How to Find and Hire Backend Developers Remotely
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More chaptersBackend developers are responsible for creating and sustaining web development projects and server-side platforms. While the practice of remote work has become more accepted in the contemporary business world, there has also been a rising need for skilled developers in the backend who are willing to work remotely. As for now, the estimation of remote workers is approximately 20% of the global workforce and is still gradually increasing. Further, the survey shows that teleworking is preferred by workers, as 98% of them would like to work from home, at least in part.
The main purpose of this article is to give a definitive tutorial on how one can hire backend developers through outsourcing. Leaning all the way from the position and utility of remote back end developers to defining the right job posts and making the right hires, this article would help you in creating a solid remote development team.
Why Are Remote Backend Developers an Option?
For decades, the tech industries have led the trend toward remote work arrangements. Subsequently, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many firms to adapt to remote working, with the situation ultimately becoming entrenched. A survey of professionals shows that there has been a surge in the number of people working remotely and especially in the tech field where many firms have moved towards adopting fully remote or hybrid working environment.
Organizations are now in the process of sourcing backend developers and other IT employees from other regions of the globe by using means of technology in order to enhance their ways of working together. Applications such as Slack, Trello, and Zoom have become crucial for the remote project manager in order to facilitate the interaction of members within a group.
Advantages that Remote Backend Developers Offer
Hiring backend developers provides many benefits that can greatly affect the development process. One of the major advantages is that it provides companies access to international talent. By so doing, companies can look for skilled backend developers from anywhere in the globe to guarantee that they select the best talents in the market. They are advantageous in those regions that have specialists with different database management systems or programming languages.
Remote backend developers also bring lower overhead costs to the table than employees within the company. Furthermore, there are some benefits, such as more flexible work relationships, which mean higher performance and employee satisfaction. Research has indicated that teleworkers enjoy a better work-life balance since the increased flexibility may lead to improved productivity.
It also has a perceived advantage of flexibility and scalability of the solutions offered. Backend development teams can be entirely located off-site and adjusted in size to the needs of the current projects. Flexibility is something startups and small businesses will appreciate because they have to keep their expenses as low as possible. Moreover, remote work can lead to a more diverse and inclusive workforce, bringing different perspectives and ideas to the development process.
Sourcing Remote Backend Developers
In order to hire backend developer remotely, it is essential to explore various sourcing channels that can connect you with talented professionals from around the world.
Outsourcing Companies
Outsourcing your backend developers is one of the best methods for securing remote talents, as it is beneficial for those businesses that intend to grow their development team in the shortest time possible. These companies pride themselves on building a team of developers who are proficient in different backend technologies and, therefore, would be of immense value to organizations that might not have the time or manpower to go through rigorous recruitment channels.
The outsourcing firms also have strict measures that have to be met to ensure that the developers being hired are well qualified to handle the task. For example, they might assess candidates on their proficiency in programming languages they think are useful in backend development, like Python, Java, or Ruby, to extend their knowledge of frameworks and tools. When you hire an outsourcing company, it means you will be provided with dedicated backend developers who will give seamless integration with your team formation and begin working on the project as soon as possible.
At Orient Software, we are confident that we have the best backend development professionals who are willing to help with your projects. Our development teams are not only fully capable of performing the necessary programming but also fully aware of the intricacies and subtleties that go into the development lifecycle. Such expertise enables us to provide you with the most efficient, reliable, and specific solution requirements. Moreover, our developers have significant working knowledge about data structures and database management systems, so your data will be processed accordingly and safely all through the project cycle.
Online Job Boards
Another obvious but highly useful way of sourcing remote backend developers is with the help of online job boards, which provide a versatile opportunity to find the necessary vacancies. Some of the most famous global freelance platforms include Upwork, Freelancer, Toptal, and LinkedIn, and all come with helpful resources that would facilitate the hiring process.
However, to effectively use these platforms, it is essential that you have proper job postings that will attract the required talent. The first one is by defining the technical skills that will define the job description, which involve backend technologies such as version control systems (VCS), Node.js, Django, or .NET. Moreover, define the specific characteristics of the project required, including supplying objectives, meeting timescales, and anything else that you can share about the organizational culture of your business. Therefore, using a specific approach when advertising an available job post increases the likelihood of attracting the right people for your project.
