Stack Overflow is the world’s most renowned Q&A website and largest online community of developers. We continuously analyse how developers think and evaluate job descriptions. During this webinar we’ll provide insight into the technical hiring landscape and offer you advice on how to improve your job listings.

1. Why are developers
not attracted to your
job listings?
@StackCareersUK #SOtips

2. Content
• Who is Stack Overflow
• The developer hiring landscape
• Developers speak a different language
• Communication is the main barrier
• Analysing a job description

3. Who is Stack Overflow?

4. Who is Stack Overflow?
• Stack Overflow is the world’s most renowned
Q&A website for software developers.
• We know exactly what developers want
because they tell us. They trust us because
our number one priority is serving them.
• We connect employers with the largest
online community of developers.

5. Who is Stack Overflow?
31m
visitors
per month
50th
most visited
website in the
world
10m
questions
asked

6. Stack Overflow Goes Down, Programmers Around The World Panic

7. The developer
hiring landscape

8. The developer hiring landscape
Developers say that the most
challenging aspect of the job
search is finding a role that
seems interesting and suits
their lifestyle preferences.

9. Developers speak
a different language

10. Developers speak a different language
• Human resources quite often struggle to
communicate the right information to developers.
• The information that they do communicate is
structured in a way that doesn’t appeal to
developers.
• To encourage developers to apply for a job
companies must highlight what aspects of the
business are important to them in a format that is
easy to digest.

11. Who do developers want to hear from?
My potential manager
A developer who would be on my team
In-house recruiter who knows tech
In-house generalist recruiter
Headhunter (contingency recruiter)
Great Tolerate Hate

12. Job listings aren’t attracting developers
• They lack relevance because they’re telling developers
what is required of them instead of what exciting
projects they have to offer.
• There is minimum information about the company
culture and existing development team.
• They’re text heavy making it difficult to seek out the
important information.

13. Communication
is the main barrier

14. Top 10 things developers care about
26,086 people from
157 countries participated
in our annual survey.*
Developers told us that the following
points are what they care about the
most when looking for a new job.
*Stack Overflow, Developer Hiring Landscape Report 2015

15. Top 10 things developers care about
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Opportunities to develop their skill sets
High calibre team mates
Good management
Level of independence
A genuine excitement
around company products

16. Top 10 things developers care about
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Good technical equipment
Company’s goals
Creativity
Attractive location
Pleasant working environment

17. Analysing a
job description

18. Don’t state the obvious
.Net Software Developer
Are you looking for an opportunity to use the latest technology? Are you excited by innovative solutions? If that’s the case then
we have an amazing opportunity especially for you!
We are currently seeking a .NET Software Developer to join our engineering team. Using agile methodologies and a large
technology stack, this role is responsible for taking design specifications and coding a functional program meeting client
needs. You will also have the ability to design, modify, develop, write, and implement software programming expectations.
As a seasoned Developer, you will leverage your technical expertise to tackle difficult projects. This will include a complete
product conversion using cutting edge technologies and ongoing development of our fully integrated ERP suite of applications
that tackle mission-critical business functions. These industry leading solutions provide our clients total visibility of their
business.
Furthermore, you’ll be able to share your success with other developers in the team. This is done through mentorship programs
and knowledge sharing training sessions that are geared toward new technology and industry best practices. We are proud to
say that we stay on top of the latest technologies in order to create the best software solutions for our clients.
We will need a developer who can support the installation of software and relational databases. Joining our Development team
you will have opportunities to work closely with our Product Development team and QCD to assure a the quality of our product
stay top notch.
Skills & Requirements
Essential Job Duties:
• Take design specification and code a functional program meeting client needs
• Consult with customers and other team members about software system design and maintenance
• Coordinate software system installation
• Utilise knowledge of object oriented design principles and logic
• Stay abreast the latest industry trends and technical advancements
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Important Requirements
• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, required
• 3-5+ years of experience, required
• Proficient in C#, required
• Working knowledge of ASP.NET, Web API, Entity Framework, Reactive Extensions and Asynchronous code, preferred
• Familiar with standard concepts and practices in programming field with an ability to apply general rules to specific
problems
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently
• Innovative problem solving ability with exceptional attention to detail
• Great time management and prioritisation skills
• Ability to adapt to change as directed and an understanding the change is important for company growth
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new technologies
Benefits
• Paid time off
• Competitive compensation
• Income security
• Social events
• Pleasant working environment
• Nice teammates
Yes they’re looking for
an opportunity to use
the latest technology
and are energised by
creating innovative
solutions. They’re
developers after all…
50% of developers say
searching for a job that
sounded interesting was
their biggest challenge
Are you looking for an opportunity to use the latest technology? Are you excited by innovative
solutions? If that’s the case then we have an amazing opportunity especially for you!

