Top Ten Tips for Hiring a Developer (From a Developer)

I have been doing contract development since 2003, and I have learned a lot of lessons in that time. Some lessons are from success stories, and some are from disasters. By putting them all together I hope to give you some insight on hiring a developer and ultimately becoming successful on the Internet.

1. Develop (no pun intended) a good relationship.

This is absolutely critical. If you don’t have a good relationship with your developer, then they won’t like doing work for you and you’ll never accomplish your goals. Get to know your developer by speaking to them on the phone or taking them out to lunch. If you get along with them in person, then you will have a much better chance of getting along with them during the course of the project.

2. Be fair and honest.

Fairness is essential to having a good relationship. If you treat people fairly, then they will treat you fairly in return. Be fair with how much you pay them and how you pay them. Honesty is also a key to having a good relationship. If you don’t like the direction the developer is headed, then tell them so. Be sure to tell them in a way that is not demeaning or condescending.

3. Always have a contract.

Even if the developer is someone you know on a personal level, make sure you draw up a contract that both of you sign. This is the best way to protect the relationship you have with your developer.

4. Developers are people too.

While developers’ brains might operate on a different wavelength, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have feelings or needs. If a project has been completed but something goes wrong with it at 1:00 AM, you’re going to need to call your developer and have him do some more work. If you haven’t established a good relationship with him, you’ll be lucky if he even answers the phone.

5. Have clear lines of communication.

One of the biggest frustrations that I have with some of the projects I’ve been involved with is that there is little to no communication. It’s good to have an online project management spot. The developer can post demos, questions, and answers, and you can post timelines, tasks, and issues. Google Groups or Campfire (http://www.campfirenow.com/) are good places to start.

6. Motivate the developer.

Find out what motivates the developer. Is it money? Is it fame? Is it a share of the profit? If the developer is motivated to work for you, you will get a better result and probably in a shorter period of time.

7. Know what you want.

The worst thing you can do is to hire a developer with no idea of what you want to accomplish. I don’t mean technology-wise necessarily, but from a business standpoint. A developer isn’t a business consultant, but a manufacturer of code. He shouldn’t have anything to do with your business plans or decisions.

8. Have a timeline.

Communicating when you want things to be done will give you a much smoother project. Give the developer several milestones. This will help you track the project’s progress, and it will also help the developer stay on task.

9. A little experience can sometimes be better than a lot of experience.

Developers have to start somewhere; they don’t just magically have all the knowledge and experience that they need. The project might take a little longer, and it might not be as high of quality, but you won’t have to pay them as much and you’ll be helping them out. Who knows, if you help a budding developer get experience, they could be with you for years down the road.

10. Reward your developer.

We LOVE perks! Give them a cash bonus, or tickets to the next big game, or a ski pass. If the project is done early, let them know how much you appreciate their hard work and dedication. Remember, if it weren’t for the developer, you wouldn’t be in business at all.

Action Steps

– Have a good relationship with your developer.

– Maintain open lines of communication.

– Be fair and honest.

– Set timelines and guidelines.

– Provide motivation and rewards.

– Watch your bottom line grow!