According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need to recruit software developers will increase 25% by 2031. With the recruitment landscape laced with intense competition, the process to hire remote development team is not one without challenges, such as:
- Inability to find the right talent at the right time: The inevitable rise of remote work is leading to an increasing demand for remote software developers. There's more competition for attracting top talent.
- Lack of communication: Communication can be difficult when working remotely, particularly if language barriers or time zone differences exist. It can also be harder to establish trust and build relationships when candidates cannot see team members in person.
- Absence of technical skills: Technical skills are paramount in software development, and it can be challenging to assess them accurately in a remote setting. It may be harder to evaluate a candidate's coding abilities or assess their compatibility with the team culture without meeting them in person.
- Inability to manage remote teams: Managing a remote team requires different skills than managing an in-person team. Leaders must create a strong sense of team cohesion and ensure everyone's working towards the same goals. This can be difficult when people work in different locations and time zones. Plus, hiring managers may find it challenging to engage in background verification.
- Lack of right tools and technology: Remote work requires the use of specific tools and technologies to ensure collaboration and productivity. Ensuring that the remote team has access to the right tools and training can be a challenge.
The takeaway: There's no doubt that hiring remote software developers is tricky. It requires a thoughtful approach that takes into account the unique challenges of remote work.
In this guide, we will look at top strategies on how to hire remote developers, including how to source and assess them.
Why Hire Remote Programmers? The Top Benefits
Want to hire a remote development team but are unsure of its all-around benefits? Hiring remote software developers has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for a good reason. Here are its benefits:
- Access to a larger pool of talent: When recruiters are not limited to hiring developers in a specific geographic area, they have access to a much larger pool of talent. They can hire the best developers from anywhere in the world.
- Cost savings: Hiring remote developers can often be more cost-effective than hiring in-house developers. Hiring managers don't have to worry about office space, equipment, or other overhead costs.
- Increased productivity: Remote developers often work more efficiently and are more productive. They can work in their preferred environment, which can increase their focus and motivation.
- Flexibility: Hiring remote developers can provide recruiters with more flexibility in terms of working hours and time zones. This can be especially beneficial if the organization needs developers to work on projects outside of traditional business hours. Moreover, with a number of organizations offering remote and hybrid roles, this has become a major EVP for organizations – the companies who offer remote or hybrid flexibility get a higher number of high potential candidates.
- Improved collaboration: With the right tools and communication channels in place, remote developers can collaborate effectively with other team members. This can result in better quality work and faster project completion.
- Diverse perspectives: When recruiters hire remote developers from different parts of the world, the business can benefit from their diverse perspectives and experiences. This can lead to more innovative solutions and better decision-making.
The takeaway: Hiring remote software developers can offer many benefits for businesses looking to scale their development teams or save costs.
However, it's important to have the right processes and communication channels in place to ensure a successful working relationship.
How to Hire Remote Developers: 10 Useful Steps
Here are the steps recruiters can follow on how to hire remote developers:
Step 1: Define the role and determine what skills, experience, and qualifications are needed. Make a list of the necessary technical and soft skills and the expected responsibilities of the role.
Step 2: Create a job description that accurately reflects the requirements of the role, the expected outcomes, and the company culture. Make sure to highlight the remote aspect of the job and any specific requirements related to working remotely.
Step 3: Post the job on job boards, social media, and other platforms to reach potential candidates. Make sure to include the job description and any other relevant details, such as compensation and benefits.
Step 4: Review resumes and applications that come in response to the job posting. Look for candidates that have the necessary skills and experience and seem like a good fit for the company culture.
Step 5: Conduct initial interviews to screen candidates and ask them questions related to their experience, technical skills, and remote work experience. This will help narrow down the list of potential candidates.
To get a complete report of each candidate's skills and strengths, here are the top 10 coding interview tools hiring managers can consider.
Step 6: Conduct technical interviews with candidates that have passed the initial screening to evaluate their technical skills and expertise.
Recruiters can use online coding tests, pair programming exercises, etc., to evaluate programmers on various skills, such as Salesforce, AWS, Azure, and more.
Step 7: Check references for the candidates to get a better understanding of their past work experience and their ability to work remotely.
Step 8: Offer the job to the candidate that seems like the best fit for the role. Make sure to communicate any details related to compensation, benefits, and expectations for remote work.
Step 9: Onboard the new hire and provide them with the necessary information and tools to start their work remotely. Make sure to establish clear communication channels and set expectations for performance and deadlines.
Step 10: Provide ongoing support to the new hire as they adapt to their new role and work remotely. Regular check-ins and feedback will help them stay on track and perform their best work.
Further, here are the top 20 tips on how to hire a dedicated remote development team.
A. Where to Source High-Quality Remote Software Developers
There are several ways to source remote software developers, including:
- Job boards: Posting job openings on popular job boards such as Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn can attract a large pool of candidates.
- Freelance websites: Freelance websites such as Upwork and Freelancer allow recruiters to hire remote software developers on a project basis.
- Referrals: Ask the current employees or professional network for referrals to remote software developers.
- Social media: Posting job openings on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook can also attract potential candidates.
- Online communities: Join online communities such as GitHub and Stack Overflow to connect with developers and post job openings.
- Staffing agencies: Certain staffing agencies that specialize in sourcing remote software developers for companies.
