Software developers are generally not easy to find. It’s even more challenging to find ones that best suit your project. Luckily, there is a way to narrow down your search. Here are some tips on finding the best software developers!
As we move further into the digital age, the demand for tech experts arises. The demand for software developers, in particular, is projected to grow faster than the average occupation.
It comes as no surprise given the multitude of people using devices in their daily routines. And with the upcoming tech trends in AI and machine learning, more businesses are investing in the latest technologies for their operations.
But the increase in demand also widens the gap of resources. Despite the booming IT industry, the US is still experiencing a shortage of IT talent. Not only are there not enough workers to fill all IT positions, but the lack of qualified workers also limits a company’s option for innovation.
This is why options such as offshoring software development and hiring remote programmers are becoming popular. Not only do they widen the talent selection, but they also cut drastically down cost.
But before we dive into the nitty-gritty of alternative recruitment options, let’s first study how software development works. It’s important to learn about the subject and how you can leverage it for your business. Knowing what you want for your company will help you find the right candidates for your project.
The Software Business
You may have heard of unicorn startups like SpaceX and Uber. Contrary to their mythological titles, they’re regularly mentioned in business and finance discussions. It’s hard to miss their impressive products making big headlines. What once was ambitious ideas have grown into profitable businesses.
Whether it’s self-driving cars or rocket ships, clearly, technology is the future for startups. But this doesn’t mean you have to become a technical guru to successfully run a business. Selling a software product is a whole other story. However, to properly leverage new technologies, finding the right people for the project is critical.
Here are some factors to consider about your project to narrow down your choices in software developers.
Goal
Before hiring your software developers, you have to specify what you need them for. Are you creating a mobile app for your business? A website? Or an internal system for your company?
Generally, a software’s goal is to solve a problem. You have to provide a specific solution to issues that people frequently encounter. It could be as straightforward as automating a particular business process or introducing a whole new software product.
On the other hand, if you plan to use software to improve your company’s operations, you must focus on increasing efficiency.
Keep in mind software developers have specializations; some work on the frontend, others on the backend. And some work solely on mobile while others are flexible on the web. Hence, you must ensure that their skills align with your project requirements.
Industry
As a startup owner, you have to assess what industry you want to cater to. Are you into Marketing? Retail? IT? Whatever it is, you need to make sure it’s a feasible niche. It also has to be something you’re an expert in.
You must know how that particular market interacts with tech. This will help your software developers decide on the functionalities of your product. Remember, your tech team will only provide expertise in creating the software; it’s up to you to sell it. Hence, make sure you know the industry you’re targeting well.
Technology
Now, we can’t all build self-driving cars. But it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t dive into them. Before you do, you must get a grasp of what that technology is capable of. Narrow down your tech choices to match your budget, skills, and, most of all, your developers.
For example, if your project deals with Image Processing, you’ll need a developer who’s had experience working with graphics programming. Or if you plan to use AI and machine learning, you’ll need developers who specialize in them.
They may be the most promising fields today, but they also have the steepest learning curve. It will take substantial time for a developer to learn something out of their specialization. Hence, you must be wise about recruiting the type of software developer for your project.
Traits of Top Software Developers
After running through the checklist of factors to consider, it’s time to assess another set of traits about software developers. Technical skills determine if a candidate is qualified to work on your project.
However, if you want to ensure your applicants are a good fit for your company, you also need to look at their soft skills. This helps you evaluate whether or not that candidate matches your company’s culture.
So, here are some of the best traits a software developer should have.
Curiosity
Working in an ever-innovating field, a software developer is naturally curious. You need someone who can see outside the box and present creative ideas. Make sure that your prospect developer is eager to explore new tools and methodologies in software development.
You can assess this trait by simply asking what technologies they are deeply invested in and how up-to-date they are about it.
Problem Solving Skills
A software developer is frequently faced with issues. It could be an error on the app or perhaps how to go about creating a certain feature for it. Whatever problem presents itself, your app developer should be able to come up with solutions that are not only beneficial on the technical end but also for your business.
The ability to solve problems is a critical trait. In hiring, you must ask your candidate about past experiences in encountering and solving issues during a project.
Communication Skills
Software development is a collaborative process. Each member should be able to clearly and accurately explain what they’re working on. Your developer should also be able to explain technical jargon in layman terms. This is one way to assess his or her mastery of the subject.
Hiring Software Developers
Now that you have a clear idea of what candidate you’re looking for, the next dilemma is to find your talent. The shortage of IT talent in the US would not help that issue at all. Hence, you must look for a way to broaden your pool of candidates.
You may look into sites like Upwork to find freelancers. However, we don’t recommend it if you have a long-term project in mind. Freelancers often choose short-term projects since they can’t dedicate themselves fully to a project.
Consider offshoring software developers instead.
Offshoring gives you access to a wider talent pool, and it drastically cuts down costs. To offshore means to properly hire and manage dedicated developers for your project. You can look into countries like the Philippines that have a promising IT industry.
If you’re not very familiar with the whole process of managing a software team, you can enlist the help of a software development company like Full Scale.
Full Scale is an offshore tech company that helps you find the best software developers. We can take care of the whole recruitment process. Whether you need developers, project managers, and QA specialists, we have all the top talent ready for deployment. We specialize in helping startups scale their system.
Ready to build your software development team? Get your FREE Consultation today!
