Guide To Hiring Great Freelance Tableau Developers
Hiring Tableau developers is one of the top ways to maximize your company’s potential. These programmers specialize in data analysis and visualizations with this popular business intelligence (BI) software.
Data has become the ultimate resource for businesses. In fact, experts say it is more valuable than oil or gold. Leveraging data effectively by hiring a Tableau engineer leads to better decision-making and enhanced strategic planning for greater profitability.
A key example of this is Henkel, a leading chemical and consumer goods company. Increased data visibility and transparency with Tableau led to a 20% decrease in energy consumption in one department and total energy cost savings of 4 million euros.
The continuing evolution of the data analytics field is why market experts project Tableau jobs to see a 21% growth rate from 2018 to 2028. Even more staggering, the entire Tableau services market is likely to grow by $3 billion between 2023 and 2032.
These data points emphasize that the market for the Tableau developers is highly competitive. With the help of this guide, you will discover how to hire top Tableau developers.
Hiring a Freelance Tableau Developer
Fortunately, bringing on a full-time or part-time employee is not your only option when it comes to hiring. A global talent pool is available, and you can access much of the best talent without excess overhead or red tape.
When you hire a freelance Tableau developer, you gain additional flexibility and attract talent that you cannot reach locally. Working with someone from a different culture or background can even expose you to fresh ideas that can give you a competitive advantage.
What Does a Tableau Developer Do?
Tableau developers play a critical role in delivering valuable insights for informed business decisions. Their work begins with understanding your business requirements and project goals, preparing data for use in Tableau, and connecting the platform to data sources, which may include ETL tools or Google Data Studio.
From there, developers create dashboards to improve the user experience and ensure the smooth functioning of visualization tools. They also introduce innovative methods to manage complex data sets, enabling better business success.
After preparing data for use in Tableau, they connect the platform to data sources. This information could come from computers, text files, and spreadsheets. More advanced data collection involves grabbing data from a server or a cloud database source. The Tableau Server provides a convenient place for team members to interact with these dashboards and retrieve key insights.
Of course, mistakes may occur. At other times, an adjustment or upgrade may be necessary. What does a Tableau developer do in these situations? The programmer conducts unit testing and troubleshoots any issues. When you hire a dedicated Tableau engineer, someone is on deck continually to monitor the overall performance of your data tools.
Furthermore, you can hire dedicated Tableau developers to make data processing more efficient. They introduce the latest tools and integrations and find ways to automate data processes for everyone, boosting productivity.
For example, Dr. Johannes Holtbruegge of Henkel commented, “In just six months, our Tableau community has grown from only a handful of central analysts to over 2,100 Henkel users, ranging from global managers to factory line operators. Many colleagues told me how impressed they are seeing all the things they can do with the data based on Tableau.”
One of the key skills to look for in Tableau developers for hire is storytelling capabilities. Stacks of charts or reports with tons of numbers can be challenging to process mentally. An experienced Tableau engineer knows how to present the information in an engaging way that streamlines stakeholders’ ability to make informed decisions.
Why Hire Tableau Developers?
-
Ensure Data Quality
Accurate data is the foundation of data-driven decision-making. Tableau developers clean and validate data to ensure that every report delivers meaningful insights for your business processes.
-
Boost Operational Efficiency
Tableau developers enhance operational efficiency by improving the user experience of dashboards, optimizing visualization tools, and integrating systems like Google Data Studio into your analytics processes. For example, companies analyzing Google Ads data can integrate Tableau to visualize ad performance, optimize campaigns, and maximize ROI.
-
Facilitate Collaboration Across Departments
Breaking down data silos and improving collaboration is an essential skill for Tableau developers. They ensure each team has access to actionable insights, tailored to their business goals.
What Can a Tableau Developer Do for Your Business?
Consider more ways hiring a Tableau programmer can help your business excel.
Ensure Data Quality
All data is not equal. You should only base decisions on accurate, manageable numbers. Hire a Tableau developer to identify and correct inaccurate data or any that is incomplete, irrelevant, duplicated, or improperly formatted.
Integrate Additional Business Intelligence Tools
Sometimes, the developer may realize other tools can bring additional value. Instead of hiring another expert, a senior Tableau developer often knows how to use tools such as PowerBI and QlikView and recommends these for your tech stack.
Facilitate Collaboration Across Departments
Data silos can lead to inefficiencies or mistakes that waste time and resources. Tableau developers can make sure that each team has essential information without bogging it down with irrelevant details. As a result, your organization operates more smoothly.
Ensure Data Security and Compliance
Data could become a liability in the wrong hands. You must be sure that external parties cannot access confidential information. It is also crucial to enforce security clearances for your team members and verify that proprietary information stays with the company when someone leaves the organization. Consider hiring Tableau developers to keep data secure and compliant.
Boost Operational Efficiency on a More Granular Level
Regular reports allow departments and individual team members to carefully monitor their performance and see where bottlenecks and errors are occurring. Interactive dashboards provide ways for supervisors and managers to improve change management and predict how an adjustment could affect the company.
Help You Drive Business Growth
Customer data is more precious than ever as privacy laws restrict what you can access and how you can use data. Whatever data you get can be a valuable aid in understanding your target audience and competitors. Tableau developers assist you in making practical use of data as soon as possible so you can make your company more profitable.
