Whether you’re in the process of building an MVP for your startup or want to build a mobile app for fun, you’ll eventually need to hire a developer. Our this blog is all about In House vs. Outsourcing.
And, if we look at the stats, there are 5,9 million Android developers and 2,8 million iOS developers in the world. The report predicted over 14 million mobile app developers by 2021 (Source: Daxx).
Besides, over 4,052 mobile app developers are currently employed in the United States, where 17.6% of them are women, while 71.2% are men.
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Isn’t it stunning to know that the market is flooded with such an enormous number of mobile app developers?
Well, all this may sound amazing to you as a budding startup, but it also complicates your task of finding and hiring a developer.
How can you become one of those lucky startups that manage to hire a competent developer?
Well, you’ve got three routes: Freelancer, in-house or outsourcing companies. It’s up to you which one of the routes will become your choice. But, for this matter, we’ll help you with some insights into each of them(Freelancer vs. In House vs. Outsourcing) and then let you decide.
Freelancer vs. In House vs. Outsourcing: A Quick Overview!
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Most Popular Hiring Route: Freelancer
The most popular choice among startups is to go for hiring a freelancer. A freelancer is an independent worker that provides services to various clients.
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You can find In House vs. Outsourcing freelancers with different skill sets on freelance websites. Some of the most popular freelance websites are:
Upwork: It is the largest online workplace where you can hire freelancers. The best thing about Upwork is that it has a lot of pre-screened freelancers, and the Upwork community verifies it.
Toptal: Toptal is the best online work marketplace to hire developers, designers, and finance experts. It has a strict screening process for its freelancers. You can find freelancers from various skill sets here, including iOS, Android, Full Stack, and so on.
Guru: If you have trouble finding good developers locally, Guru is the best go-to place to hire them. It provides access to thousands of verified experts from different countries.
PeoplePerHour: Hire freelancers for your software development and digital marketing projects here. It provides access to thousands of verified experts from different countries.
Fiverr: Fiverr is the best place to hire freelancers for your business promotion. Here, you can find freelancers who provide services like Data Entry, Video Marketing, App Store/Google Play Optimization, etc.
If you’re new to this online hiring platform, these tips will help you get started quickly.
1) Create your profile:
Make sure to create a detailed profile so the freelancers can decide if they want to work with you. You can also add a professional-looking cover image, project description, company information, etc., to make your profile look professional.
2) Set payment method & milestones:
Keep in mind that you should also transfer money to freelancers before they start working on your project. Thus, it will assure them that you’ll pay them for their work after finishing the task. Furthermore, create proper milestones or deliverables so freelancers can easily track the progress of your project.
3) Communicate clearly:
Always keep in mind that you should set clear expectations for both you and the freelancer. Don’t be too strict, though, as it may drive away from great work from them. Also, if certain milestones or deliverables take longer than expected, you should let the freelancer know about it.
4) Leave feedback:
Once a project is completed, you should leave feedback. This will let freelancers know how your experience was like working with them (positive or negative). It’s good, to be honest when leaving feedback, as it will help other startups hire freelancers in the future.
You must keep in mind some security tips while dealing with freelancers.
1) Never share your login information with the freelancers: always keep in mind that you should use a separate email account (preferably with 2-Step Verification enabled) for dealing with them.
2) Remember to set milestones: Don’t give out large sums of money as upfront payment; instead, make it clear how much money will be given as milestones.
3) Always track your projects: If you want to hire a freelancer for long-term work, it’s better to create a project and let them know about it. This way, you can easily keep track of all your past projects and give feedback later.
4) Contact freelancers through email or chat: It is always better to contact freelancers through email or chat when hiring them. This way, you can have an online record of all your conversations which you can use later on to check someone’s credibility.
5) Avoid scams by using local freelancers: Many freelancers work from other countries, and they may fake their location. If you’re hiring someone far away, then avoid working with them. However, if they are local, then you should go ahead and hire them for your project.
Now let’s jump to the second option described above, hiring an In House vs. Outsourcing.
