Samuel Marsh

This is a very exciting time for me, as I am just about to start my #Northcoders journey. It actually doesn’t start for another two weeks, and I’ve already done so much just to get where I am, but today is when my build up for the course starts in earnest. I’ve got a few things to get in order over the next two weeks. • Get my 𝐑𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐢 set up with 𝑔𝑖𝑡 and and the various repositories and packages required for #Northcoders. I already have a desk top running 𝑈𝑏𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑢 set up as it’s meant to be, but I’d quite like a back up, which is where the 𝑃𝑖 comes in. Also, I’ve been looking ahead to the final projects, and there seems to be quite a bit of freedom as to what you can do, so I was thinking of getting my 𝑅𝑎𝑠𝑝𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑃𝑖 set up as a server to host some websites as part of that. It would be a really good experience doing that, and would add to my understanding of how websites are hosted, so first things first, is to make sure it’s all updated and running well. Last month I created a new image of a lightweight version of the desktop and copied it to a brand new 32G SD card. Did my research and the most reliable card suggested was a 𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑛𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑘 𝑀𝑎𝑥 𝐸𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒, so that’s already set up. Next job, get all the required packages installed on the 𝑃𝑖 for the course. • Next thing I’ve got planned it to start a 𝐯𝐥𝐨𝐠 on a #YouTube Channel, to also chart my progress through #Northcoders over the next few months. The idea here is that if I’ve worked out how to produce short videos before the course starts, then it might not take too much time quickly creating them once a week as I go along. Then, by the end of the course, I’ll have 12 little 𝑣𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑠 outlining everything I’ve learnt. I’ve already done a little work on this by looking into easy to use video editing software. One free version that was regularly recommended was 𝑂𝐵𝑆 𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑜. On first testing, I can confirm that it is basically pretty easy to use and I could do simple editing within minutes of starting using it. The only problem is that my laptop webcam and microphone were not of a high enough quality. So I brought a 𝐿𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑐ℎ 𝑈𝑆𝐵 𝐶525 𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑐𝑎𝑚, which had a much better camera, but I still wanted to improve the sound quality. So I also brought a 𝐽𝐿𝑎𝑏 𝑇𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝐺𝑜 𝑈𝑆𝐵 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑒, which I can highly recommend as well. Next job here is to get all three things working together. There are other little things I’m doing too, but these are my main projects over the next week or two. 14 days until it all kicks off!!!

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Everyone sensible I've spoken to me has warned me against using JQuery with Angular. Well of course people are asked "why did you want to climb the mountain? ..... because it's there." A few reasons why I wanted to: 1) I know the scary stories about if you are naughty and use JQuery then Angular won't work properly as they don't know about each other. This is way to vague for me, I wanted to understand what exactly would go horribly wrong and the scary stories are not detailed enough. 2) I have one of those brains that just doesn't retain information unless I have either really tricky problems to solve or (and this is more normal) the thing doesn't work and then I have to work it out and it keeps me awake at night. 3) Web designers are still producing really nice templates that rely on JQuery. 4) I find it very frustrating that Angular doesn't make allowances for something as well used as JQuery. There are lots of sites around that provide angular versions of bootstrap and jquery plugins but they all seem to be cut down versions. Now don't get me wrong I am not dependent on the "magic" of JQuery. I have recently made a cute angular treeview and a calendar from scratch as I wanted to ensure they could do what I wanted. However I still like that I can use templates for quick static sites and they work really well. So brief context that started this quest...... I retro fitted angular into a template that was using JQuery heavily. A really nice static site template for a hotel business that I am doing some work for. Findings have been: - import jquery; import jqueryui; does a lot. Don't import $ separately! - if you need to, use ngx equivalents but be warned they almost definitely will be more basic and limited. - do go through the source when it is acting strangely. - Make sure you know what the lifecycle events correspond to in Angular and how they match with expectation on Jquery. - never forget that this isn't magic and make sure you remember what functionality is provided by straight CSS and what is JavaScript. If in doubt it may take 2 seconds to fix something in straight JS/TypeScript reusing existing CSS. Please don't think I'm wedded to Angular or even JQuery (retrotastic), for example a compliance application that I've been building uses Angular and Next for the admin UI. I find them as awesome and frustrating as each other. However I am very smug that I got it working (at least until the next version of Angular is released 🤣 ).

