From Silicon Valley to Silicon Alley. Expert C, C++, Java Developers Needed.

Have you ever thought about leaving Silicon Valley for the hustle and bustle of Silicon Alley (Manhattan, NYC)? Core Search Group has been recruiting software engineers to the finance industry for over 7 years. There is a common misconception that all software engineering companies require previous financial experience. This is simply not true and, in fact, many of these companies prefer that software engineers come in without any previous financial software development experience. The reasoning is that they like to be able to teach their approach to the markets to new people and "it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks," right?

If you are a highly passionate and talented software engineer and are interested in getting into the finance industry, I encourage you to pursue opportunities through CSG today! Currently Core Search Group is working with a diverse group of companies in the sector. We are working with software companies in the financial services sector, electronic trading companies, hedge funds and even large thriving investment banks.

We are now focused on one specific hedge fund that we work with. While this company is a hedge fund, they look and feel more like a software company. They are very much a tech-focused company with an eye to the future. They are 300 employees strong with 1/3 of them being software engineers. They are a Java shop running almost entirely on Linux. However, they have a great attitude towards programming languages. Programming languages are mere tools to get the job done. Even if you don't have any Java experience, this company still wants to hear from you. So if you have mastered either C or C++ and have an open mind about entering the Java world, then this place is for you.

This company has consistently maintained high standards through their hiring process. They focus less on the tools that software engineers use and more on the general computer science/software engineering fundamentals. They want to see a strong academic background(preferably in computer science) with candidates coming from the top-tier computer science schools around the globe. They also want folks that are serious about maintaining a stable job history.

Everyone knows that the problem sets found in the finance industry today are some of the toughest to solve for software engineers and computer scientists. So if you have had thoughts of getting into high frequency trading software, automated trading, high volume data-mining, analysis software for large data sets, real-time systems or other financial systems/application development, this might be just the place for you. It truly is a great place for people who have thrived in software companies for years but are ready for a new twist; a very refreshing and lucrative twist.

Other technologies that are being used here are:
- Java (Java 6), Linux, SQL, Hibernate, JMS, Rendevous, AJAX, JUnit

Let me know if you want to learn more.

--Gil
gil@coresearchinc.com

Java grid computing position, Jersey City NJ

Our client is a very well known, highly profitable and stable investment bank. They are developing a horizontally scalable application server grid that runs on thousands of compute servers.

This position involves integrating open-source solutions with vendor products through building the abstraction layers on top of distributed resource orchestration and state caching systems, integration with the existing monitoring and operational support environment and deployment tools.

Why would you apply to this job: Like most of the teams I recruit for, this one is run by a world-class developer I placed as a candidate at another company several years ago. I have followed his career and now can help him grow this team. My information comes direct from this manager. I will get you real and correct information and feedback. Our firm's practice is solely limited to placing extraordinary developers into these kinds of roles. I won't drop the ball.

Required Skills:
Exceptional Java development skills
- J2EE Application Servers
- Spring
- JNDI, JTA, JMS, Servlets and JSP
Knowledge of scripting languages (shell scripting, Python)
Hands-on experience building large-scale software systems
Deep understanding of the following technologies
- HTTP, Load Balancing, DNS
- Distributed file systems
- Messaging
Knowledge of Linux platform and development tool chain
Education: BS in CS or equivalent preferred

Optional:
Hibernate, Maven, OSGi
In-memory distributed cache
Familiarity with Google App Engine, Amazon EC2, Microsoft Azure JVM fine-tuning
C/C++ - language, libraries and tool chains
Cross-platform development experience
Experience with integrated heterogeneous environments (C, C++, Java, Python)
Please contact me for any questions you may have. If you would like to apply please send a resume to davef@coresearchinc.com.

Salary: 100-200+k DOE
Start Date: January-February

Greenfield Java/Spring development in Manhattan

Here's an overview of an exciting Java/Spring development opportunity on Park Avenue in Manhattan. Our client is a multinational investment bank that has remained profitable through the downturn. Due to multiple acquisitions and subsequent integration of lines of business from those companies, there are many new development projects under way. This company offers the compensation, benefits, and physical environment you would expect from a blue chip firm.

My contact is an accomplished developer and manager who I have known since I placed him with another multinational several years ago. I work direct with him and will get you direct and fast feedback. He is not only very personable and engaging but also loves to push the edge technically. The goal here is to build the best system, not the cheapest.

The group I work for is developing a brand new bond trading system. The responsibilities include design and ownership of a Java/Linux process that acts as an application server for WPF/.NET-based clients running on Windows. This will included content serving, session management, session monitoring, command dispatching, continuous builds, unit tests, and load test creation. This position calls for a Java 1.5 expert with opportunity for crossover work in C# and WPF, a cutting edge .NET UI technology. We are looking for someone at a 'virtuoso' level with Spring as there will be custom work with it.

