Did you know that 90% of startups failed in 2019? That’s not a one-time thing. Over 21% of startups fail right in the first year of inception. The causes for failure are many, but some are common for all entrepreneurs. Among them, not getting the right people to grow your business is a top one. 

Many entrepreneurs start a business even when they are not experts in their chosen industry. As a result, they don’t have a clear idea of what they need. Understanding the vital roles you need to hire for your software development team is necessary for business success. 

In this post, we will explore four roles you need to hire for a dedicated development team. Plus, we will also learn what to look for in your candidates. 

Here are the four positions to recruit for your startup-

Hire a Developer

You will need adept developers to code and deploy your software. They will be responsible for updating features, developing new features, and bringing your product ideas to life. You should always go for an expert developer with the required experience to handle your projects. 

Full-stack developers are great for custom software development projects as they can code for any platform. You can also save money by hiring someone familiar with most programming languages instead of paying several developers. 

Based on your project scale, you may need to hire one or more in-house or remote developers.

What to look for:

Skills: You will obviously want your developer to be familiar with the platforms and languages you need to work with.

Exposure: Make sure your developer is familiar with your industry. This way, he or she will understand your business needs better.

Quick learner: Technologies come and go every year. Your developer needs to learn and adapt to new technologies to provide you the best results.

Team skills: A good team player collaborates with the team and works together to achieve your business objectives.

Time management: Your developer should be able to juggle responsibilities and multitask without missing deadlines. 

QA

Quality assurance is a step you can never skip for any IT project. You need a QA or product tester to make sure your products are up to the mark. Without a QA, you won’t be able to meet the expectations of your customers. 

A QA ensures your products are reliable, functional, efficient, and as per customer needs. Plus, they are also responsible for compliance with standards and regulations. 

You should always hire a good QA who works with your software development team to create great products. They are the ones to assess if all your features meet project requirements. You will also have to count on them to detect bugs and issues.

What to look for:

Out-of-the-box thinking: QAs should be able to take up problems creatively and solve them. 

IT skills: The job of a QA in IT is highly technical. You want someone who knows the ins and outs of software development. 

Analyzing skills: QAs need to have strong analyzing skills to go to the bottom of any issue or problem. 

Communication skills: Your QA will have to work in close quarters with the rest of your development team. So, written and oral communication skills are a must. 

Designer

UI/UX designers are essential for developing user-friendly software. Today, customers are not ready to waste time or face a learning curve. They want intuitive products that are easy to navigate and use.

UI/UX designers are the ones to create the visual interface of your app or software. Your designers decide how your customers will interact with your product visually. They design apps, create wireframes, define process flows, and establish sitemaps to help the developers. 

You should look for a combination of creativity and technicality in your QA for optimum outcomes. 

What to look for:

Updated: Your designer should be aware of the latest trends in UX research. Only then will your designer be able to understand what customers want. 

Collaborative: Designers work with developers, product managers, CEOs, and different stakeholders. They should be able to collaborate without difficulty.

Prototyping: Your designer should be a pro at prototyping to bring your product ideas to life. They should be familiar with standard wireframing tools.

Coding: Having an idea of basic coding will help them understand things from a technical viewpoint.

Interactive design: A designer should understand how customers interact with the product. They should be able to create interactive experiences based on customer preferences.

Project Manager

There are many remote jobs for a junior project manager. A dedicated project manager or PM is necessary for every IT project. They ensure everything goes according to plans and timeline. A PM focuses on tasks, resources, budget, and deadlines to achieve your business’s objectives. They will work to implement the strategies formulated by your project manager. 

A PM manages all meetings and communication to keep the project on track. They get the job done and ensure your team has everything it needs. A PM will also keep a tab on team performance and track areas of improvement. 

Small teams with limited responsibilities may do without a project manager. However, big teams and large-scale projects will need someone experienced for smooth IT project management.

What to look for:

Experience: Experience is a must to manage any IT project. You should also look for someone with exposure to your industry.

Management skills: A PM should be able to manage teams, tasks, workload, reporting, and more. You need a person with good multitasking and management skills.

Detail-oriented: Your PM should pay attention to even the smallest details that impact business performance. 

Problem solver: A PM should solve problems quickly to keep the team and workflows on track.

Where to Find the Right Team 

Entrepreneurs can walk different paths when it comes to recruiting the right talent. Currently, most startups are going for remote working to save on overheads and cut hassles. Going offshore and hiring an offshore development team can save costs and help you enjoy several benefits. Plus, you can access a large pool of talent that is ready to work at competitive rates. 

You can try the following places to search for professionals-

Outsourcing Companies

Several outsourcing companies spread across the world now offer offshore software development services. You can easily search online, do your research, and choose the right partner for your needs. 

You can try countries like-

• India
• China
• Malaysia
• South Africa
• Kenya

All these countries have lower rates compared to the US or UK. However, you won’t have to compromise quality as top experts are available.

Freelancers

Many freelancers across the world provide remote services. You can hire developers, designers, project managers, and more at affordable rates. Try to look for candidates on platforms like Upwork or Freelancer to ease your recruitment process.

Sometimes, it makes sense to go for outsourcing companies as they have a full development team on board. You don’t have to hire people individually, and can book the services of the team. This reduces the hassles of communication and collaboration. Plus, you can also enjoy more affordable prices. 

How to Choose the Best Tech Experts

Here are a few pointers to help you select the best person for your development roles.

Technical Skills

Your remote team should possess impeccable technical skills. Be it platforms or programming languages, you should go for only those who have proficient knowledge and skills. You can check the past projects of your offshore partner to determine if they can meet your expectations.

Soft Skills

Interpersonal skills are essential to work with remote partners. The team you hire should have good communication, listening, and time management skills. They should be able to work together and keep you in the loop during the development process.

Additionally, the team should be able to get across their point and manage responsibilities independently. 

Time Zones

Selecting a partner with similar time zones can facilitate work and communication. You will need a few hours to talk with your team, get updates, and provide additional instructions. 

You can also choose a partner from a different time zone. In that case, you should determine the overlapping times and set fixed hours for collaboration.

Culture

Having someone familiar with your culture can facilitate the development process. You want your team to understand the needs and preferences of your customers. Today, it’s not difficult to familiarize yourself with cultures around the world, thanks to the internet. 

You should hire an outsourcing partner that understands your culture and your consumers. Only then can you create fitting products that your customers love.

Final Thoughts

Getting the right talents for your startup is vital to ensure business success. You should start with at least a designer, developer, QA, and PM for your software development team. Going offshore can be cost-effective and help you access a wide talent pool. Outsourcing companies are a great choice to achieve your business objectives as they come ready with a team. 

You can hire developers or designers on-demand basis for the short-term or long-term. The process saves you costs in salaries and overheads and reduces management tasks. You can focus on growing your business while your remote team prepares the final product. 

Last Updated on May 31, 2022 by Icy Tech Team