Whether you’re a small business or a large conglomerate, hiring talented programmers and a great development team is often at the top of your list. Now and with the current rise of remote work, you can do it remotely.
In the past four years, more than 70% of workers have gone remote, and another 80% of workers want to work remotely as much as possible, for as long as possible. Given these findings, if you hope to retain a workforce of talented developers, it is crucial you know where to hire remote developers at an affordable price.
Whether it’s front-end development, designing web applications, or a mobile app--there is a pool of amazing talent around the world that you can use for your business. If you are wondering how to hire a remote developer, read our guide below.
As Tim Osborne, CTO at Atom Learning mentions: “With the trend towards cloud-hosted services for almost everything in the tech industry, it was only a matter of time before a cloud-hosted/remote development environment became a serious option over the traditional way of doing things.”
What Does a Remote Developer Do?
If you want to hire remote developers, you must first understand what they do. What are their job functions, are they difficult to hire and how quickly can you hire a freelance developer?
In a nutshell, remote developers design and create computer systems and software for the companies that hire them. They work independently and on their own terms, or the terms they negotiate with clients. Though data does indicate that hiring for remote developers is slowing, the fact remains that nearly half of all IT employees work full time from home and another one-third switch between in-office and at-home work.
If you do plan to hire a remote developer, anticipate the process taking anywhere from one to three months to complete. In addition, know that this professional may not reach full productivity until one year from the date of hire.
Hiring a Freelance Remote Developer
Whether it is full-time, part-time, or freelance, hiring a remote developer unlocks practical benefits for your business. The main reason so many companies are hiring remote developers is the flexibility it provides. You can scale your development team up or down as needed on a project-by-project basis.
Additionally, when a company decides to hire a freelance remote developer, they get access to a wider talent pool that they would not have locally. This can lead to increased innovation and better problem-solving.
Why Hire Dedicated Remote Developers?
There are dozens of reasons to hire remote developers, but two of the best are scalability and affordability. With a freelancer remote developer on speed dial, you can quickly and affordably accomplish several tasks and without ever having to hire a full-time developer. Some projects a freelance developer can help you complete are:
- Design and build out a website
- Develop software
- Develop a mobile app
- Create an e-commerce website
- Develop and manage a database
- Analyze and visualize data
- Integrate and automate a new system
These are just a few of the projects that call for a talented freelance developers' skills.
Should I Hire a Freelance Remote Developer?
There are three ways in which you can hire a talented developer: full-time, part-time and freelance. While the former two have their benefits, the third makes the most sense for many organizations for several reasons:
- It saves money, as you must only pay freelancers for the work they do and not the resources they use.
- It gives you access to the expertise and specialization that your in-house team may lack.
- It is more flexible.
- It grants you access to a global talent pool.
Though working with freelancers does come with pitfalls, such as potential communication issues, lack of accountability and risk of subpar work quality, you can negate these issues by hiring through the top sites to hire remote developers.
How To Hire Remote Developers
The most important first step of the hiring process for a remote developer, as with any role, is clearly defining your company’s needs and requirements. What will this job look like? What responsibilities, skills, and qualifications are you looking for?
Once you have identified the job’s requirements, it is time to find suitable candidates. We recommend using one of the sites listed here to start looking for candidates that match your requirements. The typical process involves logging into the site, writing up your job description, and then waiting to receive matches. You can then vet each candidate for the specific skills you need.
In addition to, or instead of formal education (a four-year degree in a college or university), companies are increasingly looking for other signs of proven skills, such as certifications. Examples of well-known developer certifications include:
Be sure to check candidates’ resumes for these kinds of certifications. Not only do they demonstrate proficiency in different IT domains, but they also show a developer’s drive and desire for growth.
Finally, it is important to understand the difference between a junior, mid, and highly skilled candidate. The chief differentiating factor here is years of experience.
Junior developers typically have one to three years of experience. Mid-level developers tend to have between four and 10 years of experience. Senior (or highly skilled) developers will have 10 or more years of experience. What level of experience you require when you hire remote developers depends on the job’s responsibilities.
Highly skilled developers will be more valuable for their advanced technical knowledge and leadership capabilities but will often come at a higher cost. Junior talent can be more cost-effective but may require more oversight. Looking at the level of guidance and supervision your role calls for can be an effective way to determine how much experience you need.
