A DevOps Engineer, also known as a DevOps Data Engineer, is an IT professional who possesses a wide-ranging knowledge of software development, IT operations, infrastructure management, system administration, coding, and DevOps toolchains. A DevOps Engineer must possess the skills required to create a collaborative and holistic environment, as is key in any DevOps team. 

Development Operations, more commonly referred to as DevOps, consists of a set of practices that combine both software development and IT operations with the aim of shortening and simplifying the development lifecycle, providing businesses with continuous high quality software. This combination of two traditionally separate teams requires the leadership of an experienced and skilled DevOps Manager. 

The need for companies to break down the division between software developers and IT operations has become increasingly more prominent in the past few years, and as such recruiting talent with DevOps skills has become critical to a business’s technological success. So how do you find the right people to fit your DevOps team – or the right people to build one from scratch?

Ive had countless chats recently with candidates who, despite being very smart, seem to struggle to nail an interview. I thought I’d write my thoughts/experiences on perhaps some of the stuff I couldn’t seem to find online. One of the issues is that most people have been to a heap of interviews in their time, so think that they are across everything below.. and they’re not (or even worse, they think they’re amazing at them and then come across as arrogant).

If you’re reading this, the chances are you’re looking to leave your current role or you are mid-way through the process (receiving an offer/about to resign).

The real reasons the market is crazy right now, how to navigate your way through it and hire successfully.

Ive had a number of chats recently with people about asking me about the best way to interview a software engineer. Whats best for speed/engagement?

I’m seeing more and more software engineers frustrated with recruiters asking them to do coding exercises – asking why they should do them when their CV goes back 15-20 years. I get it – seems OTT sometimes.

If you’re a software engineer (or work in tech) and are presented with 2 job offers at once and dont know which one to take, think about a few things..

My opinion is to take the money away from them, especially if its a counter-offer from your current place. Take the money and what are you left with?

Received one or more job offers at once? Don’t feel confident on how to best deal with it? Recruiters bullying you to accept theirs? This might help.

If you’re company that’s looking to hire talent and you want to partner with a recruiter, rather than just google various agencies in your areas, do some research on the job ads you see online.
This can give you a good indication of how a particular agency work.

I get A LOT of junior software developers/grads reach out to me looking for their first full-time role as a software developer. This is happening even more now with the economy. Naturally, you’ll gravitate towards a recruitment agency to help you but more often than not, I can’t help you. I want to explain why and give you some pointers because theres probably a number of you that have contacted recruitment businesses and heard nothing.

Well, what a position we find ourselves in now. This time last year companies were receiving their job-keeper payments and now the majority of recruitment agencies have more roles on than they can handle.

I have a question for CTOs / Tech leads / Product Owners; How are you mentoring mid level devs / junior software developers / junior members of your teams at the moment, if you’re all 100% remote?

“Nick we’re looking for an awesome senior developer around the $140k-$150k + Super level that doesn’t need any help and can help mentor some of my juniors”

What do developers care about in 2020?

Ive been getting a lot of questions lately on whats making developers tick / attracted to certain roles. Clients of mine have been making offers to engineers and losing them to the Googles /Atlassians/Canvas in Sydney. First off I’d say – you can’t really compete with those businesses. They have so much money & clout now, so don’t take it personally and let them go there if they want..