more comfortable working environment and as a result, a more productive and happier one. Listening to your security employees and understanding what they're asking for, whether that’s flexibility, equipment, recognition or balance goes a long way in retaining your staff. Helping your security staff feel empowered, in control and appreciated are all straightforward methods to ensure they have a long, fulfilling career with you. Using a recruitment expert like the team here at Source will help take some pressure off you so that you can focus on the other areas of your business. Why not give us a call today and find out what we have to offer – you will be glad you did.

5 Ways to Retain Your Security Staff

Building an agile workforce can be a great asset to your business. Bringing together different disciplines, people and working styles can make a more profitable and productive business.&nbsp; Recruiting the right people for your agile business can be tricky, particularly when it comes to your tech department. When it comes to finding agile tech workers many businesses struggle to find the right people for their opportunity. That’s a trend which is unlikely to change over the coming years. But why is it so hard to find agile tech workers? Let’s look at some of the reasons. SHORTAGE OF TECH TALENTTo recruit agile tech workers you need to be able to recruit tech talent in the first place. A study by Gartner found that COVID-19 accelerated the scale of digital transformation leaving many companies with a tech skills shortage. With a widening gap between demand and supply of tech workers, recruiting new talent to your business may become even more challenging. LENGTHY HIRING PROCESSTech is a field that thrives on speed, new developments and streamlined activities. Sadly, many recruitment processes don’t work in the same way. If you’re looking to attract the best agile tech workers then your process shouldn’t take longer than 2-3 weeks, any more than that and you’re at risk of losing great candidates.&nbsp; INNOVATION &amp; DEVELOPMENTThe tech industry is filled with new technology, innovations and developments. Staying at the forefront of all those changes is difficult. This becomes even trickier when you have an agile workforce spread across different time zones or locations as it puts the pressure on the individual. Too often creating an environment to facilitate learning and agile workers' development is hard to find but it’s something that makes you stand out from the crowd. PROACTIVE RECRUITMENTWith such a highly competitive market many of the best agile tech workers already have roles that they’re happy in so traditional recruitment methods don’t work. Relying on an advert and applications are outdated methods, and instead companies need to become proactive in their recruitment - seeking out the best candidates directly. RIGID BUSINESS MODEL&nbsp;Work location and remote working are quickly becoming the cornerstones of tech working. But if your business model doesn’t reflect these or fully embody the ethos of agile working then this can quickly drive talent away. If agile working is only in one area of the business it can cause friction between areas of the business and undermine the principles of agile working. WORK FROM ANYWHEREAt the heart of agile working is the idea that location doesn’t matter. But the reality is without the right digital collaboration and management tools such as Slack, video conferencing or Asana, you’ll end up with isolated team members working independently. Establishing your infrastructure and being able to explain to candidates your expectations and the reality is essential to recruiting agile tech workers. RECOGNITION AND REWARDSOut of sight, out of mind is a big worry for agile workers. There’s a perception that without adequate face time they won’t get the recognition they deserve and could be passed over for promotion opportunities or recognition. Being able to demonstrate how your workplace culture extends to remote workers or part-time staff will help to reassure and soothe those concerns. BURNOUT&nbsp;There can be a misconception that an agile worker is available whenever they’re needed. This can particularly be seen in start-ups where there’s a huge level of work to be done, and often redone at short notice. When the boundaries between work and personal time become blurred, and agile working becomes more taking than giving that creates issues for recruiting other agile tech workers to the business. RISING POPULARITY OF FREELANCE WORKThe world of work is changing and taking on freelance or contract work is becoming an increasingly popular way of working. For many, it’s the ultimate in agile working and the potential instability is outweighed by other benefits. It adds an extra layer of competition when recruiting for an in-house role and means the package on offer needs to be even more irresistible. CHANGING PRIORITIESAgile working is more than simply where you work. For many, it also refers to workplace culture and the values it embodies. Increasingly tech talent is looking at the wider context of an employer - what their priorities are, whether they’re culturally and socially responsible and using that information to make a decision. It’s no longer all about salary or other traditional perks. A highly competitive marketplace and a shortage of tech workers are without doubt hampering your ability to find the agile tech workers you need. But there are a whole host of other factors at play that you should be aware of. From your culture to your set up to your package if you’re struggling to find the right talent you need it’s worth reviewing your recruitment process and identifying areas to improve. Are you looking for talent solutions for your technology organization, or searching for your next opportunity in tech? Reach out to our Source Technology team today. hello@source-technology.com

10 Reasons Why It's Difficult To Find Agile Tech Workers

If you have been offered and accepted a job in Switzerland, then you will probably be feeling both excited and nervous at the same time. If this is your first time working in this amazing country, then we have some tips to help you make it an absolute success – read on to find out more! First Impressions CountThe business world in Switzerland is fast-paced and highly professional, meaning that your first impression will be lasting. From using good non-verbal communication to dressing well for work, the effort you put in will reap the rewards for a long time to come. If you are going to work in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, then it is important to remember that air-kissing is a standard custom, but this is not the case in the German-speaking part of the country so make sure not to get this mixed up! Follow the HierarchyAnother key to success in Switzerland is not to disrupt the hierarchy. You may be tempted to always greet your employer first, but if there are clients in the room, then custom insists that you greet them first, followed by your boss, followed by the rest of the team. Failing to follow this strict hierarchy can cause offence which will harm both your reputation and your success. It is also important to note that when you are introducing your boss and clients to each other, you should always introduce your boss to the client first rather than the other way around. Enjoy Gender EqualityThe Swiss workforce offers full equality between the genders so that everyone is treated equally and everyone’s input is valued. This is in contrast to the social scene where women are expected to introduce themselves first. In the workplace, all genders are free to approach each other and work together. Find Out How to Address PeopleWhen working in Switzerland, it is important that you find out how to address colleagues before choosing to call them by their first name. In most places, the boss will talk to people using their first name, and many colleagues will speak to each other on a first-name basis. However, it is not usually acceptable to call your boss by their first name without having been invited to do so first. Maintain Your Reputation Outside of WorkWhen it comes to maintaining a professional reputation, you are expected to do this in all aspects of your life. This means that no matter where you are or what you are doing, you should remember that you are a representative of your company and behave in a way that would make them proud to associate themselves with you. It is worth remembering that the Swiss population are generally very reserved and like people to behave accordingly at all times. Arrive on TimeBeing punctual is also incredibly important when you work in Switzerland, and even if your meeting has not yet begun, if your client arrives before you, then you are seen as being late. A standard rule for meetings is that you should arrive at least ten minutes early so that you are ready to work when the other party arrives. Get a Job in SwitzerlandSwitzerland is a great place to live and work, with many lifestyle and financial benefits. Most people love the strong work ethos and clear structure as it allows them to thrive and follow a clear path. If this sounds like a place you would like to live and work, then get in touch with Source Technology today and let us help you find your next step!