19. .Net Software Developer
Are you looking for an opportunity to use the latest technology? Are you excited by innovative solutions? If that’s the case then
we have an amazing opportunity especially for you!
We are currently seeking a .NET Software Developer to join our engineering team. Using agile methodologies and a large
technology stack, this role is responsible for taking design specifications and coding a functional program meeting client
needs. You will also have the ability to design, modify, develop, write, and implement software programming expectations.
As a seasoned Developer, you will leverage your technical expertise to tackle difficult projects. This will include a complete
product conversion using cutting edge technologies and ongoing development of our fully integrated ERP suite of applications
that tackle mission-critical business functions. These industry leading solutions provide our clients total visibility of their
business.
Furthermore, you’ll be able to share your success with other developers in the team. This is done through mentorship programs
and knowledge sharing training sessions that are geared toward new technology and industry best practices. We are proud to
say that we stay on top of the latest technologies in order to create the best software solutions for our clients.
We will need a developer who can support the installation of software and relational databases. Joining our Development team
you will have opportunities to work closely with our Product Development team and QCD to assure a the quality of our product
stay top notch.
Skills & Requirements
Essential Job Duties:
• Take design specification and code a functional program meeting client needs
• Consult with customers and other team members about software system design and maintenance
• Coordinate software system installation
• Utilise knowledge of object oriented design principles and logic
• Stay abreast the latest industry trends and technical advancements
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Important Requirements
• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, required
• 3-5+ years of experience, required
• Proficient in C#, required
• Working knowledge of ASP.NET, Web API, Entity Framework, Reactive Extensions and Asynchronous code, preferred
• Familiar with standard concepts and practices in programming field with an ability to apply general rules to specific
problems
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently
• Innovative problem solving ability with exceptional attention to detail
• Great time management and prioritisation skills
• Ability to adapt to change as directed and an understanding the change is important for company growth
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new technologies
Benefits
• Paid time off
• Competitive compensation
• Income security
• Social events
• Pleasant working environment
• Nice teammates
Be careful using acronyms
What does QCD mean?
Not everybody will
know.
I don't get any flavour for what
the company does, what its
culture is like, or what the work
actually is. All they've done is
say some really vague things,
the majority of which would
apply to any developer role.
“
We will need a developer who can support the installation of software and relational databases.
Joining our Development team you will have opportunities to work closely with our Product
Development team and QCD to assure a the quality of our product stay top notch.

20. .Net Software Developer
Are you looking for an opportunity to use the latest technology? Are you excited by innovative solutions? If that’s the case then
we have an amazing opportunity especially for you!
We are currently seeking a .NET Software Developer to join our engineering team. Using agile methodologies and a large
technology stack, this role is responsible for taking design specifications and coding a functional program meeting client
needs. You will also have the ability to design, modify, develop, write, and implement software programming expectations.
As a seasoned Developer, you will leverage your technical expertise to tackle difficult projects. This will include a complete
product conversion using cutting edge technologies and ongoing development of our fully integrated ERP suite of applications
that tackle mission-critical business functions. These industry leading solutions provide our clients total visibility of their
business.
Furthermore, you’ll be able to share your success with other developers in the team. This is done through mentorship programs
and knowledge sharing training sessions that are geared toward new technology and industry best practices. We are proud to
say that we stay on top of the latest technologies in order to create the best software solutions for our clients.
We will need a developer who can support the installation of software and relational databases. Joining our Development team
you will have opportunities to work closely with our Product Development team and QCD to assure a the quality of our product
stay top notch.
Skills & Requirements
Essential Job Duties:
• Take design specification and code a functional program meeting client needs
• Consult with customers and other team members about software system design and maintenance
• Coordinate software system installation
• Utilise knowledge of object oriented design principles and logic
• Stay abreast the latest industry trends and technical advancements
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Important Requirements
• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, required
• 3-5+ years of experience, required
• Proficient in C#, required
• Working knowledge of ASP.NET, Web API, Entity Framework, Reactive Extensions and Asynchronous code, preferred
• Familiar with standard concepts and practices in programming field with an ability to apply general rules to specific
problems
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently
• Innovative problem solving ability with exceptional attention to detail
• Great time management and prioritisation skills
• Ability to adapt to change as directed and an understanding the change is important for company growth
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new technologies
Benefits
• Paid time off
• Competitive compensation
• Income security
• Social events
• Pleasant working environment
• Nice teammates
Don’t be vague
What solutions do
you actually provide?
What visibility will
clients have?
Companies need to stop
telling developers what a
developer is, and start telling
developers much more about
what makes their role different
from all the others on our site.
“
Furthermore, you’ll be able to share your success with other developers in the team. This is done
through mentorship programs and knowledge sharing training sessions that are geared toward new
technology and industry best practices. We are proud to say that we stay on top of the latest
technologies in order to create the best software solutions for our clients.

