Bill Baloglu

For Java developers, as for all professionals, the beginning of a new year is a good time to review what new directions the technology world is moving in, what changes in the job environment those new directions will bring with them, and what changes you may need to make, as a Ja... (more)

As 2002 draws to a close, many of us find ourselves reflecting on the past year. There are many things we can be thankful for, primarily that this year wasn't nearly as cataclysmic as last year. Unless, of course, you happen to be one of those CEOs who was busted big time. In ma... (more)

You're a senior Java engineer who's been working with J2EE on enterprise systems software and applications. You've got a résumé that reads like a who's who and what's what of current technologies. But when you apply for a job that looks like a perfect fit for your skills, you ge... (more)

It's no secret to anyone who works in the technology industry that continous training (and retraining) is required. The only thing that's constant in this business is change, and engineers need to be ahead of the curve on the latest and greatest technologies. The engineers we wo... (more)

One of the distinctive qualities of the high-tech industry is that the people who make technology love technology. They love its powerful capabilities, its potential, and the opportunity it provides for creativity. But that love can also overflow and drown out little details like ... (more)

We were recently looking for a skilled Swing engineer for one of our clients. Three people who had been referred to us looked like good candidates for the job. One of them was happily employed. The other two had left the business - one is now an aspiring rock star, the other, a ... (more)

As staffing professionals in the technology industry, we've seen the focus for many staffing firms shift from placing senior consultants in contract positions (while occasionally filling the odd full-time job) to placing them in full-time jobs. Over the past several years, compan... (more)

This month we focus on women in the engineering world. In this competitive, male-dominated world, female engineers face a variety of challenges. Many of these challenges have less to do with getting the job done than with getting hired, communicating with their male counterparts,... (more)

Web services applications are expected to be broad and far-reaching. Early uses include companies utilizing them within their business to integrate multiple applications and systems; to find a common way to link payroll, sales, and CRM applications; and to communicate with each o... (more)

Maybe the last three startups you work for no longer exist.  Maybe you're one of the thousands whose job at that monolithic "solid" company no longer exists.  Or maybe you're still hanging on as one of four people in what used to be a department of 30. Regardless of situation, i... (more)

We've all had them. Some of us have been them. But if there's anything that seasoned engineers have in common, it's lots of experience working with different kinds of managers. Whether you're working for a small startup or a huge corporation, the quality of your daily life can b... (more)

This past year has been a tumultuous one, initially for our high-tech industry, and then for our nation and the world at large. We don't presume to know what the coming year will bring. But in the 12 months we've been writing this column, we've covered many topics and offered so... (more)

We have many stories of skilled engineers who've done a great job on contract and full-time positions, leaving behind happy managers who sing the engineer's praises for the rest of their days. We've also seen engineers self-destruct at each step of the hiring process, eliminatin... (more)

Since most of our past articles have dealt with Java jobs from the engineer's perspective, we decided to write this month's column from the hiring manager's point of view. A year ago you never would have been reading this article. At that time the battle for technical talent was... (more)

Since we started writing this column, we've gotten lots of inquiries from engineers who want to know the best way to reach the level of senior Java server-side engineer. The trouble that many engineers have in breaking through to this level typically has to do with a lack of key... (more)

In recent columns we've discussed the current job market, rates and salaries, and different kinds of Java engineers: those who know Java and those who understand Java. What separates a good, solid engineer from a senior engineer who's on top of the industry and in the highest de... (more)

Dot-coms are crashing and burning all around us. Yesterday's "hot" companies are seeing their stock values plummet, triggering massive layoffs. Even "sure bet" companies seem to be going out of business everywhere you look. This dramatically changing, high-tech landscape is causin... (more)

Java Jobs is our new column. Each month we'll focus on different aspects of working with Java - in-demand skills, up-and-coming technologies, hot cities, salaries, rates, and other tips to help you plan and further your career in the Java marketplace. Whether you're a Java develo... (more)