David Young

💭 “𝗜 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗲.” I hear this all the time - sometimes even in cover letters. But here’s the truth: 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 isn’t a reason to apply. You might find a role exciting, but if you’re not at the required level yet, you’re just shooting in the dark. So how do you know if a job is really for you? 👉 Start with the job title. It often tells you more than you think. https://lnkd.in/ezEh385G

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Recruitment is changing faster than most agencies are willing to admit. CV scanning, manual shortlists, and gut-feel interviews don’t scale — and they don’t compete with AI that can read thousands of profiles in seconds, match skills objectively, and remove bias from first-round screening. This isn’t a threat to recruiters. It’s a warning. AI won’t replace recruiters, but recruiters who use AI will replace those who don’t. #RecruitmentTrends #AIInHiring #FutureOfWork #HRTech #TalentAcquisition

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***New Episode of ThinkData Podcast just landed*** In this episode, I’m joined by Anita Kirkovska, Head of Growth at Vellum, a platform that helps businesses build and manage AI into production. We covered a lot of ground, including: 🤖How Vellum helps businesses build and manage AI applications in production 🤖Anita’s role in driving growth and go-to-market strategy 🤖The six levels of agentic AI behavior, and why they matter 🤖Key insights from The State of AI 2025 report (25% of companies now run AI in production) 🤖What’s enabling successful AI adoption, and what’s holding others back 🤖Where the AI space is heading, and how Vellum is preparing for it 🔗 in comments

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One month back at OpusRS – here’s what I’m seeing in the JavaScript contract market. It’s been great to get stuck back in, and I’ve already noticed some clear trends across the UK JavaScript contract space. 🏢 Hybrid working is shifting. Fully remote roles are becoming less common, with more contracts now asking for 2–3 days a week in the office. Collaboration and team presence are making a comeback. 💬 Contractors who know how to add value and communicate clearly with clients are being consistently extended. It’s not just about technical ability—commercial awareness and soft skills are making a real difference. 📉 Rates have taken a hit compared to a few years ago, but demand is still strong for those who can hit the ground running. ⚙️ Next.js is gaining serious traction. While React remains dominant with 39.5% of developers using it, Next.js is quickly rising with 17.9% adoption—thanks to its performance benefits and built-in features like server-side rendering and static site generation If you're a contractor looking for your next move, or a business needing top JavaScript talent, I’d love to connect. #JavaScript #NextJS #ReactJS #Contracting #TechRecruitment #OpusRS

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London Microservices Event - Q2 2025 Speaker announcement. Our first speaker for next Wednesday's event is David Denton. David is the Co-creator of the popular http4k platform, a recognised Kotlin Google Developer Expert, and an Open-Source enthusiast. His talk is titled "Functional Intelligence: Agents, MCP and the end of the Web(?)" David's talk will explore a future where autonomous systems, powered by standardised protocols, transform how we interact with digital services and fundamentally reshape the human web experience. Instead of humans adapting to clunky UIs and processes, intelligent agents handle these tasks by directly communicating with each other. MCP is hot right now, and if you are looking to understand what is happening in this space or expand on what you know already, you won't want to miss this talk. Sign up using the link below. https://lnkd.in/dTjcWbdE

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AI may be dominating the headlines going into 2026, but the real story is talent. After reviewing Pluralsight’s 2026 Tech Forecast, one thing is clear: Technology is accelerating faster than our talent pipelines. Here are the big takeaways shaping UK tech hiring: Entry-level roles are disappearing AI is automating the tasks juniors used to learn from, risking a future shortage of mid-level and senior talent. Organisations that don’t invest in early career pathways today will feel the pain tomorrow. Hiring is getting more expensive; therefore, internal mobility will surge With UK companies now spending £5k+ per IT hire on average, upskilling and cross-skilling existing staff will become a strategic priority. 2026 will be the year of internal career switches, retention, and developing the people you already have. AI literacy matters, but fundamentals matter more. The most valuable professionals will be the ones who can: ✔ use AI effectively ✔ challenge its output ✔ maintain strong cloud, security, and data foundations These “AI translators” will be in huge demand. Cloud, cybersecurity, and data remain core hiring pillars. AI doesn’t replace these skills; it relies on them. If you’re thinking about how these trends impact your 2026 hiring strategy, or how to build sustainable talent pipelines. Here at Denholm, we are helping our clients navigate exactly this shift. Let's have a chat if this is something you are thinking about. I’d love to hear your perspective: 👉 Are you seeing fewer entry-level opportunities in your part of the tech industry? 👉 And do you think organisations are ready for the upskilling challenge ahead? As a recruiter, I’m hearing very different stories depending on the sector, so your insights will really help build a clearer picture.

