Software Engineer: What is the cost of hiring?

Why hire a software developer?

Finding the right software developer can be time-consuming and costly. However, a great software developer hire can help your business:

• Design and develop software to meet client specifications
• Create internal software programs that are unique to your company and increase its efficiency
• Scale your current systems up or down to manage data and informational increases or decreases

Deciding between a full-time vs freelance software developer

Companies can hire freelance software developers to create and launch software that makes the company’s daily tasks easier to accomplish. They can also hire freelancers to examine existing software, identify and solve problems in the code and launch an updated version of the application. 

Start-up mobile game companies may hire freelance developers to create the application. They also work with freelancers to develop updates and improvements to their existing games. 

Companies with frequent software development needs, such as tech developers and some video games businesses, typically employ a whole team of full-time software developers. 

What are the types of software developers?

Software development is a sizable industry that encompasses many different types of work. Specialists in this field include:

• Web developers: Web developers work to create websites that function across multiple platforms. They’re split into front-end, back-end and full-stack developers. Front-end developers specialize in creating the website’s user interface, while back-end ones are responsible for the site’s logic and functionality. Full-stack web developers have experience with both. 
• Computer programmers: Computer programmers create programs that allow computers to run. This can include background functions and systems that the user chooses to activate, such as the calculator. 
• Database administrators: Database administrators specialize in organizing and storing data for companies. They’re also responsible for creating backups of the data, improving the system’s security and monitoring who has access. 
• Game developers: Game developers write the code that allows video games to function. They also help with updates to the base game. 

Where to find software developers

To find the right software developer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Make inquiries at local colleges. Colleges and universities in the area may be able to point you in the direction of recent software development graduates looking for work. Reach out to these graduates to set up interviews.
• Recruit online. Due to the nature of the job, remote software developers are likely to advertise their services online. Make contact with these developers to see if they’re interested in a freelance or full-time position. 
• Ask other local businesses. Contact other businesses in the city to find information about reliable developers they’ve hired in the past. 
• Post your job online. Try posting your software developer job on Indeed to find and attract quality software developer candidates.

Skills to look for in a great Software Developer

A great Software Developer candidate will have the following skills and attributes as well as work experience that reflects:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, management information systems, engineering or a related field of study
• At least three years of experience in software development
• Excellent debugging skills
• Self motivated problem solver
• Can work independently and within a team environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Writing a software developer job description

A thoughtful description is important to finding qualified software developer candidates. A software developer job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position.

When writing your software 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 software developer jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Software engineer
• Software developer
• Software
• Java developer
• Developer
• Computer science
• Web developer
• Programmer
• Java
• Embedded software engineer

Interviewing software developer candidates

Strong candidates for software developer positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Specific programming languages
• Prior software development projects that were successful vs those that failed
• How they communicate with nontechnical team members or customers

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of software developer interview questions for examples (with sample answers).