Hiring Developers at Pixum
Let’s face it: finding the right talent has become one of the biggest challenges for companies, particularly when it comes to software developers. In today’s competitive job market, top developers are in high demand and companies are struggling to attract and retain them.
As someone who has been on both sides of the fence - as a developer searching for new opportunities and as a department head looking for new team members, I know firsthand the difficulties of the hiring process. Unfortunately, many of the hiring processes that we read about on the internet are less than optimal, and candidates often feel undervalued and unappreciated.
That’s why, at Pixum, we’ve worked hard to create a hiring process that not only attracts the best talent but also ensures that candidates feel respected and valued throughout the process.
Finding the right candidates
We know that developers are in high demand, and the days of them coming to us with open arms are over. So, we’ve had to get creative with how we approach potential candidates.
We know that developers get a ton of unsolicited messages on job platforms, and we don’t want to add to the noise. We’d rather be like that person who sends a well-crafted and personalized message that catches their attention. We take a targeted approach by doing our homework and identifying candidates who we believe would be a good fit for our team. It’s all about finding the right balance between reaching out to people without being too spammy or wasting their time.
Finding a good developer isn’t just about matching a set of technical skills, but also about finding someone who is a good fit for our company culture and values. That’s why our HR team works closely with department heads, like myself, to really understand the skills and qualities we’re looking for in potential candidates. We don’t want to waste our time or theirs by bringing in candidates who don’t align with our goals or expectations.
When it comes to the hiring process, we’re clear about the position, the expectations, and the technologies that the candidate will be working with if they decide to join Pixum. We believe in being transparent about what the job entails, including the tools and technologies that will be used, as well as any challenges or opportunities that come with the position. This helps us attract candidates who are genuinely interested in the job and who are excited about the prospect of working with our team.
Step 1: A first call
Picture this: you’ve expressed interest in a position at Pixum and we’ve scheduled a video call to chat. It’s not your typical job interview where you’re being grilled by a panel of strangers. Instead, you’re chatting with a member of our HR team and the department head responsible for the position. We want to get to know the real you and understand what makes you tick. It’s not just about your technical skills or experience - we want to know about your personality, your work style, and your future goals.
Of course, we’ll also give you an overview of Pixum and what we can offer you. But this isn’t a one-sided conversation - we want you to ask us anything that’s on your mind, whether it’s about the position, the company culture, or even what our favorite coffee is. We want to create a comfortable and open atmosphere where you can be yourself and ask any questions you may have. After all, this first call is crucial in determining whether we’re a good fit for each other.
Step 2: The “Schnuppertag”
If we both feel like we hit it off after the first call, we’re ready to take the next step - what we like to call the “Schnuppertag”. This is a trial day where you get to experience what it’s really like to work at Pixum. We’ll show you around our office, introduce you to the team, and give you a taste of the projects and technologies you’ll be working on.
We take this trial day seriously because we want to make sure that you’re not only technically skilled, but also a good fit for our team and culture. That’s why we’ve designed the Schnuppertag to be an interactive experience where you get to work alongside our developers, ask questions, and get a real feel for what it’s like to be a part of the Pixum team.
We’ve already written in detail about the Schnuppertag in a previous blog post, so be sure to check it out for all the juicy details. Suffice it to say, if you make it through the Schnuppertag, you’re one step closer to joining our team of talented developers.”
Step 3: The decision
At Pixum, we believe in the power of teamwork and collaboration. That’s why, after the Schnuppertag, all the members of the team who interacted with the candidate come together to discuss and evaluate their overall fit with our company culture, work style, and values.
During this process, each team member provides their input and shares their impressions of the candidate. We want to ensure that we consider all viewpoints and make a decision that is best for both the candidate and our team. We value transparency and honesty throughout the entire process, which is why we encourage all team members to share their thoughts and feelings.
At the end of the day, we want to make sure that our new team members will be happy and fulfilled working at Pixum. That’s why we make it a group decision and take our time to ensure that we make the best decision for everyone involved.
After the collective decision, it’s the responsibility of the department head to communicate the results to the candidate. We believe that it’s crucial to have the future manager communicate the outcome so that any queries the candidate might have about the position or the reasons why we thought it wasn’t a good fit can immediately be answered.
If we both agree that we should work together, we’ll start with the paperwork immediately. We’ll prepare a draft for an employment contract, which the candidate can review and ask questions about. Once everything is clear, we’ll finalize the contract and welcome the candidate to the Pixum team!
Job hunting can be a stressful and time-consuming process, and we value the time of our candidates. We try to be as transparent about the process as possible and keep it as efficient as we can. It’s not unusual for us to make a decision within a week or two from first contact.
Conclusion
So far, we’ve had very good experiences with the way we set up our hiring. We believe that our process helps us find the right candidates who share our passion for creating exceptional software.
We hope this post gave you an idea of what you can expect if you’re interested in joining the Pixum team. We’re always on the lookout for talented developers who are passionate about creating great software, so if you’re interested, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!