Join Shaun Cheatham on ‘How Did You Get That Job?’ as he meets Duane Barnes, President at RapidScale, a managed cloud services platform. Duane’s appearing on the show to talk about starting his career in dial-up tech support and working his way to the top.

Having landed his first role by replying to an email newsletter, Duane’s career includes roles at household names and working with entrepreneurs. He and Shaun chat about developing skills, making decisions and moving into leadership.

For advice on taking the next step in your tech career, visit the Insights section on the Hays website: https://www.haystechnology.com/blogs 

Join Shaun Cheatham on ‘How Did You Get That Job?’ as he meets Beatriz Barroso, who’s the Chief Technology Officer for investment platform Goparity in Portugal. Her career began in theatre, before she decided to pivot to software development.

In a conversation that spans several topics, they discuss how Beatriz began coding, what it’s like building and leading a tech team, and how she’s able to use her creativity and theatre skills in a tech role. 

For advice on moving forward in your tech career, visit the Insights section on the Hays website: https://www.haystechnology.com/blogs

Series 4 of ‘How Did You Get That Job?’ resumes with our first guest of 2025, Biju Krishnan. Biju has worked across the globe, where he’s helped organisations tackle AI and data. Currently based in Germany, he joins host Shaun Cheatham to discuss his journey to becoming a tech contractor and what his work entails today. 

Together, they explore themes such as burnout, different cultures and the benefits they bring, learning about technologies like AI and more. 

For more career advice and insights into AI and other trends, go to the Insights section on the Hays website: https://www.haystechnology.com/blogs 

Series 4 of the ‘How Did You Get That Job?’ podcast starts with guest Abigail Rappoport. Based in the UK, Abigail has led a diverse and exciting career, working at household names such as Microsoft and Meta, as well as setting up her own businesses. She’s also recently been named on the 2024 longlist for ComputerWeekly’s Most Influential Women in UK Tech! 

In this interview with Hays’ Shaun Cheatham, Abigail talks about her route into tech and weighs up the benefits of working at global organisations and smaller start-ups. Now forging her own path, she also talks about what it takes to make it outside of permanent employment and the steps she takes to ensure continued success.  

If you want more guidance on a career in tech or as a contractor, head over to the Insights section on the Hays website: https://www.haystechnology.com/blogs 

In this special episode of ‘How Did You Get That Job?’, host Shaun Cheatham is joined by two former Chief Warrant Officers in the US Army. Having retired from service, each have taken different paths but have continued to enjoy highly successful careers in cyber security.

Fernando “Nando” Tomlinson has since joined Mandiant (part of Google Cloud), where he works as a Technical Manager in Digital Forensics and Incident Response. Roy “Big Ruck” Rucker Sr., meanwhile, runs his own cyber security consultancy, TRECIG.

Listen to their conversation to learn more about: 

• Challenges after leaving the military and ways to overcome these
• Advice on working in cyber security and engaging with stakeholders
• The importance of diversity of thought and experience in tech

If you’re looking for a career in tech, check out the content on our blog. To find out more about cyber security careers and skills in 2024, download Hays’ annual report here.

Joining us on the How Did You Get That Job?  podcast this time is Emily Cornock. Based in Australia, Emily works at financial services company Suncorp, where she’s the Executive Manager for Core Data Platforms. 

In this insightful conversation with host Shaun Cheatham, Emily shares how sticking to her career plan didn’t always work out, and what she did to pivot and keep her journey going. A proponent of authenticity with little time for stereotypes in tech, Emily is passionate about not only her work, but also the importance of being a role model as a leader. 

Listen to Emily and Shaun’s discussion to discover: 

• Guidance on starting a career in engineering 
• Why bringing your authentic self to the workplace can help you – and your career 
• Thoughts on encouraging and nurturing the next generation of coders 

If you’re interested in more information on a career in tech, check out the content on our blog. Whether you’re writing a CV, preparing for an interview or developing your skills, our Hays experts have you covered. 

In this special episode of 'How Did You Get That Job?', host Shaun Cheatham looks at data from recruitment specialists Hays that reveals which tech roles are most in demand among employers in 2024.

