Kostas Cibulskas

“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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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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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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#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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Geeknauts switches to Apropo for their project estimates! 👏 👏 👏 ➡ Geeknauts, a custom software development company based in Krakow, Poland, can be definitely counted among t͟o͟p͟ 5͟ ͟#S͟a͟a͟S͟ ͟s͟p͟e͟c͟i͟a͟l͟i͟z͟e͟d͟ ͟d͟e͟v͟e͟l͟o͟p͟m͟e͟n͟t͟ ͟c͟o͟m͟p͟a͟n͟i͟e͟s͟ ͟i͟n͟ ͟P͟o͟l͟a͟n͟d͟. They know very well all the different aspects of #SaaS business - both technical and business. ➡ What I however like the most about them, is their strive for perfection. They are not satisfied with solutions that are “𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥-𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩”. 🔶 That’s one of the few things that I always find common for all the A-Performers - they N͟E͟V͟E͟R͟ tolerate mediocrity. And that’s the main reason why Geeknauts switched from Google Spreadsheets to Apropo - they didn’t agree for mediocrity in their estimates and proposals. 📣 Here’s what Borys Z., Frontend Developer & Sales Representative at Geeknatus, says about the impact from implementing Apropo: “Apropo 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 thanks to creating estimates that look 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 than Google Spreadsheets. The way how estimates done in Apropo look also massively helped with communication with our clients and 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁. Our 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 which further helped us increase the profitability of our projects” 🤝 Thank you Borys and Geeknauts Crew - it’s a pleasure to have such A-Players like yourselves as our users. We wish you tons of time saved, accuracy increase and deals won with Apropo!

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👉 Greenfield project with new technologies, great manager, and supporting community – this is what we have for Go Developers in Łódź, Wrocław, and Kraków now! 👈 Want to make investing as easy as spending money? We are starting a project for one of our European clients who has taken this as their mission. Your future direct manager will be ANDREI Liahovich, an experienced leader with a programming background that you'll find irresistible! As he underlines: "This is a greenfield project, the first solution of its kind in Europe. The client is working to simplify investments for their users. Our experts will work closely with the client's team, and what's most attractive for candidates is that they won't be working with legacy code. They'll be creating solutions from scratch with a modern technology stack!" What's more, at Vention, we have an international community of specialists who not only use Go in their work but also actively promote this technology among their colleagues. For example, Mihail Gorelikov, our Golang Software Engineer, has been working with this language for 4 years and shares his experience and knowledge through our mentorship program and the EDU initiative. Here's what he says about it: "I work on fintech projects and actively develop our training program for new developers, as well as prepare materials for more experienced colleagues so that everyone can discover something new in the world of Go. It's great that in our company, we have the opportunity to share knowledge and join communities based on shared interests." Want to know more? DM me or follow the link in the comments!

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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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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

I can't wait to share some updates on CaptionKit! You can compare two videos: before and after. In the first version of the app, when generating subtitles, we didn’t pay much attention to pauses, which led to breaks. For example, the start of a new sentence could end up at the end of the current one (take a look at the words I’M and STAY). In the new version, we implemented a more advanced system based on splitting and further analysis. As a result, we’ve eliminated ‘orphaned words’ and improved synchronization. We're submitting it for review today!

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🔧 Scale Your Team with Top Java Experts from Romania Looking to level up your team? Romania offers world-class Java developers with the perfect blend of expertise and affordability. Here’s why partnering with SimilarDev is your smartest move: 🌟 Why Choose Romania? • Proven expertise in Spring, Hibernate, JavaFX, and more. • Save up to 80% compared to hiring in Israel or the USA. • Skilled professionals with excellent English and extensive global experience. 💰 Cost-Effective Solutions Salaries: €3,000–€5,000/month (gross). Tailored Pricing: Fits your business needs. 📊 Our Pipeline • 500+ Pre-vetted Developers: Experts in scalable apps, microservices, and enterprise solutions. • Fast Hiring: Onboard top talent in just 2–3 weeks with guaranteed quality. 🚀 Get Started Today! Scale your team with Romania’s best Java developers. Let SimilarDev handle the hiring so you can focus on growing your business. 📩 Contact us now to get started! #JavaDevelopers #RomaniaTechTalent #Outsourcing #Recruitment #SimilarDev

