How to Hire Remote Developers

Work is no longer a place we go. Now, great work can be done anywhere and top talent can be found everywhere — and software development is no exception. Yet, finding qualified, remote software developers with the right skills and experience is challenging.

Let’s explore how to hire a team of remote developers with the help of an Employer of Record (EOR) solution — and tap into the fullest of human potential with G-P.

What are the benefits of hiring a remote developer?

As the tech landscape continues to evolve, businesses are hard at work finding ways to stay competitive. Employers can tap into a global talent pool, reduce costs, and scale quickly by hiring remote developers.

What exactly do software developers do, and what are the benefits of hiring remote developers? Software development is a subset of software engineering. While software engineers work to scale entire software systems, software developers work on the development process. To put it simply, software developers specialize in designing and creating computer software programs and systems. 

Hiring and managing remote teams was common for tech companies even pre-pandemic — and it’s easy to see why. Access to global talent, opportunity to scale, and cost-efficiency are just a few key benefits of hiring remote team members. 

By building a global team of technical experts in a remote work environment, you can:  

1. Access the best technical talent.

When you remove borders from your recruitment strategy, you have a much higher chance of finding developers that meet your needs. In 2023,  67.8% of global tech industry employees worked remotely. Since a larger talent pool is a top benefit for executives (35%) hiring globally, chances are you can get the best talent by hiring a remote candidate.

The good news is, G-P makes it easy to find and hire the best person for your role, regardless of where they are in the world, in just seconds with our Talent Supply Dashboard. This dashboard is a feature of our fully customizable G-P Meridian Suite™ of global employment products. 

2. Build a diverse team.

Diverse teams foster a culture of innovation, which is always a competitive advantage in today’s fast-paced tech industry. And as we work across locations, time zones, and borders, access to diverse talent has never been more important.

As the world of work becomes even more interconnected, cross-cultural communication and collaboration unlock the future. Collaborating with experts from various cultural backgrounds can offer fresh insights and strengthen your service offering.

For example, multilingual developers add value to companies with an international customer base. A diverse team can also seamlessly navigate blind spots in product execution. Team members may have knowledge of how a product could be used in a certain part of the world, which can be a great asset when launching your products in new markets.

3. Streamline and simplify expansion.

By hiring remote developers, you can help your business go farther by building teams faster. As business needs fluctuate in real time, remote software developers offer the flexibility to scale your team as needed. 

Remote employees can seamlessly adjust to your changing work schedules to maximize resource allocation. There is no right or wrong hire — it depends on what your company is looking for and what your goals are. If you want to build a permanent, dedicated team, hire a full-time employee. If you occasionally need someone to take care of short-term projects, hire an independent contractor. 

Plus, with a SaaS-based platform like G-P’s Global Growth Platform™, you can simplify and streamline global expansion at every touch point. With us, you have everything you need to plan, hire, and manage your global teams — with just one login and one global partner.  

4. Reduce expenses.

Hiring remote software developers is also better for your bottom line. After all, traditional in-person working involves excess expenses like office space maintenance and on-site data storage. Remote developers may reduce overhead costs. Seeking competitive rates without compromising on quality? Hire independent contractors from regions with lower cost of living. 

Spending too much time finding the right candidate can cost you — and your organization — a lot of time and money. With our platform, you have the recruitment tools and services you need to find your ideal remote developer quickly and easily. 

5. Increase productivity and efficiency.

Productivity is a common concern companies have when it comes to building a remote team. However, research shows that remote workers are often more productive than in-office teams.

Approximately 87% of remote developers enjoy remote work.  Without the distractions of a traditional office, remote developers can focus on the technical tasks at hand with fewer interruptions. 

How to hire remote developers

Hiring remote developers can be challenging, especially if you don’t know where to look. According to G-P’s Global Growth Report, 77% of executives struggle to identify skilled talent in their current market. Plus, some employers fear the quality of work, communication, and productivity will decrease when hiring across multiple regions. 

You can face these challenges head on with the right hiring process. If you’re not sure where to start, you’re not alone. Here’s how to source remote tech talent to expand your team. 