During the show, he talks to Hays experts to uncover why these organisations need people in these roles, and which skills you need to get the job and succeed. Guests include Joshua Tang, Jason Barr, Giulia Bonvissuto and Breanna Mahan.

If you want to know more about the jobs mentions in Shaun's conversations, check out the full top 10 list here on the Hays website. Alternatively, if you want to take the next step in your tech career, head straight to our Job Search section.

Paul Smith, CIO at Amnesty International, joins host Shaun Cheatham for another episode of the How Did You Get That Job? podcast. Based in the UK, Paul took a non-traditional path into tech and credits his passion for learning with his success today. 

During his conversation with Shaun, Paul discusses his early career, his transition into working in tech and how building relationships with other leaders landed him his current role. He also shares what it’s like working for an organisation like Amnesty and how it helps to motivate him every day. 

Listen to this episode for Paul’s thoughts on:   

• Learning the skills you need for career success 
• The importance of “finding your tribe” 
• Why diversity matters more than ever in tech 

Looking for more advice in your tech career? You’ll find great resources on the Jobseeker tab in our Insights section, such as tips on finding the right role for you, writing a CV and preparing for an interview. For more on learning the right skills, make sure to listen to our episode: ‘Revealed: how to develop the skills you need for a career in tech’. 

In the latest episode of How Did You Get That Job?, host Shaun Cheatham meets Kumar Parakala. Currently based in the US as President of GHD Digital, Kumar saw his career really take off when he moved to Australia, where he worked in a public sector role before spending 14 years at KPMG.

Kumar came on the podcast to discuss his career and how he got to where he is today. He is a huge advocate of taking risks, and speaks candidly about the benefits of this, as well as the negative impact this has had at times. He also shares his insights into what it takes to become a leader in tech today, as well as why he has championed diversity throughout his time in the workforce.

Listen to Shaun’s interview with Kumar for:  

• Advice on how to impress senior stakeholders 
• Tips on how to be an effective leader in tech 
• Reasons for embracing diversity 

Interested in making the next step in your tech career? Head over to the Insights section on the Hays website for advice on writing a CV, passing an interview and other ways to equip yourself with the skills you need.

How Did You Get That Job? is back and we’re starting by recognising Cyber Security Awareness Month this October. Shaun’s guest is Neil Khatod, who recently left the US Army after 30 years of service. Neil most recently served as COO of US Army Cyber Command, where he was responsible for defending a network with over 1.4m endpoints. 

In a fascinating conversation, Neil tells us about his experiences of working on the army’s offensive and defensive cyber and the difficult decisions he had to make as part of the role. He shares his thoughts on leadership and the humility required to be an effective and professional head of a team. We also ask him for any advice on working in cyber security, and the steps he took to reach his esteemed position. 

Listen to this episode to: 

• Hear about Neil’s career journey in the US Army 
• Discover three key tips on ways to succeed in a cyber security role 
• Find out what cyber security leaders are seeking in a new recruit 
• Learn the rules by which he lives as a leader 

Interested in working in cyber security? Visit the Insights section on the Hays website for blogs on choosing the right tech role for you, writing a resumé and preparing for a technical interview. 

The pace of change in the tech industry is very high, meaning you always need to be open to enhancing your skills. At Hays, we call this skills development, but in the wider industry you may hear it called “upskilling”. 

 In this special episode, Shaun Cheatham is joined by Harry Gooding - Solutions Director at Hays and presenter of the Tech Founders series from Hays. Together, they discuss what is happening in the industry at the moment, how best to determine which skills you need to learn for success and, more importantly, how to find the correct course for you! Harry also shares how to show off your newly found skills on your resume, while we look back on past episodes from this series to hear guests mention how they’ve had to develop their skills. 

If you are interested in learning more about Hays’ skills development advice, visit www.expertsintechnology.hays.com.

In this episode we meet Evangelina Avendano, Location Leader at EY GDS. We speak to her about her career and discover more about her path from the technology industry to finance, only to come back to tech in her present role. She shares her reasons for makingthe transition, the differences between industries and what advice she has for others who are looking to make the change. 

