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  • How to Live and Work Well in San Francisco

    So you want to land your dream job in San Francisco with the perfect company. But it’s in a region home to some of the United States’ most expensive cities. Add to that the horror stories of working grueling hours to churn out the latest in tech innovation. Suddenly, you’re left questioning if that dream job is worth all the time and money.

    It’s true that San Francisco boasts an eclectic union of innovative companies and bustling urban scene. As a result, the city is an exciting melting pot of technology, history and diversity. But it’s also full of fast-paced, high profile companies and chaotic startups alike. Because of that, developers might think it’s impossible to actually work and live well in this city. However, with some thoughtful planning and budgeting, San Francisco developers can enjoy (and afford!) a healthy work/life balance.

    As a tech recruiting agency, Elevano places countless developers throughout San Francisco every year (we’re always looking to place more)! So we know a thing or two about how developers manage a great work/life balance without breaking the bank. Lucky for you, we want to share that information. Read on for a complete guide on how to work and live well in San Francisco, including:

    • The companies you could work for in San Francisco
    • The cost of living (housing, commuting)
    • The dining and entertainment experiences this region has to offer!

     

    Why Move to San Francisco?

    San Francisco, California is widely thought of as one of the country’s most desirable cities. The scenery is stunning, the weather is mild year-round, and it’s impressively multicultural.

    So it doesn’t really come as a surprise that many people throughout the U.S (and the world!) want to live in San Francisco, especially if they’re looking for tech jobs.

    The downside, of course, is that San Francisco is also one of the country’s most expensive cities to live in. Transportation, food, and housing all come at a significantly higher price tag than many other places in the United States. Today, remote work opportunities are growing. Add to that the rise of other tech hubs throughout the world, and it’s understandable why you would question the move to a city as expensive as San Francisco.

    While it’s not necessary to be in San Francisco to have a successful career as a developer– or any other job in tech– it certainly does have its benefits. It’s just like how budding filmmakers head to Los Angeles or financial traders flock to New York City.

    San Francisco’s strong community of like-minded professionals appeals to developers, at every stage in their career. For ambitious developers in the early stages of their career, a move to San Francisco is especially worthwhile. Learning compounds. The more skills you learn early on, the better things will work out for you in your tech career.

    Map of San Francisco – Neighborhoods and Attractions

     

    Finding Work

    It all starts with finding your dream job. Lucky for you, San Francisco is home to multinational companies and blossoming startups alike.

    If you have the skills and experience behind you, you can be selective when it comes to industry, company size and culture. After all, it’s your first step to achieving a good work/life balance. Which companies offer competitive PTO? Team events? Work-from-home days or flexible schedules? More than you might think! Here are our top picks!

    Companies in San Francisco: High Profile

     

    1. Adobe

    Generous does not even begin to describe the perks and benefits packages at Adobe. From educational grants to commuter packages, this company is providing its employees with a bevy of perks that can seriously make a difference in retaining top talent.

    Annual Revenue: $9B

    Employees: 21,357

    Adobe hires software engineers and developers for product development and management, cloud technology, research labs, and information technology

    Employee Benefits –

    Education: Adobe offers employees $10,000 per year “for tuition and books for courses, certificate programs and graduate programs that meet the program’s eligibility criteria.” The company also allows employees to set aside pre-tax savings for their children’s college education, as well as access to a college admissions and financial aid officers to make the process a little easier on their employees.

    Family Care: Adobe allows employees to set aside up to $5,000 pre-tax per year for child day care expenses or elder care. The company will even chip in up to $1,200 per year to assist with child care expenses for children up to 13 years old.

    Social Good: Adobe will match any and all donations and volunteer time up to $10,000 per year.

     

    2. Airbnb

    As one of the most successful companies in the world right now, it may not come as a surprise that Airbnb offers some amazing perks and benefits for its employees. Yes, free snacks and flexible schedules are part of it, but there is much more.

    Annual Revenue: $2.8B

    Employees:  4,000

    Airbnb hires developers for a wide variety of jobs, including software engineers, salesforce developers, engineering management, backend software engineers, iOS and Android software engineers, data architects, project managers, and several others.

    Employee Benefits-

    Time Off: Airbnb employees are given the flexible option to work from home when necessary, a full two weeks vacation during the holiday months (in addition to other paid vacation days and annual travel credits), and 10 weeks of paternity leave and even more for maternity leave.

    Health Benefits: Airbnb provides incredible comprehensive packages for health, vision, dental, and everything in between with no out of pocket expenses for employees, and only 25 percent for dependents.

    Volunteering: Airbnb provides their employees with paid volunteer time to get out and make a difference in their community.

     

     

    3. Cisco

    When you’re one of the biggest companies in the Bay Area, spending on your employees kind of comes with the deal. Fortunately, Cisco does not disappoint.

    Annual Revenue: $50.8B

    Employees: 74,200

    Cisco hires engineers and developers in the software, hardware, network, and product management fields.

    Employee Benefits-

    Social Events: At Cisco, each department is given its own budget to do with it what they please, whether they choose to go out to a bar or do battle at the local laser tag arena.

    Birthdays: Cisco wants to make sure you’re celebrating your birthday right, which means you get a full day off. Never work on your birthday again, the way it was meant to be.

