By 2020, an estimated one million computer-programming jobs will be unfilled in the US alone. While talented developers are essential to the success of most businesses, there’s a serious global shortage. Here’s a look at where and how to find the best developers for your company.
15+ Ways to Find a Developer
1. Lectron
Lectron provides tech work on demand. It helps businesses automate complex work and deliver high-impact business outcomes at light speed. To execute projects, it calls on a network of over 400 talented developers.
If you want to access the best developers without the headache of recruitment, you could outsource your development through this platform. Lectron only works with the best in the business, so you can rest assured you’ll only have access to the best developers.
2. LinkedIn
LinkedIn currently has over 500 million members. Given this huge user base, it’s a natural first place to start the search for your new developer. However, the competition is fierce, given that 90% of recruiters regularly use LinkedIn.
You should be sure to make good use of the sophisticated search tools and explore the various LinkedIn subscriptions available to you. If you get serious about using LinkedIn, you’ll want to be able to make multiple connections and promote your vacancies.
3. Facebook Groups
These groups are still popular among some developers, as they give developers the opportunity to connect, learn, and share knowledge. For example, take the WP Innovator group, which brings over 2,600 developers together who are passionate about WordPress.
To post your vacancy or contact developers directly, you could monitor these groups. But this etiquette will vary from one group to the next, so be sure to get permission before posting your vacancies.
4. Reddit
Reddit bills itself as the front page of the internet, but it manages to maintain the feel of a niche. There are 26.4 million monthly active users on this website, many of which belong to a range of subreddits focused on technology.
There are subreddits dedicated to every possible area of development, so you might want to consider messaging some users directly. You could also use some relatively popular subreddits (such as r/hiring) to dispatch your vacancy to a potential audience.
5. Quora
Quora truly is a powerhouse. It helps people get answers to the questions they care about. Each month, 300 million users come together to share their knowledge and collaborate with others.
Developers are active on the platform, and they use it to share knowledge and discuss code. Impressed by an answer? Why not message the developer directly? Given the wealth of demographic information on the platform, it’s a great place to find the best developers.
6. Freelance Marketplaces
Online freelance marketplaces are other places to find the best developers. In the gig economy, platforms like Upwork, OneSpace, and Fiverr are more popular than ever before. While a lot of developers use these platforms, the quality can vary.
If you decide to use these platforms, you should be sure to work with freelancers who have proven experience. For example, Upwork gives its top freelancers a “Top Rated” badge, which is reserved for freelancers who have high job-success scores.
7. Remote Hiring Sites
Remote job boards make it easy for you to connect with digital nomads, freelancers, and remote workers. Some popular options include We Work Remotely, Startup Jobs, and RemoteOnly.
Again, the quality can really vary on these platforms. If you use these platforms, you run the risk of chasing poor-quality candidates without succeeding. Worst of all, there is the potential that these candidates could abandon you at any point throughout the project.
8. AngelList
AngelList is pivotal in the startup world. As well as startup managers and angel investors, the platform is very popular among job-seekers looking for roles at the hottest new startups. In fact, there are over 2,100,000 candidates on the platform.
Over 27,000 startups use this platform to build their development team, and it’s free to get started and post jobs. However, there are premium tools on offer, which you might want to explore. But they can be costly, so you have to make sure they’re right for you.
9. University Job Boards
Each year, thousands of new developers graduate from college and join the workforce. But even if you’re willing to take a risk on a fresh candidate, you’ll find that you might find you have a lot of competition when you try to secure his or her services.
Many universities offer a job board, which helps companies directly share opportunities with students. Could this channel be useful for you? If there are universities in your local area, you may want to consider posting your announcements here.
10. Job Boards
There are countless job boards on the internet. Platforms such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and Idealist are frequented by millions of job seekers each month. If you’re looking to secure the services of a developer, you might want to consider posting your jobs here.
Given the volume of jobs that are posted on these platforms, you’ll often find that you attract very few organic applications. If you want to the best developers to apply, you’ll have to pay for your advert to reach them, which can make these platforms rather expensive.
11. GitHub
GitHub is the world’s largest code host. With over 8.9 million developers on this platform, you can be sure that the most talented developers can be found here. It’s also relatively easy to browse the platform and find the talent you’re looking for.
Simply create an account, and start searching for users based on parameters such as language, location, and followers. On each developer profile, you’ll find a lot of information, but you must possess technical knowledge to impress potential candidates.
12. Stack Overflow
Essentially, Stack Overflow is Quora, which is exclusively aimed at developers. Countless developers have joked that their careers wouldn’t exist without Stack Overflow and the huge range of topics it covers.
This platform maintains a quality job board, which confirms that its users don’t receive spam or see fake job listings. The platform works closely with businesses that are looking to find the best tech talent. But these services are often expensive and inhibitive for many companies.
13. Developer Forums
If you can’t bring developers to you, you should go to them. There are a wide variety of popular developer forums online. Best of all, many of these forums have specialist areas, which makes it easy for you to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Some forums will allow you to directly post your adverts on job boards, but you should make sure that you abide by the rules and etiquette of each one. Also, make sure that you have the technical knowledge necessary to interact with your potential candidates.
14. Network
Many developers attend networking events. To connect with the best developers out there and build the presence of your business, you could attend these industry and trade events. Networking helps you get your name out there and build connections.
If you attend networking events, you must possess a good level of technical knowledge and an inspiring elevator pitch. Many developers are driven by the desire to improve their skills and make a difference. So if you deliver in these areas, you’ll be successful.
15. Developer Meetups
The tech community is the driving force behind the popularity of meetups. Many of the best developers enjoy meeting with their colleagues to share knowledge and discuss new concepts (including popular platforms such as Meetup and Eventbrite).
You may find that some groups will welcome sponsors and connect hiring parties with members—for a price. If you’re looking for the best developers in your area, you might want to connect with some event organizers and explore the recruitment options they offer.
16. Hackathons
Hackathons can be a lot of fun, and they’re very popular within the development community. During these sprint-like events, developers challenge themselves to collaborate on a piece of software and intensively hone their skills.
To connect with the best developers, you could consider attending or sponsoring a hackathon in your area. Or why not consider hosting your own hackathon? It’s a great way to get your business out there and create some buzz within the development community.
17. Hiring Agencies and Recruiters
Thousands of hiring agencies and recruiters out there are working to help connect developers with businesses. Many of these groups take a cut of the candidate’s eventual salary, so their services can be incredibly expensive.
If you decide to work with a hiring agency or recruiter, you’ll want to find a true specialist. Like all qualified applicants, developers are often confused and frustrated when they receive low-quality job offers, so these oversights can reflect poorly on your business.
Conclusion
We hope this piece has helped you find out how to find the best developers for your company. As you can see, lots of options are open to you. Outsourcing is a powerful resource, so if you’d like to explore this option in more detail, feel free to contact us today.
