The demand for software engineers is increasing. With projections pointing towards a global population of software developers reaching almost 30 million this year, it’s clear that this field is experiencing exponential growth. Europe houses around 6.1 million software developers, making up 22% of the global population. Despite this growth, the tech industry faces a pressing issue: A shortage of skilled software engineers. Just like yourself. Yes, layoffs in tech are making headlines in 2024, but some companies still need talent.

In this context, going through the European job market as a software engineer is an exciting opportunity. We’re featuring the best places to find software engineering jobs.

How do companies approach hiring software engineers?

Companies face challenges filling vacancies, with over 50% of companies in the European Union struggling to find skilled IT professionals. While the European software developer population is rising, it struggles to keep pace with the surging demand. The need for developers is at an all-time high, as European companies are actively recruiting talent from outside the continent to bridge the gap. Some companies rely on allies such as WeAreDevelopers — that’s us! — to find the top talent. We’re the #1 developer community in Europe, so if you want to find a software engineering position at the best companies in Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom and more, you can get started on our job boards.

General job platforms with software engineering jobs

Here are three widely used platforms that should help you find software engineering jobs:

• LinkedIn - with over 700 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is vast. It’s so widespread that there are sometimes conflicting views about squeezing its potential out. Some will say that to land a job, you’ll need to post constantly, so recruiters get word of your profile. Others say job offers will flock to your inbox once you put together a very specific description with the right keyword, even if you never post a selfie hustling with Java code. LinkedIn is very general in scope, and it’s not primarily designed for software engineers.

• Indeed - Indeed is a job search platform offering countless job postings across almost any industry. It lists blue-collar and white-collar jobs alike and could feature a position as an assistant intern for a local newspaper just next to the software engineering job you’re looking for. It’s global but heavily marketed in the United States. It’s across-the-board and convenient for recruiters who need to interview candidates quickly to show they’re working on the new hires, but it may not be especially apt for finding a good match between a tech manager and a software engineer.

• Hired - Hired is a job marketplace for tech workers and salespeople. The upside is that it narrows down its audience to those two big groups, making it more convenient to find engineering jobs than Indeed. It lets you take programming skills assessments — which the developer community outright hates, though — and has a handy dashboard for checking on your interview requests or profile views. Now, salespeople are known for inflating their profiles and achievements (“That company grew 100% while I worked there, thanks to my work at the office,” even if the gentleman saying it was in the copy machine all day long), so, as a programmer, you’ll need to understand if recruiters are constantly double-checking your background information.

The Best Job Search Websites of 2024 →

Specialised tech platforms for software engineering jobs

• Arc.dev - a well-established company that vets candidates before offering them to companies. They’re also focused on marketers and designers, which makes sense from a full-stack developer perspective, but scrolling through their site makes it clear you could land a software engineering job as well.

• Landing.jobs - another job board that even offers opportunities for relocation. Their job ads are limited, which is usually a good sign because otherwise, it could look like ad stuffing. One quirk is that they hold many hiring companies confidential, making it difficult to understand if the posting suits you.

• Honeypot - a well-known resource for software engineers in Germany. It’s not exactly a job board where you can check open postings. Rather than that, you undergo a “reverse-hiring” process where the platform vets you and shops around for your next employer. So it could be time-consuming. It does match developers with top companies, though.

Careers landing pages

One of the watershed moments for all jobseekers is realising the landing page where companies copy and paste their job openings is called Careers. So list down the companies you’d like to work for or those you suspect are looking for engineers and head to their site. Then Ctrl+F their Careers page and look for keywords like engineer or software.

If you find a position that works for you, you’ll probably be asked for your CV and… a cover letter. The unfortunate news is that, most likely, no one will read it, but that’s the way this method works. Recruiters usually work with software called ATS that screens your resume for keywords and helps you make it to the next stage based on that detail. So if the company’s massive, you better consider giving your application a nudge by connecting with a referral. Referral candidates are four times more likely to secure employment than their counterparts who apply through conventional channels. We’ll review it now.

For Reverse Engineering Purposes: How to Detect if a Candidate is Using ChatGPT →

Tapping into personal connections and referrals

Networking is a cornerstone of success in the tech industry. It’s key to take the time to build a network: 85% of jobs are filled through networking channels, and up to 70% of job openings are never even published publicly on job sites.

This is where referrals come in. Employers strongly favour those candidates who come through employee referral programs, with 88% rating them as the most effective source of applicants. 

Here are some networking initiatives you can take to increase your chances of landing a job:

• Ask for referrals - ask your personal and professional connections for referrals to job openings or introductions to key decision-makers in companies you’re interested in.

• Check if you know someone at the company you’ve applied to - getting an internal push helps. Usually, you should research this before you apply, but it’s not too late if you’ve just realised it.

• Attend industry events - participate in tech conferences, meetups, and networking events to expand your network and stay updated on opportunities in the field.

• Reach out to in-house recruiters - just remember to try to stick out. Everyone else is doing this.

Why Professional Networking is Important →

Targeting startups and small businesses

Startups and small businesses offer great opportunities for tech professionals to make a significant impact and contribute to projects from the ground up.

Targeting a small business and getting a reply could be potentially easier than applying to a gigantic company because you’ll probably be dealing with people and not with ATS machines. Of course, calling it “easy” is a matter of context. It could also be more complicated because you’ll reach their inbox, but they might be more strict than an HR trainee. 

So, if you’re going down this road, be mindful of the founder’s time. If the company’s bootstrapped, they will be picky about whom they’ll add to their payroll. It is very costly for them to get money, and they’ll let you know. If you won’t be heavily committed (and it’s okay not to be so) and you’ll be overemployed, maybe sit out of this one. 

You can also check small companies at startup aggregators. Y Combinator famously has onen where it pools every company it has invested in, but it’s unclear if startups run their software engineering ads there. Anecdotal evidence leaves a mixed message. You can also explore specialised platforms like topstartups.io and breakoutlist.com, which curate lists of top startups and emerging companies, and get in touch. Or, you can always participate in events. 

Startup events

• WeAreDevelopers World Congress – Not strictly a startup event, but, 8000 companies will be there in July 2024. Sign up now!

• ViennaUp Startup Festival - Brings together startups, investors, and industry experts for workshops and pitch sessions.

• Startup Grind - A global community regularly hosts events featuring entrepreneurs and investors in various locations.

• TechBBQ - An annual startup and tech summit held in Copenhagen, where startups, investors, and industry professionals come together to explore business opportunities.

• Slush - a startup and tech conference held in Helsinki that attracts a global audience and provides a platform for startups to gain exposure and participate in pitch competitions.

• EU Startup Summit - a summit held in Barcelona that brings together startups, investors, and experts across Europe.

Find a Software Engineering job with WeAreDevelopers

Software engineers are so demanded that you could land a job through any of these sites. That’s the optimistic view. But if you want to find an excellent match, a specialised platform will help you cut corners to that goal.

At WeAreDevelopers, we are dedicated to growing Europe’s extensive community of software developers and IT professionals, connecting this talent pool with leading companies across the continent. 

With access to exclusive job listings, tech talks, and events, our platform is designed to support your professional growth every step of the way. Whether you’re looking for your next career move or seeking to expand your network within the tech community, WeAreDevelopers is here to help you. Join our platform today and take advantage of the wealth of resources and opportunities available to you.