    Support: A little positive reinforcement goes a long way, which is why Cisco has a dedicated recognition platform that allows employees to call out others for going above and beyond for the company. And they come with prizes!

     

    4. Facebook

    As one of the biggest companies in the world, Facebook is able to offer its employees some amazing perks and benefits.

    Annual Revenue: $55.8B

    Employees: 35,587

    Facebook hires developers and engineers in design and user experience, augmented and virtual reality, infrastructure, product management, security, and software.

    Employee Benefits-

    Family Planning: Facebook  provides four months of parental leave for mothers and fathers within the first year of the birth or adoption. The company also provides up to $4,000 in “baby cash” for new parents.

    Vacation: At Facebook, employees get three weeks of paid vacation per year.

    Paradise of Perks: The company’s headquarters in Menlo Park is a paradise of perks, from a barbershop and full arcade to dry cleaning and valet parking.

     

     

    Companies in San Francisco: Startups or Pre-IPO Companies

    With almost 40,000 startups in San Francisco, there’s bound to be a company that checks all your job search boxes! Here are a two up and coming companies that you might already know:

    1. Slack

    Slack is a communication platform that brings businesses and teams together. The company’s mission is to help connect people with the apps, services, and resources they need to get things done.

    Slack hires backend developers, software engineers, engineering managers, iOS and Android developers, UX developers, site reliability engineers, and several others.

    Employee Benefits-

    Slack prides itself on culture and making sure their employees have everything they need to do their best work. Benefits include parental leave, game nights, personal and professional development stipends, full health coverage at no cost to employees, fitness reimbursement, and Thursday socials

     

    2. Lyft

    According to LinkedIn, Lyft now controls 35 percent of the U.S. ride-sharing market.

    Lyft hires data and infrastructure engineers, front end engineers, full stack engineers, software engineers, and security engineers among others.

    Employee Benefits-

    Lyft offers a wide range of employee benefits, including great medical, dental, and vision insurance options, office snacks, unlimited paid vacation for salaried employees, ride discounts, Udemy subscription, generous parental leave, social events, and dog-friendly offices.

     

     

     

     

     

    Cost of Living

    So you’ve landed your dream job. Now it’s time to get thinking about where you’re going to live and how you’re going to get to work. Could you partially offset housing costs by saving gas with a shorter commute? Can you find a more affordable housing option further out from your work? While it’s a tricky balance, there are accessible living options for developers at every salary range (even junior developers!) Here’s some more information on how to set and stick to a budget when it comes to renting or buying in San Francisco:

    Housing

    The city of San Francisco, and the Bay Area in general, has one of the highest living costs in the United States. As a result, affordable housing is hard to find, but it’s not impossible. Subsequently, it’s important to choose the right neighborhood. There are several, high-profile and startups located within a short commuting distance from San Francisco’s most popular neighborhoods. Amongst the companies mentioned above, Airbnb, Slack and Lyft all offer shorter commutes for people living in San Francisco itself. Larger companies including Facebook, Cisco and Adobe, for example, are further out from San Francisco’s CBD, and require commutes often ranging between 45 minutes – 1 hour.

    Top San Francisco Districts: Median Rental and Home Purchase Costs

    Inner Sunset

    Median one-bedroom rent: $2,750/month

    Median Home Value: $1,007,320

    Outer Richmond

    Median one-bedroom rent: $2,800/month

    Median Home Value: $1,024,713

    Presidio Heights

    Median one-bedroom rent: $2,850/month

    Median Home Value: $1,506,982

    Russian Hill

    Median one-bedroom rent: $3,740/month

    Median Home Value: $1,025,593

    Bernal Heights

    Median one-bedroom rent: $2,810/month

    Median home value: $1,534,900

    The Mission

    Median one-bedroom rent: $3,450/month

    Median home value: $1,491,700

    Nob Hill

    Median one-bedroom rent: $3,110/month

    Median home value: $1,469,300

    Noe Valley

    Median one-bedroom rent: $3,250/month

    Median Home Value: $1,219,727

     

    Most Affordable San Francisco Neighborhoods (Under $2850/ month)

    If most of the above neighborhoods don’t make financial sense for you, don’t worry! In a city as costly to live in as San Francisco, it’s important to find and stick to a housing budget. Often in San Francisco (and throughout the Bay Area), that therefore means renting instead of buying. Fortunately, San Francisco has several neighborhoods that won’t break the bank– allowing you to budget enough to fund the life part of your work/life balance. Here are the median rental costs for affordable, one-bedroom apartments in San Francisco:

