So You Want To Hire Me
So I assume you found my profile on LinkedIn and have asked me what sort of job I'm looking for... Well you have come to the right place!
What I want
I'm never not looking for a job, but equally I am almost never actively looking for a job. By that I mean I scroll through LinkedIn ads regularly but only actually apply for something once in a blue moon. For the most part I am happy where I am, but it's always good to have an eye on the market... Here's a short list of things that I might look for in a job:
Tech Stack
My language of choice is Python, but I'm looking for an excuse to learn Go because it looks cool. Side projects are one thing but that's very different from using something on a production-level product.
I don't want to work on any form of backend JavaScript or TypeScript, but I'm happy to work with them on the front end where they belong. That being said my JS experience is a few years old and I've only got limited experience with frameworks like React and Vue, and React sucks.
I've used both GCP and AWS, but I massively prefer AWS. Realistically they are so similar it doesn't matter I've just done more with AWS so feel happier there. I've never used Azure but no one's ever going to hire me as a DevOps engineer so I don't need to be a specialist, just to do as I'm told.
Industry
There's no specific industry I desperately want to work in, but there's a few I really don't want to work in: specifically fintech. Some people will think I'm silly or whatever, but I'm not interested in crypto or NFTs or other scammy nonsense.
I have previously worked in the education and energy sectors, and I'd happily go back to either of them. I like the idea that I'm spending my time building something that helps people or the world or something. Perhaps that's naive of me and I should go chase $$$ like some of my friends do but I think I'd rather be happy than rich.
Responsibilities
- I've been various levels of developer for ~10 years now, recently I've been contemplating moving into a proper management or leadership sort of role. I'm not quite sure what I want to do next, so I'm open to any ideas. Bear in mind though, my formal management experience is not much, I've done it in a few places now but it's always been with a lot of support, I've never been left in charge of stuff by myself... yet.
Culture
Remote first is the only way. I'm happy to travel to an office to meet people and do face to face stuff occasionally, it's always good to meet people IRL when possible. Once a month is good, maybe more if it's closer and the trains are easy (I hate driving).
I would like to think it goes without saying these days but I am so over the grind. I have a family and hobbies and a house that needs loads of work doing, I don't have time any more to do the 12 hour days and late night panic features. I don't mind working hard at work, but only within working hours.
Though saying that, I also appreciate flexible hours. Some days I like to get up early and some days my brain doesn't get going til lunchtime. I need to work somewhere that treats their people like grown ups and trusts them to do what they need to do however they need to do it.
Perks
I don't really want to put my salary expectations on here, feels weird. To be non-specific, I've not yet experienced the 100k tax trap yet but I'm getting close and I'd like it to stay that way!
I'm getting old and only started being sensible with money in the last few years, so my pension is sadly lacking. Hence, a company willing to pay more than the bare minimum pension contributions would be a nice bonus, especially if it's salary sacrifice so my tax is easier.
Obviously not a hardcore requirement but private medical/dental would be lovely. There's zero NHS dentists round here and I like having teeth.
Killer perk - 4 day week. Yet to find somewhere willing to pay a full time salary for a 32 hour week, this is the holy grail in workplace benefits :D