Paweł Karolewski

Do you hire developers based on technical skills alone? It could be costing you.  Many companies make this mistake, believing that if a developer can code well, they’ll automatically thrive in the team. But this is not always the case. I have a client in Krakow who specifically hires Java Engineers who can have a “normal conversation" about software, clean code practices, and general life. But most importantly someone he can get along with. If they can do that, he’s usually ready to hire them. However, if they don’t fit culturally, it doesn’t matter if they’ve coded at Google, have an Oxbridge education, or have a long list of technical achievements. They won’t get the job. This is also not unique. According to Leaders.com, approximately 80% of employers take personality into account when making hiring decisions. Also research from Harvard Business Review found that 40-60% of hiring managers admit to hiring candidates who resemble them in terms of background, values, or attitudes. None of this mentions their skills. The ability to mesh with the team and collaborate is non-negotiable. Some people picture developers as introverted hackers, coding away in dark rooms, surrounded by empty energy drink cans. The stereotype that developers don’t need social skills in my opinion, comes from how they’re portrayed in Hollywood (Die Hard 4 was what came to mind when writing this). In reality, developers are part of cross-functional teams. They interact with product managers, designers, and other stakeholders daily. They need to explain complex ideas, collaborate on solutions, and contribute to the team’s overall culture. A developer who can’t work well with others or communicate effectively can disrupt workflows, no matter how technically gifted they are. It’s like having the most advanced software that no one knows how to use. What’s the point? The best hires are those who fit into your culture and can contribute to the team dynamic - not just those who can write the cleanest code. So if you’re only hiring based on technical skills, you might be missing out on your most valuable assets: collaboration, communication, and cultural fit. Skills get you in the door, but culture fit keeps you there. Do you take culture fit into account when hiring engineers?  #SoftwareEngineering #PolandTech #TechRecruitment #PolandJobs #CultureFit #DeveloperLife #WorkplaceCulture #TechRecruitment

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🚀 Exciting News: I've Completed the "AI_devs2" Course! 🚀 I am thrilled to announce that I have successfully completed the "AI_devs2" course, a comprehensive program designed to dive deep into the world of Generative AI, focusing on OpenAI's GPT-4 technology. This course has armed me with the skills to program and automate processes using GPT-4, setting a new benchmark in my professional development. 🤖 Throughout this journey, I had the privilege of learning from some of the brightest minds in the industry, who brought real-world applications and cutting-edge research into the classroom. The curriculum was a perfect amalgamation of theoretical foundations and practical implementations, helping me understand the nuances of Generative AI technologies and their transformative potential.🌟 One of the highlights was gaining hands-on experience with OpenAI models, which allowed me to build, test, and refine AI-driven applications. This sharpened my technical skills and enriched my problem-solving strategies, making me better equipped to tackle complex challenges in the AI space. 💻 The course also delved deep into AI's ethical considerations and societal impacts, a crucial aspect that enriches the technological discourse. Discussions around AI ethics have inspired me to advocate for responsible AI usage and to strive to implement AI solutions that are both innovative and ethical. 🌐 As I receive my certificate, I am not just celebrating the end of a course but the beginning of a journey. Armed with the knowledge and skills confirmed by this certification, I am eager to explore new opportunities where I can apply my learning to drive impact. 🚀 To my instructors, peers, and everyone involved in the "AI_devs2" program, thank you for making this one of the best educational experiences I've ever had. Your mentorship, support, and insights have been invaluable. 🔥 Jakub Mrugalski Mateusz Chrobok Adam Gospodarczyk Here’s to future projects where I can bring all these learnings to life! Let's connect and explore potential collaborations that leverage AI to solve real-world problems. 🌐🤖 #AI_devs2 #aidevs #AI #GenerativeAI #OpenAI #GPT4 #Programming #Automation #ContinuousLearning #ProfessionalGrowth

