Category: Jira

Posted on

What is Jira Work Management? How is it Different from Jira Software?

technically proficient atlassian contractor working on two monitors using VScode

As more organisations recognise the benefits of using the full Atlassian stack, many are faced with plenty of choices as far as project management is concerned. Atlassian’s Jira suite offers two reputable, scalable and powerful options: Jira Software and Jira Work Management. Teams across all industries and sizes have widely adopted these two tools, notable for their ability to track and manage workloads effectively.

While there are some similarities and overlaps between these two tools, it’s important to highlight them so you can make an informed decision about which one best suits your organisation. 

Jira has been a recommended go-to project management solution for organisations, but with the introduction of Jira Work Management, Atlassian has expanded its product range to cater to a wider range of teams with diverse requirements. Understanding the key capabilities and features of and differences between these two products can help you ensure you choose one that maximises productivity and ensures seamless and smooth workflows across the organisation. 

What is Jira Software?

Jira Software is tailored for software development teams and those practising Agile methodologies. Its core features include:

    • Agile boards (Scrum and Kanban)
    • Sprint planning tools
    • Backlog management
    • Roadmaps
    • Detailed reporting and burndown charts

Jira Software supports technical projects, offering robust integration with development tools and providing features specifically designed for tracking code changes, releases, and sprints.

What is Jira Work Management?

Jira Work Management, on the other hand, is designed for non-technical teams and organisations of varying sizes. Its key features include:

    • User-friendly task management
    • Timelines for visualising project schedules
    • Resource planning
    • Forms for easy task creation
    • Customisable workflows

This product is known for its flexibility, allowing teams from marketing, HR, finance, and other departments to manage their projects efficiently without the complexity of software development-specific features.

Key Differences Between Jira Software and Jira Work Management

User interface and UX: Jira Software’s interface is optimised for development workflows, which may feel complex for non-technical users. Jira Work Management offers a more intuitive, business-orientated interface that’s easier for teams to navigate, particularly if they are not in a technical function.

Workflow customisation: While both products allow for workflow customisation, Jira Work Management provides simpler, pre-configured templates for common business processes. Jira Software offers more advanced customisation options suited for complex development cycles.

Reporting and analytics: Jira Software provides in-depth agile metrics and burndown charts. Jira Work Management focuses on simpler, business-oriented reports that track progress and status rather than development-specific metrics.

Integration capabilities: Jira Software boasts extensive integrations with development tools like Bitbucket and Bamboo. Jira Work Management integrates well with business tools but may need some of the developer-specific integrations.

Views: Jira Software boards offer swimlanes and quick filters, but in JWM you can also plan and prepare for upcoming events in different views, namely list, calendar, board or timeline views. 

Choosing the Right Jira Product for Your Team

Consider the following factors when selecting between Jira Software and Jira Work Management for your organisation. 

If your team works in a Jira cloud environment and is not entirely comprised of developers or scrum masters, then Jira Work Management would be a more scalable and suitable solution for your organisation. Featuring easy collaboration options and easy-to-update attributes, it offers a more comprehensive project management tool.

If you are more familiar with Jira as a tool, and need to structure your projects in more of a ‘product’ composition rather than a ‘team’ one, connecting tasks to a Jira Software project with Kanban or Scrum boards in a more Agile way would be ideal.

Ask yourself the following questions:

    • Are you primarily a development team or a business unit?
    • Do you need advanced agile features or simpler task management?
    • What other tools does your team use regularly?
    • How might your needs evolve as your team or organisation grows?

Jira Software may be best suited to:

    • Software development teams following agile methodologies
    • Teams requiring Git integration
    • DevOps professionals working in various CI/CD pipelines
    • Complex, multi-sprint projects
    • Advanced tools for releasing and tracking multiple software releases

Jira Project Management would be ideal for:

    • Cross-functional teams working on projects with multiple dependencies
    • Teams requiring easy cross-departmental collaboration and communication
    • Smaller and less complex projects
    • Teams needing a scalable project management solution

The Role of Expertise in Jira Implementation and Management

Regardless of which Jira product you choose, having skilled professionals to implement and manage your Jira environment is crucial. This is where ClearHub’s expertise comes into play. As specialists in technical contractor recruitment, ClearHub can connect you with experienced Jira administrators, consultants, and developers who can:

    • Set up and customise your Jira instance to match your team’s unique workflows
    • Integrate Jira with your existing tech stack
    • Train your team on best practices for using Jira effectively
    • Optimise your Jira setup for maximum efficiency and scalability

Whether you need short-term support for Jira migration or long-term expertise to manage and evolve your Jira environment, ClearHub’s network of vetted contractors can provide the skills you need to succeed.

