Hire Software Developers pre-screened for technical and cultural fit

Software systems have become critical across most modern industries. Almost all businesses with an online presence now have an app or software they rely on for part or all their operations. Without this, they would quickly fall behind in a digitally oriented market and economy.

That's why most modern businesses deploy software development, a process necessary to design, create, test, and maintain software applications and systems. That is, they hire software developers to handle their software development needs, from creating web applications to perform specific tasks to maintaining underlying systems that run apps and identify defects.

Because different industries have different software needs, it's not always easy to determine how to hire software developers right for the job. Software developers specialize in various areas, and understanding their roles, skills, and expertise is the critical step to finding the right person for a specific project or role.

This article will simplify the process for you, outlining the basics of software development and showcasing what software developers do and how. You'll also discover how to hire software developers for your projects quickly and easily.

What Is Software Development?

Software development is the process of creating software, including stages such as programming, documenting, and testing. However, it extends to more than writing code for web applications. Software development involves all steps of project management from the initial ideation, planning, and designing up until the deployment of the software.

Software developers perform all these tasks involved with software development. They also maintain various types of software, including embedded systems, web and mobile applications, and application programming interfaces (APIs) through updates or bug fixes that adhere to technical advances and regulations, such as data privacy and security requirements.

Companies may task developers with creating anything from small-scale projects to complex systems. They may employ software developers to create a product or service they can sell, such as mobile apps. Developers may also automate tasks such as routine data entry to increase a company's efficiency or develop software that analyzes user data to enhance customer experiences.  

Why Software Development?

Software development sets up businesses to be more competitive in the modern, digital-first-oriented world. Startups and established businesses both utilize software development to create products and services, streamline operations and workflows, and enhance efficiency. Quality custom-made software automates routine tasks, saving employees time and effort and reducing manual errors. This allows internal teams to focus on more critical business tasks and improves productivity.

When businesses develop software systems to connect sales, finances, customer service, and other functions and departments through Agile, DevOps, and similar methodologies, they also boost communication and collaboration. Different teams will better share data and make decisions based on accurate, comprehensive data. This improves outcomes and ensures better customer experience, as teams respond to inquiries faster and more consistently.

Another way in which software development improves customer experience is by giving businesses insights into customer preferences and behavior. With customer relationship management (CRM) software, companies are able to better pinpoint customers' needs and pain points to deliver more personalized campaigns, products, and services. All this helps companies differentiate themselves in a highly competitive market.

Benefits of Software Development

Some of the common advantages of incorporating software development into an organization include:

• Efficiency: Software development often leads to increased productivity and efficiency. Software development also automates routine tasks and streamline workflows that may otherwise cause bottlenecks.
• Customization: Software development caters to a business’s specific needs and develop websites or web apps that are a better fit than generic website templates.
• Customer experience: Professional websites and web apps garner more customer interest through features such as responsive designs and faster loading times. An enhanced customer experience also strengthens a company’s brand and leads to growth.
• Security: Software developers help ensure top-of-the-line security to protect user data with measures such as encryption, authentication, and authorization. They maintain and update software to follow the newest industry standards and regulations.

What Does a Software Developer Do?

Software developers generally fall into three categories: front-end, back-end, or full-stack developers.

• Front-end developers: Front-end developers deal with the client side of development. They build the part of web apps and websites that users interact with, often also dealing with user experience (UX), user interface (UI), and search engine optimization (SEO).
• Back-end developers: Back-end developers cover the server side of development. They perform tasks such as data processing, data storage, and security.
• Full-stack developers: Full-stack developers are standalone developers who program on both the front and back ends. They are versatile in various technologies and languages, allowing businesses more flexibility when distributing resources.

While software developers have different specialties, many perform similar tasks, such as designing, planning, coding, testing and debugging, and maintenance. Software developers work on many projects, from system software to game development.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Depending on project requirements, software developers may need a mix of technical and soft skill sets. On the technical side, they must have a strong background in any necessary programming language, frameworks, libraries, and tools required to perform tasks effectively.