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On May 8th, we have WarsawJS Meetup #114 awaiting us, featuring Tomasz Ducin on stage with a fascinating presentation titled "Back in the game: Recent Revolutionary Changes in Angular"! But today, let's reminisce about his previous appearance at WarsawJS Meetup #108 💭 In that lecture, titled "Who needs Server Components?", Tomasz delved into the next step in the evolution of web architecture. After MPAs, SPAs, SSR, SSG/ISG, it's time for Server Components! Throughout the presentation, he asked himself many questions: Does this architecture fit the needs of my business and application? What are the benefits? And are we not stepping backward by moving more operations back to the server? Breaking down the hype around Server Components, Tomasz also introduced us to some technical details regarding React Server Components. By combining client-side interactivity with server-side efficiency, we can optimize web metrics and revolutionize website development. We invite you to watch that presentation, which opened our minds to a new perspective on web development! Enjoy watching! 🍿 🎥 Part 1: https://lnkd.in/dQ7G_jFZ  🎥 Part 2: https://lnkd.in/dJzQmsQD We encourage you to participate in WarsawJS Meetup #114, where you'll have the opportunity to not only listen to Tomasz's lecture but also to other outstanding speakers live. The link to tickets is below: 👇 🔖 Tickets: https://lnkd.in/dhXVXwpf #WarsawJS #Meetup #ServerComponents #WebDevelopment

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Quick engineering salary comparison based on the #DEVBG stats from 2023 and 2024 in the Bulgarian IT industry. Dev.bg publish yearly a summary of the Bulgarian IT engineering salaries based on the job openings offers on their platform. https://lnkd.in/dNU5MD8D (2023 stats) https://lnkd.in/dX_dxvP7 (2024 stats) Based on the population data (let's assume it's a proper representation of the real world) we can determine the following: 1. PHP should be dead but it isn't (unfortunately) as it's one of the two categories with growing salaries in all job positions and ranges. 2. The second is the full stack development with a minimum drop of 65 levas in the first MID range(2-5 years) 3. All ranges except the Senior level(5+ years of experience) have a drop in salary compared to 2023 but for some seem negligible compared to the notion in the industry that "it's going down and AI will take over the world" :) 4. We can see that seniority still counts and there is now a shift towards growth of salaries of more senior people compared to others as the market tries to regulate. 5. There is still a lot of green for a "dying" and "shrinking" industry. P.S To anyone interested I can share the excel if needed but it's quite straightforward to generate it. *Legend: Diff min Mid - difference in the minimum ranges for a category between 2023 and 2024 Diff max Mid - difference in the maximum ranges for a category between 2023 and 2024 Diff min Sen - difference in the minimum ranges for a category between 2023 and 2024 Diff max Sen - difference in the maximum ranges for a category between 2023 and 2024 Diff min Sen Median - difference in the minimum ranges based on the provided median from dev.bg for a category between 2023 and 2024 Diff max Sen Median - difference in the maximum ranges based on the provided median from dev.bg for a category between 2023 and 2024

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“When Polish software engineers look for a job, they only care about their rate. How can we compete with higher paying competitors?” A client asked me this yesterday. While it’s not entirely true, it’s worth exploring. Do all engineers focus only on rates? No. Is the rate you offer important? Yes - but it’s not the only factor. Here are 4 ways to make your vacancy stand out (even if you’re not the highest paying): 1. Share Your Vision Explain where your business is heading and how the candidate fits in. When candidates see themselves in your story, the role becomes more appealing. 2. Build a Personal Brand for Your Leaders Candidates want to know who they’ll work with. Encourage your leadership team to share their views on technical topics. This helps candidates understand their style and values. It may deter some, but it’ll attract the right fit. 3. Be Transparent About Salary & Perks Don’t make candidates guess. Transparency builds trust. Worried about overpaying? You have the final say. Hiding salaries might cost you great candidates before they apply. 4. Offer a Low-Commitment Introductory Call Let candidates ask questions without starting a formal interview. This lowers pressure for those passively exploring roles. It builds trust and relationships. Even if they’re not ready now, they’ll return when they are. Focusing on the whole package, not just pay, helps you stand out. What’s worked for you when attracting top talent? How do you stand out from the competition?

