Mythbusting
We know the winter holidays are for kicking back, getting closer to your favorite people, and reflecting on everything that has happened in the last 12 months. And, if you are hunting for a new job, it’s also a seemingly perfect moment to look for an opportunity and give your career the change it needs.
However, is December truly the best month to start sending resumes? We at Scio know all about talent and opportunities, so let continue this month’s celebrations by dispelling some myths that might hinder, instead of advance, your career.
Happy holidays!
Myth 1:
December is the best month to find a job.
Truth:
This is a common piece of advice, but one that needs to be taken with a few caveats. After all, the winter holidays are some of the busiest days of the year, and the administration and HR departments of every company in the world are going to be overwhelmed by the usual Christmas stress: giving out bonuses, preparing budgets, closing projects with clients, scheduling times off, etc.
Never mind that many people making hiring decisions will be taking vacations, and generally, things get slower as Christmas approaches.
Now, it’s true that a lot of positions may open during these days (see our next point about that…), but it also means that it’s more likely that your application will get lost in the shuffle. So what to do?
So instead…
Take it easy. What December can bring you is enough free time to prepare your resume, customize it to your needs, curate the projects you did all year, and start building a company “hit list” to start looking for that perfect job.
January is the best time to send resumes, because most of the year’s new projects will start, and there’s a lot of things needing to be picked up after the December slump. So hit the ground running by taking the proper time to prepare for these holidays.
Myth 2:
Lots of openings mean lots of opportunities.
The truth:
Yes, but it depends on how you define “opportunity”. As we mentioned, December is a popular month to leave jobs, as the New Year serves as motivation to try new things, and the Christmas bonuses give people enough confidence to leave.
And when that happens, it inevitably means a lot of work will go undone unless HR departments and project managers do something about it, which sometimes involves offering temporary positions just to get things done.
Now, entering into a company, even with a temporary job, is not bad at all: gets your foot in the door, gives them the chance to know you and consider you for a full-time position, or at least can serve you to hone some skills that can be useful elsewhere.
However, if you plan to change careers or try to find a better job, these kinds of openings might not offer you what you are looking for.
So instead…
Study the openings to understand what skills the company needs, as these “emergency” positions will be very clear and to the point about what they want. In software terms, you might find specific methods, frameworks, or languages the company usually employs, and you will have the chance to become familiar with them before applying.
Get an early advantage by the time January starts!
Myth #3:
Finding a job isn’t all about the timing
The truth:
It’s more about persistence. Our earlier points might paint December a “dead” moment to look for a job, but far from it. It’s about building momentum in your applications, honing your resume, practicing interviews, and looking at what you’ve been doing right and wrong.
So instead…
Don’t stop, it will be harder to pick up your pace again in January (when it might count) if you stop during December, and the perfect opportunity might come at any moment, even during Christmas.
Remember, these holidays are ideal to celebrate everything you accomplished, learned, and mastered during the year. Use it to your full advantage, keep aiming higher, and never get discouraged.
Who knows, maybe you are someone that Scio doesn’t know they need yet!
Scio
A new year approaches! And the team of Scio expects great things of 2022, so join us to celebrate and share our wishes in this brief overview of the resolutions that we want to reach. Happy Holidays!
The year 2021 was perhaps an even bigger challenge than last year, but one that made us stronger, and eager to start the next one all fresh. And with 2022 right on our doorstep, we are going to take this opportunity to celebrate what some of the collaborators of Scio are expecting of these new uncharted waters.
So, to close this year and start the next one right, we present you with some of our New Year’s wishes, the new stuff we want to see, as well as some of the old stuff we want to leave behind. Happy 2022!
What do our collaborators expect from 2022?
So, we directly asked some of our collaborators to share their excitement for the year to come. Personal projects, plans, professional hopes… All of them had one theme in common: the idea that the challenges of 2022 are going to be different, and we are ready to come back.
“I wish we can return to the brand new location when possible”, said Rodimiro Aburto, our Service Delivery Manager & Senior Partner. “And start visiting our clients again at their headquarters, as we used to do before, so we can touch base with them in person once again.”
This was once one of the pillars of the Nearshore development that Scio offers, so the chance to pick it up again and continue where we left off is one of our biggest wishes.
“2022 fills me with excitement, starting by having the attitude needed to face new challenges and experiences”, told Nubia Gómez, our Brand Ambassador at Scio. “I want to consolidate my projects here, learn so much more, finish my English courses, travel what I couldn’t during the pandemic, work on my personal balance, take care of my health with more exercise, and be closer to my family.
It sounds like this is the year of getting back some of the stuff we had, and here at Scio is not different. “I wish this New Year is better than we expect, and make us happier than we ever imagined”.