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

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💸JavaScript Salary Survey!💸 We have seen a massive increase in companies looking to grow out their tech teams over the past couple of weeks! I have put together an up to date salary survey to ensure my new and existing clients are staying competitive in the current market!🤩 Why it's important to stay competitive?🤔 ➡️Attracts top talent in the market😍 ➡️Helps retain staff🤝 ➡️Enhances a company’s reputation as a desirable place to work🤩 ➡️Boosts staff productivity🚀 AND MANY MORE REASONS!!! If your looking to grow out your tech team then let's have a conversation!📲 📩[email protected] ☎️01793680029

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Do you want to save money on freelancers? Do you want to avoid in country tax complications?? Do you want to remain 100% in control of the work??? We have a solution for you! ✔Huge talent pool ✔70% reduction in cost ✔ANY SKILL SET/ TECH STACK ✔Ideal freelancer sourced for each role (no bench) ✔Works CET or GMT hours ✔Remotely integrate into existing team ✔Directly managed by YOU ✔In country self-employment legislation is non applicable ✔Long term and scalable solution iOFFSHORE is getting very popular- client testimonials available on request!! Message me for a run through. hashtag #remote hashtag #offshore hashtag #freelancers

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If you are looking for your next Django Developer and unhappy with the current level of service you are receiving from your recruitment partner. Or if your internal team needs some support, here is a recent case study to give you an idea of numbers from Foxley Talent. If you would like more information about our process, please drop me an email to arrange a no-obligation call and let me tell you about why we are the only globally dedicated Python Django recruitment partner. #django #python #casestudy #djangoandproud

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This is incredibly interesting and undoubtably what the market needs - what goes up must inevitably come down to level out in way in which the market can accommodate. Now Software Developers what do you think? Does this impact the way you're looking at your career and your next move? #developmentrecruitment #salariesaredecreasing #acallforsomeinsight

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People are sometimes shocked when I explain the value of a CV. In the hands of a recruiter, your CV is their potential claim to their fee from whoever decides to employ you, from their mass mail out to employers within a radius of your home. (A practice most would deny but I’ve seen it unfold with a client doing an experiment.) The more recruiters who have your CV, the more complicated matters can become. You could be excluded from a potential job quite easily. No employer wants a fee fight with a bunch of CV trading recruiters. You become too much hassle when several companies have presented your CV. If your CV is on jobs board, it’s highly likely to already be circulating around various employers, as recruiters pay for access to download these. LinkedIn has recruiter packages that give insight into how active you are and whether you’re applying for roles. This can be helpful or a hindrance. Your CV isn’t just a document that tells people who you are and where you live or work, it’s a document that can cost you your job, if an amateur sends it to your employer or someone who knows you. That’s why I don’t ask for CVs. I only need a CV after we’ve had a lengthy discussion or meeting, discussed the employer situation and after an interview has been arranged. Yes- a unique experience. The CV trading world will always exist because some employers don’t know any better.

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Right Labour here we go... Freelancers: we don't know what this means yet Labour introduced IR35. They now propose the Single Worker Status which is undefined and meant for 'anyone except the genuinely self-employed' which doesn't give much confidence in the clear definition of 'genuinely self-employed'. It also won't be a priority, rightly so based on other key issues such as cost of living and NHS. Labours small business plans mostly mention brick-and-mortar high street businesses and tackling late payments for the self-employed. They also mention opening government contracts to smaller businesses and not handing them all out to their friends (*Michelle Mone PPE*) I really hope there's an increase in contracts for freelancers as some have indicated, but with any economic improvement taking years it could continue to be tough out there. I'm going to remain hopeful, let's see what happens. #ir35 #singleworkerstatus #freelancing #freelancers #labour #election https://lnkd.in/eQhtSWQY.