Hire Jira Experts For Your Business Today

Both Jira Software and Jira Work Management offer powerful project management capabilities, but they cater to different team needs. Jira Software remains the top choice for development teams deeply invested in Agile methodologies, while Jira Work Management provides a more accessible solution for business teams seeking to streamline their workflows.

When implementing either solution, consider leveraging expert support to ensure you’re making the most of Jira’s capabilities. ClearHub’s specialised Jira recruitment services can connect you with the right professionals, from Agile contractors to Scrum Masters – to guide your journey, whether you’re a tech-led startup or a large enterprise looking to enhance cross-departmental collaboration. 

Contact our Jira recruitment experts to find the best talent for your organisation today. 

Share this post

Posted on

Top Atlassian Technical Skills to Look Out for in 2025

technically proficient atlassian contractor working on two monitors using VScode

As organisations continue to leverage the powerful Atlassian stack and its suite of enterprise-grade collaboration and project management tools, the demand for skilled Atlassian experts grows. 

Entrusting such a wide array of tools to an in-house function is by no means impossible, but the only way to harness these tools’ true power and realise their benefits to the fullest is to find skilled Atlassian professionals. Hiring Atlassian contractors is a proactive short- and long-term workaround for businesses trying to scale their cloud and DevOps operations using this stack.

As such, enhancing your own skill set and staying one step ahead of the proverbial curve is vital for getting the most out of your Atlassian project management solution, particularly in this rapidly evolving digital space.

At ClearHub, we specialise in connecting organisations with top-tier Atlassian talent. Our extensive network of vetted cloud contractors – across all walks of life – allows us to identify the most sought-after technical skills in the Atlassian ecosystem. As we look towards 2025, here are the key technical competencies that we believe will be in high demand for Atlassian and related job roles.

Core Technical Skills and Requirements

Before delving into Atlassian-specific expertise, it’s important to highlight the foundational technical skills that form the basis of any proficient Atlassian professional:

    • Operating systems (OS): Proficiency in Windows and Linux environments (including permissions, system folders, configurations and more) is crucial, as Atlassian tools can be deployed on various platforms.
    • Coding languages: A foundational understanding of HTML and CSS is essential for customising and troubleshooting Atlassian applications.
    • Server-side scripting and programming: JavaScript, jQuery, Python and Java skills are invaluable for extending Atlassian tool functionality and automating tasks.
    • Database management: Knowledge and experience with relational databases like MySQL, Microsoft Server and others (like Atlassian-owned Jira) will be required for data migration analysis or troubleshooting on-premise environments.
    • Authentication and directory services: Familiarity with LDAP and Active Directory is important for user management and security configuration.
    • Version control: Git proficiency is a must, especially for roles involving Bitbucket or integrating version control with other Atlassian tools.
    • HTTP: Understanding PUT, POST, GET, HTTP Headers and HTTP Body will be vital if integrating Atlassian and Jira tools into the broader business ecosystem.
    • API integration: Understanding REST is crucial for decoding APIs and connecting Atlassian products with other enterprise systems.
    • Cloud technologies: As more organisations migrate to the cloud (including Atlassian Cloud), expertise in cloud infrastructure and SaaS models will prove increasingly valuable.

Specific Technical Skills for Atlassian Specialists

Building upon these core technical skills, here are some Atlassian-centric qualities that will be particularly in demand in 2025 across the brand’s wider suite of tools.

Jira 

      • JQL (Jira Query Language) skills for complex searches and reporting
      • Custom workflow design and optimisation
      • The configuration and management of custom fields

Confluence 

      • Developing macros for improved content accessibility and functionality
      • Template creation for standardised documentation
      • Integration with other Atlassian and third-party tools

Bitbucket 

Atlassian Cloud Migration 

      • Top-level migration planning and execution strategies
      • Cloud security and compliance standards
      • Performance optimisation for cloud infrastructure

Atlassian Data Centre 

      • Setup of disaster recovery processes
      • Load balancing and performance tuning

Atlassian APIs 

      • Proficiency in REST APIs
      • Scripting using Groovy or Python
      • Understanding Atlassian Script Runner

Agile and Project Management

      • Implementation of Agile frameworks within Atlassian tools
      • Configuration of Scrum boards in Jira
      • Deploying project management best practices with Atlassian workflows

The Importance of Soft Skills

While technical Atlassian skills are important to assess as more qualified talent available for hire put their names forward, it’s vital to not overlook soft skills. 