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With Vitali Svishchev, we are currently looking for skilled .NET engineers to join our teams in Vention Warsaw. Besides technical requirements, what is important in this role? And what does Vitali's team have to offer? We spoke a bit on this topic.   👉 What are the characteristics of your ideal candidate in terms of soft skills? What fits your group and team best?   "What's important to me is the candidate's open and proactive mindset. I'm proud of developers and engineers who are building their career paths and improving their skills, and it's even better when such a person is thinking about involving at the company level. It's important to engage in the company's technical activities to gain extra knowledge and share experience with others. Like in life, it's crucial not only to receive but also to give something to others. People with a social mindset are highly appreciated."   👉 As a manager, what could you offer this person, and what does your group have to offer?   "In our department, we're improving the expertise of our engineers in different spheres. We provide an atmosphere of collaboration where one developer can help another. We support personal improvement plans with technical and non-technical aspects, including advice, sharing experiences, certifications, and book recommendations. We also offer opportunities to broaden technology stacks and get closer to the business side, such as involvement in pre-sales or client calls. This helps developers who want to grow into architect or solution architect positions."   👉 What's specifically cool about us at the company level?   "If you want to build your career, are interested in growing your skills, and take on more responsibilities, it's always possible here. Also, our employees are really open to helping others and sharing their expertise. We're not bound to any specific structure, so you can reach out to someone from another country and just have a person-to-person conversation. If a person is open to communication, they'll easily find support and others with the same interest in technology."   Sounds encouraging! If you want to work with Vitali, check out these positions: Middle .NET Engineer: https://bit.ly/3S7divz Senior .NET Engineer: https://bit.ly/4f7qNp4

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“Test automation in SD-WAN” is the topic I’ll talk through during the webinar on July 18th! It’s a new experience for me to lead a live session, but I’m really excited that it is happening. Hope to see you there 🙌 Signup link in the comment below 👇 #sdwan #testautomation #networks

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So much for the basement-dwelling programmer stereotype 😉. Conferences like the International PHP Conference are splendid opportunities to gain new perspectives - and face new challenges. 🛠️ Programming is essentially about solving problems, and events just like this conference allow us to share experiences and learn from best of the best in the industry. During sessions and workshops, I got to hear real stories about real problems - how they arise, how to solve them - and how to prevent them from reoccurring. 😉 I had the pleasure of attending talks on the latest trends in PHP, code optimization and best practices in system architecture. I learned how to avoid common mistakes and what techniques to use to make our applications even more efficient and secure. 🖥️🔐 Meeting other specialists - once again - proved that exchanging insights is the key to growth. I'm glad I could be part of this inspiring community! 🤝✨ Thank you to all the speakers and participants for the incredible knowledge and motivation! 🙏📚 Topics covered: - PHP Core & Optimization [Bohuslav Šimek, Carsten Windler] - Refactoring [Ralf Eggert] - Testing, Test Driven Development, and Logging [Florian Engelhardt] - Software Architecture & Design Driven Development [Katy Ereira, Dr. Sönke J. Magnussen] - Security 🔒 - DevOps & Deployment [Nic Wortel] - Clean Code [Ondřej Mirtes] - Git Advanced & Working with abandoned Open Source Projects [Juliette Reinders Folmer]

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#NewArchitecture Explained We turned to our New Arch experts, Jakub and Wojciech, to uncover the essence of Turbo Modules! 🚀 Watch the short clip below to find out more and stay tuned ⬇ #ReactNative #reactnativeappdevelopment #TurboModules

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Here in Poland, the long May weekend is ahead of us. Do you have any ideas for reading? We recommend another episode of our blog. This time, we will explore SEO from the perspective of a React Developer. 👇 https://lnkd.in/dvKwPQhi #coding #frontenddevelopment #frontend #techarticles #webdevelopment #it #code #software #reactjs #seo

