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Author: Zuzana Kocáková

At msg life Slovakia I take care of the company culture, events and I am part of the marketing team. I like a job where I can be creative and contribute to making my colleagues at msg feel good. I regularly prepare for you not only news and interesting things from the world of information technology and insurance, but also from behind the scenes events at msg life Slovakia.

Coding for kids: a game or preparation for an IT career?

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

The modern age has brought with it a wealth of technologies that we are exposed to from an early age – and programming is no different. The younger generation is experiencing it. Despite the common belief that coding has a negative impact on children, it also has many benefits for them. In this article you will learn at what age it is ideal to start programming and which languages are suitable as programming languages for children.

With the growing demand for quality software developers, technological development and automation, we are coming into contact with programming much earlier than in the past. Although many people may perceive this phenomenon negatively, programming for beginners (check also our article Coding tips for begginers) brings many benefits at a young age, which children subsequently benefit from in adulthood.

When to start programming

The development of each child is very individual. Based on the cognitive-structural theory of development developed by Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget in 1971, and thanks to modern educational tools, several experts state that the ideal age for children to start programming is the fifth year of life. This is because at that time they are in what is called the pre-operational stage and are also beginning to perceive how to understand the world through mental representations based on words and distinct images.

During this period, their ability to imitate objects also develops, so that they more easily learn the observed actions. One of them can be, for example, programming in a playful way using websites, mobile applications, interactive games or robotics.

Benefits of programming for children

As we mentioned in the introduction, programming brings with it many benefits, especially at a very young age. Many children play mobile, computer or video games in their free time. Their interest in programming could therefore be driven by a motivation to understand the games better and to create their own alternative stories and worlds. On top of this, they will also receive several benefits that can prepare them for a successful IT career and help them to develop further. The main benefits of programming for children include:

  • development of logical and algorithmic thinking,
  • fostering creativity,
  • understanding the fundamentals of computer science and robotics,
  • developing digital skills,
  • entertainment and relaxation,
  • laying the foundations for further education and a possible career as a developer (the job of a software developer is interesting not only because of the attractive IT projects, but also the above-standard Java developer salary plays a big role).

Programming languages for younger and older children

Not all most used programming languages are suitable for children. Programming in Java (check Java coding tips for better understanding and use of language) would be too difficult for them to understand, but there are many programming environments adapted for different ages.

Scratch programming for kids

Visual Programming Language and Programming for Kids Scratch Starter is an educational program designed to introduce the basics of programming and creative thinking. Programming in Scratch is designed for children and beginners in programming. Scratch is designed to be accessible to beginners and provide an interactive and fun way to learn programming.

Scratch Starter programming for kids can be tried using the free ScratchJr app. It is a basic version of the popular visual programming platform Scratch, which is specifically designed for children aged 5 to 7 years old. ScratchJr (Scratch Junior) allows children to create their own interactive stories and games using code and a simple drag and drop interface. Programming Language for Kids is designed to make learning programming fun and intuitive for the little ones.

Did you know that…

… unlike Scratch Junior, the Scratch programming language has several additional features, such as dividing commands into categories, a library of characters and interesting backgrounds, a drawing tool, and its own Scratch community with lots of published projects with source code?

JavaScript programming language and p5.js online environment

A great way to teach kids how to program in JavaScript is the p5.js platform. The environment is suitable for older children who are about 12 years old and up and uses Javascript to write the source code. Similar to Scratch programming, p5.js contains a rich library of commands and various customization examples. Created projects can also be sent via a web link, allowing children to share their creations with friends or even teachers at school.

Educational platforms and programming for kids – online courses

One of the world’s best-known educational platforms is Code.org, also available in Slovak. It offers a variety of simple and fun games to help children learn the basics of programming while creating their own projects. For example, they can program a dance party, create minecraft projects and so on.

At Code.org, you can find online coding courses for kids, as well as one-hour sample lessons suitable for all ages, which are part of the global Hour of Code project. During the lessons, children learn block programming in thematic courses. For example, there is a course called Dance Party, Minecraft, Star Wars, Frozen or Angry Birds.

four children in colourful sweaters looking at a white laptop
Programming can be started as early as five years old.

The Hour of Python website works on a similar principle, but is more suitable for older children because of the more advanced functions and the need to know at least basic English. During the one-hour lesson, even a complete beginner will learn the basics of programming in Python in a fun way.

The Coding Giants online programming course for kids is also offered by the Coding Giants programming school. There is a choice of half-year or short online courses for children aged 7 and up, which build on each other systematically and extend the knowledge acquired in Scratch, Python or HTML. The platform offers game programming for younger children from age 7 to 9 years, computer games and programs for children from 10 to 12 years old, and an introduction to C# programming for older children from 13 to 19 years old.

Fun programming for kids with interactive games

Programming can also be taught through interactive games where children not only have fun, but also learn something. For example, the popular online educational game GalaxyCodr provides fun block programming and apps for kids for free. The platform is suitable for children from age 8 and up and uses a creative space environment with ten planets, each covering a new learning area.

Other popular games that offer programming basics for kids are Minecraft (Minecraft programming) or the online gaming platform Roblox. We can also mention the Blockly Games with activities such as Puzzle, Maze, Bird, Movie or Music, which teaches beginners how to program using blocks.

For fans of adventure role-playing games, we recommend the CodeCombat platform. This is an excellent choice if children want to learn text-based programming in Python, JavaScript or C++. The CodeCombat website also offers an online coding education course for children, but only in English for now.

Programming for kids: books, interactive toys or offline activities?

There are many great methods, resources and courses available on the Internet today that can easily teach children to program in different environments and languages in a relatively short time. However, there are also other options such as educational books for young programmers, interactive toys and robots, clubs and various competitions.

For example, the Ozobot or Makeblock mBot Robot Kit are popular programmable robots, and LEGO also provides interesting opportunities to teach children programming on a tablet or computer. Building blocks, block programming and robot control using LEGO MINDSTORMS is ideal for older children. Thanks to the LEGO BOOST Creative Toolbox, younger programmers can learn the basics of programming, engineering and robotics.

Programming for children in Bratislava

If you want to treat your kids to fun activities where they can learn to code, and you live in Western Slovakia, or you don’t mind travelling, try coding for kids in Bratislava at CoderDojo, a global network of free coding clubs for kids aged 7 to 17. We also recommend programming and robotics competitions, such as the First Lego League, where children can show off their creations and compare their projects with other programmers.

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Treat your children to an online coding course for kids and open the door to a world of creativity and digital literacy. There are plenty of options. You’ll contribute to their development and maybe they’ll thank you in the future when they find a job because of it.

If you’re already an experienced Java Developer Senior or you’re more of a junior developer, we’ve got the door open for you. View our job offers, join the team of a leading IT company and benefit from our wide range of employee benefits. These include, for example, that children are welcome at msg life Slovakia. Together we are creating the future and it starts today!

 

What is a LinkedIn profile?

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

On the subject of what is LinkedIn and how to use LinkedIn, one could write pages, but the basic advice remains: Create a good LinkedIn profile.

Whether you’ve been on this professional social platform for a long time, or you’ve only recently set up a LinkedIn profile and are interested in specific job offers, you’ll be wondering what your next steps should be in addition to your profile. In this part of our series on what is a LinkedIn profile, we’ve written down five steps for you to follow.

1) What is a LinkedIn registration?

LinkedIn registration is the initial step of how to complete a LinkedIn profile. To create a LinkedIn account, you must have a valid email address and basic information about yourself, such as your first and last name. Then log in with your LinkedIn login and start filling in your profile. Feel free to write in Slovak. LinkedIn in Slovakia has already been discovered by a number of people who have filled out their LinkedIn profile in Slovak. For a secure LinkedIn login, we recommend using two-factor authentication. You should also consider a LinkedIn premium account, which gives you more features than a regular user.

2) How to have a good LinkedIn profile?

