Hiring software developers is difficult

[RossJones]

Hey All,

I work for a company called Trackmatic Solutions (http://www.trackmatic.co.za/) and we are desperately looking to hire some software devs, however I'm coming short where ever I try. I have posted the job application on LinkedIn, Careers24, Gum Tree etc. I am getting tons of responses but have not had any quality applicants yet.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to look? I'm going crazy here.

I just posted a job application on MyBroadband, so will see how that turns out.

 

[Bryn]

Get in contact with the local university and sign up their best outgoing students?

 

[cguy]

Hmm.. Your advert states that you want a young software engineer between the age of 24 and 30. Maybe if your company dropped the ageist policy, developers would you take you guys more seriously.

 

[rorz0r]

Your ad does seem to have a lot of "fluff" in it. I see that you do at least advertise the salary but maybe putting a range in would be better as I have no idea how much + or - there could be. Not putting in a salary/range is the first reason I skip over adverts.

Maybe your heading should be C# developer so it comes up more when people are searching for C# dev positions. The rest makes it seem a bit like you're not quite sure what you want and I usually write off positions like that as a waste of time. Maybe someone who is desperate won't but most of the guys that are good are going to be employed so you need to be attracting them and not the guy just looking for any job (which it sounds like you're getting).

As for the age part I'd leave that out and let the salary range speak for itself.

 

[Ancalagon]

Yeah, I agree with adding a salary range and make the technologies more visible.

Just bear in mind that skilled software developers are unfortunately somewhat rare!

 

[Ancalagon]

Yeah, I agree with adding a salary range and make the technologies more visible.

Just bear in mind that skilled software developers are unfortunately somewhat rare!

 

[zippy]

Wow 300k? Isn't that a bit low ?

http://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jobs/uk/csharp.do

I know I'm coming from a UK perspective and it equates £20k which is ridiculously low for a C# dev over here.

I was in SA recently and the place is not as cheap as it used to be.

You have to be living with your parents to able to cope.

 

[nfbs]

24-30

Ageism

 

[nakedpeanut]

Wow 300k? Isn't that a bit low ?

http://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jobs/uk/csharp.do

I know I'm coming from a UK perspective and it equates £20k which is ridiculously low for a C# dev over here.

I was in SA recently and the place is not as cheap as it used to be.

You have to be living with your parents to able to cope.

Yip things are getting pricey. So bum off the parents as much as possible

 

[skyhawk]

Are you looking for degreed people only ? because a significant number of hot shot programmers are self taught like Edward Snowden

 

[JIMMYtheSKULL]

Not a developer but why is age always a factor it almost seems as if people give a young age to entrap the naieeve...

I supose you get what you pay for...

 

[biometrics]

Not a developer but why is age always a factor it almost seems as if people give a young age to entrap the naieeve...

I supose you get what you pay for...

Young developer = underpaid, unmarried and no children so lots of overtime

 

[koeksGHT]

Drop your bar,

offer entry level jobs to Uni grads for good work experience and train them up.

Hiring some random to just arrive and "work" never leads anywhere constructive.

Find people motivated.

 

[RossJones]

Thanks for the feedback all, some good points here.

Yes we are ageists. We are looking for some one young since they are more likely to be looking to prove themselves. We won't be able to afford an experienced older dev, and to be frank we are looking for some one we can mold into shape. I find that the older guys are stuck in their ways and come with an ego.

I will alter my add as per above. Thanks again for the feedback.

 

[noxibox]

Young developer = underpaid, unmarried and no children so lots of overtime

Another giveaway is when an employer asks if their project gets the interviewee excited. Code for will you work long hours for low pay.

We are looking for some one young since they are more likely to be looking to prove themselves. We won't be able to afford an experienced older dev, and to be frank we are looking for some one we can mold into shape.

Good luck with that hypothesis.

Someone easily mouldable also won't push back when what you're asking for is stupid or wrong.

Wow 300k? Isn't that a bit low ?

For the sort of young junior level person they're after, no.

I was in SA recently and the place is not as cheap as it used to be.

You have to be living with your parents to able to cope.

A single person can easily live on R300,000.

 

[Ancalagon]

RossJones - how many developers does your company currently have, experienced and inexperienced?

Please dont tell me this will be your only one.

 

[semaphore]

Are you looking for degreed people only ? because a significant number of hot shot programmers are self taught like Edward Snowden

Edward Snowden was not a programmer and hes a stupid idiot. He's destroyed his life.

 

[DominionZA]

Thanks for the feedback all, some good points here.

Yes we are ageists. We are looking for some one young since they are more likely to be looking to prove themselves. We won't be able to afford an experienced older dev, and to be frank we are looking for some one we can mold into shape. I find that the older guys are stuck in their ways and come with an ego.

I will alter my add as per above. Thanks again for the feedback.

Other way around. I prefer working with the older developers because they know their ****e well enough to be able to adapt to whatever environment.
The older ones are also egoless (is that a word?) as they don't have anything to prove.

My experience anyway.

 

[cguy]

Yes we are ageists. We are looking for some one young since they are more likely to be looking to prove themselves. We won't be able to afford an experienced older dev, and to be frank we are looking for some one we can mold into shape. I find that the older guys are stuck in their ways and come with an ego.

You do realize that this isn't ok, right? Apart from very likely being illegal (employee equity act - also applies to job seekers), your assumption that older dev's have more experience and are more expensive is flawed - maybe someone only learned to program at 31 or went to university late. You are unfairly excluding these candidates. You have stated what you can pay, there is no need to guess what "type" of person fits your pay range.

Your unfounded, and frankly offensive, assumptions about age: ego, lack of flexibility and poor work ethic, just makes your company look like a bunch of rank amateurs.

 

[semaphore]

Thanks for the feedback all, some good points here.

Yes we are ageists. We are looking for some one young since they are more likely to be looking to prove themselves. We won't be able to afford an experienced older dev, and to be frank we are looking for some one we can mold into shape. I find that the older guys are stuck in their ways and come with an ego.

I will alter my add as per above. Thanks again for the feedback.

Mold and teach them your bad practices... rofl no thanks.