    Bayview: $2,100/month

    Bernal Heights: $2,810/month

    Excelsior: $1,950/month

    Glen Park: $2,800/month

    Inner Sunset: $2,750/month

    Outer Richmond: $2,800/month

    Outer Sunset: $2,500/month

    The Tenderloin: $2,190/month

    How to Save on Housing Costs

    • Make sure your rent or mortgage fits within your budget. It might be an obvious one, but the high cost of living in San Francisco takes a massive chunk out of your budget for monthly expenses. You therefore need to know what you can afford, and choose accordingly. It’s difficult to maintain a healthy work/life balance when you’re struggling to make your rent or mortgage payments!
    • Find a roommate. If you’re moving to San Francisco on your own, finding a roommate (whether it’s for an apartment or the whole house) is a sensible way to save money on housing costs. There are several sites that can help you find an ideal roommate. For example, Easyroommate, For Rent, Roommates, and Kangaroom.
    • Try to negotiate your rent. While it’s unlikely that this will work with apartments, it’s still possible to negotiate your rent down to something more affordable, particularly with renting a house.
    • Move during the winter. Winter is often considered the “off-season” when it comes to moving and you can sometimes find better deal on rent.
    • Look for a place outside of the city. Urban living is expensive in most cities. But the Bay Area offers a variety of places to live that are just a short distance to San Francisco. Take a look at Palo Alto, San Mateo, Redwood City, or San Jose, for example. This is especially true if you’re looking to work for giants such as Facebook, Cisco, Google, or Adobe.

    Commuting

    If you’re able to find housing in San Francisco that meets your budget, you need a way to get around. While you can drive, it might be a better option to use public transportation. Not having a car can save you money between the costs for gas, parking, insurance, taxes and other fees that come with car ownership!

    Fortunately, San Francisco has an excellent public transportation system. It provides bus, cablecar, and rail services throughout the city. You can purchase a monthly pass for the cablecar, train and bus networks for about $70. Alternatively, depending on where you live, you might be able to cycle or walk to work.

    Example Commutes

    Every commute is different. Whether you travel by car, public transport, foot or otherwise, the associated distance and costs involved in getting to and from work are subjective. However, it’s useful to see what your commute could look like. Two of San Francisco’s most popular residential neighborhoods (as mentioned above) are Inner Sunset [Median Home Value: $1,007,320] and The Mission [$1,491,700]. Here are some commutes from these two districts, for example:

    Commute to Slack:

    From Inner Sunset – 24 minutes by car or 36 minutes by Muni Metro Rail

    From The Mission – 14 minutes by car or 26 minutes by bus or BARTRoad Beside Buildings

    Commute to Nurx:

    From Inner Sunset – 17 minutes by car or 29 minutes by Muni Metro Rail

    From The Mission – 9 minutes by car, 19 minutes by BART, or 31 minute walk

    Commute to Airbnb:

    From Inner Sunset – 18 minutes by car or 40 minutes by Muni Metro Rail

    From The Mission – 6 minutes by car, 26 minutes by bus, or 24 minute walk

    Commute to Salesforce:

    From Inner Sunset – 26 minutes by car or 32 minutes by Muni Metro Rail

    From The Mission – 16 minutes by car, 20 minutes by BART

     

    The Fun Stuff

    So you’ve got the job. You’ve found somewhere to live. You’ve perfected your commute. Now it’s time for the fun stuff! Here’s the ‘life’ part of that work/life balance, and lucky for you, there’s no shortage of things to do, see and eat in San Francisco.

    Dining

    For coders spending their days working on projects that are going to change our world for the better: you deserve good food. So we’ve done all the hard work for you by bringing you ten of the best restaurants in San Francisco.

    Gracias Madre

    Gracias Madre is paving a new way for organic Mexican cuisine in the Bay Area. They offer a 100% plant-based menu that doesn’t sacrifice on big, bold flavors. Enjoy beloved Mexican dishes re-imagined for cleaner eating. From their tacos and tamales packed with the hearty flavors of butternut squash, pico de gallo and spicy tomato salsa, to unique offerings like coconut bacon, there’s something for everyone.

    Swan Oyster Depot

    There’s usually always a to get into this tiny seafood market and lunch counter, but this is one wait that’s worth it… assuming you like super-fresh oysters, crab, shrimp, clams, and lobster. You can’t go wrong with one of the seafood salads, the seafood cocktail, or really anything because again: super-fresh seafood.

    Greens Restaurant

    This restaurant includes plant-based choices as part of their ever-changing menu. Their kitchen serves up new specials each month, with dishes like their Roasted Squash and Pesto Pizza, and Chantenay Carrot Hummus. What’s more impressive is the widely positive reception that Greens’ eclectic menu gets. It’s voted one of San Francisco’s top restaurants by the San Francisco Chronicle, and even recommended by the Michelin Guide. Its location also offers panoramic views of the Bay, including sight lines to the Golden Gate Bridge.

    Laguna

    A newer restaurant in San Francisco, Laguna lets you get your brunch fix seven days a week.

    The menu has all of your classics: fried chicken and a Belgian waffle, a pulled pork hash, and the popular “Build a Benedict” with your choice of bottom (English muffin or potato cake) and middle (bacon, pulled pork, smoked salmon, avocado, or mushrooms); There are also plenty of lunch options, like burgers, salads, and a lobster grilled cheese.

    HRD

    This Korean take on a taqueria has inspired deep affection from techies, who line up on their lunch breaks for a spicy pork bibimbap salad, bulgogi burrito, or Japanese curry enchiladas. Much of the menu is under $15, portions are huge, and service is nice. The self-proclaimed “global fusion food” is heavy on Korean-Mexican-Japanese mashups like the massive kimchee katsu burritos drowning in Japanese curry. There are also bahn mi wraps, sandwiches (get the bulgogi beef), salads and rice bowls.