For whom is LinkedIn platform and how to create a good LinkedIn profile? Your social network account is your online business card and completing it in full is the basis for any further activity.
There’s a lot to fill out on your LinkedIn profile, and thanks to its guide the social network doesn’t let you just walk away from your work in progress.

Are you a Java developer, a marketing director or a recent university graduate? We have the same recommendations for everyone: fill in as much information as possible in your profile and remember to use words that are relevant to your business or specialization. This also makes it easier to find you in the platform search. Don’t forget your LinkedIn profile photo or header (LinkedIn profile banner), you will thus increase your memorability.

A LinkedIn motto will also add originality to your profile and set you apart from the high competition. If you’re still on the fence about how to fill out your LinkedIn profile, there are plenty of video tutorials on the site to guide you through the process.

3) LinkedIn connections – how does LinkedIn work?

How to use LinkedIn? LinkedIn doesn’t work like Facebook, where you’re mostly just connected to your friends and acquaintances. LinkedIn connections are a collection of your connections that you need or may need. And the more people you are connected to, the more interesting contacts, information and therefore possible collaborations you can get.

Did you know that…

… Networking involves the sharing of information or services between people, businesses or groups? It is also a way for individuals to develop professional relationships. As a result, it is useful to build a LinkedIn network of contacts or LinkedIn networking that could be useful to you in your professional or personal life.

Count on the fact that you won’t build a network of LinkedIn contacts right away. But if you take the time and invest in this activity, you will sooner or later get to your quality LinkedIn network. At the same time, this platform will become a tool for you to find a job through LinkedIn.

But of course, there is no point in connecting with anyone. Again, act within the framework of your personal strategy and the goals you’re on LinkedIn for. So connect with people who are currently your co-workers, customers or clients, or those who may become them in the future.

But remember that when you view someone’s profile, the person will know that you viewed it. The good news is that you can turn this feature off in your profile. If you use the English version of the social network, just click on “LinkedIn profile” and go to settings.

There's a computer on the desk with a mind map on about creating content on LinkedIn
Creating content on LinkedIn is important to properly develop your profile.

4) LinkedIn profile – what is LinkedIn good for?

What good is a 100% filled out personal profile and a wide network of LinkedIn contacts if you cannot draw attention to yourself anyway? An effective way to make yourself known is through content creation. You can create posts with photos and videos or without, or comment on other users’ content. It’s also good to use LinkedIn groups and be active in them.
Activity is the foundation of your functioning and successful personal profile. As you create your own content and interact with other users’ posts, your personal brand will spread to more and more relevant people.

Of course, only post what is interesting and important to you and what you want to share with others. But at the same time, publish topics that your target audience will appreciate. LinkedIn is also fun – even on a LinkedIn profile, users want to have fun and relax. However, don’t confuse LinkedIn with Instagram or TikTok.
As already mentioned, LinkedIn is a professional network by origin and purpose. Primarily, your communication should be about what’s happening in your company or business, reactions and comments on current events. Feedback in the form of references to the contributions of, for example, company business partners is also beneficial.

5) Be active in groups

Another way to make yourself known on LinkedIn is through professional and interest groups. In these groups, you have a lot of space to post your own posts, discuss with other group members or even share content from your personal profile.

Join groups on LinkedIn (you can find them under the “LinkedIn group“). Today, there are an infinite number of them – from interest and professional groups to alumni ones. After all, you can even start your own group!

What is project management, waterfall and agile approach

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

What is project management?

What is project management? Project management is a discipline that focuses on effective project control. It is the proper management of a project that minimizes the risks of failure, and increases the chances of success. Especially when it comes to IT project management. Do you want to gain the ability to see projects through to a successful conclusion? So find out what project management is and how to approach it properly.

Why project management is important?

Proper project management will help you organize your work and give you a detailed overview of the project status. It will help you map out the project goals and allow you to track all the activities that are needed in meeting those goals. 3 main benefits of project management:

  • greater likelihood of achieving the goal
  • more efficient use of available resources
  • meeting the needs of project stakeholders

Project management vs. continuous activities – what’s the difference?

The goal of project management is to create a final product or to implement a project. This makes projects very different from continuous activities that need to be done on a regular basis. Business as usual (BAU) activities are carried out on a regular basis and ensure the long-term operation of the company. Such activities can be, for example, team meetings, creating documentation, carrying out ordered activities for clients or answering emails. These activities are a normal part of the daily workload and are unlikely to need specific management.

Projects that require project management are those that:

  • create or change a particular thing – new products/services, process innovation, etc.,
  • have a clear timeframe (beginning and end),
  • are complex in terms of work or the number of people involved,
  • require change management,
  • require risk management.

Project management as a management tool

Approach the project choice according to its characteristics. As no two projects are the same, there is no right approach to project management. You should approach a software development project and the construction of a new office building differently.

The project manager, a young woman, stands by the whiteboard and points to it in front of the project team.
It is important to choose the right form of project management for the project.

Project management methodologies – Waterfall vs. Agile

IT Project Quality Manager nowadays does not stick to just one project management method, but often combines different practices to adapt them as much as possible to their project, clients and the whole team. Want to know what method to choose for your project? Let’s describe the advantages and disadvantages of project management approaches.

Traditional project management waterfall model

The traditional or waterfall approach involves careful planning at the beginning of the project and management of all activities during the project. This approach is appropriate to take when you have a clear goal and need to manage all activities within the project. Agile management methods are the opposite. Unlike agile project management, the waterfall approach requires a described project goal, deliverables, and project plan. The waterfall approach consists of five phases:

1. Initiation

The first impulse to create the project comes. Its basic objectives are defined and initial analyses are carried out.

2. Planning and design

A scheme of work shall be created. At the end of this phase, you should know both the time scope and the detailed budget.

3. Execution

During this phase, team members perform the work tasks defined in the plan to meet the project objectives on time.

4. Monitoring and controlling

The entire project is monitored and, if necessary, adjusted to achieve the specified result.

5. Closure, delivery and evaluation (completion)

Final phase of the project. You will evaluate the outcome and the process of the project itself. This will help you identify strengths and weaknesses that can serve you in the implementation of future projects.

Benefits of the waterfall approach to project management:

  • It is better controlled because we have detailed plans of all parts of the project (deadlines, costs, targets and deliverables).
  • The client knows exactly what they are getting.
  • Roles and responsibilities are clearly and sufficiently defined.

Disadvantages of the waterfall approach to project management:

  • It is characterized by a low degree of flexibility.
  • If the client’s needs change during the course of the project, it is not possible to respond immediately.
  • Testing only takes place at the end of the project (high probability of errors).

Project management agile methodology

What is agile management? The agile project management approach is much more free-flowing than the waterfall approach. Agile management is suitable for projects that are characterized by a high level of uncertainty (everything cannot be described and planned in detail in advance). What is Agile project management and project execution? It represents a strategic approach to team organization and project execution that emphasizes the values and principles of agile methodologies. Agile methodology emphasizes flexibility, team collaboration, and rapid response to change during project development. Managing project execution in an agile environment emphasizes iterative cycles, regular feedback loops, and the ability to adapt to dynamic requirements, project priorities, and effective risk management.

Agile project management

What is Agile and how does it manifests itself, for example in project management or software development? Agile programming, also known as agile software development, is one of the most well-known agile methodologies and includes, for example, Extreme Programming (XP), the Scrum method or Lean development. For adherence to agile methods in a project, an Agile coach can help by coaching the team and managers. The Agile approach is based on the continuous refinement of the project goal and places great emphasis on the interaction between the end users and the project team. As a result, projects are able to flexibly adapt to rapidly changing conditions and customer requirements. The Agile approach has 4 core values:

  • individuals and interactions over processes and tools,
  • working software before complex documentation,
  • working with the customer instead of haggling over a contract,
  • reacting to changes instead of sticking to the plan.

These core values are at the heart of all agile approaches to project management. They make it clear that agile approaches are primarily based on collaboration and people. This applies not only to work processes, but also to finished products. That means, the goal is to create something functional that delivers the most value to the end user.