For example, a front-end developer will need knowledge of a language such as JavaScript, concepts such as responsive web design and user experience, and how to use corresponding libraries, frameworks, and tools that streamline their workflow. Understanding software development principles is equally essential as developers may need to work with concepts such as functional or object-oriented programming.

Soft skills also play a significant role in a software developer’s success. Communication is vital as developers will need to speak and solve problems with other team members, some of whom may not be familiar with their specialization. Developers will also need to communicate with managers and shareholders, who may not have the technical background to understand the ins and outs of the software development process.

While a bachelor’s degree in a field such as Computer Science, Information Technology, or Software Engineering alerts a business to the qualifications of a software developer, a degree isn’t always needed. Bootcamps, online courses, and certifications also serve as proof of a developer’s skillset.

Popular Software Development-Related Languages and Libraries

Software developers must know different languages and libraries depending on their specific industry and specialization’s demands. Some popular development areas include but are not limited to mobile devices, gaming, and web applications.

Related Languages

Depending on the type of development, the software developer’s duties, and the project requirements, they may need to understand various programming languages.

Some of the most common programming languages that a front-end developer commonly utlizes include:

• HTML: HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is a standard client-side language developers use to create, structure, and design web pages and applications. HTML allows software developers to customize headings, paragraphs, images, and links to affect a site’s visibility and interactiveness.
• CSS: Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a front-end language that improves the visual presentation of documents coded in HTML. Developers use CSS to add layouts, fonts, and colors.
• JavaScript: JavaScript is a popular programming language developers use to facilitate interactivity and dynamic content, such as animations, real-time updates, algorithms, and machine learning. While JavaScript is primarily a front-end language, it can perform back-end tasks through Node.js.
• TypeScript: TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript, meaning JavaScript code works with TypeScript. TypeScript adds enhanced features on top of the JavaScript features that developers use to improve code quality and locate errors quickly. This language is popular for large-scale apps due to its object-oriented programming and robust tooling.
• Swift: Swift is mainly used as a front-end programming language to build UI and handle user interactions for Apple platforms, such as macOS, iOS, and watchOS. Developers use Swift to build responsive UI and integrate Apple device features, such as cameras. If combined with specific Swift frameworks, developers can utilize it for back-end programming.

Back-end software developers must be familiar with a different set of programming languages. Some of the common server-side languages that back-end developers use include:

• PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) is a back-end scripting language software developers use to create dynamic web pages and apps. PHP is flexible and easy to use, integrating seamlessly with HTML and databases such as MySQL. PHP is a top choice to power content management systems on the web, such as Magneto and WordPress.
• Python: Python is a versatile back-end programming language that developers use across multiple fields, such as data science, artificial intelligence, web development, and automation. It supports various coding paradigms, including object-oriented and functional programming.
• Java: Java is an excellent choice as the back-end language for complex applications as it is stable and scalable. Developers often use Java for Android mobile app development, but they also use it for other types of development, such as cloud-based and desktop apps. Java mainly handles database interactions, application integration, and server logic.
• Kotlin: Kotlin is a server-side language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). It has become the preferred language for Android app development. Kotlin allows developers to use more concise code than Java and accomplish more while preventing common errors.
• Ruby: Ruby is primarily a back-end language developers use for web development. It is often paired with the Rails framework to make up Ruby on Rails, which developers use to develop database-backed web apps. Developers can use Ruby to build apps that run on E-commerce cloud computing platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Related Libraries and Frameworks

Libraries and frameworks make coding easier for software developers by enhancing functionality, reducing complexity, and maintaining consistency.

A library is a collection of pre-written code snippets that developers use to speed up development. A framework is a full structure that developers use to develop software. Libraries and frameworks differ and complement different languages.

