Hiring Kotlin developers can be one of the best ways to launch a mobile app. Many of these programmers are also capable of doing back-end development and data analysis. Such skills aid in the management of your business and decision-making.
An example of the benefits you can obtain when you hire a Kotlin developer is the product of freelancer Asma Yasin. She used Kotlin to develop the third version of Kuwait Finder while working at Openware Information Systems Consulting Company.
The Public Authority for Civil Information — Kuwait’s central civilian authority — commissioned this update of the map-and-navigation app. After the launch, the app’s average rating increased on Google Play, and it became the top maps app in the country.
As a newer language, though, it can be difficult to find Kotlin programmers who are true experts. JetBrains released the code to the public in 2016. This makes it harder to find senior-level talent with five years of experience.
Additionally, hiring software engineers and developers is challenging in general. The shortage of skilled tech talent remains. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics still reports that the demand for these professionals will increase by 25% over the next 10 years.
Despite these challenges, you can efficiently locate and hire Kotlin developers for a reasonable salary. Find out how to do so with the tips in this guide. Learn the skills to look for, the way to write a job description, and the interview questions to use.
Hiring a Freelance Kotlin Developer
Ponder over whether you should hire a freelance Kotlin specialist before you settle on bringing someone in as a part-time or full-time employee. Freelancers allow you to choose from a worldwide selection of talent at the highest skill levels.
Getting a freelance Kotlin developer for your team is about more than saving money on employee benefits. These professionals are essentially small business owners who take pride in what they do because their name and reputation are at stake with each project.
What a Kotlin Developer Does
Software engineers consistently turn to Kotlin for mobile app development. The Kotlin homepage starts by describing the program as concise, multiplatform, and fun. It is no wonder a JetBrains survey shows that 63% of developers prefer to use Kotlin when coding for mobile platforms.
Coding performance is another key reason to hire Kotlin engineers. If you wonder whether the language is safe and reliable for your company’s apps, just remember that McDonald’s, Forbes, Atlassian, and AWS all use Kotlin.
The language is primarily a Java alternative and has successfully replaced Java in many projects. However, it remains interoperable with Java. That means developers can integrate Java’s libraries into Kotlin code. This is helpful because Java is 20 years older and has much more comprehensive libraries.
With the explosion in data analytics across industries, you may likely want to search for Kotlin developers for hire. Kotlin’s Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) tools allow users to load, transform, and visualize information.
The multiplatform aspect of Kotlin is also a good reason to hire dedicated Kotlin developers. True, software pros usually associate the code with Android. However, it works just as well on Windows, Linux, iOS, macOS, watchOS, and other operating systems.
JetBrains also discovered that developers who start using Kotlin are more likely to prefer it over any other language. A key reason is its clear and concise code. What can take many lines to accomplish in Java can require only a few in Kotlin.
The following table shows a couple of examples. Suppose a developer is creating a program that will store user details, such as first names, last names, and age. What does a Kotlin Developer do in this case? Notice the contrast in code length:
| Kotlin code | Java code |
|---|---|
| class User { var firstName: String? = null var lastName: String? = null } | public class User { private String firstName; private String lastName; public String getFirstName() { return firstName; } public void setFirstName(String firstName) { this.firstName = firstName; } public String getLastName() { return lastName; } public void setLastName(String lastName) { this.lastName = lastName; } } |
| data class Person(val name: String, val age: Int) | import java.util.Objects; public class Person { private String name; private int age; public Person(String name, int age) { this.name = name; this.age = age; } public String getName() { return name; } public int getAge() { return age; } public void setName(String name) { this.name = name; } public void setAge(int age) { this.age = age; } @Override public boolean equals(Object o) { if (this == o) return true; if (o == null || getClass() != o.getClass()) return false; Person person = (Person) o; return age == person.age && Objects.equals(name, person.name); } @Override public int hashCode() { return Objects.hash(name, age); } @Override public String toString() { return "Person{" + "name='" + name + '\'' + ", age=" + age + '}'; } } |
You can clearly see how much more efficient Kotlin is. This saves time in creating, testing, and debugging code. It also means fewer errors.
Finally, though the language is new, you can confidently find Kotlin developers who have mastered it due to its ease of use. Daniel Roy Greenfeld is an experienced author, coder, and speaker at various tech conferences. His impressions were largely positive, stating:
“What I like about Kotlin is that it follows pretty standard syntactic patterns. There's no wheels being reinvented… Nothing makes me want to bang my head against the wall. Instead, I was productive in minutes upon first looking at the language.”
Whdfwonder whether Kotlin is a safe and reliable choice for your company’s apps, keep in mind that McDonald’s, Forbes, Atlassian, ande AWS all use Kotlin. y You Would Want To Hire Kotlin Developers
Kotlin is like an upgraded Java that can run faster and is particularly suitable for mobile devices. Now that consumers use mobile more than personal computers for commerce, any business that wants to thrive and connect with customers needs mobile apps. Likely, those developers will program in Kotlin.
Why hire Kotlin developers if you do not need customer-facing mobile apps? Remember, apps are not simply for consumer use. Many business apps allow workers to have a portable, virtual workstation on the go.
Additionally, concise Kotlin code often results in fewer errors. Accuracy is a key factor when using Kotlin for server-side software. To quickly produce effective code and work with forward-thinking software engineers, consider hiring Kotlin developers.How To Hire Kotlin Developers
You and your crew should fully identify project requirements at the start of your hiring process. Figure out what soft and technical skills your development team needs when hiring Kotlin engineers.