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𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤: 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 - 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐉𝐒𝐁𝐂 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐬 Thanks to JSBC Labs for their contribution to our 2026 Playbook series. The recruitment industry doesn’t need more tech — it needs smarter, connected, insight-driven systems. As 2026 approaches, the agencies that win will act more like tech companies. Here are the big shifts JSBC Labs is seeing: 💥 Automate the admin, not the relationships 💥 Connect your systems (and your teams) 💥 Build for visibility, not just data entry The strongest agencies in 2026 won’t chase more tools. They’ll build smarter workflows, cleaner data ecosystems, and tech that powers human connection. Read the full blog 👇 https://lnkd.in/ehjjhGUr #2026Playbook #RecruitmentTechnology #DigitalTransformation #UKRecruiter #JSBCLabs #UKRecruiter

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A great portfolio won’t save a weak CV, and a great CV won’t save a weak portfolio. This week alone, we’ve seen some incredibly strong designers held back by avoidable basics: • CVs that list software but don’t explain how it’s been used on real projects • Portfolios with beautiful imagery, yet no context such as role, stage of project, or responsibility, • Applications that don’t align with the CV and portfolio (job titles, dates, or project scope don’t match). Your CV tells us what you’ve done. Your portfolio shows us how well you’ve done it. Studios expect both to work together, not compete. If you’re actively looking, it’s worth spending the extra hour tightening both. It genuinely makes the difference between “interesting” and “let’s interview”. If you want a 2nd opinion, feel free to reach out to me with both! ccolley@planningrecruitment.com #architecturejobs #interiordesignjobs #architectlife #designcareers #recruitmentinsight

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In the Ruby and Rails ecosystem, technical analysts play vital roles in optimising application performance, interpreting user behaviour data, and guiding architectural decisions that keep Rails applications running efficiently at scale. These specialists combine deep understanding of Ruby performance characteristics with analytical skills to solve complex problems that standard metrics can't reveal. Ruby-specific technical analysis challenges: Rails applications generate enormous amounts of data - from ActiveRecord query patterns and memory allocation to user interaction flows and API response times. Technical analysts specialising in Ruby environments understand how to interpret this data meaningfully. Key analytical areas for Ruby professionals: 🔹 Database query optimisation using tools like Bullet gem and query analysis 🔹 Memory profiling with tools like derailed_benchmarks and memory_profiler 🔹 Performance bottleneck identification through New Relic, Scout, or custom instrumentation 🔹 User behaviour analysis through Rails application logs and analytics data 🔹 Code quality metrics using tools like SimpleCov, RuboCop, and Brakeman The Rails performance analyst skillset: Understanding Ruby's garbage collection patterns, Rails' ActiveRecord N+1 problems, and how different gems impact application performance requires both technical depth and analytical thinking. These analysts bridge the gap between development teams and business requirements. Tools of the trade: 🔹 Ruby profiling gems like stackprof and ruby-prof 🔹 APM solutions like Scout, New Relic, or DataDog 🔹 Database analysis tools and query optimisers 🔹 Custom Rails instrumentation and logging analysis 🔹 A/B testing frameworks and statistical analysis tools Career opportunities: Rails-focused technical analysts are increasingly valuable as applications scale. They help development teams make data-driven decisions about refactoring, infrastructure investments, and feature development priorities. Real-world impact: A skilled Ruby technical analyst might identify that a specific ActiveRecord association is causing performance degradation across the application, leading to architectural changes that improve response times by 40%. These insights directly impact user experience and business metrics. Professional development: Ruby technical analysts benefit from understanding both the technical aspects of Rails applications and the business contexts that drive performance requirements. This combination makes them valuable contributors to product and engineering decisions. What Ruby performance analysis tools have provided the most valuable insights in your applications? We're connecting with technical analysts who understand both Rails architecture and data-driven optimisation strategies. #InternationalTechnicalAnalystDay #RubyAnalysis #RailsPerformance #TechnicalAnalysis #RubyOnRails #TechRecruitment