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Candidates asking salaries and negotiation strategy tips. Whether you are negotiating with a new employee or freelancer, or one of your existing developers are looking for a raise or are due for a review, it is essential to be prepared. This will help you make an informed offer; ensuring you are being competitive in order to attract or retain talented developers by paying a fair market rate, whilst not being taken advantage of. Negotiation strategy might differ depending on number of factors: - When was the last salary raise? Has anything special happened since then? - Current geopolitical situation in the employee’s country - What is your local employment market like for this role? Do you have lots of suitable candidates available? - How long have they already worked in your company? - How long have they stayed in previous roles? - How much experience do they have? - How critical is this person to your project/company? - Do you need the skills they have and are using within your project / company, or are you over employing? - How easy will it be to replace them with a new hire? - What kind of employee are they? - Do they deliver? - Are they a good resource? - Are they reliable? - Do they have a proven track record yet? Before you begin any salary negotiations, familiarize yourself with the current market’s situation so that you can assess how much other companies pay developers of a similar level in your local area. If you want to have a rough overview of these ranges you can start by checking levels. Websites such as fyi (which can be seen in the link below) gather data points from engineers all over the world to present aggregated information regarding salaries in the software engineering field. https://buff.ly/4cTbpdp Then the next step is to research positions offered by your competition either on one of job boards or directly on their website. That will give you a good grasp of where the market is heading and what expectations are reasonable. If you are already a bigger and established company (>35-50 people) you might already have some specified levels of seniority in your company so salary ranges are predetermined. In this case the objective of the interview process is to determine the candidate's level, which will enable you to know what room you have for negotiation. It is important to also take into consideration the location of the given person. For example, a salary might differ for a Software Engineer with the same skill set in Poland and in Ukraine. #EasternEuropeDevelopers #TechInCEE #DigitalTransformation #DevelopersContracting

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Four years ago, I placed a top C#/.NET Engineer in Krakow - and lost my client in the process. At first, everything seemed ideal. The developer was perfect technically, Immediately Available And joined within 10 days of submission. The client was thrilled, and it felt like a win for everyone involved. But then their first day arrived, and everything began to unravel. The candidate clashed with the team's approach, Criticising the code quality, the tech stack, And even the team itself - demanding they were replaced. Within two months, the client dismissed the candidate and ended our partnership. This left the client frustrated and me reflecting on where it all went wrong. Looking back, I realised there were two clear red flags during the qualification process that I had chosen to ignore... The candidate admitted to getting frustrated when others disagreed with their views. They also mentioned frequent clashes with managers in previous roles. This wasn't qualified further at the time. These warnings were overlooked because the rest of their profile seemed perfect. That mistake cost the client valuable time and resources, and I lost their trust. Since then, I have made it a rule. Even if there is a one percent chance that something feels off it needs to be addressed. This principle has helped me build stronger partnerships and avoid mismatches entirely. Since then, I have contributed to €millions in billings and earned the trust of many clients. As agencies, we're paid well for our expertise and judgment it is our responsibility to get it right. The takeaway? Always qualify. Never overlook red flags. Have you ever overlooked a red flag during hiring? What did you learn from the experience? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Yesterday, Krystian and I presented at the QA Meetup at StoneX Poland in Krakow. I talked about the progress in AI and how it is changing the way we develop automated tests, with demos using Testim and ZeroStep/Playwright as examples. My sincere thanks to everyone for attending. What can I say, it was a real meetup with tough questions, very interesting discussions and people with expertise in QA topics. I'm looking forward to more such events, and I think there will be some ;) #QualityAssurance #AI #Testing #TestsAutomation