B. How to Screen Only the Top Developers
If you want to screen only the top talent, leverage the power of AI automation. Intelligent tools like iMocha can help recruiters:
- Assess both the technical and soft skills of remote developers.
- Access tools and features such as:
- Coding simulators: Coding simulators provide a realistic coding environment where candidates can demonstrate their technical skills by writing code in a specific programming language. This allows recruiters to evaluate their coding proficiency and problem-solving abilities.
- Live Coding Interview: The Live Coding Interview feature enables recruiters to conduct live coding sessions with candidates remotely, which can provide a more accurate assessment of their coding skills and problem-solving abilities.
- AI-LogicBox: The AI-LogicBox feature is an AI-powered tool that assesses a candidate's skills for languages were compilers are not freely available. It acts like a pseudo coding platform that can help you assess programmers for skills like Salesforce, SAP, UiPath, AWS, and more.
iMocha also offers assessments for soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management, and you can assess cognitive skills that’d be necessary for them to succeed at their role. Here’s a quick snapshot of how it works:
These assessments can help recruiters to evaluate a candidate's ability to work effectively in a team and communicate their ideas clearly.
Leverage this comprehensive platform to assess both the technical and soft skills of remote developers and select quality developers for your organization.
Want to know how Gartner hired 20 skilled developers in 3 months with iMocha’s technical skills assessments. Read onto know more.
C. Skills to Look for in a Remote Software Developer
When looking for a remote software developer, there are several skills and qualities to consider:
- Technical skills: The developer should have a strong background in the programming languages and tools needed for the project. They should be able to write clean, efficient, and maintainable code.
- Communication skills: Since remote work relies heavily on communication, the developer should have excellent communication skills. They should be able to clearly articulate their ideas, ask questions when they need help, and provide updates on their progress.
- Time management skills: Remote work requires a high level of self-discipline and time management. The developer should be able to work independently, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
- Problem-solving skills: The developer should also be able to analyze problems, come up with creative solutions, and implement them in code.
- Adaptability: Remote work can be unpredictable, and the developer should be able to adapt to changing requirements and situations.
Freelance vs Full-Time Developers
When it comes to choosing between freelance and full-time developers, there are some pros and cons to consider.
Freelance developers can offer more flexibility and cost savings but may be less committed to the project and may have other clients to juggle.
Full-time developers, on the other hand, can offer more stability and long-term commitment but may be more expensive and less flexible in terms of scheduling. Ultimately, the decision depends on the organization's specific needs and budget.
In Conclusion
Hiring remote software developers can be a great way to find skilled talent from around the world and build a flexible, efficient team. To successfully hire remote software developers, follow these steps:
- Define the position: Write a detailed job description that clearly outlines the skills, experience, and qualifications needed.
- Post the job: Use job boards, social media, and other online platforms to advertise the job opening.
- Screen candidates: Use phone or video interviews to assess candidates' technical skills, communication abilities, and cultural fit.
- Conduct technical assessments: Administer coding tests or other technical assessments to evaluate candidates' coding abilities.
- Check references: Speak with former colleagues, managers, or clients to learn more about the candidate's performance in previous roles.
- Offer a trial project: Give candidates a small project or task to complete to see how they perform in a real-world situation.
- Onboard and manage: Once a candidate has been selected, make sure to onboard them effectively and provide ongoing support and communication to help them succeed.
Hiring remote software developers requires a bit more attention to communication and cultural fit than traditional hiring.
By taking the time to carefully screen candidates and using intelligent tools such as iMocha, recruiters can easily conduct technical assessments and find skilled developers from around the world at half the cost and one-fourth the time!
Book a demo and understand how the iMocha platform can add value to the hiring process.
FAQs
How much does a software engineer charge per hour?
A software engineer's hourly rate can vary depending on their experience, location, and the nature of the project. In the United States, for example, the average hourly rate for a software engineer is $46.85 per hour.
Extra Reading: Know how much does it cost to hire a software developer
How to hire a remote developer for the first time?
To hire a remote software developer for the first time, follow these steps:
- Start by defining the project's requirements, including the programming languages, tools, and technologies needed. This will help narrow down the search and find candidates who have the required skills.
- Create a job description that clearly outlines the role and responsibilities of the software engineer. Include details about the project, required skills, and any other relevant information.
- Post the job on job boards, including LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor, as well as on specialized job boards for software engineers like Stack Overflow Careers and AngelList.
- Reach out to the network, including friends, family, and colleagues, and ask for referrals for software engineers they know or have worked with.
- Conduct interviews and evaluations to assess their skills, experience, and cultural fit.
Where can I find and hire a remote team of developers?
To find remote developers:
- Use job boards: Many job boards, like Indeed and Glassdoor, allow users to filter for remote job opportunities. Hiring managers can also try specialized job boards for remote work, like Remote.co and We Work Remotely.
- Use freelance platforms: Freelance platforms like Upwork and Freelancer help search for and hire remote developers for short-term projects.
- Attend virtual events: These include conferences, meetups, and hackathons to network with remote developers and learn about their work.
- Use social media: Use social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to find and connect with remote developers within the industry.
- Use talent marketplaces: Talent marketplaces like Topcoder and Gigster allow recruiters to hire remote developers for specific projects or ongoing work.
Extra Reading: Unlock the potential of your recruitment efforts with these 12 powerful sourcing tools designed to help recruiters discover the perfect talent match. Explore now!