Top Tips on Working in Switzerland

The hiring process, stages conducted and combined to identify and recognize the best talent for your recruitment needs. The stakes between good recruitment and bad recruitment have never been so high. You’re probably familiar with some of the stats: <ul><li>losing a great employee can cost the company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-much-does-employee-turnover-really-cost_us_587fbaf9e4b0474ad4874fb7?guccounter=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(38, 170, 254);">5 to 2 times the employee’s annual salary</a>;</li><li>for competitive markets like IT in Europe, over&nbsp;<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/policies/digital-skills" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(38, 170, 254);">500,000 jobs are currently unfilled</a>;</li><li>and there’s an increasing trend in people&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inc.com/robbie-abed/more-people-are-quitting-their-jobs-than-ever-before-heres-why.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(38, 170, 254);">leaving jobs voluntarily</a>&nbsp;without a job lined up after.</li></ul>These are only a few of the trends that are making it hard to identify, attract, and retain great talent even when you have a well-oiled recruitment machine. Time to weed these common hiring mistakes out of your processes! Here we’ll give you a brief overview of 5 common mistakes in technical recruitment. Looking at the CVs before the technical interview The technical interview in the recruitment process, needs to be the priority, after all the technical interview is there to measure ability. Don’t fall into a honey pot of unconscious bias; the technical interview will provide the skills necessary for your vacancy requirements. Not having an interview plan Not having a clear interview plan can be detrimental to your recruitment process. Think about the interview and allocate interview area and focus to each interviewer, in advance of the interview, understand what matters for you and your processes. By concentrating the skill areas and planning in advance, you will build a collective view of your interviewee. Letting interviewers see feedback Don’t let your interviewers see one another’s feedback during the interview process, an independently formed judgement from each interviewer is far more valuable and effective for successful interview results. Giving an open-ended take on assessment Within the technical recruitment process there’s generally an assessment provided. Ensure you provide a time limit for your assessments; you want and need the interviewee to perform at their best potential within the given time period. Make an informed decision from your process and assessment and identify the right candidate, a time constraint creates pressure, but also quality. Don’t forget the CV review Include the CV review in your recruitment, the CV review needs to be the first step of the hiring process. We are all aware, CV reviews are biased, CV’s don’t necessarily stand out, and top of the funnel is the biggest problem you have in recruitment.The CV review needs to be included in the process – no matter what experience your interviewee has. There is the inkling to just rely upon the technical stage of the interview, especially with General Software Developer roles, new grads, early talent etc – but ensure you do both. Senior candidates are generally little less eager to complete assessments as the first stage of the process, utilize their CVs, don’t just jump to the rejection letter.Our skilled recruiters are always on hand to provide guidance and suggestion with your recruitment processes to achieve the most from your interviewees. If you have a query about your technical interview processes please get in touch today :&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hello@agreatersource.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(38, 170, 254);">hello@</a>source-technology.com&nbsp;&nbsp;check out our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agreatersource.com/group-news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(38, 170, 254);">news and blogs</a>&nbsp;for more recruitment tips, industry news and Source Expertise.

The Top 5 Mistakes in Technical Recruiting

Recruitment careers are in high demand right now, especially in the UK. According to Linkedin, “Demand for recruiting professionals is at [an all-time] high. Recruiting the right talent is increasingly mission-critical in today’ tight labour market. And their data shows the demand for recruiting professionals has increased 63% globally since 2016.” All over, graduates are choosing a career in recruitment for several reasons. We’re sharing the most popular six in today’s blog.&nbsp; FLEXIBILITY&nbsp; Core to the recruitment field is the built-in flexibility. This comes from the one on one relationship you build with your clients and candidates. There is no one looking over your shoulder per se. And no one will tell you exactly what you need to do each day. Everyone in recruitment must manage their clients to ensure the correct contact frequency is in place.&nbsp; UNCAPPED COMPENSATION&nbsp; Recruitment consultants can still earn a lot of money. In general, commission structures do not have a cap at recruitment firms. Because of this commission structure, recruitment consultants can earn significantly more than other entry-level job roles.&nbsp; SKILL BUILDING&nbsp; When you become a recruitment consultant you will build sales skills. That is not all. You’ll also develop communication skills, relationship management skills, time management skills and project management skills. You’ll become familiar with the systems required in the recruitment field including CRM, email, telephone and other tech-based skills.&nbsp; SPECIALIST UNDERSTANDING&nbsp; Depending on your degree you may find it easy to join as a recruitment consultant for a specialist field. Even without direct workplace experience, university or college-level training may provide you with a solid foundation to make determinations about the skills and experience of others in a similar field.&nbsp; FAST PROGRESSION&nbsp; Expect fast progression as it’s not uncommon for recruitment consultants to earn promotions in under a year. There are several levels to progress within the industry and most recruitment firms have clear and defined job roles.&nbsp; ENHANCED BENEFITS&nbsp; It’s also common for recruitment roles to boast attractive benefits packages. Graduates are choosing a career in recruitment often for these soft rewards. Think pensions, reward schemes, corporate cars, private healthcare and more.&nbsp; Considering a graduate placement in recruiting? Let’s talk about that.&nbsp;

6 reasons why graduates are choosing a career in recruitment

Even since before the pandemic, cybersecurity was a major issue for both businesses and individuals, however the current world situation has made it even more of an important issue with so many people having to connect digitally instead of face to face. You can be sure cyber scammers have not let this change go unnoticed and the number of cyber threats has rocketed in the past 18 months. Now more than ever before it’s important for companies and the general public to be aware of the various types of threats to the security of their digital devices, and here we’ll take a look at the five most common ones to prevent you from falling into the trap. RansomwareThe clue is in the name, holding data to ransom for a price. Ransomware is a program that encrypts data on your system and effectively locks it up unless a key is used to unlock it and regain access. This type of attack is becoming more commonplace and is usually targeted at companies and larger organisations such as universities and hospitals due to the sensitive and vital information they may hold on customers, and their ability to pay the large sums requested to unlock the data. However, millions of individuals are targeted each year too on their personal computers, with important files, videos and photos locked away and unable to be restored. PhishingAimed at both small businesses and individuals, phishing is a technique that tricks users into performing a certain action which gives power to the attacker, such as filling in details on a fake website or disclosing sensitive banking or security information. This can come in the form of an email where the phisher takes the form of a trusted person and ushers them to click a link or to download a file which then executes software to steal sensitive data. Most of the time these attacks are easy to spot for the trained eye, but many times the scam works when the recipient’s guard is let down, and it only takes a second for the wrong action to be taken. MalwareA wide-ranging type of attack that can be anything from computer code which acts in a malicious way on your system to viruses and hacks that can happen when you download items from the internet or open infected emails. Malware has the purpose of damaging entire systems, and crippling networking infrastructure, and oftentimes this can be very costly to repair or replace. During this kind of attack, the system is wide open to the hacker and they are able to steal all kinds of valuable information from an organisation or individual. Most of the time, a good virus detection and malware sweeper is enough to detect, isolate and eliminate the threat, however these threats are becoming more and more sophisticated. Hacking Weak PasswordsLet’s face it, the average person who is signed up to multiple websites and uses passwords to gain access to everything from their email to their work accounts will have more passwords than they can possibly remember. Due to this, most people choose a simple password such as a name and a set of numbers which is then repeated across all of their devices with little variation. This makes a hacker’s job very easy, as once they are able to crack on password, they will have instant access to the rest of the accounts using the same one. Some websites and applications now demand stricter protocols, such as using capitals, multiple numbers and special characters, and this is then stored in password memory by our devices so we don’t have to remember them. Once a hacker has gained access to your account, they can take any number of decisions to steal your personal data and banking details to use maliciously. Denial of Service (DoS)This attack works by flooding a system with multiple requests so that it cannot process them all, and as such is unable to function properly. The ensuing attack leaves your computer very vulnerable and at this stage the attacker is able to inject malware to damage your system and steal valuable data. Another term for this is distributed denial of service where the attack is started from a network, but there are also botnets and so-called zombie systems which do the same thing, but from a wide range of locations which makes tracing the attack virtually impossible.

