- December 20, 2022
- Posted by: Borce Manev
- Category: IGA News
In theory, working on a new software development project is easy. You just need to find the right software engineering people that will bring your ideas to life.
But the question is: How do you actually find talented developers that will be an excellent fit for your project?
You probably already know that there are many factors to consider when selecting software engineers to work with. Choosing the right software development partner may make or break your project.
The good news is: Once you find the right software people, you will never have to look again.
This article dives into the most crucial mistakes you need to avoid when hiring dedicated software developers for your team.
Make sure to avoid the errors we listed below, and we promise that you will find the best possible outsourcing team to help you reach your goals.
Let’s get started!
Mistake #1: Hiring inexperienced software engineers
Your recruiters are just trying to save you money by hiring candidates without experience. Yes, everyone deserves a chance, but if you are outsourcing your software efforts, it’s always better to prioritize quality over quantity and not to minimize costs as much as possible.
Just keep in mind how getting services from dedicated software engineers with considerable experience will ensure a smooth working relationship. They are fully capable of handling minor issues on their own and will know how to get things done on time.
In the long run, this will save you more money than hiring inexperienced people in the first place.
Mistake #2: Forgetting to verify the company
It may sound like you don’t trust the outsourcing company, but you must properly verify their credentials when hiring a software development team.
Here are the steps to check your candidate’s track record:
- Take a closer look at the mobile or web apps they have developed;
- Check out if they are familiar with the latest software trends and technologies;
- Check for specific experience regarding your particular project;
- Ask them how much time it takes them to deliver the final product;
- Get feedback from their previous clients;
- Find out if they stick to the given deadline and turnover period;
- Search for online reviews about the people and the company.
Mistake #3: Considering only local software developers
You are probably reading this article because you understand that finding talent is more challenging than it seems.
Yes, many local developers may be skilled at what they do. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find excellent software professionals outside your local community, right?
With so many great software engineering people at your disposal around the world, limiting your candidate pool to only local developers is not the most bright idea.
Consider reaching out to an outsourcing company to match you with the most suitable software developers. This is the most cost-efficient way to acquire fresh, creative talent.
Meanwhile, it will free you some time to focus more on significant business tasks instead of dealing with non-critical project management situations.
Mistake #4: Limiting yourself to just one company or a team
It is always a good idea to have as many choices as possible when you are looking for dedicated software developers or companies that can create business applications for you.
The rule of thumb is: Never limit yourself to just one company or team – you could end up regretting your decision.
Having multiple company options lets you get different quotes for cost, capacity, schedule, deadline, and so on.
Then, after you compare the outsourcing companies with each other, you can better decide which one is the ideal software development partner for your business.
Mistake #5: Focusing on the money, not the quality
You will often focus too much on the money you are saving by partnering with an external software team while forgetting that quality comes first.
The statistic shows that 59 percent of companies who outsource do that in order to cut costs. This urge to cut costs at all costs might be okay in other industries, but this isn’t the case in the software development industry.
It may even go the other way around: If a software development company’s services are ridiculously cheap, it may be a sign that they are creating unloyal competition or might not quite understand the complexity of the project.
When choosing a software development team, you should look beyond cost. Partner with a software development company only when you are fully confident in their abilities, not if their price is low.
Mistake #6: Not preparing for potential communication issues
It may come as a surprise to you, but research shows that many software development projects fail as a result of miscommunication or misunderstanding between the client and the outsourcing company.
This issue can easily be avoided by establishing a transparent communication model before working together. Consider partnering with companies that use the agile approach for collaboration.
Mistake #7: Ignoring the latest technology and tools
The software development industry is all about innovations. One year, a particular technology is considered the best thing since sliced bread, and the next year, another one renders it useless.
Therefore, you shouldn’t rely on a software development company if their tools, technologies, and methods are outdated, even if only by a few years.
Before hiring an outsourcing company, ensure their team is skilled in various software development aspects, especially the right one for your upcoming project.
Mistake #8: Not having a dedicated team
Not every software development company has an adequate workforce for your software project. Unfortunately, this often comes to light after contracts have been signed.
Before putting pen to paper, ensure your project will get a dedicated team whose members will be focused entirely on your project throughout its duration, which will help hasten project delivery.