    Hot Sauce and Panko

    Hot Sauce and Panko remains a consistently delicious cheap eats destination. Choose from a wide variety of saucy flavors and food options that range from sweet to savory options.

    One of the most popular options is their Wings and a Waffle special, which includes a half dozen wings and an airy, buttery Belgian waffle for your game-day (or any-day) enjoyment.

    Bini’s Kitchen

    Bini’s Kitchen serves satisfying Himalayan food. The delicious Nepali momos (dumplings) come filled with either pork, chicken, turkey, or vegetables with a spicy side of tomato cilantro puree. Pick up an authentic Tibetan curry lunch with a side of momos all for just $10.

    Udupi Palace

    When it comes to South Indian cuisine, this little hole-in-the-wall offers one of the most impressive menus of vegetarian and vegan options in the Bay Area. They have multiple flavor and filling combinations for their dosas and uthappams, which are all served with their signature coconut chutney and sambar. Add to this their various curries and rice dishes and you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to authentic and robust South Indian food.

    WesBurger ‘N’ More

    WesBurger has a classic old-school diner vibe and serves up more than just an amazing burger. Their menu features steaks, burritos, chicken sandwiches, salads, and much more. The most famous burger is the “Hot Wes,” a combination of crisp onion rings and spicy pickled jalapeños on a six-ounce patty smothered in queso for $11. A side of tater tots is also highly recommended.

    Yuanbao Jiaozi

    This place is known for its handmade dumplings filled and hand-rolled by staff behind a glass window. The dumplings come either straight-up (14 per order) or in broth (12 per order) for just less than $10.

     

    Entertainment

    Obviously working and eating aren’t the only two things to do in San Francisco. You need to have fun, too! Lucky for you, there’s plenty of fun to be found in this city. Here are ten of the top things to do in San Francisco.

    Golden Gate Bridge

    A true icon. Not just a must-see for visitors to San Francisco, but a common destination for plenty of visitors to California and the broader U.S alike. It’s the most photographed bridge in the world, and it’s right in your backyard! The bridge’s familiar 746ft tall towers have stood watch over San Francisco Bay since 1937. Even when shrouded by fog (and you’ll come to find that it often is!) the bridge never fails to impress. You can check it out from designated viewing points, in addition to actually crossing the bridge for yourself. Cyclists and vehicles are permitted to cross the bridge 24-hours a day. Pedestrians are welcome to work across the Golden Gate Bridge using the East sidewalk between 5:00AM- 6:30PM.

    Golden Gate Park

    Golden Gate Park boasts over 1,000 acres of rolling hills, groves of trees, gorgeous gardens and other hidden treasures scattered throughout. It’s the fifth most-visited park in the United States, and larger than New York City’s Central Park. This iconic park has a fascinating history, and is filled to the brim with music areas, structures and buildings, natural features and dedicated spaces each with their own secrets and stories.This map showcases all the Golden Gate Park has to offer:

    Go For a Hike in the City

    San Francisco is criscrossed by several hiking trails, and there’s something for everyone’s skill level. For more advanced hikers, the Creek to Peaks trail at Glen Canyon Park takes you across steep, rocky terrain. For those looking for a leisurely wander, something like Presidio’s Bay Ridge Trail, is better suited for you. It’s a great way to keep fit on the weekends (or even after work, if you’re up for it), and will familiarize you the geography and terrain of San Francisco at the same time. 

    San Francisco Cable Cars

    If the first thing most think of when it comes to San Francisco is the Golden Gate Bridge, then the cablecars are surely a close second. Just like the Bridge is a must-see in San Francisco, the cablecars are must-do! For some of you, the cablecars might become a usual part of your commute, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them when you’re not working! A ride on the cablecars is a classic San Francisco treat. Hop aboard and take in all that San Francisco has to offer: from Nob Hill to Fisherman’s Wharf, and Russian Hill to the Bay!

    Image result for san francisco cable car

    California Academy of Sciences

    Aptly named, the California Academy of Sciences is a showcase of everything science. Whether it’s stargazing you love, finding out more about ocean life, or even exploring the tropics: there are exhibits and structures to please every visitor. Conveniently located within Golden Gate Park, both research institute and natural history museum, featuring:

    • The state-of-the-art Morrison Planetarium
    • The enormous Steinhart Aquarium (spanning the Academy’s entire lower floor, and boasting exhibits like the worlds’ deepest, living coral reef display)
    • An impressive living rainforest, towering 4 stories and home to tropical flora and fauna, birds and butterflies
    AT&T Park

    Now something for sports fans. AT&T Park is the home of the San Francisco Giants, and features the best waterside views in baseball. From the stadium seats, you’ll be treated to a view of the iconic San Francisco Bay. Who knows, you might even spot the kayakers and paddle boarders waiting for hits to come hurtling over the right-field fence!

    Alcatraz Island

    An impressive relic from 19th Century San Francisco, Alcatraz was converted from a lighthouse station to a military prison in the 1870s. From 1934-63, the island functioned as a maximum security federal prison. As a result, it housed some of the U.S’ most notorious criminals in the 20th Century. Located in the San Francisco Bay and completely surrounded by water, this once-formidable fortress is now accessible by ferry, departing from Pier 33 – Alcatraz Landing. Once there, the self-guided audio tour will fill you in on harrowing tales of escape attempts, violent prison riots and much more.