A Look At The 5 Most Common Cybersecurity Threats

What are the most in-demand Cloud Development Jobs, and how do you enter a job in Cloud Development?Our world today is full of fast technological advances. Cloud Development is pivotal to these. A job in Cloud Development is as exciting as it is lucrative. Data from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3979204" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(38, 170, 254);">Gartner Talent Neuron</a>, states that a median Cloud Salary is $146,350 per year. Despite this healthy remuneration offering, there is a distinct shortage of Cloud Development professionals out there. There is a huge demand for professionals and talent across this industry, and the industry is predicted to grow to 300 billion in 2021. We’d first suggest familiarizing yourself with the prevalent Cloud platforms. Amazon AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Employers that leverage these platforms are actively looking for experts to deploy applications and analyze data. Highlighting and demonstrating that you can successfully use these platforms will give you a competitive edge against the other candidates.Let’s look at the most in-demand Cloud Development jobs out there. What skills do you need for these jobs? Do you need additional qualifications? How do you transition into a Cloud Development job? CLOUD SALES MANAGEROur first hot Cloud job is the Cloud Sales Manager. Do you enjoy marketing? Are you a good salesperson? Got a passion for the cloud, but perhaps not the IT qualifications to match? To get a Cloud Sales Manager job, you only need a strong academic background in any discipline, related IT knowledge, and sales and marketing ability. The Cloud Sales Manager is responsible for selling the solution. Did you know, a Cloud Sales Manager can take home an impressive salary. &nbsp;Cloud Sales Managers pocket between $120,000 and $140,000 per year. CLOUD ARCHITECTCloud Architects are responsible for developing and implementing cloud setups. The Cloud Architect ensures that the systems are reliable, secure, and scalable, and overall supportive to achieve the best business performance.This role requires an educational background in computer science, as well as knowledge of Linux and Windows. Technical experience in Python, Shell, and VBScript is an added advantage.Cloud Architects earn between $140,000 and $150,000 per annum. CLOUD COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND NETWORK ADMINISTRATORCloud computer system and network administrators (CCSNA) optimize network software, support operations, and maintain cloud infrastructure. In some organizations, they are also in charge of implementing and maintaining communication and hardware connections.To jump into a career as a CCSANA you will need a background education in Computer Science or Engineering, and you must know your way around Python, Perl, and Shell. Cloud Computer Systems and Network Administrators take home about $110,000 per year.These are our top 3 Cloud Development roles to mention, but there are plenty more, and they’re on the increase and demand as more businesses transition towards Cloud operation. Over the past three years, job searches that included keywords related to the top cloud providers, such as ‘Google Cloud,’ ‘Azure,’ or ‘AWS,’ have increased by 223%, and job listings that included these terms in the description rose by 101% over the same time frame. <a href="https://www.source-technology.com/the-future-of-cloud/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(38, 170, 254);">The Future of Cloud</a> TALK TO SOURCEWhen it comes to Cloud Development, Source Technology are the experts. We understand Cloud and provide the best guidance and advice on your job search. By using Source Technology, you will gain access to some of the best consultants across Cloud, to offer you the best advice for your career search. We will work through your CV, get to know you, and only put you forward for vacancies that interest and inspire you. <a href="https://www.source-technology.com/job-category/cloud-development-jobs/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(38, 170, 254);">Cloud Development Jobs</a>Talk to Source today – our expert teams are waiting to hear from you.

The Most In Demand Cloud Jobs Out There 

With more and more people using the internet to carry out basic daily tasks that were once done in person, such as banking and shopping, then the need for secure systems and technology has never been more essential. Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing markets within the technology and security sectors, due mainly to people understanding more about the rise in threats to their privacy and security online. This of course means that there will be a huge increase in jobs available for those who wish to pursue a career in cybersecurity, so if that’s you, but you’re still not sure if this is the right career path for you, then keep reading to find out why cyber security is more important now than ever. A Breach Is Expensive BusinessAs a business that operates online, which to be honest, most people do today, then the cost of having a breach of data can be extremely costly. Of course, it depends on the type of business they are. A multinational bank that holds very sensitive information about their customers, such as mortgage details and bank account numbers is going to be hit much harder than a family-run bakery in your local town. When customers buy anything from a business or even do something as simple as signing up to a mailing list for marketing purposes, this is data that the business holds on them and they have a legal and moral obligation to ensure it’s used correctly and held safely away from hackers.In the UK, the average cost of a data breach is around £20,000. However, even if this is just a drop in the ocean for them, the damage to their reputation can be far more costly - especially in the age of social media. Hackers Are Becoming More SophisticatedIf we look back 20 years, the hackers we think about are some college kids in their parents’ basement. However, nowadays, hacking is completely different. In fact, there are even full organisations dedicated to hacking into security systems around the world. Even the government isn’t immune from these. It seems like for every step that a company takes to protect themselves against a hacker or for every new anti-hacking programme that’s created, the hackers come along with something more sophisticated to make it harder to beat them. So, hiring more dedicated people into cyber security is so important these days to help continue the fight against these hackers and keep people and their data protected. Regulations Are Tighter Than EverOver the last few years, GDPR has been making waves across the business world. The often-confusing regulations brought in by the European Union to help protect people’s personal data online is just another thing that shows how much people are really starting to take this seriously.As mentioned above, when so much of our daily lives are now being conducted online, it only makes sense to want to protect the most sensitive data that we’re giving out to companies. So, even if it’s not just criminals that businesses need to protect their customers against, over the next few decades, we’re going to see even more tighter regulations to help ensure that we can keep up with fighting the battle against hackers and those who want to steal and do bad things with our personal data. A career in cyber security is not only one that will be interesting, but it’s a lucrative one, because companies take this seriously now more than ever as you can see from the examples above, and is a career that will never be lacking in exciting opportunities as the market continues to grow.

Why Cyber Security Is More Important Now Than Ever

The job market in Germany has been flourishing in the last few years. It’s well known that, due to the country’s efficiency and seriousness, when it comes to work there’s nobody like the German people. But there might be some false myths on the subject, some lies that we’ve been telling ourselves for a long time. And if you are considering moving to Germany for work, or even if you’re just curious about the subject, you should definitely consider these tips first. You’ll Need To Be PunctualThis isn’t a myth. German people really care about punctuality in the workplace. And their workday starts very early as well. It’s not so rare to find people already working at seven in the morning, or even at six-thirty.For many British people this would be crazy, but in Germany it’s considered quite usual. This probably has to do with the fact that all schools open very early, and German people are used to getting up at sunrise since a very young age.Also, part of it can be explained by assuming that many workers drop their kids at school on their way to work. Since schools open so early, there’s no need to wait around for all the parents. They will start getting some work done as soon as possible, and, again, they will always be punctual. The Dress Code In The Office Is Different...While German men can dress more casually than British men for work, it’s not always the case for German women. And actually, in many cases they have to dress up in a more formal way than the British women.But it’s quite common to see men wearing jeans at meetings, or casual shoes even when they are on sales. For some reason, we’ve always been used to imagining German employees in the workplace wearing formal clothes all the time, but this is clearly just a myth. …But People Are Actually More FormalEmployees in the office behave in a very serious way. They don’t like joking around when it comes to work topics. They generally have the tendency to completely divide their personal life from their work life.Most of the time, they’re out of the office by three o’clock, and this leaves them the rest of the day for nice afternoons and evenings with friends. Usually, people in Germany don’t go out for drinks with their co-workers, which could be an enjoyable surprise for all the introverts out there.Many German people have a small, closed circle of friends that they like to go out with, and they leave all of their work life behind as soon as they get out of the office. Open-Plan Offices Are RareIt’s not so common to see open-plan offices in Germany – it’s typically easier to find separate office rooms, or at least cubicles. Germans care a lot about their privacy, and they don’t like to be distracted when they’re working. They’re fully committed to what they’re doing, and even an overheard conversation could bother them. That’s how they manage to work generally less than the average British employee, while keeping their productivity per person usually higher. There’s a time for playing, and a time for working. German Efficiency Isn’t RealThis is a myth as well. We’ve been believing all of our lives that German people are the most productive, while in reality their bureaucratic system is really slow and complex. There is a lot of paperwork to do every time you want to book holiday, or if you need to make an unplanned expense. Bottom LineThis is the way work life goes in Germany, and these are our tips on how to survive it. If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Top Tips On Working In Germany