Benefits of an agile approach to project management:

  • Flexibility to react quickly to change.
  • The project team has the opportunity to creatively solve problems as they arise.
  • Errors will be detected in time thanks to regular sprints and meetings.
  • The project is updated as it progresses and the client is involved in all phases.

Disadvantages of agile project management:

  • Unpredictability – there is no precise deadline, budget or form of the project output.
  • The team is made up of specific people who are difficult to replace when needed.
  • Very good communication within the team is needed.
  • It is not suitable for large projects with several teams at once.

Podcast interview with our scrum master Michal

Our scrum master Michal was recently on the Informatika s Misom podcast, where he talked about What is scrum. If you’re interested in the topic of agile development and prefer the spoken word, listen to the podcast. Click on the image:

Scrum master Michal from msg life and Michal Hucko talk in the studio during the podcast recording
Scrum master Michal in the Informatika s Misom podcast

Project management, of course, is not just about whether you take a traditional or agile approach to project management. You can also increase the success of your projects in other ways. For example:

Project management software tools

Project management cannot do without good tools. One of them is project management software or applications. Thanks to them, you get several advantages:

  • You know who’s working on what.
  • Each task has a deadline and an assignee
  • Work is easier to delegate.
  • The whole team can work efficiently even remotely.

For example, you can use the kanban view (online bulletin board), which shows tasks in clear columns.

Be transparent within the team

The secret to well-functioning teams and projects is trust, good communication and honesty. For example, you and your team can receive training to improve effective communication. This will give you a motivated team and increase your chances of successfully completing the project. What does such a team look like?

  • Anyone within the team can come up with their ideas and insights.
  • Thanks to the project management tool, everyone has an overview of their tasks and those of their colleagues.
  • You organize regular teambuilding events that strengthen relationships.
  • The IT project manager has an overview of how everyone is doing and regularly collects feedback (one-to-one meetings).
  • The scrum master (check our article about what does a scrum master do) will help with the organization of the team. They are a leader who helps individual team members with the workflow to achieve success.

Assign tasks clearly and concisely

Set the rules about assigning tasks right at the beginning of the project. What software will you use to solve each task and how? What does the task have to contain? This will avoid any misunderstandings. Each task should include:

  • concise and clearly defined assignment,
  • all necessary materials in the attachment (documents, images, screenshots, etc.),
  • deadline and asignee.
a project team of five young people sitting at a table looking at project materials
Sprint meetings from the scrum methodology are suitable for regular updates about project status.

Have regular and effective team meetings

Meetings are in most cases lengthy and ineffective. So set up regular meetings within the team. For example, you can use sprints (scrum model), which vary in length. In practice, this means that every Friday the individual team members receive a list of tasks for the following week (weekly sprint). On Monday, the team gets together, summarizes the previous week’s work, and makes sure everyone understands the scheduled tasks. Other useful meetings can be retrospectives, either with individual members (one-to-one meetings) or as a whole team. During these meetings, the work done so far is discussed, as well as feedback and suggestions for improvement. Choose an appropriate approach to project management and apply the tips from this article. If you’re looking for IT job offers, check out our job listings for IT developers and testers, e.g. Senior Software Developer or IT Test Manager.

Recruiting vs. headhunting: what is the difference and which method brings more benefits?

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

Are you looking for a new job in IT or would you be open to changing jobs if you get a better offer? In this article, we’ll discuss the main advantages and disadvantages of the popular recruiting technique recruiting and introduce you to the slightly less traditional method of headhunting. You will also find out what the difference between a headhunter vs a recruiter is.

In order for an employer to occupy vacancies it is necessary for the employer to find and then select a suitable candidate for the job. There are several processes that can help with this, but today we’ll look at recruiting and headhunting techniques.

What is a recruiter, recruiting and recruitment?

Recruiting, in our case IT recruitment, is the process of finding, selecting and recruiting new employees. It focuses primarily on reaching out to active candidates for junior and mid-level positions, such as Java programmer senior. A recruiter, or IT recruiter, is a highly skilled worker who carries out recruiting. An HR recruiter has the task of finding suitable candidates for open positions in a given company.
A LinkedIn recruiter also presents themselves to candidates and companies with their professional resume in the form of a Recruiter CV.
“Recruiter LinkedIn profile” is an online profile of a recruiter on the LinkedIn platform, it includes professional experience, education, skills and achievements in the field of recruiting. The Recruiter profile on LinkedIn is used to showcase a recruiter’s qualifications and skills as part of the process of finding potential candidates and building strong hiring teams.
LinkedIn recruiters are so increasingly common and if you’re looking for a job, you shouldn’t miss out on this network. The English term recruitment has a similar meaning to recruiting, translated it means hiring. There are also an increasing number of junior IT recruiters emerging on the market who are adept at searching and working with online resources.

Who is HR recruiter?

HR recruiters are professionals or companies that specialise in finding suitable candidates for human resources (HR) jobs. Their job is to find and approach potential employees, assess their qualifications and skills, and ensure that they are correctly matched to the job roles. HR recruiters can work at different levels and in different forms of employment, including temporary employment, detachment, selection and direct employment. Their aim is to find the best match between candidates and jobs, taking into account the needs and requirements of both employers and candidates.

How is the recruitment process?

Based on a list of open positions in the company and a meeting with the HR officer, the recruiter will find out all the necessary information about what qualifications, skills and prerequisites are needed to perform the specific job. He or she then writes them down in a job description, which he or she publishes together with the job offer, the necessary information and the requirements for applicants on the company’s website, relevant job portals or the professional social network LinkedIn. The job description usually contains information such as:

  • job title,
  • the roles and responsibilities for the job,
  • required education, skills, knowledge and experience,
  • offered employee benefits,
  • information on how to send a job application.

Tenderers may respond to the published tender within the deadline and follow the instructions given.The recruiter will then select a number of job candidates from among the candidates who meet the required conditions, or will approach professionals who may be interested in the job and invite them to a personal or online interview. The number as well as the format of the interviews varies depending on the company, the position and the selection and quality of the candidates. However, the key is not to underestimate the importance of a good impression and to do your research beforehand, how to prepare for an interview.

Did you know that…

… In addition to publishing online job advertisements, recruiters often attend job fairs, industry-specific conferences and networking events to reach more potential candidates, gain professional contacts and establish working relationships within the industry.

Recruiting process disadvantages and advantages

The main benefits of finding potential employees through recruiting include:

  • enables you to find qualified candidates for a specific job with the required skills and experience in the field to move the company forward on the path to innovation,
  • by taking on all recruiting responsibilities, the recruiter speeds up the hiring process and saves company resources.

On the other hand, however, recruiting can lead to job stagnation among existing employees, who work less efficiently as a result of taking on new colleagues, and are also forced to adapt to new technologies. Thus, older colleagues may have a negative attitude towards new employees, which in turn affects the overall atmosphere in the workplace. Recruiting also increases the costs spent on additional training for new employees who may not have all the required skills.

Handshake under the msg life Slovakia logo
While recruiting focuses on active candidates, headhunting focuses on passive ones.

Who are headhunters, what is headhunting in recruitment and its benefits

Headhunting, otherwise known as brainhunting or executive search, focuses on targeted and direct outreach to passive candidates who have been evaluated by professional headhunters in staffing companies as potentially suitable candidates for a selected job position.

HR headhunter meaning

A headhunter is one who carries out headhunting. The term headhunter has a literal translation from English “skull hunter”. In the field of HR and recruitment it can be translated as the one who lanars, i.e. the “lanar”.
Headhunters are recruitment professionals, or companies that are hired by employers to find talent for open positions. Their job is to identify and source qualified individuals who might be ideal candidates for a specific job position.

Unlike recruiting, headhunting focuses on finding candidates for executive and leadership positions such as CEO, where both higher qualifications and professional experience in the field are required. A big part of headhunting is also discretion and openness, especially when a candidate in a senior position in a large corporation is transitioning to a new job.