We also speak to her about being a woman in the industry and how she was told to be bold and raise her hand, advice she feels has helped her to get to where she is today. We also speak to her about the use of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace and the advantages of this. 

By listening to this episode, you will:

• Learn the differences between the technology and finance industry and get ideas on how to migrate sectors seamlessly.
• Discover more about the Mexican tech market and the unique attributes it has over other countries in the world.
• The use of applying meditation in the corporate setting and how it can help you see more clearly when making decisions. 

If you are interested in learning more about the tech industry, visit the Insights section atwww.expertsintechnology.hays.com where you will find information on choosing the right tech role for you, resume advice and also preparing for an interview in the tech space. 

In this special episode, originally released in 2022, we celebrate International Women’s Day by looking back at key moments from ‘How Did You Get That Job?’. We pick outcomments around gender imbalance within tech teams and challenges like imposter syndrome which have played as a key disabler in career progression.

We’re also joined by Hay’s very own Caroline Wilson, the Director of Workday Practice. Caroline will give us a wider industry glance at what is happening within tech, the trends and then discuss how bias can be tackled, raising some very interesting thoughts around the new ways of working since the pandemic.

To read more content from Hays around International Women’s Day, visit our blog where we have content relating to key topic areas.

In this episode, Shaun Cheatham sits down with Barbara Skerritt, IT Director (EMEA) at ICON Plc. She shares insights from across her 30-year career, starting in data management and fast forwarding to now, where she is IT Director (a role which she asked for!) to lead a whole new product at ICON. 

 Barbara talks about how she loves working in teams and is a natural people leader. This has led her on to creating a Women in Technology group, where she can help see through a diversity and inclusive vision, and encourage women to speak up and challenge HR with their processes. She also talks about embracing imposter syndrome, her focus towards dyslexia and how in life, you should feel confident to ask for things. 

 By listening to this episode, you will:

Discover why Barbara chose diversity as the one thing she would look to change about the technology industry as we move forward.

Find out why, when recruiting, she looks more at the individual's attitude above all else.

Hear Barbara talk about her experiences with imposter syndrome and tips on how to embrace it and use it to your advantage.

If you would like to learn more about life in the tech industry, we encourage you to check our blog which shares real world insight, expert comments and tips for success.

The LinkedIn group for dyslexia which Barbara mentions, can be found here.

In this special episode of How Did You Get That Job?, presenter Shaun Cheatham meets James Milligan, Global Head of Technology Solutions at Hays. They talk about how the tech industry is open to all backgrounds and career paths, plus look back at key moments in the series so far where guests have shared their experiences.

Last year, research firm McKinsey reported that 44% of professionals within the tech industry had started in a non-tech career before migrating. Rebecca Keenan, Global Head of Process Automation at Expleo and a guest on this series, mentioned how this is key in bringing new ways of thinking and experiences to the conversation to break the pattern on repeated activities.

The second half of the podcast sees Shaun and James discuss James’ recent article in which he lists the top in-demand tech jobs in 2023. They look at what these jobs tell us about the industry over the next year and which trends you should be looking at if you want to join the industry too. They also share what they would look for in resumes and applications, plus other advice for a successful career in technology.

To read the article for the top jobs in tech for 2023, click here. If you want more information about the technology industry, with some practical advice and real world accounts then visit www.expertsintechnology.hays.com.

To celebrate Cyber Security Awareness Month we meet Julie Pearl Matira, who is the SOC Manager for the CyberQ Group. Based in the Philippines, Julie is someone who has dedicated her life to the security industry to succeed in a difficult environment. She joins Shaun on the podcast to tell us about the tech environment in the Philippines, the certifications she gained (and the advantages which these have given her) and gives a checkered account of her successful career to date. We also touch upon experiences as a woman in the tech industry, what being a leader has taught her about herself and we gaze into the future to understand how the SOC role is going to change and develop.