During any discussions with prospective Atlassian candidates available for hire, consider the following:

      • Communication skills where issues can be verbally conveyed comfortably
      • The ability to relay information coherently to others based on their technical knowledge and proficiency
      • Problem-solving skills to address complex Atlassian configuration issues
      • Flexibility to keep pace with new updates, features, and patches
      • Working collaboratively and effectively with cross-functional teams
      • Logical and critical thinking skills to set expectations with stakeholders clearly
      • Excellent listening skills to decisively isolate problems and provide reassurance
      • Solid organisational skills to balance multiple technical and non-technical tasks simultaneously

Hire Top-Quality Atlassian Contractors Today

With Atlassian tools and solutions being widely embraced by more organisations as they try to scale their operations, finding the right talent with the right mix of technical skills and experience can be challenging. Considering the widening skills gap affecting many organisations facing technical shortcomings or difficulties, finding the best possible Atlassian specialists is a priority for many.

This is where partnering with a specialist Atlassian recruitment agency like ClearHub can make all the difference. Our deep understanding of the Atlassian ecosystem, combined with our vast talent pool of pre-vetted contractors, enables us to match organisations with the ideal candidates for their specific needs. 

Whether you require a Jira administrator, a Confluence developer, or a full-stack Atlassian expert, ClearHub can help you find the right fit. Our comprehensive vetting process ensures that all Atlassian candidates hold not just the necessary technical abilities but also the soft skills to fit seamlessly into your team and quickly add value.

Understanding these in-demand skills is vital for making more informed hiring decisions and staying competitive in the market. It’s clear that the demand for this talent shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, which is why the Atlassian recruitment experts at ClearHub will be happy to help you navigate the complex process of recruitment and find you a perfect temporary or permanent job match.

To discuss your Atlassian staffing needs or to access our pool of skilled Atlassian contractors, contact ClearHub today.

Share this post

Posted on

Choosing The Right Atlassian Tools For Project Management

atlassian logo on laptop screen

For companies seeking to streamline project management through enterprise-grade collaboration tools, Atlassian offers a robust suite like no other. Atlassian project management solutions are designed to increase visibility, automate processes, and enhance team productivity, making them a worthwhile investment for organisations looking to make their workflows more efficient.

However, with several tools under the Atlassian umbrella – Jira, Confluence, Trello, Crucible, FishEye and more – choosing the right one(s) for your unique project management needs can be challenging. Furthermore, simply deploying these tools isn’t enough; to get the most out of them, you invariably need the help of skilled personnel who understand how to leverage one or more to help your organisation achieve its goals.

This guide introduces a few of the key Atlassian project management tools and their ideal use cases. More importantly, it illustrates why sourcing skilled Atlassian contractors, consultants, engineers and other talent through a specialist recruitment partner like ClearHub is key to helping you unlock true long-term value.

Jira – Driving Agile Project Delivery 

Jira is widely renowned as the go-to tool for accelerating agile software development that adopts Agile approaches. Jira has evolved into an all-inclusive comprehensive work management solution that helps companies streamline workflows and improve productivity, while tracking bugs and issues.

Its simple, intuitive user interface boasts an array of powerful features ideal for project managers requiring customisation and flexibility:

      • Comprehensive visibility into project progress via Scrum boards, roadmaps, reports, and customisable and configurable dashboards
      • Native support for agile frameworks like Kanban through templated workflows
      • Next-gen capabilities like automating manual processes and managing incidents using no-code rules
      • Integration with Bitbucket, the Atlassian Git-based code and CI/CD optimisation too

While originally tailored for software development teams, Jira’s flexibility makes it suitable for numerous business departments for consistent, transparent project execution and resource management. That said, properly implementing Jira to drive expected business results requires skilled Jira developers, consultants, and trainers who are well-versed in areas like:

      • Developing and streamlining workflows through carefully configured whiteboards that provide complete visibility
      • Empowering software and IT teams to manage incidents and provide ongoing maintenance
      • Leveraging Jira’s integration capabilities to create centralised toolchains for software delivery
      • Training your teams on the best ways to use and learn Jira for project management

Confluence – Next-Level Knowledge Sharing 

An often overlooked but crucial ingredient in successful project delivery is transparent communication and knowledge sharing. Atlassian’s wiki collaboration platform Confluence empowers teams to organise and share files, ideas, documents, and project plans, and exchange information.