Furthermore, you may want to bring focus to those areas that may seem to make your project interesting, for example, professional software development, team collaboration, or the possibility of extended cooperation. This alone can go a long way in ensuring that you get the best in the market and, at the same time, market your firm as the best place to be. Filters in these sites can also assist in whittling down talent by skill and experience, making the sorting out process easier.
Freelancing Platforms
Similar to freelance markets, there are tech employment platforms like Stack Overflow Jobs and GitHub Jobs that ensure that tech professionals showcase their abilities and search for job opportunities. These platforms are especially helpful if you’re looking for a backend developer or even a full-stack developer since such employees are partial to freelance/part-time work with flexible schedules. Because these platforms are focused on people who are fond of technologies, you can get not only qualified candidates but also those who are passionate about their jobs.
Of the advantages of freelancing platforms is the ability to filter the candidates through the projects they have completed, their ratings, and feedback from other customers. This transparency can help you make informed decisions when hiring a back end developer. Also, most of these platforms enable trial projects, so you can judge the developer before committing to a long-term engagement.
Nevertheless, there are certain demerits that stakeholders should note concerning freelancing platforms. People who hire several freelancers may usually experience some difficulties when it comes to their coordination, as such employees may work in different time zones. Coordination can be affected, and some issues can be misinterpreted regarding project specifications, timeline, and duration. In order to address these risks, critical communication lines and a project management framework are needed. The employment of communication apps like Slack and project management apps like Trello or Asana will go a long way toward ensuring that everyone is on the same page and on track.
Managing Remote Backend Developers
Performance Tracking
Performance control is the foundation on which everyone, including remote backend developers, must be managed successfully. The process begins with establishing the target that can be easily quantified with reference to the general aim of the project as well as of the organization. Such goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART).
Scheduling the meeting in specific intervals and progress report sessions are useful for keeping the developers focused and for spotting problems beforehand. This can be easily achieved by using project management applications like Jira or Trello, where you can immediately see who is assigned to what, when the work is due, and whether it’s complete.
Further, the practice of Agile software development metrics that are specific to the backend development, like code quality metrics, frequency of deployment, uptime on the network, etc., gives the quantitative results for the performance of the developers. Feedback sessions as well as meetings are also crucial, especially in providing the developers with feedback on their performance, achievements of which can motivate the developers.
Providing Support and Resources
Assisting backend developers who work remotely is not only about supplying them with the necessary tools and technologies but also about giving them practice and guidance. Of course, access to new development tools and technologies is a starting point, but it is equally crucial to make sure that developers can apply this knowledge.
From time to time, training can be provided online, through web meetings or offline, in the form of courses, etc., and in so doing, skills are kept current and relevant. Of additional value, it is possible to point to the programs aimed at the development of training and mentorship relationships between junior and senior developers that may share their experiences, discuss the complicating factors, etc.
Moreover, the encouragement of the idea of constant studying and attendance at such things as conferences or certification programs should also increase the knowledge and satisfaction of the developers. Thus, in order to preserve the high productivity and job satisfaction of the developers, their support should be guaranteed at all levels, from technical facilities to immediate access to the workload.
Building Trust and Relationships
Most importantly, trust is the cornerstone of any proper working team, and it is earned over time by communicating, giving credit, and being dependable. Group communication is crucial no matter how often people work together; virtual meetings or brief discussions concerning the project or even current events contribute to the formation of a team and its cohesiveness. Another way is to patent any idea or innovation for developers so that there can be free flow of information between them.
Both group harmonization and general morale may also be improved if and when small- to big-scale successes are acknowledged and appreciated. Further, it is possible to build trust and credibility by going the extra mile, supporting a work-life balance, and demonstrating an understanding of personal difficulties.
Finding ways to do team-bonding, or at least, team-sending activities, can cement these relationships and build up a culture of support and appreciation for all of the remote backend developers on the team.