Discussing the scope of the project with an expert can give you an idea of how many developers the project requires. Set your initial budget and a general timeline as well.
Knowing this information helps you determine if you can save yourself time and money by hiring a freelance Kotlin developer. These details are also critical if you decide to use a premier firm that sources elite talent for you, such as Toptal.
Regarding your budget, focus more on the return on investment than the cost of hiring. A developer who delivers great products quickly is certainly worth more than a novice who struggles to meet project goals.
Do you know how to hire Kotlin developers with sufficient experience? Doing so requires knowing the distinction between junior, mid-level, and senior developers.
In general, junior developers have no more than a couple of years of experience as programmers. They spend their time writing code and do little reviewing and testing. They also require direction from more experienced developers.
Mid-level professionals can easily write clean code. They also have a better grasp of how to make scalable software. In other words, they ensure the platform can grow with your company.
Senior engineers are the leaders, mentors, and problem-solvers on a development project. Expect a senior developer who knows Kotlin to already know a few other languages. In particular, they will probably know Java and another legacy language, such as C. When you want the best software engineers on an important project, only hire Kotlin developers at the senior level.
The Skills To Look for When Hiring a Kotlin Developer
Critical technical Kotlin developer skills include:
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A full grasp of the features that make Kotlin unique, such as extension functions, lambda expressions, and null safety
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Proficiency in Java because Kotlin is fully interoperable with the language and is essentially an offshoot of it
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Comprehensive knowledge of the Java virtual machine that permits the execution of Java bytecode on any platform
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Extensive experience with standard libraries, which are sources of reusable code that speed up the programming process
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Knowledge of Agile as a flexible system for developing software
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Comprehension of best practices that result in clean and reproducible code
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Experience with RESTful APIs and XML for connecting apps to back-end services and third-party integrations
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Knowledge of debugging and testing to ensure code works
A lack of these technical skills would be a dealbreaker for any mid-level or senior developer. Junior developers should at least have a foundation and some experience in them.
To find a Kotlin developer with the necessary soft skills, look for:
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Ability to work independently
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Clear and timely communication
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A collaborative approach
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A willingness to keep learning
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Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Something that could demonstrate a successful blend of technical and soft skills is locating someone who views, attends, or participates in KotlinConf. The gathering is the official Kotlin conference by JetBrains. That lets you know the person cares about keeping current with technical information and interacting with other experts.
How Much It Costs To Hire Kotlin Developers
Across the United States, Kotlin developers average earnings of $61 per hour . That is the same as $127,151 annually.
The low end of the wage pool for these developers was $10.82 an hour. Top Kotlin developers can make up to $83.41 an hour.
Tips for Writing a Kotlin Developer Job Description
When hiring a Kotlin programmer, the job post does not need to be fancy or exhaustive to be effective. You only need a template with four main sections:
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Your company introduction: This is a short and catchy paragraph. Explain the work environment, office hours, company culture, perks, benefits, and something that makes your company seem unique or a desirable place to work.
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The specific Kotlin Developer job description: In a couple of paragraphs, explain the role and its focus. Sum up the skills and kind of person who is a good fit.
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Job responsibilities: List in bullet points all of the essential aspects of the job. Do not talk about small requests that rarely happen, but be sure to mention any significant tasks.
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Skills and certifications: Outline the educational requirements, as well as technical and soft skills in a bulleted format. You can break this up into required skills and preferred skills.
Remember to request a portfolio with examples of past projects to judge their work and its relevance.
Common Interview Questions To Ask When You Want To Hire a Kotlin Developer
Before deciding on questions, consider the interview format. The highly technical nature of software programmer jobs lends itself to structured or semi-structured interviews. Pair programming exercises and tests give you a perspective into the developer's skills and abilities in real time.
To assess soft skills, review the effectiveness of a behavioral assessment . This gives specific insight into an applicant’s communication style and collaborative abilities.
Consider these questions and possible answers for evaluating a freelance Kotlin developer:
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What are some of Kotlin’s features that are not in Java?
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“Kotlin has built-in null safety and improves performance by using inline functions that avoid a function call. Its higher-order functions avoid Java lambda’s special call to InvokeDyanmic.”
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Does Kotlin support multiple inheritance?
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“Kotlin does not support multiple inheritance. It uses composition, an object-oriented strategy, which makes the code more reusable and maintainable.“
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How do you allocate tasks when you have tight deadlines?
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Look for a person to calmly explain a process that helps them determine how to prioritize assignments. The interviewee should also reference scheduling tools or project management systems that keep the team on track.
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How did you respond when a junior team member told you about a mistake that created extra work for the whole team?
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Get a sense of the person’s emotional intelligence and how reasonable they are. Determine if the person can resolve issues without creating more conflict.
Having a third party conduct the interview and provide results can be an effective way to hire a Kotlin engineer without bias.
How To Find Freelance Kotlin Developers for Hire
Remember that you can find Kotlin developers in various ways, such as:
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Partnerships with coding boot camps
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Outsourcing agencies
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Job boards
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Networking at in-person and virtual events
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Freelance marketplaces
Where should you find Kotlin developers for hire? As you consider your budget and timeline, find the solution that can remove much of the work from your end and match you with world-class talent quickly and cost-effectively.
Our list of the best sites to hire Kotlin developers gives some standout options. Leading the category is Toptal. They only accept the top 3% of applicants, who go through rigorous testing and vetting to ensure stellar quality.
It is a smart move to hire Kotlin developers for your company’s apps and software. Review the current market, factor in the going rates, and brush up on your interview techniques. With a tactical approach, you can hire Kotlin experts who make your software projects successful.