While Confluence excels as a dynamic wiki and knowledge hub, it truly shines when coupled with complementary Atlassian tools like Jira and Bitbucket. When deployed and utilised correctly, teams can create interconnected, self-documenting workflows where project audit trails become more visible. Benefits include (but are not limited to):

      • Seamless integration of Confluence pages, blogs, and spaces into Jira issue management
      • In-context collaboration via in-line comments, mentions and visual editing
      • Robust content management through categories, labels, and tags
      • Easy incorporation of wireframes, requirements, diagrams, and multimedia into central team spaces

However, achieving maximum value out of Confluence often requires guidance around template and blueprint design, content modelling, and training teams on best practices. Finding the right Confluence expert can be tricky, whether you’re looking for a migration expert to deploy Confluence as your go-to management system or you need a Confluence developer to refine your incumbent setup. This is where hiring an experienced Confluence contractor can help you achieve your short- and long-term goals with this powerful tool.

Hire Atlassian, Jira and Confluence Contractors to Give You Maximum Value

While the Atlassian suite provides exceptional project delivery capabilities, there can be a steep learning curve when it comes to proper implementation and adoption. 

Without relevant expertise, teams run the risk of:

      • Underutilising the tools’ full process automation capabilities
      • Improperly integrating disparate Atlassian solutions into cohesive toolchains
      • Developing gaps in governance or content modelling
      • Failing to establish scalable operating models that can be adapted as needs evolve
      • Low user engagement, productivity dips, and inability to achieve expected ROI

This is where the value of trusted, niche Atlassian talent providers like ClearHub proves invaluable. As an accredited Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner and dedicated Atlassian recruitment agency with over 2 decades of experience, ClearHub has access to a broad talent pool of pre-vetted, enterprise-grade consultants all over the world.

Whether you need certified Jira administrators to deploy and optimise custom CI/CD pipelines for DevOps teams, Confluence training managers to coach on knowledge best practices, or Agile architects to align complex projects with strategic goals, ClearHub can find the right Atlassian talent to take the stress away from you. 

Our Atlassian recruitment specialists can quickly match you with shortlisted contractors and freelancers who we firmly believe will be valuable assets to your team. Having‌ instant access to accredited and experienced Atlassian, Jira, or Confluence talent can fast-track your organisation into achieving the most out of these proven, enterprise-grade tools.

Contact ClearHub today to discuss your Atlassian vacancy and let us find dedicated contractors who can quickly fit into your team and add value to your organisation.

Share this post

Posted on

Questions to Ask When Interviewing Jira Contractors

handshake

For organisations using Atlassian’s Jira project management tool, enlisting expert Jira contractors is often essential for maximising productivity and return on investment. Any tool under the Atlassian umbrella can benefit by having the input and expertise of a specialist in tow, but integrating Jira across an organisation is easier said than done. However, with the help of well-trained, capable Jira experts, organisations can keep workflows and CI/CD pipelines intact while reaping all the benefits of this inclusive, innovative project management platform.

Seasoned Jira specialists can administer the software proficiently, while also optimising it for custom business needs through tailored configurations, workflows, automation and more. Regardless of the complexity of an organisation’s incumbent setup, an experienced Jira contractor can diligently and methodically deploy the tool and its associated features to ensure optimal efficiency and maximum benefit for every firm. 

However, finding the right Jira contractors with specific knowledge bases can be challenging amid a limited talent pool. The job market is incredibly tough, particularly in software and web development, which is why the Jira recruitment experts at ClearHub have compiled this short guide. To ensure candidate expertise aligns with your requirements for Jira administration, development, or consultancy roles, ask these key questions during interviews to maximise your chances of securing the best talent for your organisation.

Technical Jira Skills and Experience

Understanding candidates’ hands-on experience with Jira and its various products is crucial for evaluating competency. Entrusting a contractor with only rudimentary, basic-level Jira experience into a managerial role with heavy responsibilities and implications could be disastrous for both the organisation and the candidate. 