1. Clearly define your ideal candidate — and your job description.

Build a profile that includes the technical skill sets and mindset of your ideal developer before you post a job offer. What does your ideal candidate look like? What technical skills and professional experience apply? Prioritize soft skills related to remote work, including discipline, ability to learn and adapt, communication, time management, proactivity, and collaboration. 

Be sure to define your software development requirements, including web development, software engineering, or app development needs. Consider the size of your workforce to decide if you need an entire team or a single remote developer. If you’re hiring on a project basis, maybe hiring a contractor is a better choice. Once you’ve established your ideal parameters, decide the appropriate compensation  depending on years of experience. 

2. Simplify the review process.

Identifying the right candidates from a large pool of applicants is the most difficult part of recruiting, but a solid pre-screening process can make a big difference. 

Speed up the selection process with well-defined criteria that allows you to assess candidates. Depending on the complexity of the position, you may want to create a scorecard to make it easier for you to evaluate and compare candidates.

You can also use a written application form with impactful questions for an initial screening, or ask the applicants to submit short video responses. These questions will give you insight into their skills, experience, and compatibility with your company, and will help you rule out resumes that do not fit the position.

3. Interview candidates via video conference.

Once you’ve selected your ideal pool of candidates, take the time to connect virtually. If you forgo video interviews or simply evaluate based on the lowest hourly rate, you risk hiring unqualified developers that may not stand the test of time. 

The candidates’ professionalism and ability to communicate over video call will be a good indicator as to how well they will be able to work remotely. Think carefully about the questions you want to ask to evaluate both soft and technical skills. 

4. Test candidates’ technical ability.

Be sure to test coding ability and technical expertise before extending an offer. There are digital tools that allow you to do a variety of assessments, from cognitive and technical evaluations to personality tests, to see if the candidate fits your company culture. 

How to manage a remote development team

The first onboarding days are crucial to your team’s success. From cost-savings to increased productivity, the remote software development model offers plenty of advantages. However, remote developers require a more unique management style and technical approach than in-person teams.

An estimated 49% of surveyed workers recognize the importance of operational readiness to support cross-border and cross-cultural communication.  With a global mindset in mind, here’s how to manage developers who work from home:

1. Leverage video conferencing and remote collaboration tools.

Curious how to work agile with remote developers? Pick the right project management tools. With remote developers, you can’t monitor or manage the work being done in person. This paradigm shift requires businesses to track progress virtually and avoid a redundant workload. 

When developing security procedures for a remote workforce, leverage project management tools to streamline workflow. Technology like Zoom, Trello, and Slack are secure tools to organize team workload based on local work hours. 

2. Take advantage of time zones.

A strong software development team is both self-reliant and organized. A remote software development team typically includes several team members, including developers, quality assurance (QA) experts, and testers alongside employees working on the backend. Be sure to take advantage of time zones by scheduling different developers to manage various project goals for round-the-clock efficiency. 

3. Set clear expectations.

Global leaders must take into account the varying cultural and geographical factors across their organization. Research shows that 44% of employees and 35% of executives value transparency. Being open with expectations provides employees with a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, promoting accountability and aligning efforts toward organizational goals.

4. Nurture team connection.

More technical roles like software developers can be isolating. Ask questions and create soft touch points to connect with your teams. Over 51% of employees and 36% of executives value cross-cultural communication. Clear and frequent communication helps prevent misunderstandings, ensures alignment on priorities and goals, and promotes transparency, trust, and a more cohesive organizational culture.

Hire quickly and compliantly with a strong EOR partner.

Hiring remote software developers is essential for businesses looking to thrive in today’s digital age. With a reliable EOR partner, your company can plan, hire, and manage global teams quickly and efficiently anywhere in the world, regardless of entity status. 

The #1 SaaS-based Global Growth Platform™ streamlines and simplifies every step of global expansion, unlocking new opportunities around the world for companies of all sizes. Our industry-leading platform is backed by the largest team of HR and legal experts to ensure a positive employee experience in today’s evolving business landscape.

Are you ready to take on global expansion with total confidence? Learn more about how we can help today.