Scalability is about capability and capacity, and successfully scaling your business means getting it to a stage to enable and support the growth within the company effectively. For a business to be successful long-term, it has to have the ability to grow without jeopardizing the running of the business. This will require planning, funding, staff and putting certain processes in place. If your business has been doing well, and you feel it is the right time to scale up, then these techniques will help you do this successfully. Here, we will go through the main five critical techniques that will allow you to be successful in scaling your business. 1.PLANNING AND EVALUATING Firstly, look at you’re your business to see if it is really ready for growth. Make a detailed sales growth forecast. Your forecast should include the number of customers, orders and the revenue you want to create. Use a spreadsheet that breaks up the numbers down into months. Similarly include an expense forecast looking at adding technology, people, infrastructure and systems which will be needed to handle the new sales orders. 2. RESOURCE YOUR MONEY It can be expensive to scale a business, as you may need to hire more staff, add equipment, upgrade your facilities and deploy new technology. However, there are ways such as small business investors you could apply to for assistance. Or, you could put some effort into identifying loans, grants or credit that can be used.3. SALESIf you’re scaling your business, then you need to look into your sales structure to make sure you are able to sell at higher volumes sustainably. Make sure you check you have sufficient leads, enough sales representatives, and a robust system that manages sales orders and billing. 4. TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT Investing in technology could allow you to save time and money and at the same time, accommodate higher volumes of sales. You can minimise manual work and lower cost through automation. Look at and evaluate a range of software products that allow sales management, inventory, manufacturing, accounting, shipping etc. In this evaluation also include networks and hardware servers. Or, consider whether a cloud-based service could work for you, negating the need for you to have as much IT hardware on-site. 5.MANAGEMENT OF STAFF Though technology can be utilised effectively, it can’t replace people. Look at your staffing structure and focus heavily on these areas, ensuring you are well-staffed to avoid employee burnout. However, do not overstaff if you’re unsure whether your business will sustain the level of growth. It may be wise to consider outsourcing some parts of your business, until such time as the work is sufficient for an in-house staff member. Consider all roles within your business that could be affected by growth, including customer service staff, manufacturing staff, those responsible for inventory, the delivery of products or services and more. Also, look into growing your management team. As your business grows, you will not be able to oversee everything personally. These techniques should have given you a starting point for scaling your business. With the right planning and processes put in place, your business should have the building blocks in place to sustain your future growth. As always the Source Team are at hand to support you, if you need advice about Scaling your Organisation reach out to the team:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hello@agreatersource.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(38, 170, 254);">hello@</a>source-technology.com

Scaling Technology Start-Ups for Success

Over the last 10 years, cloud storage platforms such as iCloud, Dropbox, and even Google have continued to soar in popularity. This is in part due to the space it saves on devices and prevents a loss of data in the case of phones or computers being broken or stolen. However, a big part of it is the security aspect; cloud storage providers have highly secure encrypted servers that make it very difficult, near impossible for hackers to reach, so people feel more secure putting their data in the hands of these trusted companies as opposed to simply leaving it lying around on a hard drive or server that can be accessed by someone who wants to use their data for malicious purposes. When deciding how to store your company data – especially things like employee files, salary details and other sensitive information – then you need to know that the platform you use is one that’s going to meet your needs now and as you grow. There are so many platforms out there already that it can be hard to decide which one to go with, so to help you reach a decision easier and quicker, we’re going to list some of the things you should be looking for when considering if cloud data storage is for you, and what features to look out for when selecting a provider. Make Sure They’re EncryptedIf you use a messaging service such as WhatsApp, you’ll see that it tells you when you first message a new contact that all your conversations are encrypted. What does this actually mean? Basically, it means that nobody can access your files, conversations or any data you share other than you and the person you’re having a conversation with - this includes the people who run WhatsApp (or Meta) themselves.If you’re ever in doubt about this, don’t be afraid to reach out to the provider before signing up with them as not all providers offer end-to-end encryption, but it’s so important to ensure that all your data stays safe - especially when you’re dealing with the data belonging to others, as this could cost you massively as a business. Read Those User AgreementsWe’ve all seen them, especially the ones from Apple and Google that appear to have you scrolling for a few minutes, and that nobody ever bothers to read, but just clicks accept at the end. That’s not a smart move, especially when it comes to something as sensitive as securing data. If you wouldn’t sign a contract without reading it in its entirety, then don’t do the same with a user agreement, as effectively they’re contracts between you and the company providing the service.Just as you would with a contract, you need to know what the provider is offering and what your rights are. You’ll potentially find some clause or waiver in there that will deter you from handing your files and data over to them. Make Your Passwords Strong And Change Them OftenIt’s still quite baffling that, in today’s online-driven world, so many people are using passwords like the word Password. One of the reasons that hackers are able to be so successful in accessing people’s data is to do with people using extremely weak passwords. Your password needs to be strong and cryptic, and preferably updated every 3-6 months. Most logins now require you to enter your password as 8 letters or more, have at least one uppercase and one lowercase letter, as well as a number and a special character – so make the most of that flexibility. Set Up Two-Factor AuthenticationThis is one of the easiest ways to ensure your safety online when it comes to securing your data. Each time you or anyone tries to access your account, you’ll receive an alert, usually as a text on your phone or email to check that it’s you trying to access the account. If so, you just approve it and you’re good to go. If not, you know that someone has tried to access your account unsuccessfully and can take steps to prevent that from happening again. We hope that these tips help you get the best out of whatever cloud storage platform you decide to go with and that when you do sign up for one, you know what steps you need to take to keep all the data you have on there as secure as possible.

Securing Data In The Cloud – What Can You Do?

Here at Source, keeping up to date with the newest technology is a big part of we do. After all, new technology means new jobs, and this strategy allows us to be able to recruit for the newest jobs on the market before anyone else. It’s a new year now, and that means lots of new technological innovations. Keep reading for our top technology trends of 2022. Virtual WorldsStarting off our list with a bang, we’ve got one of the biggest game changers in the technology sector – virtual worlds. Like it says on the tin, a virtual world is an online environment when people can meet, work, and play. We already have this technology in the form of MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games), but a virtual world won’t be like a game – it will try to mimic real life as closely as possible.Think Facebook – but in real life. In fact, Facebook (Meta) will be behind the biggest push of this technology with their metaverse. Heralded as the next phase of the internet, think of it as an augmented or extended reality, blurring the lines of digital and real life.Jobs for these virtual worlds may include avatar designers and research scientists. 3D PrintingLike a lot of other technologies, 3D printing has actually been around for a while now but has never fully taken off. But this might be the year for 3D printing, thanks to the ability to make 3D-printed houses. How is this possible? It just requires putting all the housing materials – concrete, plastics, sand, etc – into a huge 3D printer, which then ‘prints’ out homes. CryptocurrenciesCryptocurrency is another example of a new technology that is yet to fully get rolling. Experts are predicting that 2022 will be the year that crypto becomes more mainstream, meaning the average person could start using it as part of their regular finances.What are the signs that crypto will become more mainstream? The main one is that the Central American country El Salvador became the first country to use bitcoin as legal tender in 2021. Other countries, such as Sweden and Canada, are also considering making the crypto move in 2022 Electric aviationYou might get bored of us saying this, but electric aviation is another one of those technologies that has been around for a while without getting off the ground. With the need to lessen carbon emissions becoming more immediate due to global warming, the technology has been given a bit of a kick. The only thing holding electric aviation back now is battery technology.So, what does this mean? It’s fairly straightforward – planes are going electric. Expect to see smaller electric planes in 2022 and 2023, and the bigger ones to come in the years after that. Artificial intelligence The last one on our list – artificial intelligence – is one that makes it onto our lists every single year, and that’s because there’s something new for it every year. What’s new for AI in 2022? Conversational AI has made a lot of progress, with the ability for it to now argue in conversations. Social robots are expected to make big leaps as well, with the ability for these robots to become more customising, meaning that the robot will speak different to every human it meets. Get in touchIf you’re interested in working in any of these emerging fields, or if you’re worried about how they might affect your current job, get in touch with us now. We may be able to help you take the next step in your career, in a world that is changing so rapidly.