How Do You Hire Tableau Developers?
Key stakeholders need to discuss your objectives in hiring a Tableau developer and your business goals. Determine what skills and education a candidate requires to achieve these goals. It may be that you should bring on a team for the project.
Decide how to assess each applicant’s knowledge of Tableau and their experience in creating data visualizations. You should also decide if you need a junior, mid-level, or senior developer. The following chart explains the differences:
| Level | Junior | Mid-Level | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years of experience | 0-2 | 2-5 | 5+ |
| Competencies | - Generation of standard dashboards and reports - Knowledge of basic Tableau functionalities | - Understanding of advanced Tableau features - Complex data visualization projects - Specific industry experience - Dashboard optimization and data integration | - Mastery of data analytics and business intelligence - Experience with data governance and architecture - Ability to lead and mentor less-experienced developers |
| When to hire | Execute basic tasks under the supervision of senior devs on team projects or handling simple fixes | One-off projects that require business expertise alongside technical proficiency | Innovative, complex, ongoing, or high-stakes projects requiring industry-specific insights, as well as jobs that need leadership for full technical teams |
Remember that if you are not sure about how to hire Tableau Developers or do not have the time to evaluate them thoroughly, you have help available. You can save time and money by using one of the companies on our list of the best sites for hiring Tableau developers.
What Skills Should You Look For When Hiring a Tableau Developer?
Tableau developers are more than number crunchers and software coders. Their skill set must include sharp business acumen and effective communication to qualify as top-tier talent.
When reviewing applications, check for these Tableau developer skills:
-
Data cleaning, handling, and core data science principles
-
Principles of data security
-
Analytical skills, including exploratory data analysis
-
Database management and data warehousing
-
Skilled use of other data platforms and tools, such as PowerBI and Qlik Sense
-
Experience with scripting with Python (TabPy) or R and automation tools
-
Design skills and data visualization expertise
-
Tableau integrations and add-ons
-
Visualization tools, including Tableau, PowerBI, and QlikView
-
Designing dashboards to deliver meaningful insights and improve the user experience
-
Managing ETL tools and working with complex data sets
Because data needs vary by industry, a solid developer also needs some background in your field.
Communication skills are particularly important for a Tableau developer. A candidate must be able to tell a story with data and have examples to back up that ability.Soft skills contribute significantly to the candidate’s cultural fit. Hire a Tableau engineer with critical thinking, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. These qualities enable the person to move seamlessly between technical minds in data science and engineering and those in other departments, such as operations, sales, and marketing.
Resilience and attention to detail are also key. The developer needs to be able to persevere through challenges and see projects through to deadlines on time and under budget.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire Tableau Developers?
The average hourly rate for a Tableau developer at the end of 2024 is $56.24 . Less experienced devs earn close to $46/hour. The top percentile can fetch over $66/hour and even as high as $78/hour.
Tips for Writing a Tableau Developer Job Description
Put your best foot forward in the job description and attract top talent by mentioning successful and exciting projects you have done. You could even list a few awards you have won and talk a little about the company culture.
Move immediately into describing the role. Discuss the timeline and scope of the project, and share your ultimate goals. Explain whether the work environment is remote, in-office, or hybrid. Underneath, list essential technical and soft skills, expected degrees and certifications, and the number of years of experience the candidate must have.
Your Tableau developer job description also needs to include a general salary range. Include whatever bonuses or incentives you offer for outstanding performance.
Common Interview Questions To Ask When You Want To Hire a Tableau Developer
Think about using the following questions to gauge a Tableau developer's cultural fit and technical skill.
-
How do you optimize the performance of your dashboards?
-
Find out how the candidate minimizes complex calculations and optimizes data sources. See how they minimize the number of elements on a dashboard while leaving in essential data.
-
What tools and techniques do you use for cleaning large datasets?
-
The candidate should have real-world experience with tools such as SQL, Python, and Tableau Prep. They should be able to describe how they go through blending data, optimizing data formats, and handling missing values.
-
How do you approach designing a dashboard?
-
Developers should explain their method for learning stakeholder requirements and key metrics. Accommodating industry-specific standards and user feedback should be a part of this process.
-
How do you stay current with Tableau’s latest features and enhancements and incorporate these into projects?
-
A candidate should receive notifications on Tableau’s latest releases and maybe even attend training sessions on new features. Hands-on testing to see how they could enhance current projects is also necessary.
Personality tests and behavioral assessments are almost always necessary for hiring a Tableau developer. Problem-solving quizzes and teamwork exercises can highlight how collaborative and communicative a person will be.
How To Find Freelance Tableau Developers for Hire
Have you decided where to find Tableau developers for hire? Networking and job boards have lots of talent but can be labor-intensive. Coding boot camps are great for junior developers but not so much for senior software engineers. Outsourcing agencies help you find Tableau developers with proven skills but give you limited choices and have the highest costs.
On the other hand, top freelance marketplaces generally offer a perfect balance of a high return on investment with minimal work. Our list of the best sites to hire Tableau developers shares which sites connect you with the best remote talent within your budget in record time without any hassle. Take a closer look at it to see why Toptal is #1.
Data is one of your company’s most valuable resources and hiring Tableau developers helps you harness actionable insights from that data. By strategically sourcing elite talent, your business can strengthen its position for enduring success.