The Legit Baines Blog

A Tale of Two Job Specifications  👍👎 Recently I came across two job specifications for roles that were broadly related to data and information systems . On the surface they looked similar enough, both requiring analytical thinking, technical skills and the ability to support organisational objectives. However, once I started reading them closely, the difference in quality between the two documents became immediately obvious. One specification was so vague that I found myself writing comments all over it in red, while the other provided genuine insight into the role and the technologies involved. It was a perfect example of how a well-written job specification can help both employers and candidates. The first job specification described the responsibilities of a Senior Analyst role. It contained plenty of corporate language about supporting stakeholders, analysing data, promoting service improvement and contributing to organisational objectives. While none of these requirements we...

  Building Micropython Tools: MyHelperCode MyHelperCode MyHelperCode/Gist One of the biggest barriers for new programmers is not necessarily understanding programming concepts, but repeatedly having to rewrite the same small utility functions every time they start a new project. That is one of the main reasons I created MyHelperCode , a reusable Python library designed to simplify common programming tasks and make development more accessible for people who are still learning. Instead of wasting time rewriting boilerplate logic , developers can focus on understanding the bigger picture and solving real problems. The project itself is hosted publicly on GitHub as part of my wider focus on creating practical, approachable tools for developers, students and technical hobbyists. MyHelperCode contains reusable helper functions aimed at streamlining day-to-day development tasks, particularly for automation , data handling and lightweight processing workflows. The overall goal is not to...

  Why Passion and Personal Investment Create Better Problem Solvers One of the biggest mistakes organisations make when hiring is focusing entirely on technical ability while overlooking whether the person actually cares about the problems they are being asked to solve. Technical skills are important, but genuine investment in the outcome is often what separates average employees from exceptional ones. A person who emotionally connects with the purpose behind the work will naturally go further, think deeper and stay motivated for longer than someone who simply sees the role as a pay cheque. This becomes especially important in analytical and technical roles. For example, if a company is hiring a data analyst to work with information related to medical conditions, ideally they should look for someone who genuinely cares about helping people affected by those conditions. A technically skilled analyst may be able to produce dashboards and reports, but someone who is personally invest...

  The Pitfalls, Opportunities and Best Practices of Starting Your Own IT Start-Up Starting your own IT start-up can be one of the most exciting and rewarding challenges you will ever undertake, but it is also one of the easiest ways to burn through time, money and energy if you approach it without a realistic plan. Many people enter the technology sector believing that having a good idea is enough, when in reality a successful start-up is built on execution, resilience and the ability to solve real-world problems consistently. The modern IT industry offers huge opportunities in areas such as cloud computing , cyber security , AI , automation, accessibility software and embedded systems, but competition is fierce and customers have become far more demanding. The first lesson every founder learns is that technology alone is not enough; you must also understand people, communication, finance and long-term sustainability. One of the biggest pitfalls for new founders is building a pr...

  From Litter to Legacy: A Year in Page Hall There are moments in life when recognition arrives quietly, almost unexpectedly, and yet it carries the weight of everything that came before it. Being awarded the Community Champion Award by Sheffield City Council was one of those moments. It wasn’t just a certificate in a frame, it was a reflection of a year spent working, often unseen, in one of the most challenged areas of Page Hall. Page Hall is known for its difficulties. It’s often described in terms of deprivation , but that word doesn’t quite capture the full picture. It’s a place full of people, stories, and potential but also a place where neglect can easily take hold. Over time, litter builds up, spaces lose their care, and the environment starts to reflect the hardship faced by those living there. That’s where I found my purpose. The work itself wasn’t glamorous. There were no big announcements or media coverage just consistent effort. Picking up rubbish. Clearing neglecte...

Why Giving Advice Is Easier Than Doing the Work (Especially in IoT and Embedded Systems) ☝☝☝☝ It’s something I’ve become increasingly aware of while working on technical projects: giving advice is often far easier than actually doing the work. On the surface, a suggestion can sound simple, logical, and even obvious. But once you’re the person responsible for implementing it, the reality quickly becomes more complicated. This gap between theory and practice is something every developer eventually encounters, and it’s particularly noticeable in hands-on fields like IoT and embedded systems . When someone isn’t directly involved in a project, they don’t carry the same constraints. They’re not dealing with the specific hardware limitations, firmware quirks, time pressures, or integration challenges that define the day-to-day reality of the work. As a result, their advice can be well-intentioned but disconnected from what is actually achievable. It’s easy to recommend a clean solution whe...