Applicable experience:

Linux
Java 1.5 (including Generics, Annotations)
Multithreading
Spring Framework IOC (also AOP, MVC are pluses)
Design Patterns
Servlets, Embedded Webservers, (Jetty)
Design by Contract
JMS, Tibco EMS
XML, XSD (XML Schema)
UML
AspectJ or Spring AOP
JMX
Ant
CruiseControl
Windows XP
.NET/C# knowledge
Interest in WPF

If you are interested in this please email davef@coresearchinc.com to begin a confidential conversation.

CSG's Top Five Interview Prep Tips

When getting yourself ready for an interview, whether it be a phone interview or an in-house interview, you need to make sure you are 100% prepared. Dot all the t's and cross all the i's. Er, wait, dot all the i's and cross all the t's. Anyway, preparation is key. You can't really be over prepared for an interview.

We have talked about interview preparation in previous blog posts so make sure you don't miss those, but anyway, here are Core Search Group's Top Five Interview tips. This information is directed at software engineers. However, it can be used by one and all:

1 - Be able to defend your resume like it is a Ph.D. thesis. Anything and everything on your resume is fair game. Many people crash and burn during the interview because they cant go into details about their projects. Make sure you can.

2 - Know how to say: "I don't know". You have to make some attempt at an answer. It is a number 1 pet peeve of hiring managers to hear a candidate say "I don't know" and be done with their answer. Make an assumption based on a similar tool you have used if they ask you about a tool you have never used. Then asked the interviewer if that was a safe assumption.

3 - This goes hand-in-hand with #2. Know how to get the interviewers help if necessary. Be able to ask the right return questions to get the interviewer to push you in the right direction. Part of the interview is knowing how to get help; collaborating with the interviewer to get to the right answer is key.

4 - Be able to start a dialogue with the interviewer. I have heard hiring managers say that they have a stock list of questions, but that if they ever get through that entire list, they know they don't want to hire that person. They want to be engaged and interested in conversation. They want to be taken out of the common question-answer, question-answer routine. That can be boring. Remember you are trying to make yourself come across as interesting to the person interviewing you. You are trying to make yourself standout from the pack. You have to make it so the interviewer leaves the interview setting remembering you more than other candidates.

5 - This goes hand-in-hand with #4. Have a list of solid questions to ask. If you are given the chance to ask questions and you don't, then you will sound disinterested. A great way to lose interest from the person interviewing you is to come across as disinterested in the position.

So next time you get that interview lined up. Get yourself PREPARED!!!

Look out for the next post about getting tons of interview advice online.

Peace out!

Gil

Work with World C++ Leaders in an Amazing Location: Lake Tahoe!

We have a job opening for a C++ expert in Lake Tahoe. We think it is so cool that we should blog about it. Why should you be reading this? Well if you are extremely passionate about C++, STL, Boost and a you love to not only develop software for a living but love working on open source or other side projects, then you should definitely fit this team. This company’s office is literally 5 minutes from one of the country’s most amazing ski resorts, Heavenly. Did I mention that this company will pay for half of your season pass to Heavenly? If you want to also go to some of the other amazing ski mountains in the area, I am sure those mountains sell season passes also.

If you don't ski or snowboard, there is a ton of other outdoor activities to do in and around Lake Tahoe. Here is a list.

Do you like to visit San Francisco but don’t want to live there? You can get to San Francisco in 3 hours from Lake Tahoe. The best of both worlds, right? Rock on!

So you are now saying, “well, I am not a C++ expert”. That is OK. What is your definition of ‘expert’? Everyone’s definition is different. Do you have extreme passion for C++? Do you love dissecting the advanced features of the language? Maybe you are a hardcore Boost developer. If you are in there somewhere and feel that you are at least on your way to becoming a C++ expert, then we at least have a conversation starter. Let’s talk. If you are a rising rock star who better to learn the rest of your C++ alongside than a few C++ Standards Committee members.

Do you love working in an atmosphere where entrepreneurship and creativity are encouraged? Do you love being able to work on open source and side projects and have strong people near you to discuss such matters? These aren’t the only things discussed around the water cooler.

Are you concerned about COL? Yes, it can be expensive in Lake Tahoe. But you won’t care. Our client makes sure you will be compensated in a way that will allow you to have a comfortable living in and around Tahoe.

Contact us for more information.

How to run an efficient and effective interview process.

We have several world class clients in the software industry and have worked with several other world-class firms over the years. We have worked with companies that run a very efficient and effective interview process and some that lose out on a lot of good people because they do not. What are the reasons a company should strive to run an efficient and effective process?

There are many:

- First is the most obvious. It saves the company time and money.

- It optimizes the chances that candidates will spread positive feedback about your company and your openings, whether they get hired or not.