Useful questions to gauge their technical capabilities include:

      • What versions of Jira have you worked with most extensively?
      • Which Jira apps, plugins or add-ons are you well-versed in configuring? (e.g. Workflow Toolbox (JWT), PowerScripts, eazyBI, ScriptRunner, and others)
      • Describe your experience administering permissions and user access in Jira.
      • How have you implemented Jira Service Management for IT teams?
      • What processes did you follow for data migrations between Jira platforms?
      • What particular challenges have you come across during migrations, and how where they resolved?
      • Walk me through your typical Jira issue or workflow customisation approach.
      • What methodologies do you recommend for testing Jira changes?

Listen for specific examples displaying deep, proven expertise across core Jira administration tasks and products based on your current or future needs.

Jira in the Software Lifecycle

For contractors filling developer or engineering roles, assess how they leverage Jira functionality as part of continuous software delivery processes.

Consider these questions:

      • How have you integrated Jira with Git repositories, CI/CD pipelines, testing tools etc.?
      • What experience do you have using Jira to plan sprints?
      • Describe your processes for tracking issues or bugs from development to deployment.
      • How did you report progress and metrics from Jira to stakeholders?

Freelance developers may be familiar with the Atlassian Jira setup and interface but may have deployed similar solutions (such as Agile, Confluence or Bitbucket) akin to the above examples. If they are aware of how to leverage a Jira development setup even with no professional experience, it may be worth considering a pre-employment exercise and task to assess their familiarity and problem-solving capabilities. 

Adapting Jira to Business Contexts

Many organisations sector-wide leverage Jira and other Atlassian tools beyond software development for business workflows. Jira, like many other tools in the Atlassian stack, offers features that complement a wide range of in-house teams, many of which may mandate a contractor’s impartial input to execute correctly.

Assess contractors’ business analysis abilities through prompts like:

      • Have you configured Jira for departments outside engineering or development? (sales, marketing, HR, legal etc.)
      • Describe a time you built custom Jira processes to support a client’s unique approach.
      • Describe a time you had to overcome resistance.
      • How did you evaluate existing systems or processes before tailoring Jira?
      • What strategies do you use for training non-technical staff on Jira adoption?

Contractors who can demonstrate a strategic approach to deploying Jira across a business landscape will be best placed to ensure multiple departments witness the advantages of the tool and provide business-wide value.

Working Style and Approach

Technical experience with Jira is essential, but when interviewing Jira contractors, it’s crucial to assess their interpersonal and communication skills. Even if they’re not employed on a full-time basis with the organisation, they should be able to collaborate smoothly and confidently with employees. This will offer a much more positive experience than working with one who is hesitant and comes across as unapproachable.

Useful questions to gauge a candidate’s suitability here include:

      • How do you balance working independently with taking direction from clients?
      • What processes do you use to understand stakeholder requirements?
      • Describe a situation where you had to explain complex technical concepts simply.
      • How do you stay updated on new Jira versions, features, and trends?

Of course, tailor these hypothetical prompts to prioritise the skills and demands most crucial for your specific needs – whatever Atlassian tool(s) you deploy. 

The Trusted Jira Contractor Solution

For fast, reliable access to pre-screened Jira and Atlassian talent able to drive impact from day one, choose ClearHub. As a leading technical recruitment agency with vast experience in helping our clients fill Jira and Atlassian vacancies promptly, our vast network of global contractors enables us to swiftly provide best-fit resources for any Atlassian project or role.

ClearHub’s dedicated team facilitates the entire hiring process from initial scoping through to successful onboarding and offboarding. We rigorously screen all candidates through technical evaluations, reference checks and cultural fit assessments tailored to each client’s environment. Our transparent, communication-focused approach means you only receive profiles from contractors whose skills and expertise we’ve carefully vetted and verified.

Whatever your Jira needs, simply outline your requirements and timeframes to our recruitment specialists, and then let us take care of the heavy lifting for you. With our input, guidance, and advice, we’ll position best-in-class Jira applicants and talent who we believe will be firmly positioned to add value to your organisation. Contact us today to find out more or arrange a no-obligation chat with one of our experts.

Share this post

Posted on

How to Attract and Retain Top-Quality Atlassian Contractors

atlassian contractor working at desk

As the world’s leading provider of team collaboration and project management software, Atlassian’s tools like Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket (among others) have become integral to the workflows of countless organisations worldwide. Atlassian Server and Data Centre products are inherently built to scale alongside an organisation and, due to their intricacies, have paved the way for a niche but highly rewarding and fulfilling job market.

