For every application that makes life easier, there is a team of coders who made someone’s vision come to life through months of hard work. Coders are experts who can design, write, and test software, mobile apps, websites, and other projects.
Whether you have an idea for a product you would like to commercialize or need a coder to update your business’s back-end system, you’ll need to hire the right person for the job.
Create Requirements For Your Project
It will be easier to find the right coder for the job if you have a good idea of what the project will entail and can communicate your expectations clearly and concisely.
Before hiring coders, you should create a set of requirements for your project. An excellent place to start is to focus on what you want the finished product to look like and develop a prototype. You don’t need a working prototype but should have a list of features and a mockup of the design and interface.
Bringing a designer on board can be beneficial at this stage. A designer will be able to look at the challenges users want to solve and come up with features and UX that will guide users through common journeys.
Choosing the Right Programming Language
Once you know more about what you want to accomplish with your project, you should determine the best programming language. Even though most coders are familiar with more than one language, you’ll be able to narrow down your search for coders if you know what the target language is.
For instance, Javascript would make the most sense for an interactive application. You’ll need a MySQL expert to work with databases, a PHP coder for a project with dynamic web pages, or someone who is knowledgeable with the Python language for a back-end project. A coder specializing in C++ can be a versatile addition to your team since they’ll be able to work on network management projects and more.
You’ll have to consider the scope of the project and your budget to determine the best language. You should also look at the existing IT infrastructure and whether it will be easy to roll out additional components in the future.
Keep in mind that there isn’t a single language that is best for any project. Instead, project managers weigh the pros and cons of the different options available and pick the one that makes the most sense for their goals and budget.
Do You Need More Than One Expert?
Depending on the requirements of your project, you might want to consider hiring more than one coder. It might seem counterintuitive from a financial perspective, but you could save money in the long term by working with professionals with different areas of expertise.
For instance, you might want to bring in an IDP coding expert on board if you want to implement advanced authentication features for a project where safety is crucial. If your project involves hardware and software, you might need to work with a coder and with someone who specializes in circuit design.
Working with specialized coders can reduce costs since you’ll be less likely to run into issues that could delay implementation. Plus, you will probably save time and money with a product that works as expected and meets all your requirements.
An entry-level software programmer earns $40 an hour on average, but freelance coders tend to charge more. You should think about hiring other specialists for your project so you can reduce the workload of the coders.
For instance, if you hire someone to code a website in HTML, you might want to hire a different person to do SEO writing and add content to the site instead of paying a coder to do everything.
Explain What You Need
When reaching out to coders, it’s crucial to communicate what you need for the project. If you don’t have a tech background, consider working with a consultant so you can put together some requirements and a helpful job description.
You should also be realistic. You won’t be able to hire a senior coder unless you have a significant budget.
Here are a few things you should include in the job description:
- Will the coder create a new product from scratch, update an existing solution, or fix bugs?
- Which language will they work in? How much experience should they have with this coding platform?
- How long do you expect the project to last? Do you want the coder to provide ongoing tech support after they develop the product?
- Do you need the coder to design and implement testing strategies? The same question applies to risk management, compliance challenges, and cybersecurity.
Discuss Qualifications, Budget, Timeline, and Expectations
Before you hire a coder for your project, you should ask a few questions and set some expectations:
- Find out if they have worked on similar projects in the past and ask if you can see the finished product. Look for a coder who has worked on similar projects or in a similar environment. For instance, startup owners can get better results by looking for entrepreneurial coders.
- Ask for some references. Contact these people and find out more about what working with this coder was like.
- The coder you hire will be one of the members of a team you’re assembling. Make sure they’ll be a good fit for your company values and know how to communicate with others.
- Discuss whether you’ll pay the coder an hourly rate or a flat fee for the project. If you decide on an hourly rate, agree on how they will keep track of their time.
- You should have a timeline for your project with different milestones. It might be easier to find a coder if you’re flexible with your timeline, but you should agree on when the coder will complete the project.
- Set some expectations for what the finished product will look like. You should agree on how you will measure the finished product’s performance and discuss how the coder will address any bugs or performance issues.
- Agree on how often you will communicate and give feedback.
Wrap Up
Before you hire a coder, you should take the time to identify some critical requirements for your project. You can then start advertising the position with a job description that is clear and accurate. Don’t forget to ask a few questions and check references before hiring a coder.