    Palace of Fine Arts

    Located in the Marina District, the Palace of Fine Arts is an impressive structure originally made to exhibit artwork in the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. It’s one of the only surviving structures from the Exposition, and stands in its original site. One look and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped onto a movie set! Enjoy watching the swans swim across the reflections of Greco-Roman columns and stunning rotunda.

    Image result for palace of fine arts san francisco

    Go Whale Watching

    A seasonal delight and just a short boat ride out of San Francisco Bay. From May-November, you’ll get a front-row seat to one of the most spectacular migrations in wildlife. Humpbacks and blue whales often frequent the waters outside of San Francisco Bay.

    Finally…

    So, there you have it! Several ways to work and live well in the city of San Francisco, California. It can be intimidating to move to such a large and expensive city, especially if you’re moving for a small town or find the idea of rent more than $1,000 as a bit crazy.

    With a little help from us, along with some good luck and resourcefulness, you’ll be able to find the perfect place to work, the ideal neighborhood, and some amazing places to eat and things to do in one of the best cities in the United States.

    San Francisco is a welcoming, diverse, and lively, place to live and work. Regardless of which neighborhood you decide to move to, this California city is dense, so you will be able to easily explore other neighborhoods of San Francisco and the find best spots in the city.

    Top 5 Tech Meetups for Beginners in San Francisco – April 2019

    San Francisco (and the wider Bay Area) is home to a slew of meetups focusing on all things tech. Enjoy learning and networking at webinars, conferences, workshops, happy hours and much more year-round! A lot of these events are free to attend. For beginners, this means you can easily pick up development or programming skills, techniques and experience in a convenient and cost-effective way. A quick browse through this calendar on Meetup shows you upcoming tech events in your area. We’ve taken a look and highlighted the best events to get your journey in the tech world started:

    1. Intro to JavaScript: All About Functions

    Who:

    Learn Web Development @ Rithm (1950+ Members)

    When:

    Tuesday, April 2nd 2019; 6:30PM- 8:00PM

    What:

    The Rithm School offers regular, free workshops on all things JavaScript. Many of their classes (including this one) are designed for beginners. Pre-requisite information is outlined in each Meetup event, and often provided in Rithm’s free online courses. 

    This is a lecture/practical event, so bring your laptop! In this event, you’ll “begin writing dynamic code. What does that mean? You’ll be learning

    Note: Must RSVP on Eventbrite to guarantee your seat!

    Where:

    Rithm School. Suite 300, 3rd Floor. 500 Sansome, San Francisco, CA.

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    Top 5 JavaScript Meetups in San Francisco (April 2019)

    San Francisco is packed with Tech Meetups offering weekly, monthly and yearly events for thousands of people. This month, there are plenty of conferences and how-tos happening for JavaScript in the city:

    1. #PerfMatters Conference 2019

    Who:

    The SF JavaScript Meetup (13,300+ Members)

    When:

    9:00AM Tuesday, April 2nd – 5:00PM Wednesday, April 3rd 2019

    What:

    A two-day conference focused on community-oriented web performance. “Topics include performant, JS, CSS, HTTP2, PWAs, and Service Workers, WebAssembly, performance budgets and cultural aspects of software development.”

    Where:

    Cañada College Theater, Redwood City

    2. SFNode Meetup at Capital One

    Who:

    SFNode (4100+ Members)

    When:

    Thursday, April 4th 2019 6:30PM-9:00PM

    What:

    “Thomas Hunter II starts off Real World Attacks in the npm Ecosystem. Then we’ll learn about Building VSCode Extensions with TypeScript by Erick Wendel.”

    Where:

    Capital One. 5th Floor, 201 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA. 

    3. Oakland.js

    Who:

    East Bay JavaScript (3100+ Members)

    When:

    Wednesday April 3rd, 2019 (every Wednesday); 5:30PM- 8:30PM

    What:

    “A weekly, free + public hangout for JavaScript enthusiasts that happens in Oakland, CA. No presentations, RSVPs or startup pitches/overt recruiting allowed. Just show up and talk, learn and hack!”

    Where:

    Lost & Found. 2040 Telegraph Ave, Oakland CA. (1 Block from the 19th street BART Station)

    4. Women’s JavaScript Study Group

     

    Who:

    Women Who Code SF (12,400+ Members)

    When:

    Tuesday, April 2nd 2019; 6:30PM- 8:30PM

    What:

    “We’re a group of women who want to learn JavaScript together. We welcome people of all levels. Beginners are especially encouraged. You move at your own pace in this group, so it doesn’t matter if you are a fast or slow learner, or if you attend every week. (You can use any study materials, or work on personal side projects. Whatever you prefer to learn).

    Where:

    Mixpanel. 405 Howard Street, San Francisco CA.

