Guide To Hiring Great Freelance Outsourced Developers
Entrepreneurship is thriving. As a result, the number of new businesses looking to hire employees has surged by 30% between 2019 and 2024. Some of the most important team members that companies want to hire are software developers.
True, artificial intelligence (AI) has made aspects of programming easier. However, these tools are not enough, and companies still need software experts to make professional-grade apps. Speaking on the subject, Microsoft founder Bill Gates said, “We still need those software engineers as we are not going to stop needing them.”
“We still need those software engineers as we are not going to stop needing them.”
Also, the demand for tech jobs is growing at a much faster-than-average rate. The intense competition for these professionals means it can be particularly challenging to find qualified talent.
For these reasons, many businesses prefer hiring outsourced developers. In particular, working with freelancers offers many benefits. If you are new to this strategy, the tips in this guide show where to find the top engineers and what it takes to hire them.
Hiring a Freelance Outsourced Developer
Hiring full-time and even part-time employees could burden a small or mid-size company and compromise its agility. Even large enterprises tend to hire freelance outsourced developers as a first option before considering permanent hires.
The benefits of this arrangement include:
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Rapid scaling of a development team
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Access to expert talent that is not available near a local office
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Savings on overhead
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Fewer government regulations
If you need programmers, put hiring outsourced engineers as one of your top strategies.
What Does an Outsourced Developer Do?
You have to hire dedicated outsourced developers to take on various tasks for successful software projects. Multiple tech experts are necessary to deliver apps that are ready for launch.
For example, back-end developers deal with what is “under the hood” of an app. Their work deals with all of the business logic, data processing, and connections to other services.
Back-end devs must also build and maintain databases, servers, and application programming interfaces (APIs) that connect apps and servers. They may work in Python, Java, PHP, C#, and Go as programming languages and use their respective libraries and frameworks.
On the other hand, front-end developers construct the elements that end users interact with on devices. They have to have a good understanding of user interfaces and user experience (UI/UX) to build attractive apps. Their preferred languages are often HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and React.
Full-stack developers are able to build both front-end and back-end technologies. These individuals are at least mid-level developers who can confidently build an app by themselves. Senior developers are also usually full-stack devs.What else does an outsourced developer do? During development and after launch, some serve as quality assurance (QA) and testing engineers to ensure app functionality. DevOps engineers are the connection between development teams and operations.
Some devs may be specialists in particular types of device apps, such as web, mobile, or desktop. Others focus on a particular operating system or technology.
Finding outsourced developers for hire who can do any of these assignments well is a legitimate challenge. The resulting program can’t simply perform a task satisfactorily; the software needs to be intuitive and pleasing for the end users.
Professor John Ousterhout, American computer science expert and author, states: “Your job as a developer is not just to create code that you can work with easily, but to create code that others can also work with easily.”
Why Hire Outsourced Developers?
Top-tier developers can help your company drive growth. They not only build the apps your employees and customers need; they also maintain, scale, and enhance them as time passes.
Other reasons why hiring outsourced developers is necessary include staying on top of cybersecurity and innovation. Nowadays, many successful deliverables rely on the work of expert software engineers.
What Can an Outsourced Developer Do for Your Business?
A software programmer’s job is much more than building apps. Your business obtains many advantages by hiring an outsourced developer.
Manage Databases
Data is one of your company’s most precious resources and needs to stay safe in your databases. Back-end and full-stack developers play a big role in keeping confidential and proprietary information secure.
They can also help make this data more usable for processing and analysis. Oracle and MySQL are important languages for managing databases.
Test and Debug Code
All software needs full testing before launch. Programs require internal alpha testing, beta testing, and gamma testing phases before release. Unit, integration, system, and acceptance testing are also essential.
After seeing where issues lie, hired outsourced developers need to find solutions and debug programs. This process requires an understanding of debugging tools, such as Visual Studio Code, ReSharper, and Android Studio. These efforts lead to an excellent product going to market or operations with few complaints.
Utilize Software Frameworks
Efficient coding requires knowing more than just a programming language. Languages typically have frameworks, which are templates and libraries full of pre-written code. With a wide knowledge on tech stack, the developer can save time by inserting lines from frameworks that handle routine processes and combining them in unique ways to swiftly create customized software solutions.
Extend Software Capabilities
Extending software means adding features or enhancing existing ones. Think of it like making modifications or upgrades to a vehicle. New tools, techniques, plugins, and functionalities are always appearing, so a top software engineer stays up-to-date on the latest advancements and applies these to your apps to make them even better.
Migrate Apps to New Platforms
Sometimes, a newer programming language can do a better job than the one you are currently using. Also, you may want to make an app available on a different operating system. Hire outsourced developers to expand your market or software capabilities by rewriting code to migrate it to a different system.
How To Hire Outsourced Developers
The hiring process starts with documenting your goals and figuring out how hiring outsourced developers can help you reach them. If you are augmenting an existing technical team, get their input about what type of software expert would best serve your needs.