Top Technology Trends 2022

When you stop to consider that there are approximately 600 different programming languages in use right now, then you will probably be keen to find out which ones to learn about and which ones to avoid. To help you work out which ones deserve your attention, we have listed the top programming languages of 2022 below, why not take a look right now?<ol><li>Python</li></ol> Developed by Guido van Rossum, Python has been around since the 90s and is now the most popular programming language in the world. However, this language did not experience a meteoric rise, nor could it be described as a disruptive language. Instead, the slow and steady approach has propelled Python to the top spot.<ol><li>JavaScript</li></ol> Born from a prototype that only took Brendan Eich ten days to develop, JavaScript has steadily become a dynamic and high-level language in the programming world. It is a language that is used across the world and is employed in pretty much every part of the tech world. From browser to mobile devices and microcontrollers to servers, JavaScript plays its part exceptionally well.<ol><li>Java</li></ol> Labelled as possibly the most disruptive programme languages of all time, Java continues to be a popular choice across the globe. However, more recently, Java has started to lose its appeal slightly with the introduction of new languages. Despite its losses in the cloud arena, Java still remains the first choice for enterprises.<ol><li>C#</li></ol> C# was designed by Anders Hejlsberg for the Common Language Initiative at Microsoft. Initially, it was deemed to be a copy of Java, but as it evolved, the two languages became more individual. You will find C# in use on Windows, iOS and Linux/.<ol><li>C</li></ol> C is proof that you do not need to be brand new to be disruptive, and whilst this language was developed in the late 60s to early 70s, it retains the title of most influential programming languages. The reality is the C is probably a key influencer in every other language on our list! It is purely platform-dependent because it is not portable, but it is still a great choice when you want to make optimum use of your hardware.<ol><li>C++</li></ol> Originally designed as an extension of the C programme, C++ has become a highly popular general-purpose language that offers low-level memory access. Over the years, C++ has lost out to Java because it offers too much complexity and is incredibly hard to master.<ol><li>Swift</li></ol> Created by Chris Lattner for Apple, this new general-purpose language offers improved productivity for developers and supports LLVM. It is dubbed as one of the best languages to learn if you are keen to learn more about programming languages and is swiftly growing in popularity.<ol><li>PHP</li></ol> Developed in the 90s, PHP was first a set of Common Interface binaries that were written in C to help the creation of dynamic applications. As it grew in popularity, it added additional functions and slowly grew into a language in its own right. While it is likely to be around for many years to come, PHP is losing popularity and slowly being replaced by other languages.<ol><li>Go</li></ol> Another modern programming language, Go was created by Google to be an easy to learn language that is easy to scale and is pragmatic. It does lack somewhat in the feature department but has quickly become popular with programmers across the globe. We think it’s one to watch.<ol><li>Ruby</li></ol> Released in the 90s, Ruby was created by Yukihiro Matsumoto to offer an object-oriented scripting language. As time has passed the language has evolved successfully to become a general-purpose language and is now implemented in C. It may not be as well-known as the likes of Python, but Ruby is a great first language for anyone that is new to developing.

What Are The Top Programming Languages of 2022?

Everything in 2020 was so unpredictably tragic due to the pandemic. Economically, for many companies, it was the end of the road. Many tech companies went bankrupt, and many CEOs fell out of their thrones. However, the companies that survived the pandemic crisis are now bigger, better, but most of all they have a quality that is essential in these times – they are ready to fight. Because of this, the landscape of tech careers has changed its shape in the course of the past two years, and now whoever wants to start a career in this field will have to keep in mind what awaits them. We’re here to help you with this. These are our tips on some of the best tech career paths to follow in 2022. We need to be honest, though – it’s not going to be a piece of cake, but we are sure that we’ll be able to find the right road for you together. DevOps EngineerA DevOps engineer will take care of the deployment and network operations of a development team. There will always be need for DevOps engineers, especially in times like this. They can handle coding and scripting, they are highly skilled in Linux or UNIX system administration, and they know how to use tools like Git and Jenkins. It’s a role that you just can’t miss from the layout of a successful company. Cloud Architect and AI ArchitectA Cloud Architect is the person in charge of designing and administering the cloud structure, while an AI architect will plan a strategy based on artificial intelligence. These two are the most needed roles in order to plan a company’s strategy, and, since today many companies are considering to “go cloud” or to start using AI especially because of the crisis we lived in these past two years, it will be a great choice of path career for you. Product ManagerThe development of each tech product has to be overseen by the product manager of the company. It’s another essential position, as every company will need one when releasing a product. The skills of a product manager will be some strong analytic abilities, product lifestyle management skills, and the knowledge of management tools like PivotalTracker. Programmer AnalystProgrammer analysts are a key figure because of their ability in reporting documentation of every programming process with diagrams and flowcharts. They will always be needed in every tech company, since their skills in debugging and troubleshooting information systems are very valuable. Programmer analysts will also have deep knowledge of programming languages like Java, C, and C+. Get in touchThese are just a few of the best paths that we recommend for you to take, but if you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to help you with any doubts you might have. Here at Source, we’ve got contacts with some of the biggest players in the technology industry, which is good news for you if you’re part of our talent pool. We’ll put you forward for the best jobs at these companies – many of which are exclusive to us and are not advertised anywhere else. This is what you get when you join Source. It’s a big investment in your career and your whole future. We know that the tech one is a tough world – we’ve been trying to navigate it ourselves for many years. But it can give great satisfaction to anybody who is willing to work hard. That’s what we’ve done, and we’ve had great success.

Tech Career Paths In 2022

Is Kotlin the Future? Here at Source, we like to see ourselves as a future-facing company. What does that mean exactly? It means we’re always looking to innovate and adapt and keep up with the latest advances in the markets that we recruit for. That’s why we write these articles – we want to make sure we’re always ahead of the curve. One thing that is hot on topic at the moment is the programming language Kotlin. With so many other programming languages out there, many people are asking just what the future of Kotlin is and whether it’s worth pursuing a career working with this language.Keep reading for our thoughts on the matter. What is Kotlin?Before we talk about the future of Kotlin, let’s go through what Kotlin actually is first. For those of you who don’t know, Kotlin is a programming language that is open source and statically types. It was designed to work best with Java but also works with older languages as well. Some of the biggest apps in use today were created using Kotlin. Pinterest was made possible by Kotlin’s coding language that helped to create accurate and clear code that allows for superior performance. Kotlin also allowed Trello to become more interactive using its card system. Tinder especially benefitted from Kotlin because of clear and concise coding architecture. The future is bright for KotlinWe’ll jump straight to the point now – Kotlin is highly likely to become the next big programming language within the next few years. Some would say that it already is the next big thing. This is because of many reasons. One of these reasons is because Kotlin is a particularly modern programming language, meaning that it brings together all the best features of the previous languages. Kotlin is also easy to learn, while still having powerful and complex features. It is even easier to learn if you have experience in Python and or Java. There are also great learning materials on offer for Kotlin – there are many courses that are easy-paced, and which offer key insights into the programming structure. The Kotlin developer community is also very big, meaning there are always experts that you can fall back on if you get stuck.Now that the biggest brands have used Kotlin, we predict others will follow suit. The big brands will also need Kotlin programmers to help maintain their apps. It all adds up to Kotlin being high in demand in the next couple of years. The experience developers will be in particular demand. If you start learning now by using the wealth of information available, you’ll be setting yourself up to profit in the future. We can help you get a Kotlin jobWe hope this article has helped you to learn a little more about the future of Kotlin. In our opinion, it’s going to be a bright one. This means that if you’re looking for Kotlin jobs, or if you’re just thinking about starting to learn it, there’s no better time to do it. If you are looking for Kotlin jobs, we can certainly help with that. We’ve got close contacts with some of the biggest players in the technology industry who are literally waiting to hear from us about you. We’ll ask you some questions about your past experience and qualifications, along with information about career goals and aspirations, and then we’ll take it from there. Get in touch with us now or apply to one of our jobs. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Is Kotlin the Future?