Their prevalence and importance within modern tech stacks mean that experienced Atlassian specialists have become highly sought-after to help organisations successfully navigate digital transformation challenges and achieve growth milestones. However, the rather secular talent pool of qualified Atlassian contractors also makes recruiting and retaining the best talent an ongoing challenge for companies. 

When a business’s workflows depend on optimising Atlassian’s project tracking, documentation, and DevOps offerings, it often necessitates hiring subject matter experts who can add value and make an impact immediately. One of the quickest and most effective solutions to this is to engage qualified and vetted Atlassian contractors and freelancers through a specialist recruitment agency. 

This guide explores the key steps to take when commissioning Atlassian and Jira experts through portals like ClearHub, the agency with a proven track record of placing top-tier talent into contract and permanent roles.

Defining Must-Have Atlassian Skills and Expertise

Atlassian encompasses a wide range of applications catering to software developers, IT teams, and business users alike. When posting an Atlassian contractor vacancy – courtesy of a user-friendly portal such as ClearHub – start by outlining your core requirements around the following criteria:

  • Specific Atlassian tools required, such as Jira Software, Jira Service Management, Confluence, Bitbucket etc.
  • Minimum years of hands-on experience administering/developing with the above tools or similar
  • Understanding of add-ons or extensions e.g. Scriptrunner, Structure, Gliffy
  • Exposure to instances in cloud vs. self-hosted environments
  • Familiarity with integrating Atlassian tools with CI/CD pipelines and workflows
  • Knowledge of migrating data or instances between Atlassian versions or cloud platforms

Whether you need a specific DevOps engineer to monitor performance or a dedicated Atlassian administrator to oversee custom integrations, including permissions and workflows, seeking help from specialised Atlassian contractors makes cloud migrations scalable and seamless.

Verifying Atlassian Expertise During Screening

A person’s competence with Atlassian products should involve a mixture of hard technical and soft skills. During the preliminary stages of a contractor background screening, it’s prudent to assess and validate candidates based on:

  • Tool administration competencies via technical testing
  • Communication skills through interviews and assessments
  • Cultural alignment with your business through situational questioning
  • Portfolio of past Atlassian projects completed
  • Testimonials and referrals from clients or managers

This level of pre-employment validation enables the fast and productive placement of talent into the right Atlassian and Jira job vacancies online, with contractors able to make a solid, frictionless start. 

As is the case with any Atlassian job opening, technical skills alone shouldn’t be the sole indicator of a good contractor assignment. The intrinsic and personal qualities of candidates should also be assessed when hiring Atlassian contractors. Carefully examine how the candidate answers questions and what they don’t say, as well as the answers they give. Monitoring responses – or lack thereof – indicates how well a prospective contractor may embrace your company’s values and culture. Specialist contractors likely already prove capable of adapting between clients, but those newer to the field may be more naive, so bear this in mind. 

ClearHub’s background screening processes aim to take the administrative burden away from time-restricted organisations. As a result of our due diligence, we have cultivated a carefully formulated talent pool of reputable Atlassian experts waiting for their next freelance, temporary, or permanent assignment. We can make considered candidate recommendations based on your criteria and job requirements, and who we firmly believe will be a good technical and cultural fit. 

Retaining Great Talent Through Effective Scoping

Even if a candidate ticks all the capability and culture boxes, they may fail to live up to expectations if your organisation fails to give specific or clear project scoping. Vague or ambiguous project scoping often leads to breakdowns in communication and misaligned objectives and expectations.

Before assigning your Atlassian contractor their first task, outline all their responsibilities, objectives, and timeframes through a comprehensive Statement of Work including:

  • Exact Atlassian instance details – Cloud/Data Centre, tool versions etc.
  • Supporting systems connected e.g. CI tools, repositories, directories
  • Specific tasks needing completion – migrations, custom workflows etc.
  • Measurable deliverables and outcomes paired to tasks
  • Expected timescales or milestones for essential tasks
  • Communication protocols for updates and reporting

This early alignment means contractors know what to work on immediately and will minimise friction. Simultaneously, clarity around responsibilities and objectives gives purpose-driven talent reason to stay invested in the long term.

Respect your specialists’ expertise too; inefficient and disruptive micromanagement limits their results and productivity. Highlighting that you trust them will enhance retention, as will empowering them to work autonomously and seek assistance when needed.

