What traits we’re looking for when hiring a developer
Hiring a software developer can be a challenging job considering that it is such a technical profession. The recruiter must be aware of the complex tasks required for this position and find a candidate that matches the company’s qualifications.
However, you shouldn’t limit yourself to the technical aspects. There’s so much more that’s involved in the development process that you should consider. In this guide, we’ll show you some of the most relevant traits to keep in mind when hiring developers.
1-Writing clean code
The first thing you should notice in a software developer candidate is their ability to write clean code. Most people underestimate writing clean code. However, it is essential for the software development process. It allows each member of the team to understand what the previous programmer did. In addition, it streamlines the troubleshooting process because developers can easily identify issues.
2-Being a Team Player
Most people think that software development is an individualist job, and developers are working on their own most of the time. However, this isn’t always the case. Developers may be part of a huge team that includes UX/UI designers, programmers (which only handle code writing), graphic designers, and QA developers. It is crucial to find a software developer that has teamwork skills.
3-Passionate
Being passionate is another essential trait you should look for when hiring a developer. Passionate developers are more likely to be proactive, develop solutions, and new ideas to enhance the product.
Passionate developers will push themselves to become better at their work every day. They don’t need an exigent manager to improve because they enjoy challenges, so they’ll put their effort into delivering a good job.
4-Able to communicate complex ideas
As we mentioned earlier, software development involves teamwork. That’s why it is key to hire a developer that can communicate complex ideas. There are other non-technical stakeholders that he would have to report to that must be able to comprehend his job. You will notice this during the interview when asking about previous challenges and how they could cope with them.
5-Problem-solver
Software development is a constant problem-solving process, so you must hire a resilient developer who has logical thinking. In this case, the best thing to do is to provide them with a test assessment that includes challenges they’ll face in the company. This way, you will evaluate their performance during challenging situations.
6-Experience vs. knowledge
Having experience in the industry might be a plus. However, when hiring developers, the experience shouldn’t always be the main factor to consider. There are highly talented developers out there that haven’t had the opportunity to use their skills.
Yet, they might be the right match for your company if they have technical competencies and are passionate about coding. The best approach in this situation is to perform a technical interview or performance assessment.
Most of the organizations are looking for T-Shaped developers nowadays. T-Shaped developers have in-depth knowledge in a specific area, and they have a broad knowledge in other domains of software development. Multi-skilled developers have the tendency to better understand or even cover other developers, if needed, and they can contribute to several aspects of the project, so thus they bring more value to the team overall.
7-Time Management
Time management is an essential skill to consider when looking for a great developer. They must be reliable and understand that they must commit to finishing their job in an allocated time. The best candidate will be able to meet their deadlines and deliver their tasks on time.
This will ensure that the development process is efficient and productive. In addition, the ideal developer will be honest about the estimated time that a particular task or project will take him.
8-They Understand The Company’s Purpose
A great sign that it is the right match is when they understand the company’s purpose. This way, they will align their efforts with the company’s goals and develop a more precise and accurate job. During the interview, you must be clear about the organization’s goals, values, and missions and see how the interviewee reacts.
Good developers would understand that the company’s success is also their victory. This is an indicator of the developers’ commitment to their jobs.
Actually, one of the most difficult aspects of the hiring process is to be able to judge the developers’ people skills. We would like to know if developers will act with integrity and in line with company values even in difficult situations. A good way to get an understanding of developers’ people qualities is to ask them situational questions that reflect real life examples from projects.
9-Resilience and self-learning
The tech industry is constantly changing, so it is almost imperative for developers to remain life-long learners. You must look for a developer that is able to adapt to different situations and yet provide excellent outcomes.
A good way to identify this trait is to look at the candidates’ educational backgrounds. Those who have spent a significant time in training programs and developing new skills are more likely open-minded and ready to learn more about their profession.
10-Up-to-Date Skills
As we mentioned earlier, the industry is always changing, so it’s important to stay up-to-date if we want to stay afloat. That’s why it is so important to evaluate the candidates’ skills and see if they are current with the latest trends in the software engineering industry.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a software developer isn’t an easy job. You will need to have at least a basic understanding of technical fundamentals to successfully communicate with them. Some companies outsource recruiting talent that’s specialized in this technical field to ease the process of the technical interview, or they implement professional skill tests for technical pre-screening, that can be managed by IT Recruiters.
However, at the end of the day, you will have to consider essential soft skills like communication, problem-solving skills, resilience, creativity, and time management. These are some of the most relevant traits you must be aware of when looking for the best developer for your project.
ScreamingBox's digital product experts are ready to help you grow. What are you building now?
ScreamingBox provides quick turn-around and turnkey digital product development by leveraging the power of remote developers, designers, and strategists. We are able to deliver the scalability and flexibility of a digital agency while maintaining the competitive cost, friendliness and accountability of a freelancer. Efficient Pricing, High Quality and Senior Level Experience is the ScreamingBox result. Let's discuss how we can help with your development needs, please fill out the form below and we will contact you to set-up a call.