    5. Building Your First JavaScript Game in the Browser

    Who:

    Learn Web Development @ Rithm (1900+ Members)

    When:

    Tuesday, April 9th 2019; 6:30PM- 8:00PM

    What:

    “Interested in learning some JavaScript and seeing how it works together with HTML? Want to build a game that you can play from the comfort of your very own web browser? Then come to Rithm for a night of introductory JavaScript! At this event, we’ll use JavaScript to build a basic tic-tac-toe game in the browser. Along the way, we’ll talk about functions, if statements, and loops. We’ll also learn how JavaScript interacts with a webpage via the use of event handlers and DOM API.”

    Note: To guarantee a seat, RSVP on Eventbrite.

    Where:

    Rithm School. 3rd Floor, Suite 300. 500 Sansome, San Francisco, CA.

    How to Find the Best Tech Placement Companies

    There are tens of thousands of recruiting firms around the United States. So how do you know which one can best help with your staffing needs? How do you know if you should even work with a recruiting agency? At Elevano, we know that the decision to use a 3rd party to help with your tech placements is a tough one. Using external recruiters means additional paperwork and money, after all. But it often also means less time and energy spent on finding the perfect candidate for your technical roles. To find the best agency for your staffing needs, you need to factor in the regions they service, their areas of expertise, and also take a look at the calibre or type of clients they’ve previously worked with. These are some of many factors that hiring managers or HR should think about when deciding on a tech recruitment company. Here they are in detail:

    Location

    If you’re looking to fill a technical role, then chances are, you’re located in, or are close to a major city in the U.S. Why do we say that? Because tech companies (and other companies utilizing technical staff) tend to concentrate in urban hubs. Take the Bay Area, Seattle, and New York, for instance. As a result, your first instinct may be to look into companies located close to you. If it’s your first time working with outside staffing firms, then this makes sense. But if not, you’ll know that the best tech placement or recruitment services don’t have to be located geographically close to you. Subsequently, it’s important to consider recruiting/ placement agencies that aren’t in your neck of the woods. Not every recruiting agency can be located in tech-heavy cities, and they know that! But every good technical recruiting agency in the country should know where the most-serviced regions for tech placements are in the U.S. As a result, it’s highly likely that no matter where they’re located in the country, they’ve worked with companies in your region before.

    Close-Up Photo of Assorted Color of Push Pins on Map

    Look at us, for example. Although Elevano is based in Orange County (Southern California), the vast majority of our jobs aren’t in Southern California. That’s because our clients are located with likeminded companies in those tech hubs mentioned above. We predominantly service the Bay Area, as well as Seattle, New York and Boston. If companies stuck to local recruiting agencies, we wouldn’t be as successful as we are today. We probably wouldn’t even be able to stay in business if that was the case! This is a common story for most recruiting agencies who operate outside of major tech hubs. Therefore, when deciding on which agency to work with, remember that location doesn’t mean everything! In fact, the best recruitment agency for your needs might not be physically close to your company, but fortunately, it’s only a Google search away!

    Expertise

    The types of roles that a tech recruitment company fills is not exactly a secret. But their specific areas of expertise might not be as clear. At Elevano, we outline our areas of experience and speciality on our website. These include:

    Person Using Macbook Pro

    Be sure that when choosing an agency, they specialize in the exact role you’re looking for. Not all tech recruiting agencies specialize in all (or the same) areas. There might be some overlap, but some agencies might have better candidate pools for specific roles, for example. Similarly, there may be too much/too little demand for particular job types. As a result, the availability of specialist recruiters may differ from agency to agency. Expertise should factor in greatly in your search to find a recruitment agency that works for you. Do your research, contact the agencies if you need to, and make sure that they’ll be able to fill the exact roles you’re looking for.

    Existing/ Previous Clients

    To get a better sense of the types of roles an agency has filled before, and the sort of companies they have experience working with: check out their client list! If it’s not available, then, don’t be afraid to ask for a copy, as well as references or testimonials. It’ll help inform your decision on whether or not this is the right company to work with. It’s also useful to find out if the agency has worked with similar companies to yours in the past.

    Some Other Things…

    Other factors to think about are whether the agreement with this agency is one-off or ongoing/long-term. As a result, you’ll need to know your budget for external agencies. Can you afford to pay per candidate, or will you set up an agreement for ongoing talent? These are important things you need to know before signing an agreement. Depending on this financial situation, you may also narrow down your choice of agencies. Keep in mind that most contingent recruiters charge 20% of their candidates’ base salary.

    Trust Your Instincts

    With the thousands of recruitment/placement agencies out there, it’s easy to get caught up in the slew of recruiters looking to secure you as a client. That certainly gives you the upper hand: you can be choosy about the agency you go with. But being spoiled for choice means you need to do your research, too. Use the above factors of location, expertise and previous clients to help guide your search. Remember, these agencies can only operate with your business. They might all blur into one at some point in your search, but there’s one out there that’s the perfect fit for your hiring needs.

    So our final advice to you is to trust your instincts.

    10 Useful Facts About Full Stack Development

    10 Useful Facts About Full Stack Development

    To those unfamiliar with Full-Stack Development, the title might confuse people. After all, isn’t there supposed to be a clear (but fine) line between front and back-end developers? For developers purely focused on either the client or server side, this mindset is typical. But full-stack developers demonstrate otherwise. Capable of performing roles on both the front and back-end, full-stack developers are arguably some of the tech industry’s most-wanted professionals.