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Welcome to 2026! ✨ Hear my thoughts on the hiring trends in the #AI space and how to get your hands on the very best talent. 🎯 🦄Demand shifts to a portfolio skill set - Architects and Engineers who can design, build and deploy end to end agentic AI systems 🌐 Cross discipline is king - the most sought after professionals bring software engineering rigour, AI fluency, a product sense and business impact understanding 🚀 Skills first hiring goes mainstream - hires are being made on what you can build and deliver, not the theory you studied 🤓 Interview experience is more important than ever, as is clarity around your role and AI strategy As always, very keen to connect with professionals in the AI space seeking work or those looking to hire. We have roles globally across the UK, Europe, US and UAE. Get in touch with me here 👇 📧 kate.mcdermott@omnis.partners #AIhiring #AIjobs Omnis Partners

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Some really nice Next.js / React and Python / FastAPI roles just opened up with an AI startup setting up a new engineering team in Dublin. Details below:

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Breaking Barriers: Supporting Experienced Tech Talent Back to Work At Charles Slater Recruitment, we believe exceptional talent shouldn't be defined by employment gaps or age—it should be defined by capability, experience, and potential. From today we are launching a dedicated programme to support two often-overlooked candidate groups: 1️⃣ SaaS & Tech Professionals unemployed for 90+ days 2️⃣ Over-50 Professionals facing age bias in recruitment If you're in either category, we're here to help you get back to work. 🎯 What We're Offering Candidates For the first 10 candidates in each group, we'll provide: ✅ CV Optimisation Workshop ✅ LinkedIn Profile Audit & Enhancement. ✅ Interview Coaching Session ✅ Direct Employer Introductions ✅ Skills Gap Analysis ✅ Salary Negotiation Guidance ✅ Ongoing Support 💼 Our Commitment to Employers For companies hiring through this programme, Charles Slater offers: The "Return to Work" Hiring Package: 🔹 Extended Guarantee Period - 4-month replacement guarantee 🔹 Discounted Fee Structure 🔹 Pre-Screened, Market-Ready Candidates 🔹 Diversity & Inclusion Credentials 🔹 Trial Period Support 🔹 Skills-Matched Talent Pool SaaS professionals with experience in: Customer Success, Sales, Product Management, RevOps, Implementation, Acct Management Over-50 professionals with: Leadership experience, industry relationships, strategic thinking, mentoring capabilities 📊 Why This Matters The Data: 1 in 3 workers over 50 have experienced age discrimination in hiring 52% of over-50 job seekers believe their age makes employers less likely to hire them Tech sector unemployment: Highly skilled professionals are being overlooked after layoffs despite talent shortages The Opportunity: By 2030, 1 in 3 UK workers will be over 50—employers must adapt Over-50 professionals bring: institutional knowledge, leadership maturity, extensive networks, and lower turnover rates Long-term unemployed SaaS professionals offer: proven track records, hunger to contribute, and loyalty to employers who give them a chance 🚀 How to Get Involved If you're a candidate: 📩 Email: craig@charlesslater.co.uk with subject "Return to Work Programme" If you're an employer: 📩 Email: craig@charlesslater.co.uk with subject "Return to Work Hiring" Limited to 10 candidates per group. First come, first served. 💪 Let's Rewrite the Narrative Employment gaps don't erase capability. Age doesn't diminish value. Experience matters. At Charles Slater, we're committed to connecting exceptional professionals with forward-thinking employers who value talent over bias. Who's ready to break down barriers with us? 👉 Share this post to help us reach candidates who need support 👉 Tag an employer committed to inclusive hiring 👉 Comment if you've faced these challenges—let's start a conversation #ReturnToWork #AgeInclusive #SaaSJobs #TechRecruitment #Over50Professionals #DiversityAndInclusion #CharlesSlaterRecruitment #TalentNotBias #InclusiveHiring Mat Gibson

