6 Key Questions When Looking For A Programmer

31 Aug 6 Key Questions When Looking For A Programmer

Good help is hard to find, and that statement is especially true when it comes to the programming world. Depending on your industry, the expansion of your business might require you to hire a programmer.

Even if you know how to program yourself it can be hard to find the right candidate.  There are common claims throughout the web that “19 out of 20 programmers can’t program.” These numbers are hardly scientific, but we can still take away a good concept from the stat: it’s important to find the right person for the job.

If you don’t know how to program, hiring somebody who does can seem like a daunting task with its own unique set of challenges. After all, how can you find an expert in a field you know nothing about?

Don’t worry- it’s possible. If you don’t know anything about fixing cars, you still have to take your car to a mechanic, right?

There is also the chance that you have hired programmers before that failed your company. If this was the case, hopefully a tremendous amount of money wasn’t lost and they just simply didn’t work out.

And if it keeps happening to your company, consider this: are you plagued with programmers that sound great during the interview but don’t perform how you would like them to when they actually get started? Ask yourself – is the problem really the programmers that get hired or is it the interviewing process?

Aside from the above, ask yourself these questions before hiring someone for your software development project.

  1. Do they use Scrum Agile Methodology?

Everybody works differently, but Scrum is an incredibly effective way to get work done, both as a programmer and a boss. If you are unfamiliar with the term, scrumalliance.org puts it simply: “It provides a foundation and path to delivering business goals in a collaborative, sane, and enjoyable manner.”

The idea is that everyone in the team is responsible and proactive, and they all work together to find the most efficient way to work, and then they do it.

Sounds simple, right?

That’s the idea. Ideally, following the Scrum Agile Methodology means your programmers will work smarter and harder, which will end up saving you money in the long run. Plus, it is designed to adapt to changing needs on the fly, which can be important for the next point.

  1. Do you have clear design and specifications for your project?

According to IBMSystems Magazine, [tweet_box design=”default”]25% of software development projects fail outright. An additional 25% don’t provide return on investment.[/tweet_box]

Sometimes this is the programmer or team’s fault. In most cases, it is a combination of the programmer and the client.

To put it simply: you have to be able to communicate exactly what you want developed. The more you know about what you need accomplished, the easier it will be for your project to be successful in your eyes.

If you are unable to communicate what you need done, it doesn’t matter how good the programmer is, they won’t be able to read your mind and deliver what you want.

  1. How do they handle project management?

You have to be able to communicate. That much is clear. The programmer has to be able to listen and communicate right back with you. If you are a hands on project manager, this needs to be made clear, and you need to find the right person that can handle this type of leadership.

If you are the opposite, and prefer employees to take a more proactive stance, then the developer you hire needs to thrive in that environment.

Look at how they will communicate with you. Will they use Skype, or simply send you email? Will they use a task management system like Basecamp? How often do they need to give you updates? If you feel comfortable with a certain method, it might be worth finding someone who works the same way.

  1. Do they fit in with your company’s culture?

Hopefully they agree with your management style. Perhaps more important is whether they fit in with your company’s culture. If possible, hiring somebody from within or somebody who is referred to you is the way to go.

This is not always possible, though. Ideally, your programmer will find you because they are interested in the company and the work that you do. Again, this is a dream situation, and sometimes it can’t be expected. But the idea is that if you find a programmer that genuinely likes being with your company, you will end up with better work.

  1. Do they have a portfolio?

When you’re looking to bring somebody on to develop some software, you want to be sure they actually know what they are doing. They should have a portfolio of successful projects that either they created themselves or played a large part in creating. Ideally, you can access the apps or programs that they’ve made and see them directly. If the programmer has built software for corporations, you might not be able to use it first hand. If this is the case, look at who their previous clients were. This should give you a good idea of their work history, and their practical skillset.

You can also ask their clients how they performed to give you a better idea of how the programmer works.

  1. If you are looking for something specific, can they give you exactly what you want?

Some software development projects are more general, and any skilled programmer can handle them. However, if you are looking at something specific, you want to make sure your programmer can take care of exactly what you need.

For example, if you are building a free mobile app and seek to make money off of advertisements, make sure your programmer knows exactly how to build in ad support.

When it comes to hiring the right person, it comes down to making sure they can deliver what you need. Ultimately, they have to work under your terms, since you are the one making the hiring decision, but being able to compromise is certainly an advantage.

You want to find somebody that will fit in with your company. Somebody talented, reliable, and experienced. If you are able to find that perfect programmer who fits all of your company’s needs, just remember to have a detailed plan for your projects requirements, or you will waste your company’s money and everyone’s time.

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