Headhunting process

Headhunter only starts looking for candidates for an executive position on the basis of a client’s suggestion. In order to find the best possible candidate, it is essential that the headhunter understands the job content and job description of the position. In collaboration with the HR department and the company’s recruitment team, they will define the specific skills that their potential employee should possess. The IT headhunting industry is particularly challenging, where knowledge of this area is also required.

As we have already mentioned above, headhunting is about reaching passive candidates, i.e. people who are not currently looking for a new job or are working in the same or similar position in a competing company. The headhunter’s task is to find these candidates, approach them with the given offer and ideally convince them to switch to the client’s company. A LinkedIn headhunter therefore searches LinkedIn on a daily basis and is not discouraged by users who are not currently looking for a job. Selected candidates are then invited to a series of interviews to check their qualifications and suitability for the position being filled. However, candidates can also get on the list of potential candidates thanks to personal recommendations from friends.

A headhunter specialises in a particular area or areas and builds a network of contacts in that area as part of the process of finding suitable candidates. LinkedIn can also be used for headhunting purposes. If the headhunter’s client is planning to fill a position that might be interesting for a contact, the headhunter informs the contact about the offer and informs him/her about the related benefits and the risks of the transition. Thus, in a sense, he acts as an advisor for the candidates.

Headhunting disadvantages and advantages

A great advantage of headhunting is the possibility to reach candidates who would not normally know about the job position and thus recruit more qualified people from the field. It also allows a discreet search for new employees in case the client does not want to inform the general public about the job offer. Headhunters also increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of the recruitment process by taking responsibility for finding, approaching and evaluating potentially suitable candidates.

Despite being an effective method of filling executive positions, headhunting is extremely time-consuming. Finding a suitable potential candidate who is not actively applying for a job offer is difficult and requires a lot of time as well as energy. In addition, companies should also pay attention to whether the headhunter is oriented to their area of operation, so that they have the necessary knowledge to understand the job role, and specifically define the activities they will be involved in, so that the client is not left out of the recruitment process entirely.

As you can see, both recruiting and headhunting bring with them many advantages and disadvantages. Whether you’re interested in working in IT without experienceor you’re not currently considering a job change, your dream job could be waiting for you right here at msg life Slovakia. We offer our employees a wide range of employee benefits including onboarding in Slovakia and abroad. Join us today and participate with us in creating the future of digital insurance.

The biggest differences between Java and Javascript

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

Java and JavaScript are popular programming languages, they have a similar name but are different in many aspects. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, and each has different uses. What are the biggest differences between Java vs JavaScript and which one is worth learning? We’ve prepared all the important information about JavaScript and Java for you. You’ll find it especially useful if you’re just learning the basics of Java or the basics of JavaScript.

What is Java programming language?

The Java program, or Java language, is an object-oriented programming language developed by Oracle. Object orientation means that, unlike other languages, it focuses on classes, objects, and Java arrays, rather than functions and commands. Java arrays can also contain objects, but they are not directly focused on working with object orientation, such as classes and objects themselves. Other programming languages, such as Ruby, Python, and C++, work very similarly. Java’s syntax is based on two other programming languages, which are C and C++. There are more Java packages available today, such as:

  • Java Micro Edition (ME) – designed for small devices and mobile phones.
  • Java Standard Edition (SE) – classic Java, which is used in computers.
  • Jakarta Enterprise Edition (EE) – formerly referred to as Java Platform, Java 2 Platform, Java EE or J2EE, it is used in the enterprise sector.
  • Java Card – used for implementation in smart chip cards.

Java is also known for its slogan “write once, run anywhere”, abbreviated as WORA. The slogan says that Java code that a programmer writes for one platform, such as Windows, can be ported to another platform, such as a mobile operating system, very easily. This fact supports Java’s versatility and its popularity around the world.

a young male java programmer writes in a notebook while working on a laptop at his desk
Both Java and Javascript are easy to learn and can be mastered by beginners without much difficulty.

History of the Java programming language

The history of Java dates back to 1991, when Sun Microsystems launched the Green Project. Its main task was to create programming language (read about most used programming languages) for consumer electronics. James Gosling, who was one of the lead engineers, created the Oak language. Unlike other languages such as C and C++, Oak could be used to write, compile, and run a program without recompiling. After a short time, the developers realized that a programming language called Oak already existed, so they had to think about changing the name. In the end, they chose the name Java, inspired by the coffee from Java that they drank while working. The Java programming language was to be used mainly in consumer electronics, but in the 1990s the Internet began to emerge, where it had great potential. Gosling and his team therefore modified Java so that it could run in a web browser environment. Several areas were kept in mind when developing the language, the most important being security. The developers designed Java to check the syntax of the language before running it. This check prevented the program from crashing due to corrupt code. Safety is also aided by the fact that Java does not have access to local programs. This minimizes the danger of viruses infecting the system. Since the first version of Java was introduced in 1995, several versions have been released, bringing various new features and improvements. Currently, the latest version of Java is Java 19, with Java 17, 11 and 8 being the versions with long-term support.

What is Java Virtual Machine?

Java is also a platform that provides an environment for running Java applications. The Java platform also includes the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and the Java API (Application Programming Interface). The JVM allows Java code to run on different platforms without the need to translate it into native code for each platform.

Java technology

In addition to the Java platform and programming language, the term “Java” can also refer to various Java technologies associated with the Java ecosystem, such as Java EE (Enterprise Edition) for enterprise development, Java ME (Micro Edition) for mobile development, and others.

Did you know that…

…since Java 8, new versions of this programming language are released twice a year? This always happens in March and September.

Java programming – what is it used for?

Java is a universal programming language that is used for programming mobile or computer applications, games, websites and servers. In some cases, it can even run certain commands. For example, Wikipedia uses Java to search for queries that you type into the search box. Java is used not only by individuals and smaller companies, but also by large and well-known organizations, such as Netflix, Google, NASA, Spotify, Tesla, Uber, Paypal, and Twitter.

What are the advantages of Java?

The Java programming language has a number of strengths, including the following:

  • It is suitable for beginners (read also about programming tips for beginners) – Java programming is not difficult, which makes this language great for both advanced and beginners who don’t have much experience. Check also Java coding tips to improve your experience even more.
  • It has high security – Since Java does not have access to local programs, it provides high security.
  • It’s versatile – Java can be used to program almost anything you need, from mobile apps to servers to games consoles.
  • You don’t pay anything for it – You don’t pay anything for the programming language, you download it for free from the official website.
  • It works on different operating systems – you can use Java on Windows, macOS and Linux.

What are the disadvantages of programming in Java?

Every Java developer senior knows that Java has its drawbacks. These are the biggest ones:

  • Takes up computer memory – If you want to use Java, you’ll need to get a computer that has more RAM.
  • Doesn’t support backups – Your work isn’t backed up regularly, so if the system crashes, you lose everything you’ve been working on.
  • Codes are harder to read – The Java language requires precise and detailed codes composed of long sentences, which makes it harder and more complicated to read.

What is Javascript programming language?

In addition to the Java programming language, you’ll also encounter JavaScript, known as JS. It is a scripting programming language that is mainly used to create web pages. JavaScript programming language is not difficult, find out how it was created! The origins of JavaScript date back to 1995, when Brendan Eich of Netscape Communications started developing it. At the time, the language was called Mocha and later LiveScript. However, just before it was launched, the name LiveScript was changed to the JavaScript we know today. Due to the JavaScript name syntax being very similar to Java, many thought that Brendan Eich was inspired by Java when creating JavaScript. However, the truth is that the developer was inspired by the Self language. There is no relationship between Java and JavaScript . The only similarity is in the syntax, which is based on the C language. However, to this day, many people are still wondering what is the difference between Java vs JavaScript syntax. JavaScript programming, along with HTML and CSS, is considered to be the foundation of web pages. Thus, JavaScript programming comes in handy for those who would like to start an online business in online presentations or e-commerce stores. It is characterized by the fact that it is much faster compared to other similar languages because it processes data directly in the browser. This is one of the basic JavaScript features. In practice, this means that double data transfer (passing information to the server and back) is eliminated, which could complicate the use of the web, especially for people with a slow internet connection.

