Does your business need enterprise software or large-scale web applications? If so, you should probably hire GitHub developers for the project.
Any program that requires extensive and ongoing work usually demands a team, not just a solo software engineer. This is when having a developer with experience in GitHub makes a considerable difference.
GitHub is an extensive developer community with over 100 million users worldwide. The platform lets them create, maintain, and contribute code to software projects. It also uses Git versioning control to safeguard past versions of code. This vastly improves the developers’ ability to work together and correct issues.
You can see a clear example of the usefulness of hiring GitHub specialists in a case study involving Duolingo. The language-learning app is the world’s most popular and highest-grossing. That means developers have a lot of work to do to keep up with demand.
A key to maintaining accuracy and efficiency was the hiring of developers who used GitHub for coding and collaboration. The result was a 25% increase in developer speed and a 67% decrease in code review turnaround time.
However, hiring GitHub developers and software engineers at large remains a challenge. The biggest difficulty by far is finding qualified candidates. Over 56% of recruiters stated this as an issue, which is nearly double the amount of the next challenge. Other challenges include:
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Identifying potential from those without a perfectly matching skillset
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Standing out from other companies to attract talent
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Closing candidates
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Matching the right candidate with the right job
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Recruiting within tight timeframes
Talent matching can be a particular challenge when hiring GitHub developers. Since millions use the platform, you have to extensively vet candidates to gauge their expertise.
Fortunately, this guide makes the hiring process easier. It gives tips on conducting interviews and writing job descriptions. You will also see the benefits of hiring freelance GitHub developers and the skills to look for in potential candidates.
Hiring a Freelance GitHub Developer
Before posting for a full-time or part-time position, consider if you should hire a freelance GitHub developer. Doing so gives you access to an international talent pool to find the perfect candidate.
Freelancers outside of your local area can bring unique experiences and diverse backgrounds. This can expand the possibilities of your project. Additionally, working with remote contractors is often more cost-effective than hiring in-house talent.
What a GitHub Developer Does
A GitHub developer is a software engineer who uses the GitHub platform as a repository for code. GitHub also enables easy collaboration with other developers. However, the platform is a powerful resource and much more than a storage and networking site.
GitHub gets its name because it is a “hub” for programmers who use “Git” — a version control system (VCS). A VCS continuously catalogs previous software versions during coding. This prevents past work from getting lost. It also facilitates code review, troubleshooting, and debugging.
GitHub co-founder Tom Preston-Werner explained it in an early interview:
“You could think of GitHub as a bit like Wikipedia in that you have a bunch of people coming together, working on the same document, to make it better, to make it work for them. In the same way, Wikipedia allows many people to edit the same file and keeps track of who made what changes, when those changes were made, and allows you to go back in history and see exactly what that set of changes was to get to the current version.”
Without such a platform, the creation of your code and codebase can become disorganized. This causes long-term problems when your code needs inevitable updates, upgrades, and adjustments. Therefore, hire dedicated GitHub developers when you have large and complex software projects that require multiple programmers.
What does a GitHub developer do for contemporary businesses? Common examples of their assignments include:
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Creating secure healthcare applications for medical teams and patients
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Enhancing security and compliance measures for financial software
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Automating workflows for manufacturing companies
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Improving the flow and feel of an e-commerce website
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Create the code for mobile games
Since GitHub operates similarly to Wikipedia, does that mean your proprietary code will be available for everyone to see? It will not be if you hire an experienced GitHub developer who understands how to use private repositories for confidentiality.
Depending on your arrangement, freelance GitHub developers for hire might use their own private repositories. They can work on the code with their team and deliver the finished product.
On the other hand, you may decide to purchase your own paid GitHub plan to maintain oversight of the repository. Your GitHub specialist can guide you through setting up your repository and managing your plan.
Why Hire GitHub Developers?
There are many reasons why hiring GitHub developers is a good idea. They cover a broad spectrum of software engineers who can handle any assignment you require. Their advantage is that they know how to maximize the GitHub platform to collaborate on quickly creating clean code.
As a result, hire a GitHub developer for any code-based needs for your website or app. They can manage the task whether you are building something new or revamping your existing product.
How To Hire GitHub Developers
Determining how to hire GitHub developers with the necessary skills can be tricky. Begin your process by defining your project specifications. Consider the ultimate goals and desired outcomes. Use these to figure out the technical requirements for the job.
Also, create a concise and accurate portrayal of your company culture. This helps you understand what kind of personalities would fit with your team.
For your budget, calculate the return on investment of using a highly skilled developer instead of focusing just on the initial hiring costs. Determine the additional revenue a premium outcome should deliver and how that compares to the freelancer’s rates.
The same considerations apply to your schedule. A less-experienced developer may charge less but take more time.
Additionally, decide on the experience level your project requires. Developers generally classify themselves as junior, mid-level, or senior:
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Junior: These are entry-level candidates in their first couple of years of coding. They are capable of basic tasks with limited budgets or working under more experienced developers.
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Mid-level: These professionals have at least a few years of experience and can work independently on complex tasks. They also assist junior developers and usually have a bachelor’s degree in a technical field.