21. .Net Software Developer
Are you looking for an opportunity to use the latest technology? Are you excited by innovative solutions? If that’s the case then
we have an amazing opportunity especially for you!
We are currently seeking a .NET Software Developer to join our engineering team. Using agile methodologies and a large
technology stack, this role is responsible for taking design specifications and coding a functional program meeting client
needs. You will also have the ability to design, modify, develop, write, and implement software programming expectations.
As a seasoned Developer, you will leverage your technical expertise to tackle difficult projects. This will include a complete
product conversion using cutting edge technologies and ongoing development of our fully integrated ERP suite of applications
that tackle mission-critical business functions. These industry leading solutions provide our clients total visibility of their
business.
Furthermore, you’ll be able to share your success with other developers in the team. This is done through mentorship programs
and knowledge sharing training sessions that are geared toward new technology and industry best practices. We are proud to
say that we stay on top of the latest technologies in order to create the best software solutions for our clients.
We will need a developer who can support the installation of software and relational databases. Joining our Development team
you will have opportunities to work closely with our Product Development team and QCD to assure a the quality of our product
stay top notch.
Skills & Requirements
Essential Job Duties:
• Take design specification and code a functional program meeting client needs
• Consult with customers and other team members about software system design and maintenance
• Coordinate software system installation
• Utilise knowledge of object oriented design principles and logic
• Stay abreast the latest industry trends and technical advancements
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Important Requirements
• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, required
• 3-5+ years of experience, required
• Proficient in C#, required
• Working knowledge of ASP.NET, Web API, Entity Framework, Reactive Extensions and Asynchronous code, preferred
• Familiar with standard concepts and practices in programming field with an ability to apply general rules to specific
problems
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently
• Innovative problem solving ability with exceptional attention to detail
• Great time management and prioritisation skills
• Ability to adapt to change as directed and an understanding the change is important for company growth
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new technologies
Benefits
• Paid time off
• Competitive compensation
• Income security
• Social events
• Pleasant working environment
• Nice teammates
Don’t hide important information
If you need a
developer that does
a bit of support then
say it up front.
This job will never appeal to
the ‘passionate and bright’
developers, but surely it has
something going for it for other
kinds of people: is it pay? Job
security? This ad needs to be
centered on whatever that is,
to appeal to the right people.
“
We will need a developer who can support the installation of software and relational databases.

22. .Net Software Developer
Are you looking for an opportunity to use the latest technology? Are you excited by innovative solutions? If that’s the case then
we have an amazing opportunity especially for you!
We are currently seeking a .NET Software Developer to join our engineering team. Using agile methodologies and a large
technology stack, this role is responsible for taking design specifications and coding a functional program meeting client
needs. You will also have the ability to design, modify, develop, write, and implement software programming expectations.
As a seasoned Developer, you will leverage your technical expertise to tackle difficult projects. This will include a complete
product conversion using cutting edge technologies and ongoing development of our fully integrated ERP suite of applications
that tackle mission-critical business functions. These industry leading solutions provide our clients total visibility of their
business.
Furthermore, you’ll be able to share your success with other developers in the team. This is done through mentorship programs
and knowledge sharing training sessions that are geared toward new technology and industry best practices. We are proud to
say that we stay on top of the latest technologies in order to create the best software solutions for our clients.
We will need a developer who can support the installation of software and relational databases. Joining our Development team
you will have opportunities to work closely with our Product Development team and Quality Control department to assure a the
quality of our product stay top notch.
Skills & Requirements
Essential Job Duties:
• Take design specification and code a functional program meeting client needs
• Consult with customers and other team members about software system design and maintenance
• Coordinate software system installation
• Utilise knowledge of object oriented design principles and logic
• Stay abreast the latest industry trends and technical advancements
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Important Requirements
• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, required
• 3-5+ years of experience, required
• Proficient in C#, required
• Working knowledge of ASP.NET, Web API, Entity Framework, Reactive Extensions and Asynchronous code, preferred
• Familiar with standard concepts and practices in programming field with an ability to apply general rules to specific
problems
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently
• Innovative problem solving ability with exceptional attention to detail
• Great time management and prioritisation skills
• Ability to adapt to change as directed and an understanding the change is important for company growth
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new technologies
Benefits
• Paid time off
• Competitive compensation
• Income security
• Social events
• Pleasant working environment
• Nice teammates
Don’t share irrelevant information
Don’t share irrelevant
information! It’s obvious
that they’ll be working
with other colleagues
I presume the office has toilet
facilities, but they didn't feel
the need to mention that, did
they? That's because there are
lots of things you don't need to
mention in a job listing!
“
51% of developers
say companies can
improve the interview
process by introducing
them to the team
We will need a developer who can support the installation of software and relational databases.
Joining our Development team you will have opportunities to work closely with our Product
Development team and QCD to assure a the quality of our product stay top notch.