Listening to this episode, you will: 

• Hear a first-hand account of life in the security industry with a career roadmap to being a SOC manager.
• Discover more about the technology landscape within the Philippines, including the growth opportunities and challenges.
• Learn why the spotlight that comes during Cyber Security Awareness Month is important for all those who work tirelessly in the sector.

If you are interested in learning more about the cyber security industry, visit the Insights section at www.expertsintechnology.hays.com, where you will find information on choosing the right tech role for you, as well as advice for writing a resume and preparing for a job interview.

Campaign Against Living Miserably (aka CALM) is a UK charity helping those struggling with their mental health, ultimately in order to prevent suicides. Their Head of Data & Innovation is Seun Akindele, and she joins Shaun as the guest in this episode. She talks about her background outside of tech, and how she brings the skills and experience from her early career to tech in the charity sector. We also look at regulations, innovation in tech and its implications, and ultimately what is needed to join a team like Seun’s.

By listening to this episode, you will:

• What Seun has experienced in her career outside of tech, and thoughts towards how the next generation can be taught about technology.
• Learn first-hand about using tech for good of the people.
• Hear about how CALM has to make their UI and products accessible, ensuring that those who are in distress can easily navigate the content. 
• Find out the skills needed to get a job in tech in the charity sector, the types of tools used and the team structure.

For blogs and insights into the tech industry, visit www.expertsintechnology.hays.com

If you know anybody who would benefit from the assistance of CALM, please visit their website here for more information.

In this episode we spend time with Ellen Wu, the CIO of Manulife China (or Manulife- SInochem), the JV in China. She shares how working on a UN think tank opened her eyes to the opportunity and responsibility which the technology industry has around sustainability. Ever since it has become a passion project of hers to learn and help influence those around her into more sustainable practice. 

Other guests we’ve had in the series have mostly come to technology via a non-traditional career path. Ellen, however, studied for a Data Science degree and in this episode she talks about how she felt that it gave her that immediate connection with the colleagues around her and enabled her to accelerate her career. We discuss other popular topics, like recruiting for roles within her team and why people should choose a career in tech, and also delve into her experiences of being a woman in technology in China, about which she shares a very funny story. 

By listening to this episode, you will:

• Discover more about a Data Science degree: what Ellen learned, the work-life balance and also the advantages which were gained as a result.
• Find out how she looks for attitude and aptitude over skills when recruiting to her team, as those qualities are key to ensuring you succeed while tools change all the time.
• Hear her thoughts on how the tech industry are creating the most inclusive tools ever for all mankind and how that tool creation mindset needs to be applied to the wider industry to help more diverse inclusion of teams.

If you would like to learn more about how the tech industry is becoming more sustainable, we encourage you to check the Hays sustainability blog where you will get expert comment, articles and tips to be more effective in your thinking. 

This is a special episode dedicated to mentorship and how it can help your career. Since starting this podcast and talking to successful tech leaders, mentorship has always been a topic which has been spoken about glowingly. These leaders have all spoken about how and why mentorship is responsible for where they are today, the confidence it’s given them and what they’ve learned as a result. 

This episode looks back on these moments and we also chat with Thea Watson, Global Customer Experience Manager at Hays. She talks about what to look for in a mentor, what can consist in a mentorship programme and tips on how to measure success. 

We have recently released the Learning Mindset Report 2022, where we have surveyed 20,000 workers and employers to discover their Attitude, Aptitude and Availability to learning new skills. This touches upon mentorship too and some analysis on the results found are in this podcast. You can read the report in full here.

In this episode we meet John deCraen. He is the Associate Managing Director for Cyber at Kroll, a consultancy organisation who, among their services, offer digital investigations and incident response. John speaks about the daily challenges he faces, how he helps clients to protect themselves against attacks and his career experiences with digital forensics.

Presenter, Shaun Cheatham, speaks in more depth with John about his career and how he had a later start than those around him, and how hard work was the one thing which helped accelerate his career. In this episode he shares with us what he looks for in potential team members, with plenty of tips for you. 

Listening to this episode you will:

• Hear John explain why it’s never too late to change your career and offer tips on how to succeed.
• Learn why you should never rest upon what you have already achieved and should always be looking to progress. 
• Discover why, when reading something on tech, you must always look for a competing view to make your opinions more rounded.
• Understand how to deliver core messages to wider teams and stakeholders.