    1. What Makes A Full-Stack Developer Different Than Front-End Development and Back-End Development?

    Most developers are either used to working in front-end or back-end development to make sure that codes for an app or site work together. Think of front-end developers as the actors you see on set, while the back-end developers are producers behind the scenes. While the front-end developers are coding using HTML, CSS, and Javascript, the back-end developers are working with languages such as Python, Ruby, PHP, and many more. Different languages, different projects, different goals. It’s easy to see why the thought of full stack developers tackling both front and back-end tasks confuses some! 

    2. What Full-Stack Developers Exactly Do

    We know that a full-stack developer is one who can perform both front-end and back-end development. In other words, they know every layer of design of a system. What does this look like? Well, it’s quite literally someone whose skillset and knowledge combines that of both client-side and server-side developers. This means that full-stack developers know how to build with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. In addition, they also know languages such as Python, Ruby, PHP, and more. Subsequently, full stack developers are able to develop complex applications. This is because they are familiar with all architectures of a web application. By comparison, either front or back end developers are experts in their own stack, and are possibly familiar with the other side of web development, but not proficient. It might seem like a lot to know, but for developers who can do both ends of web development, it’s easy to switch between the front and back end when working on projects. This versatility appeals to many hiring managers (especially startups or smaller companies) who need highly skilled and capable developers. 

    3. You Can Become A Full-Stack Developer With Your Current Skill Sets

    If you’re looking to advance in your career, there are numerous programs that can assist in your transition to full-stack development. Moving into full-stack development doesn’t have to be daunting. Current back-end developers looking to transition to full-stack development may want to master JavaScript, for example. 70% of respondents in Full Stack Academy’s 2018 Developer Survey reported that JavaScript is the language they use and has been ranked the most popular language among developers for the 6th year in a row. On the other side, front-end developers may want to expand their skill sets by learning Python, as it’s the most user-friendly programming language and is known for its versatility.  This diagram shows the most common technologies you would need for various roles:

    Multidots

    4. There is Huge Demand for Full-Stack Developers

    It’s no surprise that full-stack developers are in high demand. As already mentioned, they’re the gold standard of developers to many hiring managers because they offer the expertise and talents of two developers, for the salary of one. (Granted, full stack developers aren’t a bargain: they’re paid competitively). There are many full-stack developers out there, they often become a needle in a haystack to find when hiring managers are shuffling through applications. Companies scour through applications to find top talent in web development. There are plenty of web developers, but true full stack developers are harder to find. Companies scour through applications to find top talent and you will easily stand out if you know full-stack development. This is because companies are looking for employees who bring versatility and promise greater efficiency. They want someone who can multitask and save their company money by investing in someone who can perform both web development jobs! At Elevano, we’ve realized this. That’s why we aim to help companies find the perfect developer to get the job done.

    5. The Salary For Full-Stack Developers Is High and Will Most Likely Increase

    As a result of the high demand for full-stack developers, average salaries are increasing too. Indeed lists the average annual salary of a full stack-developer at an impressive $113,545. Remember, this average is not indicative of experience level or expertise, so it’s very likely that the most qualified full stack developers will earn more. In addition, this number will very likely grow as web development is key in almost all companies. If you’re looking to grow within your field, Elevano can help inform your transition to full-stack development! 

    6. There’s a Debate on the Efficiency of Full-Stack Development

    Surprisingly enough, there is a heated debate on Full-Stack Development. It’s like the argument on whether you should know a lot about one thing, or a little about everything. While many agree that mastering the skill of being able to work both front-end and back-end shows that full-stack developers can make a prototype design quickly due to their wide range of techniques. It is believed that they may also be more engaged while working on the project as they’re in control of full stackability. On the other hand, some argue that full-stack developers may have multiple skills, but not as in-depth as either front or back end developers alone. 

    7. Full-Stack Developers Stand Out to Startups

    As technology is clearly the future, so are the growth of startups. Startups are great to work for as employees tend to be valued at a higher level, receive equity, and have more room for growth as the company grows. The race to join the next promising startup is intense. To get to the finish line, startups are increasingly looking for full stack developers. 

    Designers make products look beautiful, where full stack designers solve the whole problem.”

    – Kyle Wong, CEO of Pixlee

    Wong also expressed that having a full-stack developer from the beginning of Pixlee helped in assisting not just the building of the system itself, but also the overall aspect of the company.

    Ran Segall, the co- founder at The nuSchool

    8. There is a Difference Between a Full-Stack Developer and Full-Stack Engineer

    It is important to note that there is a difference between a full-stack developer and a full-stack engineer. The full-stack engineer has the skill set of full-stack developers and also has experience with project management. This involves configuring, managing, and maintaining computer networks and systems. They are also essentially the voice of the product and work with multiple teams throughout the company.

    9. The Need for Full-Stack Developers Are Projected to Steadily Increase

    As mentioned before, companies are continuously seeking full-stack engineers and developers as a whole. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of developers is projected to rise up to 24 percent by 2024. As this is a higher than average projection, it is definitely worth a developer to invest in the time to further expand their skill sets. With Evan Data Groups’ projection of there being 27.7 million developers by the 2023, competition is bound to rise as well.

