Looking for Skilled App Developers? Here are 7 Qualities that Should be Considered

Do you know just a 0.1-second change in page load time can impact consumer behaviour? A study by Deloitte says so. Today’s consumers (with decreasing attention span) prefer to search for a new page rather than wait. Studies suggest that longer loading time results in a higher bounce rate, loss of traffic and missed opportunities. Therefore, you need to have nothing but the best when it comes to mobile apps and website development.

Programmers and app developers are the architects of your mobile applications and websites. That is why it is crucial to hire dedicated web developers who are highly skilled at what they do.

A renowned software engineer Robert L. Glass once said that “The best programmers are up to 28 times better than the worst programmers.”

As the world goes more and more digital with each passing day, the gap between average and good programmers is widening. There are countless programmers and developers in the market, but only a few are sought-after. Apart from skill-set, some personal traits set a good programmer or developer apart from the rest. If you are planning to hire web developers, you should look for the below-mentioned qualities in the developer.

A go-getter:

“Programming isn’t about what you know; it’s about what you can figure out.”- Chris Pine

A good programmer has an indomitable spirit. He is not the one who gives up midway. He will strive until he reaches his goal. The product’s success is at the core of everything he does. This cannot be achieved without a positive approach. A great programmer is keen to learn from mistakes and is open to constructive criticism. They are more focused on learning rather than just restricting themselves with what they already know. That’s why, they love challenges and are restless until they find the right code, the right solution for the problem.

If you want to know whether the programmer you want to hire possesses these skills ask him or her about the challenges they faced in meeting a deadline for a previous project and how they dealt with it. Also, try to find out what they loved the most about the previous project they worked on. This will help you know a lot about them.

A master communicator:

“Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.”- Martin Fowler

Programming after all is a language. It is one kind of computer language that implements algorithms to achieve the desired output. The programmer or web developer therefore should be brilliant at communicating because communication and development skills are correlated.

When we talk about in-demand developer skills, a good programmer can understand the problems, convert them into hypotheses, and come up with solutions in an effective manner. They are excellent at understanding new concepts and getting the desired information by asking the right questions. Also, good developers learn foreign languages, especially English to communicate effectively with clients.

If you want to test their communication skill, give them a problem statement and see what is their thought process, how effectively they can express their thoughts, what questions they ask about the given situation. This will help you assess their communication skills.

Exceptionally creative and logical:

“Everybody in this country should learn to program a computer because it teaches you how to think.”- Steve Jobs.

Great programmers are creative and logical. They can look at a problem from a different angle and find an apt solution using codes. Only developers with problem-solving attitudes can make a difference.

Logical thinking is one of the most important traits of a good programmer. Applying logical thinking, they can find the root cause of the problem and find real-world solutions.

Asking some technology-related questions and discussing use cases can help you know whether the programmer or developer is up to the mark or not. Programming is considered as “logic-based creativity”, and good programmers are looked up to as the modern wizards.

An avid learner:

“The only way to learn a new programming language is by writing programs in it.”- Dennis Ritchie

A good programmer or developer has a thirst for knowledge. Knowing that computer science is a rapidly evolving field, he keeps learning new programming languages to match steps with the changing times. They love to take on challenges that do not let them sleep until they find the right solution.

You can test the skill by asking the programmer whether he has learnt any new programming languages recently, if he is taking any courses to learn advanced programming, or what he is doing to keep up with the changing times. These will help you differentiate between a complacent and a constantly learning programmer.

Business-oriented:

“Make it work, make it right, make it fast.”- Kent Beck

The ultimate goal of employing technology is to generate more business, more revenue by providing better services or simplifying tasks. A good programmer has a business-oriented mindset. With this, he can understand the client’s business and provide solutions layered with business logic. Developers with acumen like this can sometimes come up with great ideas that prove to be game-changers.

To test this skill, you can give the developer a business case study and ask him how he would have propelled the growth of business with the help of technology tools. His answer would reflect how inclined his mind is towards business.

Consumer-centric approach:

“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but rather when there is nothing more to take away.”- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

A good developer is capable of thinking from the user’s perspective. An average developer will tell you how your app can be developed, whereas a great programmer can tell you how it will make your users feel, and how it will boost your business. He can predict which features will be loved by the users. A good developer builds products that are user-friendly and engaging.

While interviewing, pay attention to whether the programmer is speaking from the end user’s perspective or not. It will give you an idea of how much the programmer can think from the client’s perspective.

A team player:

“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.”- Steve Jobs

Developing an android/ios app or website is a collective effort. A good programmer understands that very well. He closely works with other stakeholders and takes decisions that are in favour of the product.

Conducting team activities during the hiring session can help you identify a good programmer out of the pack.