What is Javascript used for?

In addition, you should know what is JavaScript and its advantages, because of its use in today’s world. The role of JavaScript is to create scripts to run web browsers. Scripts are found on the internet and are also used for browser games, automatically opening ads or animating web pages. Generally speaking, anything that updates on the web without reloading the page is the work of JavaScript. JavaScript programming is asynchronous programming, where certain tasks can run independently of each other, and the programs you write are called scripts and are written directly into the HTML code. Because of this, you can pick up the language very quickly early in your programming career. In its early days, JavaScript had the problem of not being compatible enough with different browsers. This resulted in pages not loading correctly for users. However, you shouldn’t encounter this complication today.

Did you know that…

Javascript is very popular. It is used by up to 98.2% of websites on the Internet, which is approximately 1.98 billion pages.

What are the advantages of Javascript?

JavaScript programming language has several advantages, such as:

  • It can be run in a browser – This reduces the risk of slowdowns that could be particularly troublesome for those with poorer internet connections.
  • It works with any browser – You can use JavaScript in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari.
  • It uses a global object, which represents an object in a programming language. JavaScript window is a global object “window”, which represents a browser window. It allows access to various information and functions such as URL, width and height of the window, etc.
  • Not very difficult – The difficulty of JavaScript is very similar to Java. So if you are a beginner, you don’t have to be afraid of it. JavaScript for beginners is no problem and you can soon become a senior JavaScript developer.
  • There is a lot of material available – You can use books, videos and articles on the internet to learn the language. You can also learn the basics of JavaScript completely on your own. So the whole learning process is very quick and easy.
  • Well paid – JavaScript developer is well paid. Just like other programmers, a JavaScript programmer can make a decent living in this job, it all depends on their experience. The salary of a JavaScript developer is steadily increasing, reflecting the demand for this specialization, so if you’re a beginner, endure and your efforts will pay off.

A junior JavaScript job involves an entry-level position on a programming team, where a young programmer with limited JavaScript experience works on a variety of tasks under the guidance of a more experienced colleague or team leader.

Java programmer looks into two monitors while programming
The Javascript programming language has many advantages, but also a few disadvantages.

What are the disadvantages of Javascript?

As a JavaScript developer, you have knowledge and experience in JavaScript programming. It is most commonly used on the client side of websites to create interactive and dynamic user interfaces. A JavaScript programmer has the ability to create and manage client-side script maintenance, work with the JavaScript DOM (Document Object Model), and create modern web applications with various frameworks and libraries such as React, Angular, or Vue.js. Before you decide to use JavaScript, it’s important to know what the drawbacks are:

  • It may behave differently in different browsers – Although every modern browser uses JavaScript, their behaviour is very different. Browsers have code that interprets JavaScript on the run. In English, this is referred to by the word “engines”. Chrome and Brave use V8, while Firefox uses SpiderMonkey. So when using the language, it’s important to take into account that there may be different behaviours that you’ll need to find a solution for.
  • Users can disable it – JavaScript can be disabled by the user in their browser, which can lead to some parts of the website not working well. It is therefore a good idea to design your website to work without it. So if you’ve only been interested in how to enable JavaScript, you’ll need to look at the problem from the opposite angle.
  • It can’t store any data – JavaScript can only store cookies, nothing else.
  • It only works in the browser – this is a disadvantage, especially since there are many versions of the language and browsers, which can lead to frequent errors.

What is the difference between Javascript and JSON?

Now that you know the difference between Java and JavaScript, let’s compare JavaScript vs JSON. When learning new programming languages, you may also come across JavaScript Object Notation, also known as JSON or JS JSON for short. JSON is a way of writing data that is independent of the computing platform. It is used to transfer data that can be aggregated in objects or organized in arrays. The input for JSON is any data structure. It can be a number, a string or an object. The result is always a string.

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If JSON doesn’t suit you, you can replace it with other data formats. Suitable alternatives include SDL, YAML or XML.

Advantages and disadvantages of JSON

One of the advantages of JSON is that it is universal and can be used to transfer data in any programming or scripting language. Meanwhile, the data is very easy to read, which simplifies the whole work. You can store the individual data you write using the JSON method in files. These can then be easily transferred. However, JSON also has its drawbacks, including the fact that it cannot define the character series of the file you are transferring. In general, then, JSON is more ideal for transferring simpler information, such as tables of numeric data. For transferring larger data, it is ideal to use an alternative, such as XML.

Programming languages to learn in 2024

The software developer job requires knowledge of at least one language. However, the more you know, the better you can apply yourself. Learning a new language is great, but remember that you should only ever focus on one that you can learn properly and work with at a professional level. But now you know the difference between Java versus JavaScript. So if you’re wondering whether to start with Java or learn JavaScript basics, given the above, you’d do well to choose the first option. Java is more versatile and you can do a lot more with it than you can with JavaScript. Java basics are essential for anyone who wants to learn and understand this robust programming language. In addition, it is a language that is required by many employers or clients.

Code like a pro

The software developer job attracts many. If you think it could be for you, learn one of the popular programming languages, or expand your knowledge and get a great job on the job market!

Insurance market in Slovakia in the current era of digitalization

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

Digitalisation has not bypassed the insurance market, which has moved forward by leaps and bounds in recent years. This was mainly due to the pandemic, which forced individual insurers and the state to act and allow clients to process a number of requests without visiting a branch or without a large number of documents. Even though there is still a lot of work to be done by insurance companies in the Slovak market in this direction, we can already see the first significant changes that greatly facilitate several processes, including the selection of products or the conclusion of contracts.

Digitalization of the insurance market in recent years

The coronacrisis has affected the whole world and, in addition to the many problems it has caused, it has pushed many industries forward in terms of digitalisation. The insurance market in Slovakia falls into this category, which until 2020 operated largely unchanged. Everything was solved by visiting a branch, signing a lot of documents and going from one place to another.

This, however, was not the case during the period of restricted movement. Insurance market players had to look for other ways to stay in touch with their old and new, or potential, clients.

Gradually, they started with the digital transformation of their services, which in practice meant that the client could choose a new product online, conclude a new contract, cancel the old one, get professional advice via online chat or phone and much more.

Insurers had to adapt to the new situation in a short time

The spread of covid-19 has caused several downturns and shortfalls in the insurance market in 2020 and 2021. The new, uncertain situation culminated in clients not being as interested in insurance policies that did not cover the new virus at the time. They therefore did not take out contracts and some even cancelled them.

The largest shortfalls were recorded by insurers in guaranteed-return life insurance. This was followed by property and business insurance, which is not surprising as it is business people who have been hit hard by the various restrictions.

Further shortfalls were recorded by the largest insurance companies in Slovakia in assistance services, medical and travel expenses insurance and credit insurance.

The new situation took everyone by surprise, including insurance companies, which had to act quickly. Instead of the lengthy testing phases they usually go through after developing a new product, in this situation they had to go straight to launch. Clients could thus see the first changes and new possibilities for handling multiple services online as early as 2020.

Did you know that…

… interest in products has been declining since 2019? Clients were not as interested in insurance services as they had been in the past. The year 2020 then brought a decline of 2.5%, with the insurance sector achieving a profit of €270 million that year.

Insurance in Slovakia and news on the insurance market

Each insurance product is defined by law and depends on the specific legal system and legislation of the country. This can include different types of insurance, from those required by law to specific products designed for particular situations or groups. In the last two years, the insurance industry in Slovakia has responded to the new needs of its clients. In addition to a variety of new products that include covid-19 risks, they have brought a number of innovations in the context of digitalisation. Which benefits we talk about ?