Some popular libraries and frameworks that developers utilize include:

• React: React is an open-source JavaScript library developers use to build engaging UI elements. React uses a virtual Document Object Model (DOM), which optimizes rendering and improves app performance.
• Angular: Angular is a framework that uses HTML and TypeScript to build single-page applications. Developers use it for front-end development, and its features include data-binding and routing.
• Bootstrap: Bootstrap is a front-end framework developers use to access HTML, CSS, and JavaScript design templates. Bootstrap includes templates for features such as forms, buttons, and typography.
• Rails: Rails is a web application framework that pairs with Ruby to make Ruby on Rails. Rails follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture and facilitates data transfer through JSON and XML.

Popular Software Development Programming Tools

Software developers take advantage of various programming tools to facilitate faster and easier app development. Programming tools often increase productivity by streamlining operations and reducing manual work. They also enable testing and debugging and improve collaboration between developers through features such as version control.

Some popular programming tools for software developers include:

• Sublime Text: Sublime Text is a text editor that assists software developers with the efficiency of its split editing capabilities and command palette. It supports multiple programming languages and provides features like a customizable interface and syntax highlighting.
• Git: Git is a version control system that facilitates collaboration between remote developers. Git tracks changes to the code, allowing developers to access past code versions, which expedites development.
• Jira: Jira is a project management tool that enables teams to plan, track, and manage projects through agile methodologies.

How Does Software Development Fit Into Modern App Development?

Software development continues to evolve and shape how apps are designed, built, and maintained. As apps continue to become more user-centric, focusing on more interactive and dynamic UX and UI design helps businesses expand customer bases. Cross-platform applications help organizations reach expanding customer bases as well.

Software development allows businesses to utilize user data and ensure that the most up-to-date mobile or web applications are intuitive and engaging, solving the needs of users and customers. Newer apps also leverage cloud services for storage and scalability, further contributing to modern app development.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Software Developer?

In the U.S., mid-level software developers with between four and six years of experience receive an average annual salary between $75,000 to $126,000. Established enterprises and startups looking to hire software developers will find that their salaries vary depending on the developer's skill set, experience, location, and other similar factors. Additional compensation in the form of yearly bonuses, stock options, and company equity may also affect these figures.

As a comparison, software developers in Latin America with equal abilities and skills earn 30% to 50% less because of the lower cost of living. Revelo helps organizations access this talent pool of highly qualified software developers from Latin America to reduce employment costs without compromising work quality.

Featured Tool: Tech Team Budget Calculator

Finding Software Developers for Your Project

To hire software developers perfect for their teams, hiring professionals should follow a few essential practices. They should first understand the scope and goals of their project. Understanding the skill sets and qualifications required of a software developer is vital before posting a job description or initiating a search for the ideal candidate, as it will save company resources.

With the role clearly defined, hiring managers can begin exploring personal and professional networks for potential candidates. Social media networks such as LinkedIn and online developer communities and forums such as Stack Overflow and GitHub are often highly beneficial.

After screening candidates, hiring managers should interview the top talent, asking questions that relate directly to the issues and concerns of their project. But finding a fit for the software developer role is challenging, especially for hiring managers who aren’t highly familiar with software development. Utilizing a talent platform such as Revelo can facilitate an easy hiring process, saving resources, time, and effort.

Why Hire Software Developers With Revelo?

Software developers are an invaluable addition to any business, whether that company needs to create a product or service, maintain existing systems, or automate tasks to increase productivity. However, finding and hiring the best fit for your tech team is a challenge due to increased competition, high hiring costs, and complex project requirements.

To help you navigate the hiring process, Revelo matches you with top talent from an extensive pool of pre-vetted Latin American candidates. Revelo is a talent marketplace that assists companies in locating, hiring, onboarding, and managing tech talent. We also provide expert support in handling the complexities of payroll, benefits, taxes, and local compliance.

If you’re looking to hire software developers with the right skill set for your project without straining your resources, build your tech team with Revelo.