Scala is being used more and more frequently. It’s a functional programming and scripting language, but what makes it unique is the coexistence of features of both functional and object-oriented programming. Due to the increase in use of this language, Scala developers are becoming much more needed. The Two SidesThere are two sides to the story when we’re dealing with Scala developer interviews. On one side, there is a rising demand for the professional figures, and being able to recognize a proficient Scala developer is crucial to companies. But so is preparing for an interview if you’re a developer.Whenever you face an interview about Scala, no matter which side of the desk you sit at, there are some questions you’ll have to keep in mind. Keep reading for our sample interview questions. What Is Scala, Scala Sets And Scala Maps?When we’re talking about Scala, what really differentiates it among the other developing languages is the concise manner Scala expresses solutions in. This is due to the fusion of functional and object-oriented programming languages. A Scala set is a collection of elements in pairs of the same typology, which can’t contain duplicate elements. A Scala set can be mutable or immutable. A Scala map is a collection of key or of pairs inside one particular value. It’s possible to understand any value when you have its key. It’s important to remember that the keys are unique in the maps, while the values are not, so it’s not possible to retrieve a key, starting from its value.An object is just a singleton, a particular example of a class, while a class is in fact a description for the objects. The class defines one type in relation to the others - like a blueprint of the object. What Are The Advantages Of Working With Scala?Due to its conciseness, Scala usually presents a high scalability and a high testability. Programs written with Scala are also very easy to maintain and they are usually more productive than the others. But the key feature of Scala is its functional style, which is much less prone to errors. This is not all either – Scala provides many features of the other programming languages as well. Is Scala Better Than Other Programming Languages?Not always. Other programming languages have different features that will make them the best in other fields. But in some ways Scala is actually better. The arrays, for example, use regular generics, whereas in other languages the generics are bolted on later, as an afterthought. Scala also leaves “if blocks”, “code” and “for-yield loops” in braces when there is the need to return a value. This way is usually preferable because it solves the need for a separate ternary operator. Scala, moreover, doesn’t have a boilerplate code, and it has native tuples. Let’s Talk About ItThese are the questions we believe to be fundamental, whether interviewing a Scala developer or if you are one. We know that there are more topics that could be addressed, but these are the ones that you can’t miss from any Scala developer interview. But we would love to hear your opinion. We are a friendly team and we’re ready to learn from you.

Interview Questions for Scala Developers 

Artificial intelligence can be scary. We all saw those catastrophic movies with the robots suddenly taking over. We would expect films like that to teach us something, but the only lesson we seem to be able to take in is not to stand too close to robots when Ben Affleck is within a range of 500 meters. Artificial intelligence seems now to be the one and only solution to workplace problems – and with good reason. It makes tasks easier, it helps in many chores, making them faster and turning the company, overall, into a more productive engine. AI can completely change the everyday life of many companies. AI and the workersDespite the obviousness of this, AI can still seem like an obstacle at first. Workers need to be trained to operate it, since many of their duties will change once AI is in the office. Workers will be sending emails using the speech-to-text function and locking doors using apps on their smartphones. They will even be chatting with online bots able to answer their questions. It’s not just in the future – it’s already a reality in many workplaces.Many of the products we buy every day were designed and manufactured using artificial intelligence technologies. AI and the teaching of AIThe most interesting part of this, as experts have already noted, is that AI will play a key role in teaching workers how to use AI. Many of the computer programs and smartphone applications that will train the workers in this field will actually rely on artificial intelligence. AI will give the employees an unprecedented amount of data, which they will now be able to analyse. AI and the officeFirst, we have to ask ourselves what AI means. We deal with artificial intelligence every single day. As soon as we wake up, we ask Siri what the weather is going to be like. It’s the same in the workplace. Just like AI is helping us improve our search results whenever we type something into Google, this type of technology will be tracking activities in the workplace, so that tasks will run faster each time. AI and the CloudMany companies nowadays decided to move all of their data to a virtual cloud, from where every piece of information is accessible to all the employees at any time. Workers are already using services like Dropbox, iCloud and Google Drive in order to share the files they’re working on.This way is safer as well, because it will be more difficult to lose data, since everybody will be able to download the shared files. This is already showing the employees of different sectors all the benefits of working with AI. AI and its long-term impactIt’s not easy to estimate the impact that AI will have on companies long term, because it’s still a recent field of technology. We still don’t know how much it will improve the productivity of businesses but, from what we can already see, it seems that the manufacturing process of many products is already benefitting. Bottom lineNow you know how artificial intelligence could look like in the everyday life of many workplaces. It’s a real digital shift, and, as we were saying, we know it might be scary. If you have any thoughts on the topic about how it might affect the job market, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Digital Disruption: AI In The Workplace

When working with information technology, the chief information officer (CIO) is a key figure of the enterprise. CIOs are one of the leading roles in the companies because they have to take care of the management and the usability of information. Lately, with the increase in the use of technology, CIOs gained a bigger importance. CIOs study how the different technologies improve the company’s business, and they are in charge of analysing their benefits. As you can imagine, any type of digital transformation needs to obtain the CIO’s approval before passing through. The CIO will have to be completely sure if a change in the technology is worth its risks, because every change will always bring with itself a factor of unpredictability. So, before approving any digital transformation, the CIO will have to ask some questions. We’re here to help with this, by providing what we think are five questions the CIO will want to keep in mind. Is the Cloud a good business strategy? Many companies nowadays decide to move their digital structure to the Cloud, because it presents a higher agility in business applications. But before taking this decision, the CIO will have to ask what tangible benefits it will bring to the company. Is the company going for the Cloud business just because it looks better, or because it will actually represent an improvement in its business? Cloud-Native or Mode 2 applications? What a CIO will really have to ask here is something different. In which way are we considering this, did we take into consideration a greenfield standpoint? The type of shift that the CIO will want to guide is always organisational, in order to support the Cloud-Native technologies as well. It’s true that every technology is relevant, but some are way more than others. The Cloud is a valid alternative, but even when the CIOs have made up their mind, there are still all these elements to consider. Is the Cloud safe? The fact that so many companies have taken the decision to move into the Cloud technology doesn’t necessarily mean that this type of decision doesn’t have any risk. First of all, the Cloud will become the storage unit for many kinds of information, including relevant data. It’s the CIO’s job to make sure that these data are protected in the right way. Furthermore, it’s really important for the Cloud to present an option of recovery, in case of loss of important information. Having a good backup plan is always essential. How will the Cloud change the company? The job description has to change first, to reflect the new asset of the company, given this shift in its technology. Sysadmins, for example, will have to become Site Reliability Engineers (SRE) and Developers will have to turn into DevOps. Secondly, it’s important to re-train all of the employees in techniques that will revolve around the Cloud. How will Cloud Technology change Vendor Choices? It’s important at this stage to focus on some projections for the future. What are, for example, realistic ROI projections in the next three years? Only by analysing this kind of information, the CIO will be able to understand how the Cloud technologies are going to change the Vendor Choices. It’s also crucial to ask, at this point, if the ROI includes the Professional Services, if they’re needed to start with this technology. Bottom line The chief information officer is a critical figure for any company that deals with technology. The choice of a digital transformation towards the Cloud technology falls on them completely, but it might get difficult, depending on the case. If you have any further doubt, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re a friendly team here at Source, and we would love to help you in any way we can.

