It’s becoming increasingly tough to find excellent talent. Companies are fiercely fighting for the top people, and everyone is boosting their hiring game in a variety of ways, from providing incredible benefits to completely changing corporate cultures.
This competitiveness is most visible in software development, which is one of the world’s fastest-growing businesses. It’s also quite meritocratic, which poses a fascinating dilemma for recruiting managers: how can you employ the finest coders before your rivals do?
Here are some suggestions to assist you in resolving the issue:
- Learn the Fundamentals
No one expects a recruiter to be a code expert, but getting to know the sector may be really beneficial. You’ll be more educated about the qualities you’re searching for in prospects, and you’ll find it simpler to follow the candidate’s and hiring manager’s interactions.
There are a few things you should be aware of:
What technologies are programmers employing? Your development team might be employing a variety of programming languages, each with its own set of features. C#, for example, is an object-oriented programming language that is frequently used in games, but PHP is utilized for server-side scripting and content-heavy apps. You don’t have to be an expert, but the very least you can do is inquire about the most significant technology used by your team from your recruiting manager.
What is the going fee for this service? Salary for developers is determined not only by their seniority, but also by the technology they specialize in. Objective-C developers, for example, are paid more on average than Swift engineers. You’ll have a better notion of how simple it is to locate developers and what sort of wage you’ll need to spend to obtain them once you know which ones you want.
What will the candidate’s responsibilities be? Will this new recruit add expertise that the rest of the team lacks? Will they be working on your main project or on a slew of other projects? Familiarize yourself with the team’s unique expectations for this new developer.
2. Practical skills should be prioritized.
When it comes to recruiting developers, real experience should always take precedence over what is mentioned on a CV. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t evaluate someone’s education; it should, but only as part of the whole picture, not as a deal-breaker.
Giving code exams a higher priority in your hiring approach is the most apparent way to stress practical expertise. If the candidate is hired, a well-designed coding test should reflect the obstacles that will be part of their employment. During the one-on-one interview, provide your hiring managers the opportunity to go through the exam with the candidate in further depth.
Another technique to focus on your prospects’ practical talents is to request a portfolio of their prior work. You’ll be able to view tangible samples of their work this way. You may spend as much time as you need in the interview discussing how they completed those projects, what their biggest obstacles were, how they handled problems, and so on. Also, if you’re recruiting react devs, consider asking react interview questions throughout the interview.
- Freelancers should be considered.
If your team need a specialized employee with a certain skill set for a specific project, a freelance developer may be a better option. You may ask your present devs for recommendations; they’ll almost certainly have someone in mind. Popular freelancing websites such as Upwork, Freelancer, Toptal, and Fiverr are also worth checking out. Upwork is recognized for having a vast developer talent pool, with JavaScript being the most in-demand technical expertise on the platform.
References are crucial when evaluating freelance developers. Pay great attention to the profiles of freelancers: Most freelance platforms are quite open, and customers’ reviews, whether positive or negative, are often public.
4. Make Your Talent Pool Bigger
If you’re having problems finding the individuals you need, it’s possible that you’re dealing with a talent pool that’s too small. You may broaden your reach in several ways:
Make the job description a little more flexible. A job description that is excessively precise may turn off potential candidates who are concerned about not fulfilling all of your overly stringent requirements. Only list the technologies and skills that are really necessary; you can find out additional information about a candidate during the interview. It’s also a good idea to avoid using the term “requirements.” “Desired skills” conveys a similar message, and prospects will be more inclined to apply even if they don’t check a few boxes.
- Soft Skills Should Be Prioritized
When it comes to recruiting engineers, never overlook soft skills. If you only look for technical expertise, you can wind up employing a candidate who lacks a strong work ethic and poor organizational abilities. Furthermore, according to one research, soft-skills training may provide a 256 percent return on investment, indicating that soft skills are more valuable than you would believe.
Because working effectively from home necessitates high levels of responsibility, work ethic, and task management, soft skills are especially vital for individuals who will be working remotely.
Don’t worry if finding the top developers takes a long time and effort. Recruiting A players might take a long time.
However, there are several things you can do to put yourself in a better position to succeed. Collaborate closely with the leaders of your software development team, expand your talent pool, and be patient. And it will get simpler when you’ve made your first few outstanding hires: good developers are always eager to join a team of exceptional experts!