Contactless services

Contactless services were among the first services launched by insurers as part of the digitalisation. Thanks to them, clients can process their new contracts from the comfort of their homes, without visiting a branch and waiting for a long time or going from one place to another.

As part of contactless services, insurers also provide professional advice, the ability to enter into and terminate a contract, find out about insurance products and much more.

Although insurers did provide some contactless services in the past, they were not at such a high level as they are today. Moreover, there were not as many of them.

a man and a woman in formal dress, employees of an insurance company, looking at charts on papers
Contactless services are now much better in insurance companies

Online processing of life insurance

The ability to arrange an insurance product such as travel insurance or PZP from the comfort of your home is nothing new. Insurance companies have been providing signature-free contracts for non-life insurance for a long time. However, before the coronary crisis, if you wanted to take out life insurance, you could do so by simply visiting a branch and signing a few documents.

However, the 2020 and 2021 restrictions on movement have reduced the volume of new life insurance business for insurers, leading individual institutions to go unsigned on this type of product. This means you can take out life insurance without visiting a branch and signing lots of paperwork, saving you time and the environment.

Video inspections

In the past, it was common practice to require the presence of an expert, usually a technician, to assess damage to a house, home or car. He or she inspected the damage and, based on his or her expert opinion, the insurance company could begin the claims process.

However, such a procedure was not ideal during the coronary crisis. The presence of another person only increased the risk of virus transmission. Therefore, insurers started to deal with checkups in a different way, namely by video.

The injured client will then document the reported damage via their phone or other device that can capture video. He or she then sends it to the insurance company for assessment and processing of the claim.

Video tours are a much quicker and easier way to resolve an unpleasant situation that has happened to a client. Following the relaxation of the measures, some insurers have switched to a dual mode. This means that in some cases a technician has to come to the client for the inspection and in some cases the client just needs to send a video.

It all depends on the insurance company where the client has a contract, or on the insurance event. As a rule, minor damages can be photographed or filmed, while major damages require a professional.

New website

Insurance company websites are much more important than they may seem at first glance. A cluttered website can cause a client not to find what they are looking for or make the whole process unnecessarily complicated.

In addition to clarity, the website should also be responsive so that it can be easily opened on a mobile or tablet. Clients use these devices to process or check insurance policies.

Insurers have realised these facts in 2020. You may have noticed that many of them have changed and redesigned their websites from the ground up.

In addition to improving their websites, insurers have also improved their own mobile applications. They now provide much more functionality and work well on both iOS and Android.

Better online calculators

The new website also includes better online calculators. They are used to calculate both life and non-life insurance. Using them, the client can calculate the estimated amount without contacting the insurance company and then apply for an insurance product based on the calculation.

Online calculators make it easier for many insurers to arrange insurance because they give an approximate idea of the insurance not only to the client but also to the institution. The latter knows approximately what the client is interested in based on the information entered.

Better online communication

Communication with the insurance company has not been entirely easy in the past. Long minutes spent on the phone or waiting on hold before an email are now a thing of the past. Insurance companies strive to be available to clients 24/7. In addition, they strive to accommodate absolutely everyone, so in addition to the telephone connection, they also provide email, mobile applications, online chat or the possibility of communication via social networks.

Digitalization in the insurance industry directly affects the labour market

Digitalization in the insurance industry in Slovakia does not only bring changes in the processing of new insurance contracts. It also directly affects the situation on the labour market. Therefore, due to the advent of online services, the demand for IT workers from insurance companies has also started to rise. An example of this is the Actuary and Actuarial Manager in IT, whose role is to design and develop software solutions for insurance companies. Similar conveniences are gradually replacing administrative staff, who are no longer needed in such high numbers by insurance companies. Read also our article Why work in the insurance industry.

But the fact that the administration would completely disappear is unlikely. There will always be a certain proportion of clients who will be happy to visit a branch and sort out their requirements there. Even clients who do most of their business online will in some cases appreciate the human touch. However, the truth is that the number of jobs in administration will decrease over the years.

The IT field is diverse and more important now than ever before. So if it interests you, you should definitely get better at it. Experience can open doors to interesting jobs.

A woman in a green and blue T-shirt smiles while drinking coffee at a desk in front of a computer
Life and non-life insurance can be solved without a signature

Why is digitalization so important for insurers?

New websites, contactless policy processing and much more – all of this is important for insurers not only in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, but also in the context of the growing online generation.

The generation of those who used to deal with everything directly in the branch with an administrative employee is aging and is being replaced by a generation of people growing up in the age of computers and the Internet. Insurers therefore need to focus on these people and respond to their needs.

Along with digitalisation, insurers are bringing new, more flexible products to the online generation to suit their needs. In addition, they are also trying to provide something extra, as people falling into this category often demand much more from insurers than clients in the past. For example, they expect corporate social responsibility, sustainability or a focus on ecology and environmental protection.

What changes could come in the future?

The insurance industry has undergone a great deal of change in recent years. It has made it easier for many clients to operate and has speeded up many unnecessarily lengthy processes. Despite this, there are a number of areas where it is stagnating and could still improve.

One of them is compulsory insurance. While it has been the practice for years to arrange it online, which is an advantage, many agree that a printed green card is a great waste. It will therefore not be surprising if both insurers and the state start to consider computerising it.

The Ministry of Finance planned to open a discussion on the legislative regulation of PZP later this year. We will see if this happens. However, motorists themselves are not pushing for the digitisation of the green card. This is most likely mainly due to the fact that the most challenging part of the whole PZP, i.e. its processing, has been online for several years. The actual carrying of the green card in paper format is therefore not such a big burden.

However, the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatisation of the Slovak Republic has been considering the total digitisation of documents for a long time. Such a step should contribute to speeding up the handling of a number of different tasks and solving issues with the public and private sector.

Digitalization is far from over

However, PZP is not the only one. Insurance companies in Slovakia still have a few weaknesses that could be improved to provide a much better service to their clients. However, if they move forward as they have done in the last two years, there is no need to worry about waiting too long. You can help speed up the process by developing software that will make it easier and faster for insurers. Browse our job offers and work in a constantly evolving field.

msg News: Help, presents and good Christmas cheer with colleagues

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

At the end of the year, we at msg life Slovakia can find time for fun alongside our duties. The end of the year is always a very special time at msg life Slovakia. Although we have many deadlines, we always manage to find time for fun alongside our duties. An example of this is not only the traditional Christmas party Weihnachtsfeier, which will finally take place after two years of covid, but also the events St. Nicholas for Children and Secret Santa. We have prepared many surprises for our colleagues in the last weeks of 2022 and here is an overview of some of them. Just like every year, we have not forgotten a little treat for our little ones. In addition to the St. Nicholas treats, the children of our colleagues had the opportunity to take part in face painting, traditional workshops and at the end they met St. Nicholas, an angel, but also the devil. “I remember when we first organized this event. Back then we hosted about 15-20 children. This year we prepared around 90 presents for the St. Nicholas event. This is also another proof of how our company is growing more and more. Every year there is more interest in the events, and we are happy about that.” Zuzka, the office manager, remembers her first company events. On St. Nicholas Day, we delighted our colleagues with a custom-made Advent calendar with a short verse added. During the end of the year, however, we don’t only think about our colleagues or their children, we also like to get involved in various volunteer activities. As part of November’s World Kindness Day, we helped the association “Cesta von”, which works to help children from excluded communities. We hope that they will be able to do so thanks to the shipment of educational and sensory toys that we donated to the Omamy project. We continued to help during the month of December. Our colleagues had the opportunity to donate blood or even give up their Christmas gift to a chosen organization. Helping the sick and abandoned

“We give our colleagues the opportunity to choose their Christmas present before Christmas. This year, we decided to include volunteer companies in the list. Those who want to help or simply have not chosen anything from the list of corporate gifts can donate the amount of their gift to a company that cares for people in need, to purchase material aid intended for war refugees, terminally ill children or abandoned animals. We were positively surprised by the great interest in donations to voluntary organizations. Colleagues donated a total of 3,500 euros. The company msg life Slovakia doubled the amount and 7,000 euros will go to OZ Plamienok, Vagus, Útulok and Help Ukraine,” says Dominika.