Luis Manuel Rodríguez, of our Application Developers, also shared his expectations: “I have two resolutions I’d like to keep next year. The first one is to maintain an equilibrium between my personal and professional lives, as remote work makes it easy to lose my notion of time, and in turn, of this balance.
He also remarked how Scio is helping him to reach some of his own goals. “The second is starting my personal project, which I’ve been wanting to do for a few years now, but I couldn’t formally begin. Using everything I learned about work management in the Scio Leadership Program, this year I’ll manage my project and define the date for my MVP.”
Remote working is also high on our list of priorities; we attract special talent from all over LATAM to collaborate with us, and being able to share the Scio culture is a big part of why. “I wish our Human Capital department finds new and better ways to help our collaborators feel part of Scio, and share our values and sense of community even in a remote working environment”, Helena Matamoros, our Human Capital Manager and another of the Senior Partners, told us.
“Also, I want to keep strengthening the Scio culture, so our collaborators keep growing within their professional careers in a healthy environment that lets them achieve a fair balance between their personal and professional lives.”
And finally, Yamila Solari, Co-Founder and Coaching Leader at Scio, looks towards the future of a hybrid model of collaboration.
“This year I would like to consolidate the work I have been doing with the teams at Scio by taking them to a new level of communication where all Scioneers feel empowered to express their thoughts, feelings, and needs to their teammates. I would also love to get up to speed with the latest findings and tools for helping high-performing teams and team up with my colleagues in management to achieve a smooth transition to the new office and hybrid work.”
As you can see, lots of plans are cooking up at Scio. The challenges will never stop coming, but as a team that looks towards the same goal, 2022 is the opportunity we were waiting for. Happy New Year from the team at Scio!
Nearshore
Latin America’s influence as a major provider of nearshore software development and IT outsourcing has the world taking notice. Especially considering they offer tax incentives, a growing population of English speaking workers, and a rapidly improving telecommunications infrastructure.
How do you decide which country best suits your needs? What are the costs, cultural differences, and challenges to consider before making a final decision?
We wrote this article to help you on your quest to find the perfect nearshore partner:
Cultural Differences
You’d be forgiven for thinking most Latin American countries have similar cultures based solely on proximity and shared languages. The truth is that each of the 20 countries and 14 dependent territories that stretch from Mexico to Tierra del Fuego on the southern tip of South America have their own unique ways of living and doing business.
For example, the Spanish language dominates in many countries, but the vocabulary and dialect shift widely based on region. Some words more closely resemble Castilian (European) Spanish versus others that are inherent to the local populace. Countries like Brazil speak primarily Portuguese, while some countries still speak Dutch or French. Argentia boasts the highest population of English speaking citizens, followed closely by the Dominican Republic, Peru, Ecuador, and Mexico.
Many countries have more of a relaxed attitude about space and time as well. One such survey found that 83% of Chileans believed it was acceptable to be late to a social gathering, whereas 43% of Argentinians concurred. Being late to work is less acceptable. Generally, people in Latin America dislike rushed meetings or back-to-back appointments because they’re seen as detrimental to trust and relationship and building.
Direct and Indirect Costs
Outsourcing software development, as an example, will run you between $20 and $50 per hour in India. Latin American developers cost around $40 to $70 per hour. When comparing costs on absolute figures, Asia is the better route, but you should also consider indirect costs such as expertise and how many hours it takes to complete your project. Or the cost of waiting since contrasting timezones across Latin America and the world can really set a project on strict deadlines back.
If you’re weighing options in several Latin American countries ask about project timelines, possible delays, direct costs, and any unforeseen indirect costs that may arise.
Timezone Challenges
Countries like Mexico and Costa Rica have a clear advantage when it comes to nearshore software development and outsourcing since they share a central US timezone. That means they can easily do business with companies on the West and East coast. Countries like Argentina and Brazil are at a disadvantage because they’re 5 hours ahead of the West coast. That 5 hours may not seem like much, but when you’re on a tight deadline or want to include your development partners in meetings, your options become limited.
Productivity
Colombia and Chile lead the world rankings in Latin America for ease of doing business. Not to mention, they offer incentives for any companies outsourcing operations there. Brazil’s large workforce is a major plus, but regulatory obstacles and slow bureaucracy limit them.
Argentinians have a knack for finding innovative solutions that stem from a common saying in their culture, “Lo atamos con alambre.” which means “tying it with wire” but idiomatically translates to “make it work!” It comes from their desire to make things work with the tools and materials at their disposal.
Mexico is a no-brainer if you’re looking to save money and boost productivity. Despite industrial wages going down in the 25 years since joining NAFTA (Now USMCA), productivity has shot up 80 percent.