- If you are working efficiently in your interview process, your recruiters are much more likely to respond and do the same and hence bring you more great candidates.

- Efficiency in one activity breeds efficiency in other activities.


Let's take a look at how to get the most out of your interview process.

- 1st, it is VERY important to give timely feedback to your recruiters or to direct candidates. You as a hiring manager must assume that each and every candidate is working on at least 2 or 3 opportunities other than yours. This makes timely feedback imporant in keeping the interest level high in both your candidates and the recruiters that are working with you. If they have to wait too long for feedback or to hear about the next step in the process, they are more likely to lose interest and focus on other opportunities more than yours. So quickly give feedback from the previous step in the process and quickly move to the next step. Technical people are very sensitive to process. If your recruiting process is opaque, slow, and unfocused, they very quickly assume the rest of your company works the same way.

- 2nd, know the timeframe importance level for each candidate. You may find the need to speed things up with certain candidates if they are getting close to the offer stage with other companies. This is especially important if this is a "rock star" candidate.

- 3rd, Make efficient use of everyone's time. Double up on phone interviews. If you know you need 2 phone interviews before you can bring a candidate onsite get 2 software engineers on the phone with a candidate at a time. Kill two birds with one stone. This can not only save man hours and money, but it speeds up the entire process which, again, is very important for candidates that are getting close to receiving offers from other companies.

- 4th, If you are scheduling a candidate for an onsite interview and you are flying them several thousand miles to bring them in to your office, make sure you optimize the use or your company's time and money. Make sure you have the entire thing scheduled hour by hour. Don't have the candidate sitting around waiting a long time before meeting with the next person. By leaving them alone in a conference room they will lose interest, confidence and hence your process loses effectiveness. If they will need to do a second day of onsite interviews, try to have that scheduled into the candidate's travel arrangements and schedule if possible. If you have to bring them back for a 2nd round make sure you aren't going to lose their interest and candidacy in doing so.

- 5th, Have a pragmatic approach to your interview. Tech trivia has its place in the software engineering interview, but should not be the end-all be-all. Make sure you are drilling down core computer science fundementals. If there is a famous problem that the founding members of your company had to solve once upon a time, ask the candidates how they might approach the problem. Also, in writing software you try not to "reinvent the wheel." Use the same approach in interviewing. Get them to go through some of their projects step-by-step. Get them to talk about architecture, show you the design and maybe some code of some of the implementation. Keep them on their toes.

One last thing. By keeping your interview process efficient and effective you will help your retention rate. Many people dread conducting interviews. By keeping your interviewers on their toes you will keep them excited and interested in their own job. Everyone wins! The next time you are in a position of hiring keep in mind how it directly and indirectly effects the rest of your organization.

Why Twitter?

Gil says-

One of the outstanding developers I have worked with in the past few weeks asked me about the advantages or benefits of using Twitter. He asked me this in response to my invitation to follow me on Twitter. That wasn't the first time someone had asked me a similar question and it wasn't and won't be the last. Now I will have a place to refer those questions.

I have seen Twitter in the news (mostly CNN) since the Saffron Revolution in Burma in 2007. Since that event I have seen Rick Sanchez and others on CNN use Twitter and I never paid attention much to those bits because I didn't really understand the technology..... So I always wondered what it was really used for? What was the craze? What were people doing on Twitter. Why was the application itself so special? This was when we at CSG decided to check it out.  There are many good primers on how and why to use twitter.  We've found it to be very useful in recruiting.  

Dave says:

I'm highly skeptical whenever I see hordes of people moving in a given direction. I'm not one of the people riding the bandwagon.  I'm the wolf loping alongside the bandwagon waiting to see what cliff it is going to go over.  However we have found tweeting brings a ton of benefit.  

Interacting on twitter is like moving through the biggest bar in the world.  You'll need to wade through a lot of people that don't offer much value to your line of business.  It's a constant stream of conversation of which maybe 1% at any given time is applicable to your business.  But that 1% is VERY interesting.  You walk past the dude with the bone in his nose to talk to the cerebral looking guy in the corner who is a software thought leader.  Many people link to their blog, website, or resume which is where you decide if they are who you are looking for.  We use Tweetdeck to manage twitter.  I run search strings relevant to searches I am running.  For example I'm working a search for C# talent in NYC.  Any tweet that mentions idisposable comes to me.  Odds are very strong that this person is going to be a potential candidate for my search.  I get a quick surface view of a person which helps me decide if I want to learn more about them.  Many people offer a link to their blog or website which is usually more than enough information for me to make a decision-do I want to talk with this person?

Since the whole point of twitter is the conversation we're able to post searches we're working on for folks to look at with less of a resistance level than more traditional forms of sourcing.  If you're one of the most highly sophisticated software engineers on the planet you're a lot more likely to respond positively to real information than some cold call at your work phone. 

Core Search Group, over and out.