Christmas presents on the table in front of the msg life logo
At msg life we donate to employees, children and those in need.

Weihnachtsfeier after two years The Bratislava office was visited by Robert Hess, a member of the company’s board of directors. On this occasion, we prepared a get-together for colleagues with a Christmas lunch and Christmas gift distribution. The following day we continued the celebration of the most beautiful holiday of the year with a Weihnachtsfeier, or Christmas party, at the Saffron Hotel. There was an entertaining programme for colleagues, thanking them for their high work commitment, delicious refreshments but also a Secret Santa to help colleagues get to know each other better, not only between departments but also between branches. The expected high attendance was confirmed and the hall was filled not only with colleagues from Bratislava, but also from Zilina and Kosice. We enjoyed the event and are looking forward to what 2023 will bring!

colourful balloons on the hall floor, decorated tables and a Christmas tree in the foreground
Annual Christmas party msg life Weihnachtsfeier.

How to find a new job in January

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

Tips on how and where to find a job in a highly competitive job market are often sought, especially when thinking about changes in your life. Are you also thinking about changes in your life? A new year, a new job, new interests… If you are thinking about how to find a job, it is important to look for different opportunities and methods, also to consider where to find a job that will meet your expectations and goals. That’s why many people in the job market are willing to start looking for their dream job right after the New Year’s eve.

When do Slovak people most often look for a new job?

According to surveys, the most common time to look for a job is the beginning of the year (January and February) and the beginning of autumn (September and October). Why is this so?

A new job is our New Year’s resolution

At the end of the year, we are used to making resolutions. We want the next year to be better, more beautiful, more interesting and more financially stable than the previous one. None of us like change, but in the aftermath of Christmas, when we’ve had time to relax, spend more time with family than at work and reflect on our lives, we usually all come to the same conclusion – we want more. If your home environment is stable and you’re happy with your life, what you’re keen to change is either your body (gym passes sell fastest at this time of year) or your work. But finding a job at this time is more difficult because the job market is crowded with competition. Many people decide they want to change their lives, which is why there are many more CVs for job offers than at other times of the year.

After the summer holidays, we reassess our work and life

If we talk about the next period when the labour market is really competitive, it is the period after the summer – September and October. People relax on holiday and succumb to the desire to change something in their lives. The beginning of summer, even in adult people, gives the feeling that a kind of period of obligation has ended and now we have two months of peace. Even though most of us adults work in the summer, the psychological effect of ‘you can’t get anything done in the summer anyway’ reduces our productivity and our desire to work until autumn arrives. And after two weeks in Crete, you might even change your mind about whether your work is meaningful and fulfilling in your life.

When do employers advertise the most?

Unfortunately, we’re going to let you down. January and September are definitely not months in which companies advertise a lot. Companies publish most job ads in May and June, before the summer starts (according to data from ekariera.sk). However, this is also the period when fewer people are looking for a job, which is why there is the least competition in the labour market.

What can help you find a job at the beginning of the year?

In fact, our advice can help you in your job search at any time of the year. We want to give you some advice on how to get a job and stand out above the competition when it’s at its highest.

How to find a new job in a highly competitive job market?

  • Internet

We are not just talking about job search portals or employment agencies. Also pay attention to social media marketing or groups where your colleagues or clients gather. We also recommend that you visit the websites of companies you’d like to work for and keep an eye on them to see if they are currently offering job offers that might interest you.

  • Experience

The fear of not being able to find a job at an older age is understandable. But it’s by no means lost! For many positions (e.g. management, executive), a person with experience is a better candidate – don’t be afraid to demonstrate your skills and abilities on your resume (try to improve your resume by our resume skills tips article) and at the interview.

  • Determination

What recruiters find on your CV or portfolio is only a fraction of what you can do to impress them. If people are equally educated and equally experienced, the recruiter will go with the person who has the most positive attitude. Be determined to change your life, spread positive energy and you will become memorable. You must differentiate yourself from your competitors with esprit and radiance, not just experience and skills.

  • Loyalty

Be careful what you put on your CV. If you’re applying for a job Java developer senior, you don’t need to say you worked as a bartender in high school. It has nothing to do with your current job search. Likewise, if you are in an industry with high fluctuation (e.g. marketing, industrial manufacturing, warehouse work, etc.), think twice about what you put on your resume. The high fluctuation rate gives recruiters the impression that your only motivation is money and that your loyalty to the company means nothing to you.

  • How to prepare for an interview

January is really competitive, so you can’t underestimate how to prepare for a job interview. You don’t want to be the one who can’t even remember what company you came to interview for or what job you are applying for. If you really want to impress recruiters or business owners, you should study basic information about the company, arrive at the interview on time and prepare a set of at least three questions to ask at the end of the interview. We recommend that the questions should be about the company culture and company goals rather than the possibility of a pay raise after the probationary period. Show that you care about your job and helping the company, not just personal gain. We believe you will find your dream job. And if you dream of a career in IT, you’ll find our job offers here.

 

Java SE platform: What features the Java update brings and the different Java versions 11, 17 LTS, 19 LTS

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

In this article, you will learn basic information about the origins of Java SE and the features of its latest versions. Java’s ability to improve performance, stability, and security has made it the world’s most popular programming language. According to an IDC report, it is used by more than 10 million developers, representing approximately 33% of software engineers worldwide. Since its release, there are officially 21 supported versions of Java SE released. In this article, we’ll take a look at what features each version of Java brings.

History of Java language: Java platforms and their use

Java is a programming language and platform that was developed in 1995 by Sun Microsystems, a subsidiary of Oracle. It provides a platform for developing application software and deploying it in a multi-platform computing environment. James Gosling is considered to be the father of the Java programming language, who, along with members of the Java team, also called the Green Team, began working on its development in the early 1990s. The aim of this project was to develop a language for digital devices such as set-top boxes, televisions, etc. Nowadays, Java programming language is used in the development of Internet applications, mobile applications, computer games, e-business solutions, etc. Since its inception, the Java programming language has undergone many enhancements and extensions that have provided new programming capabilities and improved the user-friendliness of the user interface. Java versions are constantly evolving, but in general we can define Java benefits in four platforms namely Java SE, Java EE, Java ME and Java FX, where each of them brings specific benefits depending on their application.

Java SE Platform

Java Standard Edition, or Java SE for short, is the core Java programming platform. We can run software on it or use it to develop desktop and server applications. The Java SE platform uses the Java programming language and is part of the family of software platforms with the same name. Java SE provides all the data structure libraries and APIs, such as java.lang, java.io, java.math, java.net, java.util, etc.

What are data structure libraries for

The data structure libraries contain predefined classes provided by the Java System. There are thousands of library classes, each containing different functions. Thus, these classes provide efficient support to programmers in developing their programs. They simplify and streamline the work.

Java Application Programming Interface (API)

Java Application Programming Interface – API, is a list of all the classes that are part of the Java development kit (JDK) that are specific to the Java language and program. Thus, it includes all Java packages, classes, and interfaces along with their methods, fields, and author comments. These prescribed Java program classes provide the developer with a huge amount of functionality that can be used for Java programming.

Did you know that…

… the original Java name was supposed to be Oak, after the oak tree that stood outside Gosling’s office. Later it was given the name Green and finally renamed Java after the name of a coffee variety grown on the Indonesian island of the same name.

Main advantages of Java SE platform

  • It provides opportunities to use the principles of object-oriented programming and superclasses, which are also used for networking, abstraction, higher security, access to databases, GUI (Graphical User Interface) development and analysis in formats such as XML.
  • It contains a Collectors class that allows you to accumulate elements into collections and summarize data according to various criteria.
  • Provides a Base64 class for encryption and decryption.
  • It has APIs that enable more efficient computation and programming.
  • A new class java.net.URLPermission has been added to the Java SE platform, which represents the permission to access a resource defined from a given URL.

