Hire scarce Linux developers... with penguins!

[Denis W. Veteran]

Linux talent scarce as penguins' teeth

Liquid Computing waddles out symbol to scare up software developers

The penguins were on the streets of Kanata yesterday, searching for scarce Linux software developers.

In a sign of the recovering technology industry, recruiters from Liquid Computing dressed up as penguins -- the symbol of the popular open-source technology -- in a bid to find 20 more staff. Since raising $14 million U.S. in new capital in May, Liquid has doubled the workforce to 60 full-time and contract employees.

Team leader Brent Webster, perspiring freely inside one of the warm suits on a hot September day, said Linux software developers are in short supply, so he agreed to suit up to lead the recruiting campaign.

"We need more developers now, and I figured a little humiliation was a reasonable price to pay," he said.

From technology startups to established companies, the beaten-down Ottawa technology job market has shifted into growth this year.

With advertising, job fairs and other promotional efforts, technology companies are actively searching for new employees.

The Ottawa Talent Initiative, a self-help organization created after the technology bust, said 150 members have found work in the past few months and it believes two to three times more were also successful.

"There are still many people who have not been able to find work," said Bob Barclay, the OTA's director of employer and client services. "But we helped more people find work recently compared to the whole previous year.

"There are more companies posting jobs and the activity is very encouraging for people looking for ways to put food on the table."

Janice Schellenberger, a senior partner with Personnel Systems, said the trend is growing quickly.

"Since June we have seen more companies planning to hire in the last quarter of the year. With few exceptions, most companies plan to hire early next year."

The hiring plans are leading companies to raise pay for current and prospective employees.

She said a survey of more than 200 technology companies across Canada shows companies are planning pay increases in the three- to 3.5-per-cent range for next year.

She said high-demand jobs such as senior software developers, system integration and security specialists will get pay increases above the average while lower-demand jobs such as network administrators will get less.

By comparison, she said, technology companies gave pay increases of only about two per cent last year.

The growth is not spread evenly across the board. MDS Nordion announced it laid off about 55 employees this week and other companies have made substantial cuts.

Several small startups have failed this year, but the difference now is that their employees are finding new jobs quickly.

Statistics Canada said in August that the Ottawa-Gatineau technology sector took a breather after seven months of hectic growth.

About 900 jobs disappeared, driving the total down to 53,700 jobs.

It was first decline in seven months from growth fuelled by new venture capital for many startups and improving prospects for established companies.

Technology employment has jumped from an eight-year-low of 41,800 in in December to reach 54,600 in July. In May 2000, at the height of the technology bubble, employment peaked at 72,400.

Another Publicity Stunt That Worked

Source - canada.com

If you watch the newscast, they have little penguin statues surrounding a guy dressed as a penguin holding a sign reading 'Developers wanted - LiquidComputing.com' (or something like that) on a road.

Something the newscast mentioned that this article didn't - the total cost for this advertising campaign? $200. Did someone say Linux = savings? :D

[Pliskin]

Linux = savings

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Best. Joke. Ever. :laugh: :rofl:

[markwolfe Veteran]

^^^ :rolleyes:

Yes, I have saved money at home with Linux. And, get this, some businesses even can, too.

It may not be the best solution for every business, but it can be the best solution for some.

[vcv]

^^^  :rolleyes:

Yes, I have saved money at home with Linux.    And, get this, some businesses even can, too.

It may not be the best solution for every business, but it can be the best solution for some.

586546604[/snapback]

And that's about all there is to it.

It is a shame that some think linux is the best solution for all though. And the other way around of course.