🎙️ Beyond the CV: From the UK to the US - Real Talk for Job Seekers | With Tatyana Arbouzova | Ep.13

Two voices. Two perspectives. One mission: cutting through the noise of today’s job market.

In this episode, myself and Tatyana Arbouzova go across the pond to compare what’s really happening in tech hiring on both sides of the Atlantic. Is the US job market as tough as the UK right now? Are candidates facing the same challenges - or are there key differences in how companies hire, what they value, and how job seekers can stand out?

Expect straight talk, lived experience, and practical advice from both a recruiter’s desk and a career adviser’s corner. From automation bias to AI’s impact on hiring, from CV storytelling to building authentic networks, this is the real-world guidance job seekers need to navigate a crowded, competitive market.

No fluff. No jargon. Just honest insights to help you move beyond the CV and into your next opportunity.

🎧 Available now on all major platforms under The Optimal Hype Show.

Engineering‑Led Quality: The End of Dedicated QA? | With Michael Kitchen | Ep.12 - is live!

This one’s a big one - I’m joined by Michael Kitchen, Engineering Manager, for a deep dive into how projects are delivered when engineering takes the lead on quality.

We explore:

• Are dedicated QA roles becoming a thing of the past?

• How engineering‑led quality changes the way teams work

• The realities of delivering projects in fast‑moving environments

• What testers, developers, and leaders can do to adapt and thrive

Michael brings sharp insights from the engineering side, and we dig into how to build quality in from day one - not bolt it on at the end.

If you’re involved in projects, leading teams, or shaping quality strategy, this episode is packed with takeaways you can put into practice right now.

The Optimal Hype Show. Ep.12. Streaming now.

The Gary Gang Chronicles: Rebranding Manual Testing | With Gary Hawkes | Ep.11

Two Garys. One name. Zero idea how we got here - but we’re owning it.

In this episode, we dive head‑first into rebranding manual testing for the modern era: how to ditch outdated perceptions, highlight its strategic value, and show why it still has a place alongside automation in a high‑performing tech stack.

Along the way, we inevitably end up swapping name stories, because when you’re both called Gary, you can’t not.

It’s straight‑talk, experience‑led, and aimed at anyone who thinks manual testing is “just clicking around”. Spoiler: it’s not.

Raw convo. No fluff. All Gary.

🎧 Now streaming on all platforms.

A breakdown of the show complete with time markers for the shufflers:

🕒 0:00 – Introduction to Gary & Manual Testing & QE

🕒 04:35 – Busting Automation bias and Its Impact

🕒 09:49 – The Role of AI in Testing & Recruitment

🕒 13:14 – Rebranding Testing: UQE and TQU

🕒 16:23 – How Would You Write a Job Ad Without Using The Word Manual

🕒 18:21 – Leadership Lessons and Team Dynamics

🕒 19:10 – The Importance of Collaboration

🕒 22:01 – The GARY Extinction Awareness Campaign

🕒 24:53 – The QA Hype Quick Fire Q&A Round

🕒 27:02 – Wrap & Key Takeaways

Your support as always means the world to me – thank you for being part of this journey! 🙌 See you next time for more QA, Engineering and Tech insights and community stories.