Trust ClearHub to Attract Premium Atlassian Talent

Great Atlassian recruitment starts with great candidate networks and supplier relationships. With decades of experience placing thousands of technical contractors into a broad spectrum of roles, ClearHub leverages unrivalled access to specialist Atlassian talent across software development, infrastructure engineering, and everything in between.

Our global talent pool combines market-leading contractors and niche specialists to fill urgent vacancies through efficient and time-saving Atlassian recruitment processes, allowing you to focus your resources on important business matters. All Atlassian candidates are pre-verified against your criteria before submission, with our dedicated account management team communicating with you regularly about placements and opportunities. Our transparent and collaborative approach is why we are the trusted Atlassian recruitment agency for hundreds of businesses worldwide.

To find your next high-quality Atlassian candidate(s) who can integrate seamlessly with your business immediately, contact our expert team today to get started.

Share this post

Posted on

TOP 5 TIPS: Write Jira tickets that save time and energy

Jira has a massive problem. And it’s not even Jira’s fault.

Does any of this sound familiar?

  • Tickets often have to be rewritten
  • Problems slip through to staging or production
  • Constant back and forth, just to get clarity

This is all because of Jira tickets; not how Atlassian has created the platform – but how we, as users, are writing them.

Jira tickets, when written badly, can destroy productivity, cause friction, and lead vocal members of your team to demand a switch to a different platform. To avoid this, it’s important to know how to write Jira tickets effectively from the get-go.

Here are five ways to write better Jira tickets.

1 – Use precise language

Always be clear, concise, and avoid any chance of ambiguity. If you’re worried about the ticket sounding rude, don’t. Wasting time with a super-long, ambiguous ticket is rude – giving the person the exact information they need is far kinder.

Assign exact names to features and user interface elements, and stick to them. Give actions rather than a laundry list of problems. 

Most importantly of all, write a good title.

Use verbs (doing or action words) to prompt the action. For instance, do not simply write the feature you want – ask for the feature to be implemented.

The clearer your ticket can be from the start, the more likely it will be done without back and forth.

2 – Use markdown and keyboard shortcuts

Format your tickets clearly, with bold text, italics, and clickable text links. Using markdown for specific text types can greatly improve the speed of writing Jira tickets – but you can achieve the same result with keyboard shortcuts.

Learn Jira’s markdown features and keyboard shortcuts.

Messy tickets take longer to read and longer to action – so make sure you clarify at the start with clean formatting.

3 – Illustrate with screenshots and gifs

A picture is worth a thousand words. So show, don’t tell.

Adding screenshots to a ticket, or a gif if the issue is time-based, will clearly show the recipient what the problem is, without you needing to explain much.

Before you start, your Jira admin must enable specific user permissions so that you can add attachments and screenshots – You need the “create attachments” permission.

Once you have it, you can drag and drop images, gifs, and other files into your Jira tickets. You can also browse your files by navigating to More > Attach files within Jira, while writing your ticket.

Click here to hire expert Atlassian & Jira Contractors today

4 – Focus your acceptance criteria

Make it as simple as possible – because often, things get complex when you’re trying to figure out if you’ve done what was needed.

At its most basic, your acceptance criteria should be a checklist; done or pending, true or false. In more detail, this includes your Definition of Done: a clear and concise description of what qualifies a task as complete.

So, focus on the reason for the ticket, and the outcome. Give it a clear list of qualifiers for being done. Make the language precise, free of ambiguity. And if possible, simplify it to true/false statements – so there’s absolutely no question of what “done” is.

5 – Make use of plugins

You could write your Jira tickets in Word or Google Docs, to get spell checking and grammar fixes on the fly – or you could use a browser extension plugin like Grammarly, to fix it in-situ. Much faster!

Speaking of plugins, the Atlassian Marketplace is full of powerful add-ons to make Jira tickets more effective: like the Bitbucket plugin.

The Bitbucket plugin adds to the already seamless Jira and Bitbucket experience, by allowing the two tools to talk to each other. Simply include a Jira ticket number in a commit or pull request, and the Bitbucket activity will be tracked alongside the ticket.

Or how about the Slack plugin, which gives you chat notifications for any relevant ticket activity.

Jira can be customised so deeply, from the template level to plugins – so use it! Make the most of your tools, and get the best results.