What Skills To Look For When Hiring a Remote Developer
When defining your job’s requirements, it is crucial to take a holistic view. Consider technical skills, cultural fit, and collaborative abilities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the job outlook of software developers to grow by 25%. This means there will be fierce competition for candidates as you look for the right person for your job.
There are several technical remote developer skills to consider when building out a job posting:
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4-year bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology (or a related field)
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Comprehensive knowledge of one or more of the following programming languages: Java, C/C++, Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, SQL
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Knowledge of the software development life cycle (SDLC)
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Experience with version control solutions like GitHub
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Understanding of APIs and web services
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Familiarity with security principles and best practices in software development
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Experience using AI tools
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Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
There are also key soft skills to include:
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Problem-solving
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Good communication
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Teamwork-mindset
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Able to take the initiative
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Experience working remotely
In addition to soft skills, consider any specific skills they may need to fit into your company culture. Do you use specific meeting or collaboration tools? Include a description of your company’s mission statement and values so you can attract candidates who will fit into your company.
By looking for a candidate with all these abilities and attributes, you will be more likely to hire remote programmers that are right for you.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Programming Languages
| Language | Benefits | Potential Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Python | - Has extensive libraries and frameworks that permit complex functionalities with minimal code - Is highly versatile and portable across multiple platforms | - Is an interpreted language that can be slower than compiled languages - Has a dynamic typing system might make it more error-prone |
| JavaScript | - Is great for interactive web content - Has a large development community with extensive frameworks and tools | - Exposes code to users as a client-side language, which could permit security vulnerabilities - Becomes very complex as an application grows, opening the door to issues as apps scale |
| Java | - Has excellent cross-platform compatibility - Uses automatic garbage collection to reduce the chance of memory leaks and makes apps more efficient and stable | - May have slower development time because of wordy code - Has high performance overhead, which makes it slower than natively compiled languages |
| PHP | - Cost-effective for web hosting across platforms - Easy to learn so many programmers know it, and experienced programmers can write efficient code with it | - Not necessarily as fast as other languages - Ease of use can open the door to security concerns |
| Go | - A compiled language that runs quick and is great for high-performance systems - Its concurrency lets multiple processes run efficiently at the same time | - Can require more lines of code because of not being as descriptive as other languages - Lacks the advanced libraries and large communities of more-established languages |
Tips for Writing a Remote Developer Job Description
When writing a job post for hiring a remote developer, hiring managers should focus on creating an engaging job posting that highlights all the benefits and opportunities of the position. Be sure to highlight exciting projects and company culture. Consider emphasizing the benefits of remote work, such as flexibility and work-life balance.
Also, include a section in your remote developer job description describing the interview method you will be using to vet job seekers. This gives potential candidates a window into your hiring process.
Different interview methodologies each have their pros and cons. Technical assessments are great for evaluating specific skills but may not offer much visibility into personality and work style. Behavioral interviews are another option, granting insight into a candidate’s soft skills and communication abilities. Finally, many companies opt for pair programming exercises to vet programming skills.
When evaluating each candidate, take into account both technical prowess and soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. To avoid bias when you hire remote specialists, consider implementing blind hiring practices. By concealing personal information about candidates, you can reduce both conscious and unconscious bias.
Common Interview Questions To Ask When You Are Looking To Hire a Remote Developer
When hiring a remote developer, it is important to ask the right questions to ensure candidates meet the necessary qualifications and possess the skills required for the job. Here are eight questions hiring managers should ask during a remote developer interview.
1. What inspired you to become a developer? The candidate’s answer should explain, in their own words, their passion for coding and potentially some of the experience they have in software development.
2. How do you manage your workload when working remotely? Working remotely is very different from working in an office. Candidates must have a clear and organized approach to managing their work and be able to prioritize tasks effectively.
3. Can you walk us through your development process? If hiring for a full-stack remote developer (both backend and frontend), the candidate should be able to articulate the full development process, including testing and deployment.
4. What programming languages are you familiar with? The answer here should be more than just a list of well-known languages. Candidates must be able to back up their claims with real-world examples of their work in these different languages.
5. Can you describe a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame any obstacles? The candidate should be able to describe specific challenges and give examples of how they overcame them. This demonstrates their adaptability and problem-solving skills.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Remote Developer?
If you hope to hire a strong remote developer for your needs, it is imperative that you are willing and able to offer a competitive salary. The average salary, for all years of experience, is $93,228. The average salary range is from $76,000 to $115,000, while developers on the upper end of the spectrum make nearly $200,000.