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Senior: Many senior devs have close to a decade of experience, though some reach this level in five years. They can lead large projects with sizable budgets and may even have a master’s degree.
| Course | GitHub Foundations | GitHub Actions | GitHub Advanced Security | GitHub Administration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | A beginner’s course that outlines the fundamentals of GitHub | A course that enables proficiency in automating workflows and accelerating development | Lessons on code security knowledge | Training on how to manage and optimize a GitHub environment |
| Curriculum overview | Covers repository management, commits, branches, and merging with hands-on exercises | Teaches how to build, test, and deploy code inside of GitHub using principles of CI/CD (continuous integration and continuous deployment) | Explains GitHub’s advanced security features and how to identify vulnerabilities and implement robust security at every phase of the development cycle | Provides advanced lessons in repository management and workflow optimization, as well as the options and customizations that only GitHub admins have |
| Number of modules | 15 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Time to completion | 9½ hours to complete modules + 2-hour exam | 4½ hours for modules + 2-hour exam | 6 hours for modules + 2-hour exam | 6 hours for modules + 2-hour exam |
| Exam cost | $99 for each attempt | $99 for each attempt | $99 for each attempt | $99 for each attempt |
In addition, GitHub will soon offer a course for its GitHub Copilot AI coding assistant. Top freelancer GitHub developers should have all of these certifications, especially senior-level devs.
The Skills To Look for When Hiring a GitHub Developer
GitHub developers require a balanced mix of technical and soft skills. While specific technical skills depend on your project requirements, applicants always need certain “ evergreen ” GitHub developer skills, such as:
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Creating code repositories in Git and managing source code
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Making draft code go live as working software
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Organizing and sharing code repositories using GitHub’s management tools
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Writing code in at least one popular programming language
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Writing clean code that is easily reproducible and free of errors
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Designing and following an orderly process that facilitates an easily searchable codebase
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Testing and debugging software
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Navigating databases and their algorithms and data structures
Importantly, your GitHub developers need to be able to work in the coding language of your project. Pay particular attention to this if they will be updating or fixing an existing app or software.
Soft skills are also critical, especially those involving teamwork and collaboration. Fortunately, these are often part of the package when you hire a GitHub developer. Look primarily for the following skills:
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Problem-solving
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Ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical teammates
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Time management
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Poise and composure under pressure
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Flexibility
Finding the right soft skills ensures a compatible cultural fit. However, remember that an advantage of hiring freelance GitHub developers is that it is easier to replace workers if the fit is not right.
How Much It Costs To Hire GitHub Developers
Recent data puts the average annual pay for a GitHub software engineer in the United States at $147,524. This equals about $71 an hour.
The full range of salaries falls anywhere from $63,500 yearly to $205,000. However, ZipRecruiter states that anything below $120,000 or above $173,000 are outliers. This comes out to roughly $57 to $83 per hour to hire a GitHub developer.
Tips for Writing a GitHub Developer Job Description
Take your GitHub developer job description through a few drafts to ensure it is concise yet comprehensive. The introduction should clearly state the title and give a summary of the task you are hiring for.
Outline the project, as well as the goals and your desired outcomes. Make sure you mention which skills, degrees, and certifications are necessary. Also, reveal the preferred competencies and credentials that put an application on the top of the pile.
Coders usually have a specialty, so use verbiage that attracts someone in your niche. A person who cares about your field is more likely to understand your requests and put in extra effort. Above all, avoid biased language and use gender-neutral terms.
Be clear about the benefits of working with your company, both financial and other perks. Additionally, state what you can about the culture and work environment. Do not be afraid to brag a little about your team and its accomplishments to draw in top GitHub developers. Experts enjoy working with other experts.
Common Interview Questions To Ask When You Are Looking To Hire a GitHub Developer
The applicant’s portfolio should give you a clear idea of a person’s technical capabilities. However, it is still wise to ask a few questions about the individual’s proficiency before you hire a GitHub programmer. Possible questions include:
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Why do you prefer Git to other VCSs, such as Mercurial? (Get a deeper grasp of why they use Git and how well they understand versioning.)
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How do you deal with a merge conflict? (Find out if they understand how to correct an issue where programmers create competing lines of code.)
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How do you squash commits? (Learn if they understand core Git concepts.)
If you have no experience in coding, you can use a guide sheet of basic questions and answers .
Furthermore, use the interview to go deeper into a candidate’s work processes and personality. When judging soft skills, you could pose these questions and requests:
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What is the biggest obstacle you have faced on a project, and how did you overcome it?
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Tell me how you resolved a miscommunication with a supervisor.
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Explain this complex piece of code to me in a way a nontechnical person could understand.
These few inquiries are only a starting point. Talk to other hiring and human resources professionals to find other incisive questions for hiring Github engineers.
Also, consider which approach to conducting the interview allows you to learn what you need to know about the person in the shortest amount of time. Behavioral assessments are helpful and so are scoring rubrics. These can be especially useful in eliminating hidden biases from the hiring process and predicting compatibility.How To Find Freelance GitHub Developers for Hire
To find GitHub developers, examine all of your options. Review outsourcing agencies, freelancer marketplaces, and online job boards.
Connecting with coding boot camps is ideal if you prefer an inexpensive junior developer for simple tasks or to add to a development team. Professional networks and industry events are a good way to find mid-level and senior talent. For instance, GitHub sponsors an annual conference that it calls GitHub Universe, where many find GitHub developers for hire.
To simplify your search, check out our list of the best sites to hire GitHub developers. There you can find companies that take the work off of your plate as a decision-maker. The premier selections, such as Toptal, match you with world-class talent and help you hire within days instead of months.
You can have optimal code creation and collaboration when you hire a GitHub developer. Pay attention to software engineer hiring trends to gain an edge over the competition. Also, use proven strategies to draw and retain top talent from the tech field. As a result, your software and apps will contribute to building a strong brand.