Developers are an integral part of society as they are responsible for the amazing apps, websites, applications, and games that we use daily. The process of bringing a developer onboard has always been a challenge to many people.
We live in a beautiful world where you can hire an expert from any part of the world thanks to the internet age and technological advancements. Gone are the days when you had to schedule physical meetings, line up hundreds of people, and interview them to land at the best talent. Everyone desires to have someone who understands the tasks at hand and also delivers within the stipulated timelines. But the big question is, do you really need remote developers?
The following are some of the indicators that you need to hire remote developers
You want to lower operational costs
Do not get me wrong. Remote developers are not cheap. However, you can do away with costs such as employee benefits if you hire remote developers. Labor laws can be hard and expensive to implement in a world where every company is trying to lower operational costs and maximize profits. Think about minimum wage requirements, health insurance, accommodation, and retirement benefits that you have to incur when hiring a team of developers on a full-time basis. Most remote developers work through contracts. You can either pay them per hour or on a fixed rate based on the project. You can give them bonuses, but you avoid mandatory costs.
You want efficient development processes
What happens when you want to develop a typical app? You are most likely to hire someone to develop the app, get someone else to test, and then give the first developer feedback. The same happens during web and game development. What if you could create a team that works together until you get the app? Seems like a good idea. Hiring remote developers helps you create such a team that can work together, which reduces inefficiencies and produce polished products. There are thousands of platforms/tools that developers use to collaborate and make your project run smoothly.
You lack the desired skillset in your in-house team
There are instances where you need a one-time contractor to develop an app or website for you. For instance, if you are in real estate, you can develop an app where people can interact with you. Hiring a full-time developer for a one-time task does not make sense. Training your developers can also be expensive and waste a lot of time. A remote developer comes in handy in such a situation. Just ensure that the remote developer hands over all the source codes at the end of the engagement and gives you the website or app’s admin rights.
Now that you understand how you stand to benefit from remote developers, it is worth noting that not everyone with a ‘developer’ tag is worth your time. Let us explore the factors to consider when hiring a remote developer:
Your needs
Highlight what you need and then start your search journey. For instance, if you are looking for a mobile app developer, then you cannot hire a website developer. Write down your goals and the end product and then start searching for remote developers. A simple Google such as ‘remote web developers in Europe’ can be your starting point towards getting the right fit. There are instances where you might require a developer that can handle multiple tasks at a go. Some of these developers can as well recommend partners for tasks they cannot handle.
Necessary tools and resources
Does the target developer possess the necessary tools to deliver your project? That is the first question to ask the developers before you decide to hire or not. That is why you need to understand your needs to determine what is required. You can hire a project manager if you are not a techie. In this case, the project manager should be a techie who will analyze and determine whether the remote developers have the right tools. The ideal developers may not necessarily own the tools but have access.
Timelines and deliverables
There needs to be a balance between your expected timeframes and what the developer can deliver. You don’t want to rush the project and end up with a substandard product. On the other hand, you do not want the developer to slow the project to earn more, especially when you pay per hour. Do basic research and understand the average time it takes to deliver a similar project from other developers. Get quotes from different developers and compare them with the industry standards to land at the best fit. The developer should breakdown the timeframe and how the project will roll out.
You are now ready to hire remote developers once you understand the benefits you stand to get and the factors to consider. However, there are some common challenges that clients suffer when hiring remote developers:
- Creating a screening process that identifies potential developers.
- Management of job posts, shortlisting candidates and interviewing candidates across different platforms.
- Navigating and understanding the legal procedures of hiring and managing remote teams.
Planning will help you overcome some of these challenges, even though some of them seem as if they are daunting.
Steps to follow to get the right remote developer for your project:
Clarify the scope of the project
Understanding your needs is not enough. For instance, if you need someone to develop a game. You need to go a step further things and highlight things such as:
- Is it a long-term or short-term role?
- How much are you willing to pay
- Do you want an agency, independent contractors, or employees?
- Will pay per project, per hour, on commission, or a retainer?
- Which skills must the developer have?
Answering all these questions will help you lay a foundation for your hiring process. Analyze the market rates to come up with some guidelines on remuneration and skillset.
Post the position on relevant forums
How do you ensure that you land at your dream developers? Hundreds of platforms are available to match thousands of skilled developers with potential clients. Some of these platforms will charge you while others are free. The reviews of different platforms are one of the major factors to consider when selecting a platform. The ideal platform should be easy to use and come with extra tools to help you manage your remote teams. The platform should also have measures in place that protect and preserve both the client and the developer’s rights. Using a recruitment agency is one of the best approaches to land at skilled and qualified
developers from a region such as Europe. Such agencies always vet the
developers they bring on board to protect their reputation.
Interview candidates
The interview process will vary depending on the tasks at hand and the platform you choose. Candidates who meet your minimum requirements will send their proposals. Your next step is to shortlist those who seem fit for the job. Your job post will have highlighted all the qualities you are looking for in your dream developer. Some of these platforms will match you directly with potential developers. The interview process for a developer task is somehow different from roles such as front office jobs. Your first interest is on the technical skills, and that is why a portfolio comes in handy.
Gauge the soft skills
Most clients focus much on hard skills such as coding and forget soft skills such as communication. A remote developer will be working thousands of miles away from you. How will you be communicating to ensure that everything is flowing as expected? The ideal developer should be a good communicator as you need to exchange ideas and iron things out. Teamwork is another soft skill that is essential for a remote developer job. The developer will collaborate with other members of your team, such as the marketing department, and this will only work if you get the right fit.
Take your most qualified remote
candidate for a test drive
You may have seen companies that hire employees on a contract basis before they absorb them fully. Such an approach gives the employer enough time to gauge whether the employee is the right fit. The internet world has millions of skilled developers and jokers as well. Taking a developer on a test drive helps you make better decisions. You can start with small tasks that will gauge both the potential developer’s hard and soft skills. You can even hire several developers on a trial basis and pick the fit.
Play your part
The developer will do the hard part of coding and the stuff. On the other hand, you have to keep your end of the bargain through providing support, as stipulated on the contract. For instance, you may provide access to various resources that will make the project successful. Let the potential developer list down the resources that they need from you before you get started. Ensure that you provide the resources that the developer requires on time. You must be a good communicator as well if you want the project smoothly.