How To Find Freelance Remote Developers for Hire
To find remote developers for hire, consider leveraging professional networks, attending industry events, or partnering with coding bootcamps. For a more efficient process, you can check a range of different sources including freelance marketplaces, job boards, and outsourcing agencies in the list above. Compare the different sites based on speed of hiring, type of talent matching, and your needs.
One of the best sites to hire remote developers is Toptal. Enjoy a fast hiring experience and access to a vast pool of world-class talent. The best part? Toptal does the heavy lifting for hiring managers, carefully vetting all candidates to ensure they are right for your organization.
Remember these considerations before hiring a developer:
Speed of hiring
Candidate experience
Number of candidates needed
Your budget for these hires
Remote work or local
The level of quality needed for your project
For modern organizations to build truly effective software development teams, they need a robust and strategic process for hiring remote developers. With the right approach, companies can attract and retain top remote developers, leading to better project outcomes and overall success.
Which Freelance Site Is Best For You To Hire a Remote Developer?
In today’s age, it’s impossible to build a strong online presence without the skill set of a great developer. However, the hiring process can be challenging and not finding the right web developer could put a strain on your resources.
Therefore, it’s crucial that the remote developer you hire is thoroughly vetted and brings with them the guarantee of being one of the best. This is where matching services such as Toptal can help--not only do they take away most of your hiring stress but all the candidates in their talent pool are some of the tech industry’s crème de la crème.
You could also consider some of the more general marketplaces such as Upwork and Fiverr if you want to save costs but are comfortable investing more time and energy finding, vetting, and interviewing potential hires.
In the end, finding and outsourcing to the perfect remote developer for hire will depend on multiple factors such as:
- Which programming languages and technical skills do you need to hire for? (Such as PHP, Python, JavaScript, Java, or React Native?)
- How quickly do you need to hire for your development team?
- How much does a time zone difference matter for you?
- How experienced or qualified should the developer be
- What is your project management and onboarding process?
- Are you qualified enough to assess their software development skills and experience for a remote team?
- What are their communication skills, especially in the development process?
- How will they impact the work of your team members on non-remote employees?
- How important is quality to you
- How much time are you willing to invest
Finding the right remote developer can be tough. However, by using one of the 15 sites we listed and utilizing the information here, you can streamline the hiring process and find the best freelance developer for your needs and budget.
FAQs - Hiring Remote developers
- How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Remote Developer?
- Remote developers average around $105,000 annually or $50.50 hourly. Salaries range from $41,500 to $159,900, but most remote developers earn $84,000 to $124,000. Factors such as skill levels, years of experience, and location affect how much you’ll need to pay.
- Where can I find freelance remote developers?
- Some of the best platforms to hire are:
- Toptal
- Guru
- Gigster
- Fiverr
- Upwork
See the complete list of sites to hire Remote developers.
- Why Should You Hire a Remote Developer?
- Remote software developers perform the same functions as their in-house counterparts while working from outside locations. They can design, create, and maintain software systems, programs, websites, mobile apps, and more. Hiring remote developers gives you multiple benefits, such as:
- Flexibility and availability
- Access to a broader pool of talent
- Reduced personnel and overhead costs
- Coverage through numerous time zones
- How Do I Hire Remote Developers?
- Whether you want to hire part-time, full-time, or freelance remote developers, you must first find suitable candidates.
- Determine your project requirements.
- List desired developer skillsets, such as specific technical skills, remote work experience, and communication and critical thinking skills.
- Develop your recruitment and screening plan.
- Compare candidates through screening video calls, technical interviews, and testing. Consider a paid trial period to assess a candidate’s fit with your company and needs.
- Define agreed-upon timelines, budget, and contingencies.
- Negotiate and sign a contract.
- Are Remote Developers in Demand?
- The projected occupational growth rate for software developers between 2021 and 2031 is 25%, much faster than the 5% overall average. When combined with the trend toward remote work, remote developers are absolutely in demand.
- Can a remote developer work from anywhere?
- Yes, remote developers can work from anywhere, so long as they have access to a computer and internet connection.
- What is the difference between hybrid and remote developers?
- Hybrid developers are developers who split their time between in-office and home-work environments. Remote developers, on the other hand, work entirely from home.
- Can any developer work remotely?
- Most developers can work remotely. In fact, since the start of the pandemic, approximately 86% of software developers work entirely from home.