In the past few years, the Python language has become more popular among businesses of all sizes. As the number of companies using Python increases, it has become more important to find great developers who can create useful applications with it. While you can always hire consultants to help you get started with your project, sometimes it’s better to hire full-time employees to work on your project long-term. In this article, we’ll be covering what to expect when hire Python developers, how to find the right candidate and get them on board with your company, and what mistakes you should avoid when doing so.
Tips before hiring a Python developer
It can be tough finding a developer, but it’s not impossible. Start by posting your job on major websites where developers typically look for work. Be sure you post on more than one site so you’ll get more applicants. Additionally, if you’re in an area with a large technology presence, try local meetups or other events where developers tend to gather and share information.
You should also ask your current employees for referrals because they already know what kind of person works well at your company and what skills are needed in order to make things run smoothly. Make sure that references are up-to-date and that your potential new hire is comfortable with them being checked, too.
Legal things to consider
Each country has different laws when it comes to hiring and employing staff, but there are certain things you can do to reduce your legal risk. Make sure all new employees sign a written employment contract, setting out salary and conditions of employment.
You should also give them a written notice of at least 28 days that they will be losing their job (unless there’s a statutory reason not to). Bear in mind that staff need some kind of pay if they’re dismissed before then. Most importantly, check you have the suitable insurance for employers (your home insurance might provide basic cover for employer liability – otherwise contact an advisor specialising in small business insurance) so you don’t expose yourself or your business financially if anything goes wrong.
Finding python developers
Finding good developers is difficult. There are too many developers and there aren’t enough good ones. It’s a problem facing both startups and established businesses who need one more person for a new project or are looking to grow their team with experienced developers who can get things done quickly. It’s clear, then, that finding your next python developer is going to be tough: either he or she will have poor availability, be overpriced, or lack expertise in your area of work. But where do you look? How do you find great people? The solution isn’t easy and there isn’t much agreement among business leaders on what makes for a successful hire.
A single best way probably doesn’t exist. The most important thing is to know what you want from your candidates so that you don’t waste time pursuing candidates who won’t fulfil those expectations—no matter how impressive they might seem on paper. That starts with writing out job descriptions specifically tailored to your company’s needs and goals.
Setting up interviews with potential developers
Once you’ve lined up a few developers to interview, don’t just meet them and say, Well, see ya! You need to actually talk with them. Don’t worry too much about feeling out candidates or questioning them specifically—you can do that during the hiring process later. What you want is their ideas on your company.
Ask questions like: What would excite you about joining our team? Why should we hire you? and How does our business compare with others in our industry? Then dig into those answers by asking things like: Why do you feel that way? and What are some examples of what excites you in projects? Once you’re done talking, make sure they have an idea of when they might hear back from you. Plus, send them a quick email after the meeting saying thank you for your time; it never hurts to have personal connections at other companies. Everyone loves hearing nice words now and then.
Hiring your developer
Now that you know a little bit about what you’re looking for, it’s time to start searching. But where do you even begin? Every business has different needs, so you need to decide how important one factor is over another—and that depends on your specific skill set and unique needs. Here are some questions you can ask yourself How much experience should they have in [insert required language/tool here]? Are we willing to train someone new or would we prefer someone who knows their way around already? What price range should we be targeting and why? While these aren’t all-inclusive lists of questions, they should help you get started! The answers will impact everything from whether you choose an agency versus an individual freelancer, to which freelance sites are best for posting ads.
For example, Upwork tends to attract freelancers with more industry experience (read: higher prices) whereas smaller sites like Freelancer have less employers but charge far less per job posted (good if you’re hiring often). Your next step: take stock of what resources and information you already have; spend time researching; see which options stick out based on pricing and reputation alone; then reach out via email (ideally) or phone with shortlists of candidates.
Getting the best deal possible
In a perfect world, all of your potential candidates would be extremely excited about your company and opportunity, have an impeccable resume, and be quick to accept. But like most things in life, real-world hiring is a bit messier than that. Be sure you have a good idea of what your budget is for each level of developer so you can figure out what kind of deal you need to make work for everyone involved. If someone has more skills or experience than you’re looking for, see if they’re open to taking on a smaller project first or starting at a lower rate until they get up to speed. Knowing your bottom line before you start interviewing means less headaches down the road.
It’s important to know how much other companies are paying: You don’t want to overpay for developers when it comes time to negotiate salaries, but lowballing could lead to issues later down the road. Luckily there are tons of sites dedicated just to comparing salaries across various cities and industries; some common ones include Payscale, Glassdoor, PayScale MarketRate and SimplyHired. These give you an idea of what people in different locations with different levels of experience earn—which will help inform you when it comes time for negotiations with your new hire.