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🚨 WANTED: Company in need of a pro for their digital projects 🚨 Okay LinkedIn, do your thing... I'm now looking for my next big contract. What I'm looking for ✨ 👉 Contract type: Freelance (outside IR35, working through my Ltd company) 👉 Project type: Digital projects or roles that involve an element of digital transformation, where my skills can make a real difference 👉 Company culture: A forward-thinking company that is eager to work with a freelancer who can deliver exceptional results. What you're looking for ✨ A digital marketing freelancer who: 👉 specialises in content creation/UX copywriting, website/UX/CRM management, digital project management and social media management, with 7+ years' experience 👉 has worked with 20+ brands (both brand and agency side) across a wide range of industries including automotive, banking, charity, construction, consumer goods, education, government, publishing and more 👉 can hit the ground running from day one, get projects DONE and provide real value 👉 comes highly recommended (check out the references on my profile). Interested? Let’s talk 👋 DM me if you’ve got a contract of interest or have any questions! #DigitalMarketingFreelancer #Freelance #DigitalMarketing #DigitalProjects

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University Fees are RISING again!! ❗️To push 18-22 year-olds into £70,000 of debt before they’ve even started life is a joke 💚I am a massive advocate for apprenticeships. 💚The average salary for an AAT Level 2 apprenticeship is £20,000! 💚In my own apprenticeship I earned £78,500 over the 3 years!! ❗️Choosing an apprenticeship is choosing to make money, have work experience, power skills, having your employer PAY for your qualification and degree and so much more!! ❗️University teaches theory, apprenticeships teach you HOW to do it Do you think University is necessary?

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

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Why is a clear, consistent, and easy to read CV so important? I recently had the pleasure of working with a skilled .NET developer from Exeter who was looking to relocate to Bristol. He had been searching for a new opportunity for several months, feeling disheartened by the lack of interest in his CV when applying for roles. On our first call, I immediately noticed his passion for .NET development and the brilliant experience he had acquired over the past 10 years, along with his significant portfolio of work he had completed in his free time. But why, after 7 months on the job market, wasn't he getting anywhere with his countless job applications? It quickly became clear that his CV was the issue. Despite his impressive background, his CV wasn’t effectively showcasing his skills and accomplishments. It was dense and lacked the structure needed to grab a hiring manager’s attention in those crucial first few seconds. We worked together to revamp his CV, highlighting his most relevant experiences and achievements. We made sure his technical skills were front and center, and his freelance projects were given the spotlight they deserved. Additionally, we tailored his CV to better align with the specific roles he was applying for. The transformation was immediate. Within weeks, James started receiving multiple interview requests. One opportunity in particular stood out, a senior developer role at a growing tech company in Bristol. He got the job! From this experience, I wanted to share with my network a few simple tips to ensure your CV stands out in an ever-competitive job market. Below are six simple tips to ensure your CV stands out from the crowd. If you’re a .NET professional in the South West UK looking for new opportunities, or a company seeking talent, let’s connect. #softwaredevelopment #cvadvice #bristoldevelopers

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Want to avoid losing your Freelancers before the end of the contract? Tips to keep good freelancers: ✅ Keep to market rates. ✅ Keep your word on upping rates - if they've met the KPIs agreed then stick to your side of the agreement. ✅ Sort out extensions early - contractors will start sorting new assignments 3 months before the end of their contract. ✅ The little things matter - If they're doing a good job, tell them! Everyone could use a bit of positive reinforcement - create a culture/environment they want to be a part of. Feel free to add any that I've missed. #Construction #datacentre #pharma

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If this was written on my CV explaining what I do at Talenza... - Recruit mobile & software engineers - Speak with new & existing companies ...Do you think someone that doesn't know me, would jump at the chance of setting up an interview? Highly unlikely. Over the past week, I've seen more 1 page CV's with little to no context, than I have done in the past 2+ years of recruiting in the Software space. And this is a period of time as an engineer - you probably need to be doing a little bit more to stand out from the crowd. We are NOT in a market where every company is scrambling to hire and interviewing everyone that comes their way. I'm not saying put together a 20 page power point presentation as your CV, still be concise, but actually give some context on what you've been doing. If you've worked on a complex project, explain it in a few bullet points. For example; - What the the problem was - How it was solved - The impact it had on the business I'm not a CV guru and there is no magic formula (otherwise every CV would look exactly the same). But adding the above info along with the tech stack being used, will probably help you increase the CV sent to interview ratio. *Completely disregard this post if you have a 1 page CV and are getting all of the interviews you want to*