And if you need support making Jira work exactly as you need it, we’re here to support you – with the brightest talent in the industry.

Need help with Jira? Hire freelance Jira Experts

ClearHub specialises in finding freelance Jira experts – vetted, skills-checked and ready to work. To get started, call +44 (0) 2381 157811 or send your message to info@clearhub.tech.

    Posted on

    How to use Jira for project management

    Atlassian’s flagship products include the mighty Jira – born as a tool designed to track the status and progress of issues and bugs in software development.

    But Jira has come a long way since its first release in 2002. Today, Jira can be deeply customised, and integrated with the whole Atlassian stack. It has evolved into an incredibly powerful tool – and not just for development.

    What is Jira used for?

    Jira is a complete workflow management system. It was originally designed to track bugs and issues in software development.

    So, if it’s a dev tool, why use Jira for project management?

    Over time – and with apps and add-ons – Jira has become more versatile and flexible. It can now be used to set, monitor, and complete tasks in virtually any department of a business.

    Detailed reporting and analytics allow users to access workflow data, for performance insights.

    It’s highly secure, and promotes accountability, good communication, and trust. This all makes it a potent tool for project management outside of development – but to get the most out of it, you need some background on how it works.

    Understanding how Jira works

    Units of work in Jira are called “issues”, harking back to the platform’s IT and development roots. Issues can be created, categorised, and prioritised into workflows.

    Jira’s project management capabilities rely on these workflows, which control the rules used to transition each unit of work to a different workflow stage.

    As an example, an issue could be created, and immediately be labelled as “pending” in the workflow. Once a team member starts working on it, the label changes to “in progress”. When it’s finished, it can move out of the workflow and into a “completed” list.

    These stages, and any others, can be added to the workflow in Jira.

    Workflows can be customised to any application, with multiple checkpoints – like in editorial work, where additional review stages and final sign-off are required, or in graphic design where client approval is needed. Jira can even be used to move candidates through the recruitment process.

    But let’s get into what we’re here for – and find out how to use Jira for project management.

    Configuring your project

    First, choose a Jira template to set up your project.

    Templates are a quick way to configure your project – and Jira comes with lots of built-in workflows. Users can also download readymade workflows from the Atlassian Marketplace.

    You might find that the preset templates are perfect for your needs, but you can customise the defaults further, to get exactly what you need. Templates can be saved for future projects, and can easily be tweaked as your workflow evolves.

    The planning stage

    Every project needs goals. And to achieve goals you need a plan.

    Read more – how to write SMART goals

    Jira lets you set out project plans for on-off projects, and for ongoing, monthly or weekly work. Each goal can be broken down into a series of issues, which appear in Jira as a digital card, containing the requirements for completion.

    To start building out your project, create issues. Label each issue clearly with the task at hand, and set its due date. Add any documents, images, or videos to the issue, to give further clarity on what needs to be done.

    You can set each issue with a priority, independent of the due date – and break up larger blocks of work into smaller subtasks within the issue.

    From here, you can assign each issue to a member of the team, or bank it for a later date.

    Jira also lets you create different versions of a project, which is useful for modelling and projection, or course changes within a project.

    Setting up your team

    Everyone involved in the project will need access to Jira – but not necessarily the same level of access. The majority of users will just need to track and complete issues in the workflow. Jira allows multi-level permissions, from unlimited access down to view-only for specific issues. This is useful if you hire Jira contractors or have other users outside of your company – to limit what they can access and see.

    Once everyone’s set up, you can assign issues to them, and track their progress.

    Tracking project progress

    You can track your project in multiple ways – down to the time each issue takes to complete. The Atlassian Marketplace is full of apps and add-ons that can make project tracking more tailored to your business. 

    Jira’s built-in reporting is powerful, and allows project managers to clearly see outstanding work, bottlenecks, productivity – and if deadlines are going to be missed.

    All of this can be viewed in Jira’s dashboard, which can be customised to show key project information. The dashboard shows an overview of progress – but can can drill down to a granular level, allowing you to see the work assigned to each team member. You can change the dashboard to show the most important information to you.

    Once the project is completed, it can be archived – and you and your team can celebrate a job well done!

    Looking for a Jira expert?

    Want to set up a custom Jira workflow for your next project? ClearHub specialises in finding the best freelance Jira experts in the world; vetted, skills-checked and ready to go. To get started, call +44 (0) 2381 157811 or send your message to info@clearhub.tech.