Software Developer, C#, SQL, Taunton

[Munter]

I've been asked to spread the word around as they've had an ... interesting time trying to fill positions using recruitment agencies.

http://www.metron-athene.com/corporate/career_oppo...

Software Developer
Location: Taunton, Somerset, UK
Salary: £25-38K


Metron Technology is Europe’s leading developer of software for computer systems performance analysis and capacity planning.
We are currently looking for highly skilled software developers to work on athene®, our flagship product which is used by many Blue chip organisations worldwide.

Our software is developed using Microsoft tools and technologies within an agile, SCRUM, environment, and our ideal candidate will offer demonstrable experience of some or all of the following:
•Microsoft C#
•Microsoft Silverlight (and/or WPF)
•Entity Framework
•Database access and SQL Server
•SCRUM

The successful applicants will work as part of a dynamic, highly technical team, where they will be exposed to all aspects of the SCRUM process, development lifecycle, and end-users/customers.

This is a great opportunity to join an exciting organisation where your voice can be heard, and skills can make a real impact
Apply now for immediate consideration.

Contact: David Watson
[e-mail]

[944fan]

I can't help directly but interesting to say the company have had problems with agencies trying to recruit for this role. We were looking for a similar candidate recently and it took us, six months, three agencies, and counless interviews to find a suitable candidate.

Silverlight experience in particular seems impossible to find

[Munter]

944fan said:

I can't help directly but interesting to say the company have had problems with agencies trying to recruit for this role. We were looking for a similar candidate recently and it took us, six months, three agencies, and counless interviews to find a suitable candidate.

Silverlight experience in particular seems impossible to find

I'm not heavily involved in this side of things. However at least one candidate didn't speak any English. Now we employ people from all corners of the earth, from Russians to Iraqis (we even have some British folks!). But we do require a basic ability to understand what the team is talking about.

[Slurms]

Yes despite 8.2% unemployment you'd be surprised how hard it is to find decent candidates for any IT roles.

I'm trying to find a 1st line support tech and you'd be amazed at some of the candidates we've had.

[Alex]

The salary is too low to attract someone with strong experience, I'm afraid. Up it by £30k and you would fill the role easily. Also, an experienced .NET developer should be able to pick-up Silverlight and WPF very quickly, so be flexible.

[944fan]

Yes we were offering a salary a fair bit higher than that and still struggled.

Most comptent .Net developers should be able to pick up Silverlight quickly be wanted someone who could, pardon the cheap expression, hit the ground running.

We found someone eventually but had some complete nutters and fkwits along the way. Including some who also couldn't speak English.

[anonymous-user]

Interestingly we have been looking for a tester for months, now on our 3rd recruitment company, no decent applicants, I thought people needed jobs?

[944fan]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That's why I kept saying to our recruiters. The response I got was "All the good people are staying put at the moment". I said, what about the st people then because you haven't sent us any CVs at all yet.

[Crafty_]

I think there are quite a few people who are staying put rather than risk the unknown.

Those that are out of work find another job fairly quickly.

[Du1point8]

Alex said:

The salary is too low to attract someone with strong experience, I'm afraid. Up it by £30k and you would fill the role easily. Also, an experienced .NET developer should be able to pick-up Silverlight and WPF very quickly, so be flexible.

This would be one issue and the other is location...

If however it was 30k more and in or near london, I could get you a list of people long as my arm who would help you out easily.

[GnuBee]

Du1point8 said:

This would be one issue and the other is location...

If however it was 30k more and in or near london, I could get you a list of people long as my arm who would help you out easily.

Location is an issue definitely - having said that I'm looking to move and this area (Somerset) is one of the places I'm looking at but at that salary it's a non-starter.

[anonymous-user]

GnuBee said:

Location is an issue definitely - having said that I'm looking to move and this area (Somerset) is one of the places I'm looking at but at that salary it's a non-starter.

Please please for the love of god do not move to Taunton, its a dire dire place, there are some lovely places in Somerset but not Taunton

[exhaust ed]

Silverlight is not easy to find.
Most that have these skills because they are quite niche and in demand go contracting
Thats where the money is

[Du1point8]

exhaust ed said:

Silverlight is not easy to find.
Most that have these skills because they are quite niche and in demand go contracting
Thats where the money is

It is easy to train for though and need not cost much to learn.

[russ_a]

Silverlight would put me off to be honest! Along with WPF is a dying technology IMHO, couple that with the Entity Framework and you have the full set.

Though if it was £70k I might be tempted

Good luck with the search though. Not many tech companies in that part of the world so somebody may take a pay cut to re-locate.

Edited by russ_a on Wednesday 23 May 12:56

[z4chris99]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It's not that bad!

[anonymous-user]

z4chris99 said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It's not that bad!

My entire schooling and college life spent there I would politely disagree

[z4chris99]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It's not that bad!

My entire schooling and college life spent there I would politely disagree

Me too, as long as you live outside its not too shabby