Vibe Coding, Job Searching Smarter, and What's Keeping Tech Leaders Up at Night

Welcome back to What's in Motion, your go-to newsletter for actionable insights and advice tailored to tech job seekers and hiring managers.

Every month we offer practical career tips, hiring strategies, industry trends, and more to help you navigate the ever-evolving tech landscape.

In this month's issue...

• The Vibe Coding Debate: Letting AI write code for you is easy, but is it always a good idea?
• Job Searching Smarter: Tips to go beyond applications and leverage connections for better opportunities.
• Traits of Top Dev Teams: The key qualities that drive success and innovation in development teams.
• What’s Keeping Tech Leaders Up at Night: The biggest challenges, from talent shortages to evolving cybersecurity threats.

What’s top of mind for our clients, customers, and event community members.

🔥 The hottest AI models, what they do, and how to use them [TechCrunch—7 mins] AI models are being released at a rapid pace, often with confusing technical benchmarks. This running list of the most advanced AI models released since 2024 cuts through the noise by breaking down the strengths and real-world impact of each.

💬 5 Interview Questions to Ask Tech Candidates to Help You Make the Right Hires [Motion Blog—5 mins]

Tech hiring keeps evolving, but one challenge stays the same: finding the right fit. The key? Asking the right interview questions to uncover problem-solving skills, adaptability, and long-term potential.

🌱 4 Ways to Help Senior Engineers Grow Toward Mastery [LeadDev—7 mins]

Senior engineers stay when they feel valued, supported, and challenged. Investing in their growth retains top talent and builds future leaders. As they grow, so does your organization’s ability to tackle challenges and inspire others.

💼 3 Trends Redefining the Workplace in 2025 [HR Daily Advisor—4 mins]

The 2025 workplace will be driven by AI, automation, and immersive tech, according to a new report, while flexibility and smart office design will be key to enticing employees back to the office. The challenge for leaders? Creating spaces that balance futuristic innovation with employee well-being.

The latest trends shaping the tech industry, from emerging innovations to must-know insights.

🔮 Will the future of software development run on vibes? [Ars Technica—15 mins]

Coding with vibes instead of precision? That’s the idea behind "vibe coding," where AI writes your code, and you just hope it works. It’s great for quick prototyping, but when it comes to real-world applications, blindly trusting AI-generated code could lead to major headaches down the line.

🛡️ Overcoming Cybersecurity Challenges in Agentic AI [Forbes—5 mins]

Agentic AI is making work smarter, but it's also making cybersecurity trickier. Threats like prompt injections, AI hallucinations, and adversarial attacks are exposing gaps in traditional security measures, forcing businesses to rethink their defenses.

🪩 Why ‘Nothing Happened’ During Y2K [IT Brew—6 mins]

Y2K could have been a disaster, instead it was a masterclass in preparation. Thanks to years of planning and code fixes, planes didn’t fall and banks didn’t crash, proving that large-scale coordination can work. If only modern cyber threats came with a countdown clock.

Connect, Learn, and Grow with Tech in Motion

Motion Recruitment is the proud creator of Tech in Motion , our event series dedicated to bringing the tech community together both virtually and in person. From networking meetups to expert panels and the annual Timmy Awards, we create spaces for tech professionals to connect, learn, and grow.

🎬 Watch the trailer below to see what it’s all about!

📅 Upcoming Event

Startup to Success: Visionary Cybersecurity Solutions from the Founders of Arlo Solutions

⏰ Wed. April 2 at 1 PM CT | 📍 Virtual Streaming

Tune in for an exclusive fireside chat with the founders of Arlo Solutions as they share their journey from startup to a trusted name in cybersecurity. Hear firsthand how they’ve tackled challenges, driven innovation, and transformed digital security for organizations worldwide.

Resources and insights for navigating the ever-changing tech job market.

🔎 For Job Seekers

Q: What can I do to boost my job search beyond just applying?

Answered by Andrew Slepitza , Executive Director at Motion Recruitment

️️🔸 Optimize Your Resume – You don’t need a resume-writing service, and it doesn’t have to be just one page. Ensure it’s well-formatted and highlights your responsibilities, impact, and technologies used. Integrate them into each role rather than just listing them in a summary section.

🔸 Reconnect with Past Managers – Check if they’re still willing to be a reference and ask for a LinkedIn recommendation. Meet up for coffee or a virtual chat since they might have opportunities or connections that can help.

🔸 Leverage Your Former Colleagues – Reach out to past coworkers you’ve lost touch with. Many companies offer referral programs, so a simple reconnection could benefit both you and them.

🔸 Engage Beyond Applying – After applying, message the job poster directly. Briefly express your interest, explain why you’re a strong fit, and ask if they’re open to a conversation.

🔸 Sharpen Your Interview Skills – Interviewing is like a muscle that needs regular exercise. Practice coding tests, review every technology on your resume, and brush up on concepts to avoid being caught off guard.

👀 Psst… keep an eye on our blog for a deeper dive into this topic soon!

💼 For Hiring Managers

7 Key Traits of High-Performing Dev Teams

Great development teams don’t happen by accident. They’re built with the right mix of leadership, culture, and strategy. Here are seven key traits that set top teams apart:

1️⃣ They set the standard by identifying teams that consistently outperform and learning from their best practices.

2️⃣ They define clear S.M.A.R.T. goals to keep their team focused and aligned.

3️⃣ They are empowered to make decisions around tools, workflows, and priorities to enhance agility and adaptability.

4️⃣ They trust each other, embracing open communication and accountability to create an environment where they can thrive.

5️⃣ They never stop learning, leveraging ongoing training and skill development to stay sharp and ready for what’s next.

6️⃣ They collaborate seamlessly by using the right tools and transparent communication to fuel innovation and teamwork.

7️⃣ They embrace recognition, staying motivated and engaged by celebrating wins, big and small.

🔗 Ready to take your dev team to the next level? Read the full article here.

Tech industry and job market insights at a glance.

🗣️ Quote

“I feel I have the responsibility in making sure that this AI chapter of humanity doesn’t result in something built by the few for many, but it’s built by the many for the many.”

-Francesco Marzoni, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Ikea on what keeps him up at night. [What’s keeping technology leaders up at night?]

📈 Stat

Leaders no longer doubt the transformative potential of data science and AI, yet more than 57% of companies struggle to build a data-driven culture. [Building a Data-Driven Culture: Four Key Elements]

💰 Salary Range

Computer Vision Engineer | $145,000 - $218,750  [Data Engineering Trends and Top 3 Paying Jobs for 2025]

That’s all for this edition of What's in Motion—be sure to share and subscribe to be notified when our next issue drops. Until then...

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