Travel Duration and Costs
When it comes to reducing travel costs and shortening trips, countries like Argentina or Chile struggle in South America. Here are some flight times and major airline cost averages from Chile’s principal airport in Santiago to corresponding US airports:
- SCL to DFW is 14 hours and $1,046
- SCL to JFK is 16 hours and $356
- SCL to LAX is 13 ½ hours and is $380
North and Central American Latin countries, on the other hand, such as Mexico or Costa Rica, provide considerably cheaper and shorter airfare options. For example, if you hired a nearshore software development team in Guadalajara, Mexico, you’d see the following flight times and average flight costs:
- GDL to DFW is 2 ½ hours and $223
- GDL to JFK is 5 hours and $259
- GDL to LAX is 3 ½ hours and $164
As you can see, visiting your new development team in Latin America can vary widely in cost, travel duration, and you’ll experience significant cultural shifts when traveling thanks to varying languages, dialects, and customs. Ultimately, doing your due diligence and thoroughly vetting a team before hiring is the best-case scenario for getting your project complete on time, within budget, and to satisfaction.
Which country are you considering for your nearshore development needs? Tell us in the comments below:
Nearshore, Outsourced Engineering Team, Successful Outsourcing
Contrary to popular belief, software development isn’t just a Silicon Valley thing. Mexico has exploded onto the tech scene with game-changing companies creating software across the full spectrum of industries.
With a rapidly growing talent pool and shared timezone, these companies can easily integrate into your day-to-day processes, save you money, and deliver top-quality software. When it comes to software development, Mexico stands tall by helping engineers and devs accomplish some truly remarkable tech innovations.
1. Scio
Founded in 2003, Scio’s passion for creating world-class software combined with their desire to provide a full lifecycle approach earned them a Top 10 Places to Code award, a 5-Star Web App Development Services review from Liveli Enterprises, Top Software Development Companies Of 2020 according to DesignRush.Microsoft, AT&T, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield are just a few of the Fortune 500 companies that trust Scio to deliver their software needs. Scio’s specialty is working with established companies looking to augment their staff or scale-up existing software. Whatever your needs, Scio has the development team in place to quickly bring it to market, within budget, and precisely to your specifications.
The Scio Advantage:
Deep technical knowledge and experience that scales with your business. True agility in the form of real-time collaboration and faster review cycles. Flexible engagement models to help you build and support your application in unique ways. High-performance collaboration with aligned goals so both teams can achieve greatness.
Services:
- Staff Augmentation
- Custom Software Development
- Software Testing & QA
- Mobile & Web Development
- Maintenance & Support
Customer Quote:
“Scio offers a team of well-vetted, professional developers. In addition to being timely and proactive in their approach, their unique backgrounds make for a professional relationship and improved outcomes. They continue to be a great long-term partner.” — Manuel Romero
Website — Twitter — Case Studies
2. PSL Corp
Self-described “purpose-led” software development company that aims to provide top quality agile development services nearshore in Mexico and Latin America. They are Colombia based with four offices there and have satellite offices in Mexico City and New York City.
Services:
- Agile Custom Software Development
- IT Outsourcing
- Comprehensive Outsourcing of Quality Assurance Support
- DevOps Transition
- Cloud Architecture Design and Implementation
- Software Reengineering
Customer Quote:
“They have an advanced software development process, and I like the fact that they are an employee-centric company like we are. Their reliability, quality, and technical ability is excellent” — Tom Holt
Website — Twitter
3. BairesDev
A San Francisco based technology solutions and software development company founded by developers back in 2009. They recognized a wealth of IT talent growing in Latin America and quickly expanded operations to Argentina, Columbia, Brazil, and Mexico. Their mission is to help get companies talent they need at the right time so they can scale quickly. Time to market is something critical to their core values.
Services:
- Custom Software Development
- Software Testing & QA
- Cloud Computing
- Mobile & Web Development
- Maintenance & Support
- Blockchain Consulting
Customer Quote:
“BairesDev has helped us develop a secure bitcoin-based cryptocurrency platform with engineers that are qualified and proficient in crypto. We are extremely satisfied with their collaboration and achievement. We are happy to have given BairesDev a chance to earn our trust” — Willie Wang
Website — Twitter
4. Unosquare, LLC
An Inc. 5,000 fastest-growing company, Unosquare bootstrapped their own growth on the idea that talent, transparency, quality, availability, flexibility, and value matter most. They have a global presence with offices in the US, UK, and Mexico and specialized in BFSI, life sciences, and high-tech industries.
Services:
- Software Development
- Technology Project Consulting
- Digital Transformation Strategies
Customer Quote:
“Not only did Unosquare give us solid guidance on the project, it innovated on its own” — Nick Cutillo
Website — Twitter
5. iTexico
ATX based iTexico bridges the gap between Mexico and Texas with their nearshore specialization. Founded in 2010, iTexico has found its footing through offering cheap labor and real-time collaboration. They advertise talent available “right now” and strive to make the hiring process as quick and painless as possible.