Mistake #9: Poorly defined project requirements
Having precise requirements is critical to a successful project when working with external software engineers. It will provide a blueprint for the development team to build the product.
These requirements should be detailed enough, so your external development engineers know exactly what is expected from them and the project.
Make sure to discuss with the external engineering people your:
- Project goals,
- Company objectives,
- Business requirements,
- Technical requirements,
- User specifications,
- Work methods and all other relevant information.
On the other hand, please ensure the project requirement will leave room for creativity and innovation.
Remember: With poor project requirements, fixing problems that come up later in the project will take more time and money.
Mistake #10: Lack of information given to the external team
As we already mentioned above, information is everything when it comes to working with an external partner, not only at the beginning of the project but during its entire development.
Many companies assume that the initial project requirements, their website, and blog are sufficient sources of documentation for the new development partner. This is a huge mistake!
How can you expect your team to deliver if you don’t constantly provide a clear understanding of what you want from your developers?
Share as much as you can at any stage of development, even if you feel you are constantly repeating yourself. Basically, you need to initiate the new team into your backyard by sharing every piece of information that allows that.
5 tips to avoid common mistakes and select the right software engineering people
After we have listed the main mistakes companies make when hiring an external developer partner, it’s time to equip you with some valuable tips you may need along the way:
Tip #1: Investigate their technical competencies
Consider this as the tip of all tips. You want a company with a wealth of experience in software development that is familiar with the tools and technologies you use, right?
So, carefully investigate the technical and business capabilities of potential partners before you partner with them:
- Ask other companies to refer you to excellent software development companies they have worked with.
- Use social media or review websites like Glassdoor to find out what people are saying about the said company.
- Take a closer look at previous projects they have worked on and with what companies.
Tip #2: Assess and align work culture
It may sound irrelevant, but work culture should be an inherent part of your evaluation criteria when hiring software development teams. It’s always a good idea to ensure their values, style, culture, and approaches align with yours.
For example, suppose your company is using the agile development methodology. In that case, you should think twice before you hire a development partner who doesn’t implement any agile development methodologies to deliver quality.
Tip #3: Don’t fall for cheap offers
We mentioned this before, but we will emphasize it again: Accepting cheap offers just to save money will cost you even more in the long run!
If the development company makes an offer that is too little or too cheap, this is probably because they don’t understand the level of complexity involved or are lacking in experience.
Keep in mind that this is your own software we are talking about. So be careful to avoid falling for super low prices when trying to save money.
The quality of delivery should always be your priority, even over cost!
Tip #4: Don’t forget it’s a long-term relationship
One of the biggest mistakes companies make is thinking that software development is a one-time engagement. This is completely wrong.
Bugs will arise, and new features will need to be added, so you will need your development partner closer by your side to make these changes quickly.
With this in mind, you should take great care when selecting the right software engineering people and ensure your relationship is built on trust and honest, open communication.
Tip #5: Consider the partner’s reputation
Go beyond the fancy words written on their own website to learn about your potential partner’s reputation. Ask around, check what people are talking about them on Twitter and Glassdoor, find you if they are able to deliver projects on time, ask about their work ethics, and so on.
You may not be able to get all this information, and that is okay. But strive to learn as much as possible. You won’t regret it.
Remember: If a company mistreats its clients, you will likely be their next victim (if you choose to work with them).
So, choose wisely!
To wrap up
If you avoid the main 10 deadly mistakes we have discussed in this article and consider the tips, we guarantee that you will find a great team to help you achieve your goals much quicker and efficiently.
But please don’t rush into choosing an external software engineering team without taking your time to conduct background checks. The success of your software project will largely depend on your choice of the partner agency.
Are you looking for a leading and affordable software development team for your next project? Would you like to escape the trouble of evaluating dozens of development companies for your next project?
If yes, look no further than International Growth Agency, a leading provider of talented engineering contractors. We understand that hiring the wrong people can cost your business a lot of time and money. But it doesn’t always have to be that way.
Our team at the International Growth Agency can help you make the right choice when hiring dedicated software engineers that will perfectly suit your needs and budget. Contact us now to get more details about the services we offer.