23. .Net Software Developer
Are you looking for an opportunity to use the latest technology? Are you excited by innovative solutions? If that’s the case then
we have an amazing opportunity especially for you!
We are currently seeking a .NET Software Developer to join our engineering team. Using agile methodologies and a large
technology stack, this role is responsible for taking design specifications and coding a functional program meeting client
needs. You will also have the ability to design, modify, develop, write, and implement software programming expectations.
As a seasoned Developer, you will leverage your technical expertise to tackle difficult projects. This will include a complete
product conversion using cutting edge technologies and ongoing development of our fully integrated ERP suite of applications
that tackle mission-critical business functions. These industry leading solutions provide our clients total visibility of their
business.
Furthermore, you’ll be able to share your success with other developers in the team. This is done through mentorship programs
and knowledge sharing training sessions that are geared toward new technology and industry best practices. We are proud to
say that we stay on top of the latest technologies in order to create the best software solutions for our clients.
We will need a developer who can support the installation of software and relational databases. Joining our Development team
you will have opportunities to work closely with our Product Development team and QCD to assure a the quality of our product
stay top notch.
Skills & Requirements
Essential Job Duties:
• Take design specification and code a functional program meeting client needs
• Consult with customers and other team members about software system design and maintenance
• Coordinate software system installation
• Utilise knowledge of object oriented design principles and logic
• Stay abreast the latest industry trends and technical advancements
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Important Requirements
• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, required
• 3-5+ years of experience, required
• Proficient in C#, required
• Working knowledge of ASP.NET, Web API, Entity Framework, Reactive Extensions and Asynchronous code, preferred
• Familiar with standard concepts and practices in programming field with an ability to apply general rules to specific
problems
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently
• Innovative problem solving ability with exceptional attention to detail
• Great time management and prioritisation skills
• Ability to adapt to change as directed and an understanding the change is important for company growth
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new technologies
Benefits
• Paid time off
• Competitive compensation
• Income security
• Social events
• Pleasant working environment
• Nice teammates
Don’t overdo bullet points
Don’t share use too
many bullet points as
it can come across as
a list of demands
Skills & Requirements
Essential Job Duties:
• Take design specification and code a functional program meeting
client needs
• Consult with customers and other team members about software
system design and maintenance
• Coordinate software system installation
• Utilise knowledge of object oriented design principles and logic
• Stay abreast the latest industry trends and technical advancements
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Important Requirements
• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, required
• 3-5+ years of experience, required
• Proficient in C#, required
• Working knowledge of ASP.NET, Web API, Entity Framework,
Reactive Extensions and Asynchronous code, preferred
• Familiar with standard concepts and practices in programming
field with an ability to apply general rules to specific problems
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently
• Innovative problem solving ability with exceptional attention to
detail
• Great time management and prioritisation skills
• Ability to adapt to change as directed and an understanding the
change is important for company growth
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new technologies
Benefits
• Paid time off
• Competitive compensation
• Income security
• Social events
• Pleasant working environment