  Cuthbert Baines Is Finally Ready Willing and Able to Relocate   🚚🚚🚚 For many new graduates in computing, software engineering, or data analytics, the moment of graduation is both exciting and intimidating. The world of technology offers enormous opportunity, but it also demands flexibility, persistence, and sometimes a willingness to go where the opportunities are. Increasingly, graduates are discovering that relocation can be one of the most powerful ways to accelerate the start of a career in the IT sector. Being open to moving cities can expose young professionals to larger job markets, stronger industry clusters, and networks of companies actively searching for new talent. 💪💪💪 One of the greatest advantages of relocating as a new IT graduate is simple economics: bigger technology hubs naturally contain more companies, more vacancies, and more specialisations. Digital technology employment across the UK has grown rapidly in recent years, with tech jobs expanding r...

 Reintroducing Cuthbert Baines For New People In His Network As a recent IT graduate I'm new to the IT industry so I don't have the kinds of professional connections I need to be given a head-start, I'm one of the many new IT graduates applying for the relatively few  graduate jobs out there.  I am prioritising my personal and professional development right now.  I wish I had gone to University 20 years ago but for reasons outside my control I was written off at 16 so I missed out.  I don't give up easily up so I finally went to Hallam University when I was 35 and got a 2.1 in computing in 2025, now I'm willing to go the extra mile and do what needs to be done to make up for lost time!  I had to get a job when I was 18 so I've got the professionalism, life experience and wisdom of a (late) 30-something who's worked his entire adult life combined with the youthful intellectual energy of an explorer and a pioneer new to the IT sector with his own fresh innov...

 Becoming an IT Graduate as a Mature Student: The Reality No One Talks About Going to university as a mature student was one of the hardest and most rewarding things I’ve ever done. Studying IT later in life meant juggling responsibilities, self-doubt, and the pressure of starting again in a completely new industry. Graduating felt like a huge achievement. But stepping into the job market as a new IT graduate who isn’t new to work at all came with its own set of challenges. What I quickly realised is that breaking into IT as a mature graduate isn’t just about technical skills. It’s about confidence, reframing experience, and learning how to tell your story in a way employers understand. Sheffield Hallam University Challenging the Assumptions of Employers and Recruiters One of the first hurdles I encountered was assumption. There’s a quiet expectation in some recruitment processes that a “graduate” is young, fresh out of university, and at the very start of their working life. ...

  My Multi-project Method I have developed a method for dealing with procrastination and I have named it “My Multi-project Method”.   🕐🕑🕒🕓🕔🕕🕖🕗🕘🕙🕚 I procrastinate on a project by working on a different project.  I will always do what needs to be done in time but if I’m leaving a task to the last possible moment then I may as make that time productive by working on one of my other projects.  If I’m avoiding my emails I’ll procrastinate on that task by updating my CV.  Whenever I’m working on my githubpages.io site I’ll make progress for a while before I hit a wall so instead of doing no work at all I’ll step back from that project to work on one of my Python based projects instead.  Sometimes stepping back from a project for a few days or even a week can give me a better perspective on it when I get back into working on it. 📤📥📤📥📠📟📡💾💽💻💻💻💻💻💻 My current projects include: Working with PostgreSQL Databases. My Python based imperial u...

 💻💻💻 Staying health- and safety-aware can be surprisingly difficult when your job keeps you glued to a screen, focused on reports, dashboards, and deadlines. These simple but effective tips will help you protect your wellbeing while maintaining productivity. 1. Prioritize Proper Desk Ergonomics 💺💺💺 Set up your chair, monitor, and keyboard so your body stays in a neutral, supported position—this reduces strain on your neck, shoulders, and back. 2. Follow the 20-20-20 Rule for Eye Health Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce eye strain from extended screen time. 3. Take Scheduled Micro-Breaks Short, regular breaks improve your comfort and concentration—set reminders to stand, stretch, or walk for a minute or two. 4. Keep Your Workspace Clutter-Free A tidy area prevents trip hazards, spilled drinks on electronics, and the stress that comes from a chaotic environment. 5. Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day Drinking enough water keeps yo...