Hiring Web Developers: 8 Tips for Startups

Last Updated on 2021-07-29

Hiring web developers is not a walk in the park. You have to be wise about choosing the best candidate for the job. Here are some recruitment tips on how to hire a web developer.   

In this digital age, having a business website is crucial to succeeding in the industry. Modern trade is highly saturated with competitors. And, brands with an online presence would stand out the most. In 2020, there are already 17.4 billion websites active and it continues to increase with more businesses investing. It’s safe to say, the competition is tight.

But on the bright side, technology also opens up more doors for innovation and wider market reach. We talk more about how crucial technology is in business in Startup Hustle TV. 

The Increasing Demand for Web Developers

Along with the increased number of businesses, websites are the increase in demand for the ones who create them. The demand for web developers has been higher than ever, and it’s projected to grow even more in the next 10 years. 

So, if you’re planning to scale your startup, now would be the best time to assemble your development team. There’s already a talent shortage for IT professionals in the US, so you don’t want to get the short end of the stick. With that said, you mustn’t compromise in finding a great and capable web developer. So, here are some tips on hiring web developers.  

Hiring Web Developers

When it comes to hiring developers, you have to prepare certain things beforehand. Here’s a list of what you have to arrange before you start recruiting.

1. Define your Objectives

As a startup founder, you don’t need to learn all the technicalities of web development. However, you play a crucial role in the process. It’s up to you to make it as easy or hard as possible for your web development team. 

You have to set your goals first. Do you need a website from scratch? Perhaps add new functionality to an existing one? Or maybe revamp the whole look and feel of it? You must be specific with your goal for the project. Your web developer needs a clear idea of the changes you want to happen.   

2.  Set your Budget

How much are you putting into the project? Web development, in general, can get pricey depending on the scale of work. You have to consider things such as the cost of tools, equipment, and most of all, labor. Developer tools, premium subscriptions, and hardware can total a large amount. And there are often additional unplanned expenses.

The best way to avoid overspending on a project is to study the average cost of creating a website. Look up all your choices for a website builder, domain, hosting, etc.

Then, compare which ones fit your budget limit. Take note, this won’t be your final estimate. A lot of things can change especially when your team provides their input. However, it’s a good idea to set your budget limit firsthand.     

3.  Determine your Salary Offer

A web developer’s salary will depend on skills, experience, specialty, and the size of the project being offered. Keep in mind that a senior developer will cost almost twice as much as a junior one. However, you need to have at least one senior developer to lead your team. An experienced developer will know how to resolve the inevitable issues that come with development.

The salary will also depend on the type of developer you hire. You can opt to hire a freelancer or a dedicated full-time employee. Again, this will still depend on the scale of your project. Freelancers are great if you’re building a website that doesn’t need a lot of upkeep. While a full-time developer will give you the assurance of long-term maintenance.

Lastly, you also have to be mindful about how you will negotiate your deal. These are the common payment setups you can employ:

• Hourly Rate – Pay by the hour. This is ideal for a short-term project. It’s best to hire senior developers who have fast turn-around time without compromising the quality.
• Fixed Price – An estimate for the whole project. This is best suited for projects that may take several weeks or months to complete. With a longer duration, there will be more potential for errors, adjustments, revisions, and fixes.

4. Prepare your Management

You have to ensure someone will oversee the team and their progress. Hiring a project manager is a good idea, especially if you plan to assemble a big team. Likewise, you also have to work on retaining your employees and making sure they don’t bail out on the project.

Hence, you need an HR staff to ensure payments and benefits are consistently taken care of. They set the foundation for your entire operations.  

5. List your Technologies

Along with your goals, you also have to specify the technologies you’ll be using. Web development is a pretty broad field and you have to find the right professionals that can work with your technology. Think about the type of web developer you need; a backend one? Front-end? Or maybe an all-around full stack developer?

6. Set the Timeline

When should it be completed? The web developer can give you a better and more accurate estimate of the project. But, you can state when you need it accomplished. If there’s a certain date you’re targeting, you have to be clear about it from the start. Providing a calendar of important dates will help your team plan better. 

7. Create your Business Plan

Your web development team will need to know what type of business they’re working for. Having a detailed description of your current and future products will help them visualize what you need for the website. A good business plan can communicate your vision and plans for the company.  

8. Create a Comprehensive Exam

It’s a challenge to recruit a highly technical position. You’ll need a tech expert on your recruitment team or at the least, have a professional create your technical exam. This is critical when it comes to assessing the candidate’s coding skills.  

Bonus Recruitment Tips

Now that we know how to prepare for the recruitment process, here are some final tips when it comes to finding and hiring the right candidates.

1. Write a clear job description – Specific qualifications will effectively filter out candidates and save time on interviews. Avoid posting a generic and broad listing that will get you a pool of unqualified applicants. 
2. Compare rates – Study the average rate of the profession beforehand. This way, you can protect yourself from overpriced offers on your project. In addition, you should also compare each candidate’s skills and the value they can offer.
3. Look for integrity – Other than amazing coding skills, your candidate must be trustworthy. This person will have access to your company and customer’s data. Hence, you have to ensure the one you hire will be reliable and will adhere to confidentiality agreements.

Where to Find and Hire Web Developers

It can be tricky to recruit for such a technical position. If you’re a non-technical founder, the more convenient option would be to tap into a third-party company that specializes in software development. This way, you won’t have to worry about issues like understanding web development jargon or evaluating their coding skills.

Full Scale can help you in hiring web developers. Leave the hassle of recruitment and management of your team to us. You can focus on all the other areas of your business. Want to get started? Contact us!