Most Dedicated Hiring Route: In-House Developer
Hiring an in-house developer is an excellent long-term solution. An in-house developer works inside your office or company. This type of hiring takes time and money, but it will be worth the effort if you can manage to hire someone suitable.
You can find in-house developers from the following places:
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn is the ultimate place to find in-house developers. You can create a custom search query based on your requirements. For example, you can search for .NET developers with over three years of experience. This will help you find developers who know their stuff.
- Technical events: Participating in technical events or meetups is a great way to build relationships with talented developers. You can approach them and ask if they are interested in working for your company.
- Local colleges and universities: It is always a great idea to approach colleges or universities and ask if they have a pool of talented students looking for a job. If you manage to find some outstanding developers, then make sure to hire them before someone else does!
- Forums, websites, and publications: Forums are great to discuss with other developers. You can post your requirement on the forum and ask if anyone is interested in working for your company.
- Online job portals: You can also find developers through online job portals like Indeed or Monster. Besides, most of these websites have a dedicated section for developers where you’ll find freelancers and companies advertising their jobs.
- Recruiting Agencies: Finally, several recruiting agencies help companies find and hire in-house developers. You can get in touch with them and ask if they have anyone who matches your requirements.
Here are some bookmarking tips that you should keep in mind when looking for an in-house developer:
1) Ensure the developer is certified: Always insist on seeing proof of certification. If they don’t have any, it might be hard to get them onboarded if anything goes wrong.
2) Ask about their previous projects: You should always ask about their previous projects and the technologies they used. Make sure to avoid hiring anyone who has worked on any illegal or unethical projects.
3) Test them out: If you’re successful in persuading them, put them to the test by starting with a small project. You’ll be able to see how capable they are at their job this way before you commit to anything.
Most Cost-Effective Hiring Route: In-House vs. Outsourcing
It is always preferable to outsource your project if you are looking for a cost-effective solution. Around 59% of them find it a cost-cutting approach. Moreover, this will save you some money and hire talent from remote locations and different time zones.
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Outsourcing works best for short-term projects where you’re looking to hire someone strictly for a specific task. There are many outsourcing countries like India, Ukraine, The Philippines where you can hire talented developers at a lower cost.
You can find outsourcing developers through companies listed at online directories like:
- Clutch: Clutch is a website that lists companies that can provide outsourcing services. You can go to their website and search for countries like India or the Philippines. You’ll find several companies that will help you with outsourcing.
- GoodFirms: GoodFirms is another website that lists companies offering outsourced development services. Like Clutch, you can even sort the results by country, so it will be easier for you to find companies based in specific countries.
- SoftwareFirms: SoftwareFirms is simply a directory of companies offering different software development services. You can even narrow your search by the technology you’re looking for.
So if you would like to outsource a React Native project, choose the option from the dropdown menu, which will give you a list of companies specializing in React Native development.
Now, here are tips that will help you choose the right outsourcing developer:
1) Don’t skimp on the cost: It is not a good idea even though it is always tempting to hire someone cheaply. The quality of their work will be questionable no matter how cheap they are if you manage to find them.
2) Ask about the previous experience: If you decide to outsource, make sure to ask about their previous projects and whether or not they have any experience in that area.
3) Get a detailed quote: Always ask for a detailed quote that includes all aspects of the project, such as timeline, expenses, and expected results. This will help you create how much it will cost you.
4) Make sure you can communicate: The most important thing is to make sure that both of you can easily communicate. Check whether or not they respond well to emails and chat messages.
5) Ask about the technology: Make sure to ask about the technology they will use. It’s best to go with a developer that has experience in the technology you require.
Let’s conclude this section by looking at the In-House vs. Outsourcing: How to Decide Which is Best for Your Company’s App Development?
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Wrapping Up
So, to wrap up this article, here are the essential points to keep in mind while hiring a developer:
- Always look for relevant experience. If they don’t have relevant experience, it might be tough to get them on board.
- Always look for certification pertinent to confirm their skills.
- Never skimp on the cost since it will not guarantee a good outcome.
- Test the developer before you hire them to see how capable they are.
- Always be clear about the requirements and understand them before hiring.
We hope this article helps you hire the best developer for your project.
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