It takes up to a month to find the best software developer, but you can do it faster. Follow this guide for a quick way to hire the best IT talents on the market
Based on IDC statistics, there are over 23 million developers worldwide to date. This number is expected to hit 27.7 million by 2023. The need for software development services is progressively increasing. Despite this extreme growth of IT labor force, many companies are faced with skills shortage as finding truly a proficient developer versed in many technologies remains difficult. Moreover, the trend for outsourcing and outstaffing IT professionals will make it even harder for startups and enterprises to find a good software developer because of the high competition for the most prominent specialists.
If you are currently looking for an A-level developer, check this guide aimed to help people with no technical background find IT experts.
A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Find Developers
Step 1. Define the Destination: On-shore vs Off-shore
Before starting your search for the best developer, you should define what exactly you would like to see in your development partner. The variety of options in the IT market is tremendous. To put your focus on the right company or person, you should analyze your needs first and build a profile of your potential developer.
The first criterion to consider is on-shore vs off-shore partnership. Being in close proximity to each other means a lot in terms of collaboration. You can find many good developers within your location, but you can hire even better professionals when hiring an offshore or distributed team. Here, you should decide what is more important for you: face-to-face communication or a higher level of competence.
Step 2. Pick between In-house vs Outsource vs Freelance
There is no best option for everyone. Think about each point and decide which advantages seem to benefit your business most.
In-house team
+ On-site developers tend to work faster and you can communicate your problems directly without wasting time because of a distance or different time zones.
– An in-house team requires a payroll, office, and paid vacation and sick leaves. Besides, you will have to provide software, hardware, and other essential office equipment.
Outsourcing
+ Outsourcing gives you access to the global pool of talents. It is a sure-fire way to engage the most gifted experts in your team.
– Online communication is not always smooth and can be interrupted and affected by real-life circumstances. You should be patient and flexible in building working relationships remotely.
Freelancing
+ It is most fit for one-time and short-term projects that do not need teamwork and project management.
– A freelancer can be involved with more than one project at the same time. You should be ready that you are not exclusive, which may affect your business if the freelancer fails to keep up with deadlines.
Step 3. Frame and scope the project
One more factor affecting your choice of the developer is a project budget. Depending on what kind of app or software you want to design, the price for the mobile app or web development services may vary considerably. At this stage, your task is to come up with the requirements for your product. You should set up a timeline, scope, and feature list. The better you understand what functions software should fulfill, the lesser chance you will have some inconsistencies or misunderstandings with the development team during software development.
Step 4. Come Up with A List of Candidates
Be it a software development company or a freelancer, you should consider the following parameters:
- Domain expertise. Your candidate should not only have relevant expertise in the technology you need but also be adept in the niche segment of your services.
- Work Portfolio. Make sure the developer has experience in designing software similar to your case. It is necessary for them to have expertise in the field where you run a business.
- Years of experience. There is no need to say that developers with less than 5 years of experience are unlikely to design high-level software.
- Client’s feedback. Read testimonials. If possible, try to get in touch with the developer’s previous clients to verify their competence and purview.
- Google Reviews. Check the candidate’s reputation. Read at least a dozen reviews on different platforms, including GoodFirms and Clutch that give an unbiased opinion on most developers.
Step 5. Set Up Meetings
The most sensible approach to finding the most advantageous price-quality offer is to ask each potential developer what they are ready to provide for the money you are ready to pay. During the interview, you should ask to resolve a real-life problem having faced your company before. A-level developers with a strong knowledge of software development practices will give one or a few solutions to any challenge.
The second aspect to consider in the interview is communication. In case of software development companies, you should talk to both a company’s representative and a programmer. First, you should define what communication tools or platforms you will use to track project progress. Second, make sure cultural differences won’t be a hurdle if you collaborate with a developer from another location. Third, you need to ensure that the developer has a proper understanding of the project, its business goals, and the scope of features that are planned to be implemented in it.
There is a saying: Talent attracts talent itself. If you stick to your goals and look for someone sharing your values, you will never make a wrong choice.
About the author:
Kyle McDermott is a web developer, blogger, blockchain enthusiast, and business analyst. He loves to write about new technologies, business news, and sports events. Kyle is also a proofreader at Computools. Follow him on Twitter.