Full Stack Developer: What is the cost of hiring?

What is a full stack developer?

A full stack developer programs, maintains and updates the user interface and server side of software, platforms, websites and apps. They often work with designers and evaluate user data for front-end development. They may also handle maintenance tasks on already released products.

Why hire a full stack developer? 

Full stack developers help ensure your organization develops and maintains products that work seamlessly for the user with an intuitive user interface (UI) and bug-free server. A skilled full stack developer may collaborate with other team members working on the program to create a product that improves customer satisfaction.

You might hire a full stack developerr if your company size or project doesn’t warrant hiring separate developers for the front and back end. Hiring a developer who handles both sides can increase flexibility and increase productivity levels. 

Contributions of a great full stack developer:

• Streamlined development process with less reliance on other developers
• Increased compatibility between back-end and front-end functions
• Consistency on software projects from launch to deployment

Defining your hiring needs for full stack developers

When determining how to hire a full stack developerr, it’s helpful to define your hiring needs, including the employment type, which may be full- or part-time. If you only need the position for a short period, you might consider hiring a freelance full stack developer.

Another key step is determining the job scope to ensure a full stack developer can fulfill your needs. You might hire a separate front-end developer and back-end developer instead of combining the duties into one role.

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What are the types of full stack developers?

Full stack developers may specialize in a specific type of tech. As you decide how to hire a full stack developer, you might choose one of these specialty roles based on your company’s technology:

• MEAN stack developers: These specialists work with JavaScript frameworks, including MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS and Node.js, and often create websites and apps.
• MERN stack developers: MERN Stack Developers use technology with the same framework as MEAN, but with React.js instead of AngularJS. 
• LAMP stack developers: Often used in web development, this type focuses on using Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP.
• LEMP stack developers: This type of full stack developer is similar to LAMP but uses Nginx in place of Apache.
• Single core stack developer: While the previous types incorporated multiple technologies, some positions focus on one type and are named accordingly, such as full stack python developers, rull stack java developers and full stack django developers.

When writing your full stack developer job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on full stack developer jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Software engineer
• Software developer
• Java developer
• Web developer
• .net developer
• React
• Developer
• Java
• React developer

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Where to find full stack developers

Full stack developers can be sourced through tech job boards, coding bootcamps, developer communities and university computer science programs. Attending hackathons, or computer programming events, or tech meetups can also help you connect with skilled candidates.

To find the right full stack developer for your team, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Specialty recruiting agencies: A tech-based recruitment firm can help you find job seekers with varying levels of development experience. 
• Internal candidates: You may have other Developers on your team with the training and experience to fill the full stack developer position.
• Networking: Tech conferences provide the opportunity to network with professionals in the field.
• University collaborations: Working with a nearby college or university with a development program could help you hire interns or full-time employees for these positions.
• Post your job online: Try posting your full stack developer job on Indeed to find and attract candidates.

Skills to look for in a full stack developer

A successful full stack developer candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experiences, training or education:

• Knowledge of UI and user experience (UX) design methods, such as user-centered design (UCD) or information architecture (IA)
• Familiarity with front-end development, including HTML, CSS and JavaScript
• Skills in back-end technologies, such as Python, Java and PHP
• Ability to manage relational and NoSQL databases
• Understanding of version control to manage code changes using software such as Git or Subversion (SVN)
• Advanced knowledge of cybersecurity and its application to the development process
• Analytical skills to create a responsive interface that’s intuitive for users

Writing a full stack developer job description

Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular job seeker search terms and hiring insights for a full stack developer, you’re ready to write a job description.

A full stack developer job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your open role.

Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing full stack developer job descriptions.

Interviewing full stack developer candidates

Strong candidates for full stack developer positions will be confident answering questions about:

• Testing and debugging programs
• Programming languages like Ruby, Python and Java
• User-friendly development, such as responsive design and reduced load times
• Differences in front-end and back-end development
• Purpose and management of databases