Consider the project scope, budget, and timeline. For your budget, the cheapest option is rarely the right one. Calculate the long-term return on investment and profitability of making a quick hire of top talent. Spending a little more upfront can yield many benefits.
Additionally, make sure you understand the different experience levels of developers:
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Junior: Has no more than a couple years of experience, knows a couple of languages, needs guidance on large projects but can handle standard coding tasks and quick fixes
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Mid-level: Has 2-5 years in the field, knows a few languages and frameworks, has a bachelor’s degree, may be able to build a basic app or piece of software alone
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Senior: Has 5+ years of experience, has led teams on projects, mentors and oversees other devs, can serve as a consultant on large projects
Remember that many of the leading companies on our list of the best hiring sites can show you how to hire outsourced developers. They can also handle sourcing, vetting, and matching for you.
Skills To Look for When Hiring an Outsourced Developer
On the technical side, candidates need to have these outsourced developer skills:
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Knowledge of a few programming languages
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Relevant frameworks and libraries
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Cloud platforms, such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure
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Version control for recalling and comparing different software versions using a tool like Git
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Database management
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DevOps tools
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APIs and web services for interoperability
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AI programming tools for efficiency and innovation
A brief note on AI tools: Much like writing and art, these only serve as an inspiration when working on full-blown software projects. Using them effectively requires complete knowledge of a codebase. Never expect a novice to be able to fully code a robust solution by prompting generative AI.
Furthermore, no matter the stage of the development process or the role of the developer, each one should have a deep understanding of software security. Cybercriminals constantly find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. Your dev team is the first step in staying safe in a digital environment.
Successful deliverables also require your freelance outsourced developers to have significant interaction with your team. Anyone you hire should have strong communication and collaboration skills (both speaking and listening), plus emotional intelligence.
Other important “soft skills” are an analytical mindset with critical thinking and problem-solving. These are crucial for creating code that solves problems, discovering program errors during testing, and debugging them. Find someone who can figure out more than one way to reach a solution and adapt to challenging and stressful situations.
How Much It Costs To Hire Outsourced Developers
The salary for a freelance outsourced programmer varies considerably. Pay depends on the person’s years of experience, skill sets, coding languages, and location.
Still, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a general guideline with a median of $130,160 per year ($62.58 per hour). Other sources list the median pay for offshore developers being a bit lower: $115,000 annually ( $55.29/hour ).
Tips for Writing an Outsourced Developer Job Description
A well-written outsourced developer job description appeals to top talent pools by highlighting how rewarding it is to work for your company. Mention interesting projects your team has done, company perks, the team culture, pay range, and work schedule.
The position needs an easily understood title (no need to get overly creative). Explain the role in a few sentences, and then provide a more descriptive bulleted list of core responsibilities. Also, make a list of essential and preferred qualifications.
Keep all of this info concise and clear. The full description should be no more than a couple of pages long, which is usually less than 700 words.
Common Interview Questions To Ask When You Want To Hire an Outsourced Developer
The questions you ask will depend on the type of developers you are interviewing and the role you are interviewing for. However, consider a few questions any developer should be able to answer.
| Interview Questions | Types of Answers To Look For |
|---|---|
| How do you deal with merge conflicts in Git? | The response should demonstrate a clear understanding of version control, especially when working with dev teams. |
| What is your strategy when the team is behind schedule? | Find out how the candidate deals with stress and tight deadlines, as well as problem-solving and collaborative capabilities. |
| Which programming languages do you prefer, and why? | The languages give insight into the candidate’s experience and show what kinds of apps they tend to work on. |
| How would you explain APIs to non-technical stakeholders? | Get an idea of the person’s communication skills and how well the individual can interact with the whole team. |
Technical tests and pair programming exercises can confirm the skill level of junior and middle devs. For soft skills, behavioral evaluations or situational interviews can show you how an applicant responds to certain scenarios. Blind assessments can help eliminate unconscious biases in these evaluations.
How To Find Freelance Outsourced Developers for Hire
Are you still unsure about where to find outsourced programmers for hire? Tech-focused freelance marketplaces can help you find outsourced developers faster and more cost-efficiently than options such as open job boards, lone developer agencies, or professional networking.
Before choosing one of these services, review our list of the best sites to hire outsourced developers. Pick the company that makes it easiest to find elite remote developers within days by expertly matching you with world-class developers. You are sure to see why Toptal leads all other choices.
Hiring freelance outsourced developers has become the preferred strategy for many organizations that need to build a technical department. Discover effective techniques for finding and onboarding first-rate talent to establish the ideal tech team for your business.
Frequentely Asked Questions.
- Where Can I Hire Outsourced Developers?
- The top companies for hiring outsourced developers are Toptal, Arc, BairesDev, Unbench, and Manao. Learn why these services and some others are the leading choices in our list of the best sites for hiring freelance outsourced developers.
- Are Outsourced Developers in Demand?
- Skilled developers are still in great demand. Job growth remains strong, and the unemployment rate is 37% lower than the general employment market. Consequently, trying to hire outsourced developers can be challenging unless you have help from an experienced tech recruitment team.