24. .Net Software Developer
Are you looking for an opportunity to use the latest technology? Are you excited by innovative solutions? If that’s the case then
we have an amazing opportunity especially for you!
We are currently seeking a .NET Software Developer to join our engineering team. Using agile methodologies and a large
technology stack, this role is responsible for taking design specifications and coding a functional program meeting client
needs. You will also have the ability to design, modify, develop, write, and implement software programming expectations.
As a seasoned Developer, you will leverage your technical expertise to tackle difficult projects. This will include a complete
product conversion using cutting edge technologies and ongoing development of our fully integrated ERP suite of applications
that tackle mission-critical business functions. These industry leading solutions provide our clients total visibility of their
business.
Furthermore, you’ll be able to share your success with other developers in the team. This is done through mentorship programs
and knowledge sharing training sessions that are geared toward new technology and industry best practices. We are proud to
say that we stay on top of the latest technologies in order to create the best software solutions for our clients.
We will need a developer who can support the installation of software and relational databases. Joining our Development team
you will have opportunities to work closely with our Product Development team and QCD to assure a the quality of our product
stay top notch.
Skills & Requirements
Essential Job Duties:
• Take design specification and code a functional program meeting client needs
• Consult with customers and other team members about software system design and maintenance
• Coordinate software system installation
• Utilise knowledge of object oriented design principles and logic
• Stay abreast the latest industry trends and technical advancements
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Important Requirements
• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, required
• 3-5+ years of experience, required
• Proficient in C#, required
• Working knowledge of ASP.NET, Web API, Entity Framework, Reactive Extensions and Asynchronous code, preferred
• Familiar with standard concepts and practices in programming field with an ability to apply general rules to specific
problems
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently
• Innovative problem solving ability with exceptional attention to detail
• Great time management and prioritisation skills
• Ability to adapt to change as directed and an understanding the change is important for company growth
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new technologies
Benefits
• Paid time off
• Competitive compensation
• Income security
• Social events
• Pleasant working environment
• Nice teammates
Don’t list generic perks
Don’t offer “perks”
that every company
provides! Everyone
expects some paid
holiday and nice
teammates...
• Paid time off
• Competitive compensation
• Income security
• Social events
• Pleasant working environment
• Nice teammates

25. How you can write
a good job listing

26. Don’t use a generic or uninformative job title
Use a relevant job title
• Choose a specific job title so that the
developers you’re trying to attract
click through to your advertisement.
• Think about a unique job title that will
seek the ideal candidate.
Example
The title "iOS developers", "Senior iOS developer"
or " iOS developers for banking app" promises
more success than just "Mobile developers".

27. Don’t overdo it with marketing language
Be clear and honest
• Speak the same language and write
the job listing in the same way that a
developer would communicate it to a
colleague.
• Contact your development team for
advice if you are unsure how to
approach the job listing from the
mindset of a technical person.

28. How to format description
Optimise your job description format
• Formulate your job description in full complete sentences
so it doesn’t come across as a list of demands
• Break down any requirements in the form of bullet points
in “essential” and “desirable”.
• Avoid requirements that are implicit such as telling the
team to be punctual or that they need to be a team player.
Example
"Must have a love of technology/ coding”
well… Of course they do, they are a developer!

29. Don’t use repetition
Break down your job description
into different sections
• Don’t repeat yourself, nobody wants to read the same
sentence multiple times throughout a job listing
• Divide your job listing into three different parts: Job
description, requirements and company information etc
• Only write about things that a developer is really thinking
about such as the top 10 things they care about.

30. Don’t focus on a single niche technology
Encourage qualified candidates
to apply for the job
• Research the role you’re trying to fill and understand how the
programming languages you’re looking for in a candidate
relate to other skills.
• Don’t focus on a single niche technology as you’re likely to
discourage qualified candidates from applying for the role.
Example
If you’re looking for developers using the Javascript framework - don't just
specify Angular JS or Node JS as it's likely a good Javascript developer will
either know those technologies or be able to learn them quickly

31. Don’t focus on benefits that everyone provides
Tell them what’s unique to you
• Explain what perks or benefits you offer that go above
what other companies provide.
• This could include things such as remote work/attractive
location, good technical equipment, pleasant working
environment or monthly Hackathons.
44% of developers value the opportunity to work remotely

32. Don’t tell developers what they already know
Focus on your company
and share specific details
• Explain the specific challenges that your company faces
include a brief “day in the life of” or “what we worked on
last quarter” - it shows that you know what you’re talking
about and developers find it interesting.
• Tell them what opportunities they’ll have to develop
their skill sets, who they’ll work with and the level of
independence they’ll have in the company.

33. Summary
v
Communication is key
• Communicate relevant information to developers.
Tell them what they want to know rather than what
you require from them.
• Showcase the company’s benefits. Tell them what
perks and benefits are on offer as well as the
projects that they’ll be working on.
• Place your focus on company goals and on
generating excitement around products.

34. Questions?

35. Download our
Tech Recruiting Email
Template
http://bit.ly/1WNn4OW

36. Thank you!
Have a question? We’re here to help!
Contact Sales
or call us on 0800 048 8989
(Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm GMT)
@StackCareersUK #SOtips