The guest in this episode is Dave Messenger. He’s the Executive Chairman of LianLian, a Chinese-born FinTech company he’s helping to go global. Dave discusses starting his career as an apprentice chef, before training to become an engineer and later venturing into leadership positions at Virgin Mobile and American Express.

Shaun asks Dave about mentorship and its influence on his career, as well as his observations around diversity. We also land upon the topic of failure, which is something Dave looks for when recruiting as a sign the individual has put themselves out there and ultimately had to bounce back.

 Listening to this episode, you will:

• Discover more about the Executive Chairman role, the challenges which are faced and how the position will innovate and adapt in the coming years.

• Hear Dave’s three things to consider when creating a long-term sustainable company.

• Learn why focus groups is a great way to stay up to date on technology and trends within business, as well as for soundboarding ideas and situations.

Shaun is joined in this episode by Tariq Khan, the Chief Digital & Information Officer at Camden Council. Tariq started his career in the private sector working for big multinational organisations. However, in the pandemic, and after a lot of reflection, he decided to take up a role with Camden Council to help implement social change.

Tariq is now responsible for technology on 600 lines of business, from parking solutions to schools to road maintenance. He shares his thoughts on why being a team leader is more like being a head gardener, how to gain trust when collecting data that can help others and the differences in approach between the private and public sectors.

Listening to this episode, you will:

• Gain tips on how you can maintain working towards a goal, despite everyday real world challenges
• Hear observations on the type of talent which is needed in an every expanding and developing public sector workforce
• Discover how reverse mentorship can assist and develop your skills when implemented with all levels of hierarchy
• Learn how he’s working to achieve a citizen-centred approach to all tech solutions can achieve success for all users          

 For blogs and insights into the tech industry, visit www.expertsintechnology.hays.com

In this episode Shaun is joined by Ivan Woo, who is the Chief Information Officer at the Qi Group. Ivan started his tech career as a programmer and he talks about his passion for working hard and facing challenges which has helped unlock doors for him along the way. Ivan also shares that one of his biggest inspirations is the book ‘What Got You Here Won’t Get You There’ by Marshall Goldsmith.

Listening to this episode, you will:

• Discover why Ivan thinks people should “follow their passion” as, especially in tech
• Gain insight into digital transformation and how you should always be looking to re-think processes and challenge what is presently in place. 
• Learn how mentorship has helped Ivan rise through his career
• Hear Ivan pitch why you should consider working in technology

For blogs and further insights into careers within the world of technology, then visit www.haystechnology.com. 

In this episode we meet Angie Zhu who is the General Manager of AI & IoT Insider Labs at Microsoft. In her career she has led over 100 innovation projects which have included autonomous cars, healthcare and retail. 

 Listening to this episode, you will:        

·       Hear advice on how to communicate with different stakeholders, inc techies, investors and management     

·       Discover how she self taught artificial intelligence and other future tech with autonomous cars

·         How to bring shape innovation projects to bring value for commercialisation 

·         Learn more about her non-traditional career path from the finance industry to technology

·       Interesting projects around drug development and point of sale IoT devices

For insights into artificial intelligence, view our blog here. For tech industry jobs, news and further insights, visit www.haystechnology.com. 

Through the episode Sean shares his observations from a career of over 30 years within the financial tech industry. He talks about how to lead projects in different parts of the world, combatting pain points and how success can only be determined by whether it is a success with the customers only. 

Listening to this episode, you will:

• Understand how tech skills are invaluable in giving you a good basis for any role within a business
• Hear first-hand experiences from large scale digital transformation projects in finance
• Discover why T-shaping in an agile environment is key in today's working environment
• Learn about leading training sessions in different languages
• Find out how new technologies can be used to combat fraud in finance

If you are interested in finding out more about leadership in tech, our blog here has articles on what to consider when developing your organisation’s strategy and identifying the right talent. For tech industry jobs, news and further insights, visit www.haystechnology.com.