    10. Full-Stack Developers Are Finding They’re Passionate About Both Ends

    Many full-stack developers may have strictly studied writing code in college or how to create flashy animations that front-end developers thrive in. However, many developers are learning that they enjoy both as they practice both sides. Mike, a full-stack developer at Vitamin T, first studied engineering but quickly learned he wanted to master both sides of development. After studying C, C++, and Java, he wanted more as he quickly realized that “getting the pretty colors and getting flashy things to come together nicely (and quickly) is more appealing to me than doing the back end stuff….And now I’m oscillating madly between the two”. Like Mike, it’s never too late to learn the other side as you may learn that you are passionate about both!

    Why You Should Think Twice Before Working with a Recruiting Agency

    Why You Should Think Twice Before Working with a Recruiting Agency

    Are you considering working with a recruiting agency to fill a position in your company? If so, there are a few things you should think about before you jump on board with using recruiters. While it’s tempting to go this route, especially with a difficult-to-fill job, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared for everything that goes with working with recruiting agencies.

    Costs

    The most important question to ask before your company works with a recruiting agency is: are you prepared to pay a fee? Working with recruiting agencies can get rather costly. So before you start, it’s crucial to know if their fees are in your budget. You might need to consider if it’s more feasible to hire an internal recruiter if you have a large volume of roles, for example. If you’re prepared to pay a fee to find top talent, then you should become familiar with the types of recruiting services available to your company.

    Brass Round 7 Stack Coins

    There are several different types of recruiting agencies around, each one with its own fee and guarantee structures.

    1. Contingency

    Contingency agencies send in candidates they find and take a percentage of the annual salary for the position after the new hire meets the guarantee period. (This one is pretty standard for agencies, and is also how Elevano works).

    Cost: Generally 15%-25% of the annual salary 

    Guarantee: Typically sixty days

    2. Retained

    With retained recruiting agencies, your company pays upfront and generally gives the agency exclusive rights to fill the position. This type is rarer and typically used for very difficult to fill or high-level positions.

    Cost: 10% of annual salary on average to begin recruiting, then another 10-15% after hire.

    Guarantee: Around six to twelve months

    3. Temporary/ Temporary to Permanent Hire

    These agencies send your company temporary workers who come and go, or if your company finds them to be a good fit, transfer to your payroll. Workers’ contracts are bought out for a fee, or after a certain time period you can get the worker for free. The buyout generally features a sliding scale. In other words, the sooner you the worker is on your payroll, the higher the fee you pay.

    Cost: 20%-50%of the hourly wage

    Buyout: Typically after 90 to 120 days

    Communication

    Sometimes, communication is a problem when it comes to working with a recruiting agency. Recruiters need to completely understand what skills candidates should have for the position you’re trying to fill. In addition, they should be familiar with the responsibilities of the job and any other information that helps them find the right candidates or job details candidates should know. All of this information can sometimes be difficult to communicate, especially if you only communicate with agencies via email.

    Group of People Holding Message Boards

    Poor communication is all too common in the recruiting industry. That’s why Elevano does recruiting differently. You won’t chase us up with phone calls, e-mails and texts. Our clients are our first priority. Fortunately, our automated recruiting process means that our Account Managers are available to speak to you whenever you need them. That’s because we spend a lot less time on repetitive (ex. data entry) tasks, and more time finding the perfect candidates for your role! In addition, we’re well-versed in all things technical, with our own Co-Founder coming from a software engineering background himself!

    Recruiters Don’t Always Know What Your Job Involves

    As mentioned earlier, recruiters need to know the necessary information to find the right candidates. However, they don’t always know exactly what the position they’re recruiting for involves. Recruiters may know your industry’s lingo. However, for more technical jobs, there’s a chance they don’t really understand what the daily responsibilities are of the position.

    Man Wearing Black and White Stripe Shirt Looking at White Printer Papers on the Wall

    At Elevano, we’re proud of our company history. In fact, we leverage our technical background to bring our clients better candidates, faster. How? We know the tech industry, because our founders came from there!

    Process

    Another question to ask before working with recruiting agencies is “Do you have a process to support working with an external agency?” If the answer is no, you should probably think twice before working with a recruiting agency, or at least until you have a process in place. It’s also important to make sure your internal staff are able to deal with candidates coming from recruiting agencies.

    Clear Light Bulb

    We work closely with your hiring team to make sure everything runs smoothly. With almost a decade of experience on this side of recruiting, we know what it takes to build strong, long-lasting relationships with our clients.

    Conclusion

    There are many reasons why you should think twice before working with a recruiting agency, however, if you take these main concerns into consideration, a recruiting agency may still be the answer to your problems. The important thing is to be prepared before working with one.

    Fortunately, Elevano recognizes the impediments that clients face when working with recruiting industries. That’s why we’re confident that you’ll love the way we do recruiting. We know what clients don’t like, and we know what it takes to bring them top notch candidates as efficiently as possible. So if you’re in need of a recruiting agency that specializes in the technology industry, Elevano may be just the solution you need. Focusing on specialized technology, Elevano provides qualified candidates that have the qualifications and qualities you’re looking for.

    Freelance Web Developer in MontrealWeb Design Company Montreal