5 Questions Every CIO Should Ask Before A Digital Transformation

Whether you’re in university and thinking ahead to your first career role or are simply looking to try something new, then programming may have been something you’ve considered. With more of our lives being conducted on the internet, and that not set to change any time soon, then it makes sense that the need for high quality, dedicated and talented programmers is not going to be going anywhere either, and is actually set to increase. You may be aware of some of the basics of programming languages, and although it can be quite overwhelming to keep up with all of them and wonder which ones to focus on, if you’re looking to become an Android developer, then Kotlin is one that’s making some headlines recently as it definitely one to pay attention to. Just as the name Java was named after an island off the coast of Indonesia, Kotlin was named after Kotlin Island in Russia, near St. Petersburg. Although this may seem like useless trivia, knowing stuff like the name of programming languages and where they come from will be things viewed favourably when applying for jobs as it shows you’ve done your research. If you’ve never heard of it, then don’t worry, in this post we’re going to give you a full introduction to Kotlin, so that you can decide if this is something you’d like to focus on in your work as a developer. Google Prefers ItThis is probably one of the most important factors to consider with Kotlin. As we all know, Google basically runs the internet’s most used search engine – and so much of how a website performs and how visible they are really comes down to how much Google approves of them.Google recently announced that Kotlin is their preferred programming language for Android, which is definitely something to consider when deciding which programming language you’d like to focus on going forward. It’s A Cross-Platform LanguageWhile both Java and Kotlin are widely recognised and robust programming languages, they do have slight differences in their capability and functionality. With Kotlin, you have something that has the features of both, object-oriented and functional programming, whereas Java only works on object-oriented programming. Additionally, Kotlin allows those using it to create an extension function, which is something Java programmers aren’t able to do. It’s Java-CompatibleAlthough the two are different programming languages, choosing Kotlin over Java won’t leave you limited to only that. In fact, you may find it more beneficial since they work well together, so you can actually be more effective by choosing to use both Kotlin and Java. It’s Easy To UseWhen it comes to getting your head around yet another programming language, you may be feeling slightly overwhelmed at the prospect as they’re not always the easiest to learn and adopt. However, one of the reasons that Kotlin is growing in popularity is because of how easy to adopt it is. Since it can be used with Java, it’s easy to use and far more flexible and versatile than other programming languages. Safety Is PriorityThe creators of Kotlin have made sure that it’s always updated to ensure the latest safety measures for those choosing to use it as their programming language. This is even more important in today’s world where people need to be extra safe with their websites to avoid hacks, especially when dealing with sensitive and personal data from their customers. So, there you have it. A simple breakdown of what Kotlin is and how you may be able to use it. Even if you’re set on using Java right now because it’s what you know, implementing Kotlin is definitely worth considering in the future.

An Introduction To Kotlin

When you are looking to appoint a new candidate or want to revamp your recruitment process to appeal to the right applicants, then hiring a recruitment company may be the best step forward. So many businesses do not have the time or people required to adequately sift and screen the growing number of applications received, so maybe it is time to let a recruitment agency support your recruitment process. MORE THAN JUST A CV PROVIDERSo many people are led to believe that recruitment consultants just provide a pile of CVs and any randomly selected candidate to undertake the job you need. This is really not the case anymore. Recruitment agencies have come a long way since their inception and now provide in-depth and personalised recruitment solutions so that you can focus more on what your business aims are rather than wasting time trying to source the right people. A RANGE OF RECRUITMENT OPTIONSFrom pre-screening applicants and providing you with appropriate candidates to running extensive recruitment campaigns for your business, recruiters offer a diverse range of options. The key to getting what you need is to work with your team to find out what is missing from your recruitment process and then find a recruiter that has the skills that are currently lacking. Many recruiters are working hard to rid themselves of the negative perceptions that companies have about them, and part of this process has been to offer a more bespoke service that aligns with your business model and needs. So when it comes to finding your next hire, share your needs with your recruiter and see what options they offer. THE BENEFIT OF TEMP TO PERM ARRANGEMENTSWhether we like it or not, there will be times when you recruit someone that just does not hit the mark. They may have had an amazing application, a flawless interview and outstanding references but are not performing the role in the way you’d imagined. This can be difficult to manage, especially if you have offered them a permanent contract right off the bat. With a recruiter, you can benefit from a temp to perm arrangement whereby the recruiter employs the person and pays them while you pay the recruiter. When you are satisfied with the candidate and a specific period of time has elapsed, you can then offer them a contract without paying the recruiter to release them. This system is ideal if you’ve been burned in the past and want the time to assess a candidate as they do the job. A TEAM THAT WAS CREATED TO RECRUITYour business aims will always be linked to the outcomes you are trying to achieve and, unless you are a recruiter, these aims are unlikely to centre around recruitment! When you use a recruiter, you are getting access to a team have been put together to find the right candidates for your job vacancies. Recruiters are only ever successful if they achieve the results you need and so they will spend more time and effort screening and interviewing potential people to ensure that they only ever send you the quality staff you need. CONTACT US TODAYIf you are tired of recruiting people who don’t deliver then maybe it is time that you gave a recruiter the chance to show you what they can do! A good recruiter will work hand in hand with you and provide a recruitment partnership that delivers the results you need. Why not call Source Technology today to find out how we can help you achieve the results you need? We’d love to work with you!

The Added Value A Good Recruiter Adds To Your Recruitment Process

When you are looking to appoint a new candidate or want to revamp your recruitment process to appeal to the right applicants, then hiring a recruitment company may be the best step forward. So many businesses do not have the time or people required to adequately sift and screen the growing number of applications received, so maybe it is time to let a recruitment agency support your recruitment process. MORE THAN JUST A CV PROVIDERSo many people are led to believe that recruitment consultants just provide a pile of CVs and any randomly selected candidate to undertake the job you need. This is really not the case anymore. Recruitment agencies have come a long way since their inception and now provide in-depth and personalised recruitment solutions so that you can focus more on what your business aims are rather than wasting time trying to source the right people. A RANGE OF RECRUITMENT OPTIONSFrom pre-screening applicants and providing you with appropriate candidates to running extensive recruitment campaigns for your business, recruiters offer a diverse range of options. The key to getting what you need is to work with your team to find out what is missing from your recruitment process and then find a recruiter that has the skills that are currently lacking.Many recruiters are working hard to rid themselves of the negative perceptions that companies have about them, and part of this process has been to offer a more bespoke service that aligns with your business model and needs. So when it comes to finding your next hire, share your needs with your recruiter and see what options they offer. THE BENEFIT OF TEMP TO PERM ARRANGEMENTSWhether we like it or not, there will be times when you recruit someone that just does not hit the mark. They may have had an amazing application, a flawless interview and outstanding references but are not performing the role in the way you’d imagined. This can be difficult to manage, especially if you have offered them a permanent contract right off the bat. With a recruiter, you can benefit from a temp to perm arrangement whereby the recruiter employs the person and pays them while you pay the recruiter. When you are satisfied with the candidate and a specific period of time has elapsed, you can then offer them a contract without paying the recruiter to release them. This system is ideal if you’ve been burned in the past and want the time to assess a candidate as they do the job. A TEAM THAT WAS CREATED TO RECRUITYour business aims will always be linked to the outcomes you are trying to achieve and, unless you are a recruiter, these aims are unlikely to centre around recruitment! When you use a recruiter, you are getting access to a team have been put together to find the right candidates for your job vacancies. Recruiters are only ever successful if they achieve the results you need and so they will spend more time and effort screening and interviewing potential people to ensure that they only ever send you the quality staff you need. CONTACT US TODAYIf you are tired of recruiting people who don’t deliver then maybe it is time that you gave a recruiter the chance to show you what they can do! A good recruiter will work hand in hand with you and provide a recruitment partnership that delivers the results you need. Why not call Source Technology today to find out how we can help you achieve the results you need? We’d love to work with you!