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It’s Leo Recruitment’s 3rd birthday today! 🎂🦁 Wow… 3 YEARS already! Where has the time gone? I still remember the mix of excitement and nerves I felt on the day I launched my business - 11th October 2021. I took on my very first role - a Laravel Developer - and I filled it within a couple of weeks. I was absolutely ecstatic! That early success gave me the push to keep going. I was determined to build a business with values that reflected my own personal ethics and morals. I also started experimenting with new ways to find talent - and it worked! Despite tough competition and market challenges, I’ve continued to help my clients fill their roles…. And now, three years later, they’ve all become exclusive partners! Over the last year, I’ve achieved 100% fill rate because of the strong relationships developed. That’s a milestone I’m incredibly proud of! What’s made it all worth it is seeing how much my clients trust me. I often feel like an extension of their business and I LOVE ❤️ that because I know we share similar values. When I fill their roles, it’s not just about making a placement - it’s knowing that my candidates are going into companies that will nurture and develop them. It’s also amazing to watch my clients grow with the talent I’ve helped them bring in. They’ve hired some of the best people out there, and it shows in the incredible service they deliver to their own customers. Of course, it hasn’t all been roses and smooth sailing. Running a business has its challenges, and I’ve learned some hard lessons, both professionally and personally. But no matter the challenge, I’ve embraced every single experience - each one has only made me more confident and committed to what I’m building, and I couldn’t be happier with my achievements! This year, I wanted to give back in a meaningful way. I spent 3 months studying autism, and it opened my eyes to challenges that neurodivergent people face in the workplace. After passing the course (yay! 🥳), I knew I had to do more… So, over the next few months, I’ll be releasing free resources to help neurodivergent individuals navigate the recruitment process, as well as provide employers with advice on how to support them better. I hope that by doing this, I can add even greater value to the recruitment process. I just want to say a massive 🌟THANK YOU🌟 to EVERYONE who has supported me over the last 3 years. It’s been an incredible journey so far and I’m super grateful for all your support and encouragement! I wouldn’t be where I am without you - so thank you! 🙏 💙 Here’s to the next chapter 🥂 … I’m ready, eager and excited for what’s coming - it’s going to be “roarsome”!!! 🦁

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IR35… (I got your attention, didn't I) 😎 😜 Are you a freelancer? Do you have any thoughts on IR35 regulations? Would you like to share them for an upcoming article and social media series with YunoJuno presenting the freelance perspective on the subject? Follow the link in the comments ⬇ to fill in a short form, or contact me to share your thoughts. #yunojuno #ir35

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What Makes a Senior JavaScript Developer Stand Out? In my time working in recruitment, I’ve connected with some incredible Senior JavaScript Developers, and I’ve noticed a few things that really set the top-tier ones apart: 1️⃣ Component Reusability – It’s not just about building things that work; it’s about building things that last. The best developers think in components that can be reused and adapted as the project grows. 2️⃣ Performance Optimisations – React’s great, but it can slow down if you’re not careful. Top developers know how to keep things smooth and fast, using hooks, and lazy loading to keep performance top-notch. 3️⃣ State Management – Whether it’s Redux, Context API, or something else, senior developers understand when to use the right tool for the job. They don’t just "make it work", they make it scalable. 4️⃣ Testing and Debugging – And let's not forget testing. The best developers put in the effort to ensure the code is stable and reliable, using frameworks like Jest and React Testing Library to make sure nothing breaks. It’s not just about knowing the frameworks—it’s about how you approach problem-solving, how you scale, and how you think long-term. If you can find someone who checks all these boxes, you’ve got a real asset for your team.

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