Services:
- Software Development Services
- UI/US Design
- QA
- Mobile
- Cloud
“The main impact was their speed and quality of delivery.” — Michael Baron
Website — Twitter
Summary
When looking for top-notch software development, Mexico has a world-class talent pool and the technical expertise you need to get your software developed on-time and under budget. You have many choices, but a review isn’t enough to find out if a company fits your budget, culture, and software vision. For that, you have to dig deeper and ask the right questions.
If you’re in the market for custom software, reach out to start a conversation with us.
Nearshore, Successful Outsourcing
When you’re toying with the idea of outsourcing software development outside of the US, Mexico may not be the first country that springs to mind. Especially considering that Southeast Asia has dominated the outsourcing market for over a decade thanks to its cheap labor force and predominantly young population.
However, cultural differences, language barriers, and time zone challenges are ongoing challenges when it comes to outsourcing, leaving US firms looking for alternatives. Despite the US media conjuring up various political agendas, Mexico has quietly grown its engineering workforce behind the scenes in an effort to position itself as a technology and software development heavyweight.
With the increasing participation of Mexican engineers in software development work, US companies are beginning to take notice. So we thought we would provide you with some guidelines for how to hire Mexican developers for your software projects:
Why Hire Mexican Developers?
Latin America has the second-highest growth rate of software developers in the world, and Mexico specifically has invested heavily in STEM programs. If you’re not familiar with STEM programs, it’s a curriculum built to educate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Mexican government also built over 140 new colleges, of which 120 now specialize in engineering and technology. Each year, thousands of information technology students graduate from universities across the country, such as the prestigious Tecnológico de Monterrey.
Mexico is simultaneously growing its English speaking population, which makes them a growing epicenter of highly sought-after job candidates.
How Do You Hire Mexican Developers?
Bring A Mexican Developer To The US
One route you can take is finding a Mexican software developer that wants to move to your location. If you’re in the US, you’ll need to adhere to USMCA, which is the United States-Mexico-Canda Agreement. It goes into effect on July 1st, 2020, and will act as a NAFTA 2.0 and facilitate an updated trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
When it comes to hiring for software development Mexico and Canada adhere to TN Visa requirements. The Visa is granted to those with qualified positions in one or more of sixty categories. Here are the steps:
- Ensure your role is a TN approved occupation. According to Nearshore Americas, the category “Engineer” includes software engineers.
- Offer the applicant a job. This step requires an official job offer letter and a contract term not to exceed three years. The offer letter must include start and end dates, salary, and job description on a company letterhead.
- Ensure the candidate meets TN education requirements. The applicant is required to prove they qualify for the minimum education requirements for the TN role. In most cases, this means a Baccalaureate or Licenciatura degree in a field related to the occupation.
- Assist the applicant in gathering all the necessary documents. Passport, signed job offer documents, diplomas and transcripts, equivalent studies letter, and a DS-160 application before booking the interview appointment.
- Apply and attend the interview at the US Embassy or consulate in Mexico. All documents must be submitted and any fees paid. Instructions for applying for a TN Visa can be found at the US Department Of State’s website.
- Upon approval, apply for admission at a Customs & Border Protection designated US port of entry. This depends on the applicant’s final destination.
Keep in mind, some of these steps may differ depending on your role, destination, and educational background. The US Embassy or consulate in Mexico will always have the most up-to-date information.
Hire A Nearshore Software Development Team
If dealing with immigration lawyers and consulate visits seems too much work, there is a faster, easier way to begin leveraging engineering talent in Mexico – that is, nearshore software development. This is outsourcing software development with a firm in Mexico rather than going through the arduous steps above to sponsor a job candidate. Instead, you can hire a vetted software development team to work remotely for you from Mexico.
Working with a Mexican software development team has several advantages, ranging from:
- Sharing time zones which makes it easy to integrate them into your day-to-day operations
- Considerably more affordable development compared to North American, European, and Australian developers
- More than 300 flights each day from major US cities to Mexico making it easy to visit them
- Cultural affinity and high professional standards
- All HR work (recruiting, benefits, vacation time management, etc.) is done for you by the firm you work with
Both routes have pros and cons, but if you need help sooner than later and need the power of a team versus an individual, then a nearshore software development team is the way to go.
Wrapping Up
If you’re looking for a software development team that works using an Agile process and offers a one-stop-shop for all your development needs, then consider us at Scio. Whether you’re a startup, a Fortune 500 company, or something in between, we’re ready to support your every software development need.
What are you waiting for? Contact us today.