The Added Value A Good Recruiter Adds to your Recruitment Process

Although it is a relatively new field in the minds of most people today, cloud computing has actually been in existence for over 20 years. It has a myriad of benefits including giving businesses an advantage over their competition, making companies more effective in their internal functioning and also reducing costs, however it is only in the past few years that cloud technology has gone mainstream and burst onto the scene. A GROWING TREND It is estimated that around 70% of business already operate some form of cloud service on a daily basis as the benefits are clearly seen, and more and more business are beginning to understand how exactly they can harness the technology for their own interests. As businesses become more globally minded with users and customers now reaching into the millions instead of just a few hundred, the limit of in-house servers is being reached at a quicker pace, as are the programs and systems which keep their business ticking. Many businesses have come to rely heavily on cloud-based services, service which they can access the bulk of their own information without having to store it themselves. Some of these systems are free, but it is becoming increasingly more desirable to opt for paid cloud storage which also covers the security and data protection aspect needed for sensitive information. A secure connection is imperative in these days of hacks and data leaks or breaches. Without realising it, businesses are already making use of services which are cloud based such as Gmail, Instagram and Facebook, but not in the way in which they store all of their information for later retrieval. IMPORTANT BENEFITS OF CLOUD TECHNOLOGYIn the changing world, cloud services are becoming imperative, so let’s take a look at some of the many benefits of implementing cloud for business purposes.<ol><li>To be flexible.&nbsp;Users from around the world can access a document, a spreadsheet or a PowerPoint presentation wherever they have internet access.</li><li>To allow scalability.&nbsp;There are times when business need to scale up or down storage quickly, and cloud computing is there for as much or as little as you need.</li><li>A choice of tools.&nbsp;Cloud servers and systems often have tools readymade to be used by the client, so no investment of time or money is needed into creating or developing their own.</li><li>A variety of options.&nbsp;Choose a free server with limited storage options, or choose a private paid -for cloud service that has added security.</li><li>You’re in control.&nbsp;Control how much you use because the software is a service, so you can vary your business model in the cloud with SaaS, PaaS or even IaaS.</li><li>More efficient.&nbsp;Wherever you are in the world you can upload data that can be accessed by any member of your organisation, much more efficient than having to be there in person.</li><li>Accessible.&nbsp;With a single set of passwords, anybody in your organisation can have access to documents and data stored in the cloud without consistently having to ask for clearance.</li><li>Money saving.&nbsp;There’s no doubt that the right cloud setup is going to save you money. You can choose a pay-as-you-go service so you only pay for what you need and use.</li><li>Better productivity.&nbsp;Say goodbye to the slow and unsafe ways of saving and storing data on in-house servers, your workers will benefit from the fact information is available at a click.</li><li>More secure.&nbsp;When everything is stored in the cloud, you rely on the hosts own superior levels of security which are often stronger and cheaper than you could create yourself.</li></ol> There are many reasons to get onboard with cloud technology, and in this world that is constantly changing, cloud provides a stable solution that allows you to grow with the times, adapting and changing your business model to always stay one step ahead.

The Importance of Cloud Technology In An Ever- Evolving World 

There has been a real focus on diversity in recent times, with all industries declaring their commitment to inclusivity. However, although there has been a significant improvement, things aren’t yet where they need to be, especially in some industries. The technology sector is one where there’s still clear work to be done. Although there is the appetite for change, in the US 95% of the tech workforce is white and 76% of the technical positions are held by men. Here’s a closer look at why diversity matters, and why it’s as important for the employer as the individual. Better Performance Research from Harvard suggests that when a team is more diverse, the performance is better. In studies, problem solving skills were enhanced and the team worked together more effectively when the members were diverse.Part of the reason for this is cognitive differences. Different cultures, different life experiences and different perspectives provide individuals with a unique perspective and when these are brought together, the end result is far more efficient and rapid than a team where everyone thinks in a similar way. The other reason is that diversity encourages people to speak up. In a room full of men, a lone woman might feel uncomfortable challenging the accepted status quo. In contrast, where there’s a table full of different individuals, it’s much easier to speak up. User-Friendly Solutions Diversity is essential for innovative tech solutions. It’s not just about giving everyone an equal opportunity to work in tech, it’s also about the end user having the best, and most appropriate, solutions. For example, the way a white man views a product, and its stumbling blocks, may be a very different reality to women or minority groups. If you don’t have these diverse voices included in the development, the tech product may not perform as a large proportion of the end users need. This means that the tech could fail simply due to the lack of diversity in the process. One study shows that having a workforce which supports diversity has the potential to increase innovation by up to 83%. The representation of different voices is crucial to create solutions which genuinely work for all. Employee Satisfaction Numerous studies have shown that in a diverse workplace, levels of employee satisfaction increase. With greater productivity, lower absenteeism and fewer quality issues, it seems that proactively fostering an inclusive environment is valued by all employees. It’s not just those within diverse groups who benefit from the change. Research demonstrates that the feel-good atmosphere is universal, with changes even in environments which have been traditionally all-male, such as tech development.Inclusivity and improved employee satisfaction helps with staff turnover too. Companies will be able to retain the best talent as well as attracting the cream of the crop, as word spreads about who’s a good company to work for. Controversy Despite agreeing with the benefits of diversity in the workplace, there will be some who say that the best candidate for the role should be employed. While that’s true, there’s a problem in attracting diverse candidates, particularly when the workplace currently doesn’t show any signs of diversity or inclusivity. Within tech and other industries who are lagging behind, work still needs to be done on why candidates are so often white and male, and what can be done to attract the best talent from diverse groups. Promoting diversity is essential for progress within the modern world, and it’s vital for everyone to have representation. However, diversity benefits employers as much as employees, so for many different reasons, the tech sector needs to redouble its efforts to improve its stats on diversity in the workplace.

The Importance of Diversity Across Tech 

As we head further into 2020, new technology trends will inevitably impact our work and our lives. Some may benefit us long-term, while others may only be short-term trends. Here are some of the Source top technology trends facing 2020 and beyond. TREND 1. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AL) IN MANUFACTURINGThe emergence of Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant has made Al a huge part of our lives. In 2020, Al will go further by using emotion recognition and computer vision will scale up. TREND 2. 5G BETTER BROADBAND INTERNET TECHNOLOGY2020 will see U.S. and China compete to deliver 5G into the mass market, and broadband service providers will aim to provide ever-higher internet speeds. TREND 3. THE DISTRIBUTED CLOUDThe cloud has always been seen as location independent. However, now it is changing to becoming a distributed cloud. What this means is that now, the distribution of public cloud servers will move to different locations. The originating public cloud will still hold responsibility for the governance, operation and updates to the public cloud. This will bring a new dimension to cloud computing. TREND 4. EVOLUTION OF AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIESWith companies such as SpaceX making aerospace advancements, 2020 could be the year that we go back to space. Reusable rockets have been developed in order to save money on getting to space, and it is thought that developments could be made in commercial travel that could bring us closer to visiting space stations. In fact, in 2020, we should see the release of broadband services based in space. There will obviously be regulatory challenges to overcome, as well as commercial ones, which could require some further development to overcome. TREND 5. DIY AIWith a shortage of AI skills, platforms that have automated machine-learning options could make AI technology development something that general business users could get to grips with, as the systems could teach themselves. TREND 6. AUTONOMOUS DRIVING TECHNOLOGYAutonomous driving experts are competing to reach level 5 (fully autonomous) in autonomous driving. Currently, cars such as Tesla cars on the motorway can be switched to autopilot mode, but only with driving support or operated by the driver in an emergency.<a href="https://www.source-technology.com/effect-autonomous-vehicles/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(38, 170, 254);">The effect of Autonomous Vehicles: what will change?</a> TREND 7. HUMAN AUGMENTATIONHuman augmentation is another hot topic for technology trends 2020. We have already seen how technology can be used to deliver physical and cognitive improvements. A variety of human augmentation devices have already been created for use in factories or battlefields to improve performance. Development is set to continue, but will it makes better humans of us? Time will tell. TREND 8. ESIMFor consumer electronics and company-related IoT, eSIM will become more common. Users won’t need to wait for a new sim card to be mailed or collected to activate or change subscriptions. Several new apps and eSIM services will be available in 2020.None of these technology trends are incremental changes, neither are they as simple as finding the next technological tool. 2020 is communicating great challenges and opportunities for business, embracing change and adopting new technologies and trends guarantees that your organization remains competitive in the market. Technology will change the future, and with further changes comes an increased demand for talent – looking for talent solutions for your technology organization, or searching for your next opportunity in tech? Reach out to the Source Technology team today. <a href="mailto:Hello@agreatersource.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(38, 170, 254);">Hello@source-technology.com</a>

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