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There’s a reason why only two of the top hundred software companies are in the European Union. Ambition is much more natural in the States than in the EU. Where I grew up in Hungary, ambition is not something you're proud of. You're being taught that you should stay a simple man. You should work 9 to 5. And that's generally accepted. This is the ideal life. Stay the simple man. Success & money is associated with shady dealings. After visiting the US, it’s hard to remain in the mindset of staying small when you see so many people rushing to fulfill their potential and achieve success. As social creatures, we tend to converge towards the behaviors of people who we spend the most time with. You know … “you are the average of the five people you hang out with the most” … So if you surround yourself with people who are ambitious and always thinking about solving a big problem, you will find yourself solving big problems as well. It’s inevitable.

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Have you ever wondered how many software developers there are in Central and Eastern Europe in every single country? Here you go. I compiled some data from LinkedIn. The numbers can be helpful when looking at potential sources of hires. Let’s start from the north. 🇪🇪 Estonia - 28 #C Developers - 269 Java Developers - 79 PHP Developers - 32 React Developers - 5 Salesforce Developers 🇱🇻 Latvia - 44 #C Developers - 383 Java Developers - 210 PHP Developers - 28 React Developers - 75 Salesforce Developers 🇱🇹 Lithuania - 61 #C Developers - 622 Java Developers - 389 PHP Developers - 116 React Developers - 48 Salesforce Developers 🇧🇾 Belarus - 157 #C Developers - 2068 Java Developers - 545 PHP Developers - 398 React Developers - 217 Salesforce Developers 🇵🇱 Poland - 833 #C Developers - 11500 Java Developers - 2531 PHP Developers - 1502 React Developers - 1525 Salesforce Developers 🇺🇦 Ukraine - 967 #C Developers - 8004 Java Developers - 4020 PHP Developers - 2002 React Developers - 768 Salesforce Developers However, it is not only about the numbers. At YouDigital we sourced software engineers from smaller countries like Albania or Bosnia and our talents delivered magnificent works. In the end, it is all down to the individual. And the sourcing company that knows how to select and acquire them ;-) Stay tuned for more numbers on software developers' market supply in CEE. #CEEngineers #EasternEuropeDevelopers #TechInCEE

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INTERVIEW SCAM ALERT! I want to share an important observation with my network. Over the past few days, we conducted several interviews where candidates were required to build a frontend app using CodeSandbox in a live challenge. We noticed a concerning pattern among three candidates who shared the same ethnicity and were all located in Poland. Upon opening CodeSandbox, a flag appeared indicating "Companion Mode." This feature allows for live or pair programming, enabling someone else to code alongside the candidate. During one of the interviews, it became evident that the candidate was struggling to set things up. We realized they were cheating by having someone else assist them through Companion Mode. Consequently, we terminated the interview. If you use CodeSandbox for your interviews, I strongly suggest stopping the interview immediately if you see the "Companion Mode" flag. Additionally, performing thorough background checks on previous companies and obtaining feedback from referrals has become essential. After blowing off someone's cover this afternoon, the profile of one of the three guys has been removed from Linkedin. I hope this information helps other companies avoid similar issues.

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💸 What’s the State of the Current Market Salary for Ruby♦️Developers in Poland? In my latest article, I explore Poland’s tech market, breaking down Ruby on Rails salary ranges. We assessed all available job opportunities with salary ranges, split by seniority levels, location within Poland, and — the cherry on the pie — salaries for Ruby on Rails developers in other developed countries. Whether you’re hiring or curious about tech salaries in Poland, this guide gives you a complete overview of what to expect. The link to the article is in my first comment below. #TechSalaries #RubyOnRails #RemoteHiring #Poland #Itentio #ITRecruitment #TechRecruitment

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