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Next AWS User Group Wrocław meetup in a week (24.04.2024). 📅 24.04.2024 ⌚ 18:00 📍 Wędrówki Pub: https://lnkd.in/eeYukrXZ First of all, thank you ALGOTEQUE Innovation Hub for sponsoring our event! :) 🎤 Speakers: 🔭 Marcin Sodkiewicz (me) I am going to talk about #opentelemetry in my talk titled "Observability on AWS & OpenTelemetry". It's talk on the 300 level, but don't worry, I am going to cover all areas, and even if you are new to a whole concept I think you should understand everything. This is also a great opportunity to discuss your experiences with #opentelemetry. 📟 Grzegorz Kalwig: "Serverless is above limits? Our Path to production database cluster" If you don't know about it - Grzegorz is on a road tour with that talk as I believe I saw that he presented that material in many User Groups already. It means that his material is polished and he should be able to answer all your questions about Aurora Serverless v2. Super interesting and important topic, so stop by and make notes :) We are still part of JetBrains Community Support program. So we are going to give away some coupons for free access to IDE of your choice for a whole year. More details: https://lnkd.in/egGjACeV #awscommunity #awsugwro #opentelemetry #aws #rds #auroraserverless #serverless

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The slides for EDA Day Warsaw 2024 and my talk are ready, but it's super hard and sad to me that I won't be able to be there with you at EDA Day Warsaw 2024. It's one of those moments where I must put aside my dreams, goals, and ambitions and be with my family. There is also good news for the community, as I have a fantastic replacement! Eric Johnson is coming to the stage, and that's great news for the community! :) If you know Eric, then you know that this means a lot of laughs, interesting topics, and a fantastic atmosphere. He is a top-class speaker! If you are interested in my presentation - I will record it or present it online. Hopefully, it will be presented online during the #believeinserverless event meeting because I would love to discuss the content presented with the community. I feel that it's a huge missed opportunity to discuss it in real life with so many brilliant EDA experts in Warsaw, but hey - that's life. In case you really can be there but haven't planned to (yet), check that incredible lineup: https://lnkd.in/dH6fGYr6 and think about it again! :) There are few opportunities to meet all those fantastic speakers in real life in one place in Poland: Anahit Pogosova Alex DeBrie David Anderson 🚀 🚀 David Boyne Emily Shea Eric Johnson Filip Pýrek 🍬 Gillian Armstrong James Eastham Joshua Kahn Michael Gasch Natasha Wright Oskar Dudycz Vadym Kazulkin Don't forget to use the promo code 'm&s10' for a 10% discount on your ticket. This is a great opportunity to save on your registration, so make sure to take advantage of it! PS Did you know that, as a student, you can attend the event for free? Please write to me for more details :) If you have financial issues and would like to get a discount on the event, drop me a line. I believe I can help. #GOTOEDADay #Warsaw

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Pragmatic approach to DDD with Spring Boot by Maciej Walkowiak. Highly recommended to watch before you start to overcomplicate your design: #keepITsimple

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If you are curious on "Evolutionary Architecture" don't miss our .NET User Group Zürich May Meetup where we will cover the topic providing some lessons that diverge from "pure tech" talks. On this one, Maciej Jedrzejewski will explain How incremental developments in core engineering have enabled the foundations for enable software which can evolve over time along the architecture, protecting important architectural characteristics as it evolves. All while keeping it as simple as possible, maintainable and manageable in amount of complexity. Sounds interesting? ;) It is!! And even more if you have 5+ years of experience, chances are that you have lived a project that died because of complexity and lack of proper architectural vision (partial or... complete) - I've been there! So, how does it sound and all of this - for free!! Thanks Digitec Galaxus AG and Maciej Jedrzejewski!!! I am not going to miss it - and so should you... RSVP while you can, places are limited: https://lnkd.in/dmnnEGUZ Ah, we will have Food & Drink #architecture #software #evolutionaryarchitecture #KISS #DRY #easy #maintainable #resilience

DevOps Salaries in Hungary: A Quick Update 💼 Over the past two weeks, the DevOps job market in Hungary has remained steady. If you're at a Junior level, finding a job might be challenging. Across popular platforms like NoFluffJobs and Profession, I only came across one listing from NIX. However, if you're a Mid or Senior level professional, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from! The market is brimming with opportunities tailored to different preferences and skill sets. In the category of top-paying remote positions (especially in the crypto space), here are the standout roles: Platforms Engineer: 12,500 EUR SRE: 17,349 EUR #job #salary #salaryDevOps

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