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🚀 RecWired x Automindz Solutions: Elevating the Recruitment Founders' Community Through AI and Automation Fabian Herhold, Dualta Doherty, and Andy Hallett have joined forces to drive the next evolution of the RecWired community — with the strategic support of AutoMindz’s AI and automation expertise. 🔹 Our Mission: To make RecWired the most dynamic, valuable space for recruitment founders — by automating manual work, personalizing experiences, and creating smarter, data-driven ways to connect and grow. We’re building a platform where founders can seamlessly access the best recruitment suppliers in the market — across People, Strategy, Processes, Finance, Technology, and Learning & Development (L&D) — all delivered in a non-intrusive, frictionless way. While on the surface RecWired may look like a WhatsApp group, behind the scenes we are creating a complete ecosystem designed to help recruitment businesses scale faster, smarter, and with the right partners at every stage. 🔹 What We’re Doing: ✅ Seamless Member Onboarding: New recruitment founders joining the WhatsApp groups will experience faster, frictionless onboarding, with smarter segmentation based on their agency size, goals, and interests. ✅ Personalized Engagement: By leveraging AI and automation, we’ll deliver tailored content, supplier introductions, and resources to founders — helping them discover the right opportunities and peer connections at the right time. ✅ Smarter Community Insights: We’re building deeper analytics to track member activity and discussions (without compromising privacy) — enabling RecWired to surface trending topics, identify emerging needs, and adapt the community experience dynamically. ✅ Dynamic Content Curation: We’ll use automation to curate the best discussions, insights, and knowledge shared within the groups — turning organic conversations into a living resource hub for all members. ✅ More Opportunities for Growth: New automated workflows will help founders seamlessly discover services, offers, and expertise — without being bombarded or overwhelmed — giving them exactly what they need, when they need it. ✅ Better Support for Founders at Every Stage: Whether you're a founder with 1-5 people or scaling past 50, RecWired’s upgraded platform will match resources, conversations, suppliers, and connections to where you are in your journey. 🔹 The Big Picture: We’re not just scaling RecWired in size — we're scaling it in value, personalization, and impact. Every recruitment founder deserves a smarter, faster, and more connected way to grow their business — and together with AutoMindz, we're making it happen. The future of RecWired is automation-powered, insight-driven, founder-first, and built for real recruitment business success. 🚀 #RecWired #AutoMindz #RecruitmentFounders #CommunityGrowth #Automation #AI #RecruitmentCommunity #FounderNetwork #ScalingSuccess #L&D #RecruitmentTechnology

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Clutch control: I’ve been having so many conversations with clients lately who complain about the same market trend - the market feels "strange" right now. There are loads of projects being scoped, planned, and discussed. Clients are reaching out saying, “We're working on this project and we need consultants, we need a team, we’re kicking this off.” But then… the project stalls. It gets put on hold because funding isn’t signed off, planning isn’t ready, or priorities shift. From my perspective, it’s like watching a car with bad clutch control. There’s that jerk forward, pause, jerk forward, stall. There’s energy, there’s intent, but momentum just isn’t building... And I'm curious why that is? For consultants and contractors, this is frustrating because opportunities appear to be there, but the actual start date keeps moving. For clients, it creates uncertainty because talent is interested and available now, but won’t wait around forever. That’s why getting project planning and approvals aligned before going to market is becoming more important than ever. Otherwise, you risk losing the exact skills you’ll need when the project finally does start. My question is, are you seeing the same “stop-start” effect in your market? And how are you navigating this - waiting it out, or pushing to get things moving regardless? #JobMarketSA #Recruitment #Contracting #ProjectDelivery #SASkills

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