However, in addition to the regular Java programming language, there is another specific model of Java, which is Java LTS.

Java programmer working in Java SE platform on a laptop
Java SE is a platform designed to develop and deploy portable code for desktop and server environments.

What is Java LTS 17 and how is it different from regular Java

Java developers are working hard on new and improved versions of Java SE to improve the functionality of the system. Since its inception, Java versions have been released irregularly, so in 2018, Oracle decided to change the regularity of releasing new versions of the Java SE platform. Instead of the original release interval of every two to three years (which often became every fourth year), a new six-month release pattern for classic Java SE platform releases has been adopted, with a long time support (LTS) release coming out every three years. The first version of Java released under this model was Java SE 11. The advantage of LTS releases is that organizations can count on Java releases being available for at least eight years, giving developers plenty of time to consolidate tools and migrate to another LTS version of Java several years later. The LTS model allows technology providers to focus on specific releases while supporting their products over the long term. Each version only receives performance, stability, and security updates during its lifetime, so there should be no major changes to individual versions of Java.

Java latest versions

Almost two decades have passed since the first Java JDK Beta was released in 1995. Since then, 21 Java versions have been created. The first LTS Java version with long-term support was Java SE 7, released in July 2011. The next version – Java SE 8 – was released in March 2014. This version includes some features originally designed for Java SE 7, but were only added in Java SE 8. These include features such as:

  • support for Lambda expressions at the language level,
  • the ability to embed JavaScript code in applications,
  • annotation of Java versions,
  • providing date and time APIs,
  • repetitive annotations,
  • running JavaFX applications.

The next available versions are Java SE 11 LTS and Java SE 17 LTS, with the next release – Java SE 21 LTS – expected in September 2023.

Java SE 11 LTS version

Java 11 is the third LTS release of Java after Java 8. You can download and use this release for free, but only for non-commercial development. For commercial application development, you must purchase a license from Oracle’s official website. Java SE subscribers will receive JDK 11 updates until at least September 2026. The Java SE 11 LTS release brings several important features for software developers. One of the main changes is that you don’t have to compile the Java source file first using the javac compiler. You can run the file directly with the Java command and it will compile implicitly. This feature falls under JEP 330.

Other important features in Java SE 11:

  • New helper methods in the String class, such as isBlank(), lines(), strip(), stripLeading(), stripTrailing(), and repeat(int);
  • Local variable syntax for Lambda parameters;
  • JEP 309. Dynamic class constants. Extend support for a new form of the CONSTANT_Dynamic constant field. The aim of this JEP is to reduce costs;
  • JEP 321. HTTP client. The new API supports both HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 and is designed to improve the overall performance of sending client requests and receiving server responses;
  • JEP 328. Flight Recorder. JFR is a profiling tool used to collect diagnostic data from a running Java application;
  • Simplified reading and writing of String using readString(), writeString().
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The local variable syntax for Lambda parameters is the only release of the language function in Java 11. In Java 10, inference-based local variable type inference was introduced. Thus, the type of a variable could be inferred as var list = new ArrayList<String>( ); JEP 323 allows you to declare the formal parameters of an implicitly typed lambda expression using var . Now we can define:

(var s1, var s2) -> s1 + s2

Java programmer working in Java SE LTS for desktop developers
Oracle has released twenty-one Java versions so far.

Java version SE 17 LTS

An important change within Oracle JDK 17 was the introduction of new and more simple licensing terms that will allow companies to use Oracle JDK 17 free of charge for at least the next three years. Java SE subscribers will gain access to Oracle Java SE support and commercial features such as GraalVM Enterprise, Java Management Service and Advanced Management Console. Java 17 LTS represents the latest release of long-term support for the Java SE platform to date and includes 14 new features that will make the work of developers worldwide easier and more efficient. Among the most significant changes in the LTS version of Java 17 are:

  • JEP 356: Improved pseudorandom number generators. The release provides new interface types and implementations for pseudorandom number generators (PRNGs) to eliminate code duplication in existing PRNG classes.
  • JEP 382: New macOS rendering channel. An internal rendering channel for Java 2D for macOS using the Apple Metal API as an alternative to the existing channel that uses the deprecated Apple OpenGL API.
  • JEP 403: Heavily encapsulated JDK internals of all JDK internals, except for critical internal APIs such as sun.misc.Unsafe. It will no longer be possible to remove the strong encapsulation of internals using a single command line.
  • JEP 411: Removing Security Manager.
  • JEP 415: Context-specific deserialization filters. This change allows applications to configure context-specific and dynamically selected deserialization filters through a filter factory within the JVM that is invoked to select a filter for each individual deserialization operation.

Latest version of Java SE 19

This release is the tenth feature release delivered within the six-month release frequency. This level of predictability allows developers to easily manage the release of upgrades, but it should be noted that Oracle JDK 19 is not a long term support (LTS) release. Changes in the latest Java SE 19 release include a variety of enhancements, ranging from the incorporation of significant new features to small improvements to routine maintenance. The updates and enhancements to Java SE 19 are as follows:

    • JEP 405. Record patterns. This enhancement allows users to insert record patterns and type patterns to create a powerful, declarative and composable form of data navigation and processing;
    • JEP 422. Linux/RISC-V Port paves the way for easier Linux/RISC-V implementations by integrating this port into the main JDK repository;
    • JEP 427. Pattern matching for switches enables pattern matching for expressions and switch statements by allowing expression testing against a number of patterns;
    • JEP 424. API for foreign functions and memory allows Java programs to more easily interact with code and data outside of the Java runtime.
    • JEP 426. Vector API provides better performance compared to equivalent scalar computations by expressing vector computations that compile reliably on the run into vector instructions on supported CPU architectures.

What is Java Development Kit LTS?

Java JDK LTS stands for Java Development Kit Long Term Support. It is a development environment for creating Java applications that offers long-term support and updates. Java JDK LTS means that a given version of the JDK will be supported for at least four years after its release. Support and regular bug fixes, security and performance improvements, and compatibility with new platforms. There are currently three versions of the Java JDK LTS: JDK 8 LTS, Java JDK 11 LTS, and JDK 17 LTS. JDK 19 non LTS(Java Development Kit 19 is not Long Term Support) is released as a Standard Java release September 2022.

JDK 19 vs JDK 17

JDK 19 and JDK 17 are two versions of the Java Development Kit that differ in some of the main features: the Java 19 non LTS is the version of the Java 19 JDK that was released in September 2022, while JDK 17 is the previous version that was released in September 2021. JDK 19 non LTS has some new features such as pattern matching, virtual threads, sealed classes, and records that are not available in JDK 17. Java LTS 17 includes some features that were introduced in previous feature releases, such as text blocks, switch expressions, var, and modules.

Did you know that…

… by efficiently invoking foreign functions (i.e. code outside the Java Virtual Machine [JVM]) and securely accessing foreign memory (i.e. memory not managed by the JVM), this API enables Java programs to invoke native libraries and process native data via the Java 19 development model. The result is greater ease of use, improved performance, enhanced flexibility and greater security.

Oracle has announced plans to reduce the time between future LTS Java releases from three years to two years. The next release of Java SE LTS should therefore be Java 21 LTS, which will be released in September 2023. The new Java will bring even more innovative features, and Java programming will once again be slightly more advanced. This version should provide support until at least 2031. At msg life Slovakia, we currently use Java SE 11 (LTS) for Java programming, which has been very successful for us. However, we will soon be switching to Java SE 17 (LTS) with 14 new features to make our work more efficient, better and faster, and you can try this version of Java too. See our previous articles on Java programming:

Whether you’re an experienced Java Developer Senior or a passionate Java Junior Software Developer, there’s always a place for you on our team. Join us, improve your Java programming skills and work with us to develop innovative software solutions for financial and insurance market leaders. Check out our job offers and send us your CV!