How to hire a programmer for a startup?
Tags: programming, developers, startup, software
Published: 2021-12-29 09:51:17

Before we jump onto the answer to the often asked question, ‘How to hire a programmer for a startup?’, I feel that it is important to discuss the question, ‘What kind of programmers are needed in a startup?’

Knowing the skills you need to hire a programmer makes your life easier as an entrepreneur or a recruiter. Especially since programmers and coders may have a plethora of skills depending on the technology they work on or the kind of applications they would build. 

It is imperative to know that a web developer may not have the same skills as that of a mobile developer, and a mobile developer may work on android or in other instances work on iOS. So, the skills of programmers are vast and suit specific needs.

**What kind of programmers should you hire for a startup?** 
 
Unless you are a technology company whose primary work is software development, you should hire a full stack developer without a doubt. A full-stack developer can work both on the front end and the back end of a software. This means that he has the capacity to build both the server side and the client side of a software.   

Although full stack developers might seem costly, they actually are not when it comes to a startup. Since, a full stack developer works on almost any aspect of your software or app, he can come in handy to solve any puzzle that may arise. But hiring a true full stack developer who can help you with your startup idea can be difficult. 

It becomes frightening when we get to realize that hiring the wrong person may lead a company to lose millions. Yes, these are documented statistics. 

Again, hiring a developer for a startup doesn’t always mean that you need a full stack developer. A lot would depend on the type of product, or the software the startup needs to build. It also depends on whether the software is already built and now needs maintenance and upgrades only. 

**How to hire programmers for a startup?**

When it comes to building the next successful product or solution, you need to know how to hire startup developers.  

Especially, if you come from a non-technical background, hiring a programmer for your startup is challenging. You must comprehend the complexities of selecting the best candidate for the job. Programmers are wizards in their own right. With their coding, they develop stunning digital solutions.

So, here we bring the simplest process of hiring experienced programmers for your startup:

**5 Steps to hire a programmer for a startup**

Go by these steps when you are hiring a programmer or a developer for your startup

**1. Define What You Want To Build**
Before you go all-in on recruiting developers, make a list of your criteria. The more exact you are, the more effective your filters will be.

You’ll be able to start looking in the proper locations if you have a clear set of talents. 

Your communication will reflect your clarity in what you’re seeking.

Do you want a database developer or a front-end developer, for example?

Are you certain you haven’t mixed up a web designer and a web developer?

**2. Understand What to Look For**
The following step is to set up your search strategy after you’ve defined a need, acquired input from all stakeholders and agreed on candidate specifications.

Sourcing is the process of proactively identifying individuals who are:

- Actively looking for work (active job seekers) or finding those who are not actively looking for work (passive job seekers) 
- The technology on which you wish to build your software. Example, you can look for a developer who works on MERN stack. 
- The type of experience and skills you are looking for.
- The position where you wish to fit in this new resource. Is he a Team Leader, or a Junior Developer? 

**3. Where to Look For**
If paying for services is not an option, you can use the following resources:

LinkedIn – Create a Company Page
Create a career page
Publish engaging content
Use free ads
Github – Filter search results by relevant criteria and contact people who could be of interest.
Hire Indian Programmers – Hire Indian Programmers is one of the finest Indian Companies that are especially skilled to help startups with their coding needs. Hire Indian Programmers, or HIP is an award winning company that has a plethora of programmers on bench who can be hired on a contractual, project or a tasked based payment system. 

The company has delivered a plethora of projects on multiple technologies to clients all over the world. Check out some of their Projects: 

- iOS Projects
- WordPress Projects 
- Node.Js Projects 
- PHP Projects 
- Shopify Projects 
- Magento Projects 
- Android Projects
 
**4. Screening the candidates**
A recruiters’ life has been made easier by applicant tracking systems and other recruiting technologies, which have reduced the cost, time, and effort involved in attracting, maintaining, and retaining personnel. You welcome applications, sift manually, interview shortlisted applicants, and are finally employed in traditional tech hiring processes. However, this method is not cost-effective, scalable, or precise.

Some companies, such as HackerEarth or Codility, offer coding assessment software which helps you, screen developers, effortlessly via customized coding tests that are automatically evaluated. Detailed reports paint a near-perfect picture of what these individuals are capable of.

You won’t be accused of any kind of bias either. Sometimes, researching their presence on social media gives you a snapshot of potential hires’ personal and professional personas.

If all you have is a résumé, how do you make sense of a promising developer’s résumé?

**5. Start the Interview with Candidate**
It’s a two-way road. Both the candidate and you will have to make some decisions in this situation. Once you have a list of “ideal prospects,” you must decide whether they are:

- Are enthusiastic about what they are doing or what they aspire to accomplish
- Can effectively communicate
- Have a thorough understanding of their field of expertise
- Would be someone your team enjoys working with
 
Hire for their computer expertise and adaptability rather than their experience. Don’t ask for a programmer with five years of Java experience, two years of SQL experience, and one and a half years of Hibernate experience.

Find strategies to examine their area of expertise and online presence (portfolios/GitHub) instead of this shopping list. Ask them open-ended questions and have them evaluate a platform, system, or piece of code. Engage them in a discussion about it, and you’ll learn a lot about their mental agility and problem-solving abilities.

If you are not a techie, you should hire someone (a programmer, mentor, or consultant) to assist you in interviewing developers. Again, companies like Hire Indian Programmers can come to your rescue if the process seems daunting.