Implementing this model is a great decision, which will ultimately bring you great benefits, but how do I get started? What does my company need before "picking up the phone" and starting the hiring process?
Calm down people, calm down! Before you start the hiring process, your company needs to be prepared for all of this. Read on so that together we can find out if you have already taken into account the following aspects below and are definitely "ready for action".
Be clear about all the details and requirements of the project: It sounds obvious but it’s important to remember it, so please don't hit me.
Before executing any action it is vital to be clear about the project objectives, duration, deadlines for the project stages, analyze the team you currently have to identify the "missing pieces", define the skills you need from the "ideal candidate," including knowledge in certain tools/processes, experience, soft skills, among others. Of course, here you must be as thorough and detailed as possible.
Once you are 100% sure that the list has EVERYTHING you want from the candidate. Yes with capital letters, bold and underlined, because this will define the success of your project, it is time to refine the list. During this stage you can have additional support from a colleague who is working alongside you on the project to together divide the list between the "non-negotiable skills" and the "bonus point skills."
This will be very useful because it will allow you to define priorities and hire developers that really add value to the company.
Budget: The more planned it is, the better. So don't forget to consider even the smallest detail, because everything will add up when it comes time to do the math.
Once the amount to be invested is well defined, you can think if there is anything that can be "sacrificed" to save a few dollars.
Be careful, "neither bald nor with two wigs". Be very prudent when cutting expenses because if you eliminate a necessary expense, it may come up again at some stage of the project and that leaves much to be desired.
Research, even with a magnifying glass if necessary: There is a wide variety of companies in different countries that offer these services and at a competitive price/quality, but this aspect should not be the only thing worth looking into.
Consider variables such as time zone, cultural differences in relation to the country, recommendations, hiring platforms available in the market, exchange rate of the countries, number of professionals they offer, among other variables that only you know because I insist, each business and each project is different, so you will always have very marked specifications.
Start the interview process: Let the hiring games begin! You already have your list of requirements but this goes on paper only and will be what the candidate will use to apply. So, when it comes to conducting a successful interview, you need to have a different list of topics and questions that will help you really identify the competency of the candidates, because paper holds everything they put on it.
Test if they are what they say they are: It sounds bad but sometimes it is necessary, especially in this sector. As people say, it’s better to prevent than to regret.
There are several platforms that can be useful to test the skills your candidates have to generate efficient code, because let's face it, it's the most important technical skill.
If you Google a little, you will be able to find an endless number of platforms that offer this service, the choice of the right one will depend largely on the requirements that the company has.
Many of these technical tests ask the candidate to program code in real time so that in addition to testing their knowledge. You can delve into aspects such as how they deal with the problem, solve obstacles along the way, document their progress and defend their code.
Is there a better form of "thorough analysis" that will allow you to find that "diamond in the rough"? If you have a better one please let us know, sharing is good.
Finalize the negotiations: It's over! You've finally chosen the right person and all that's left is to sign the contract.
Make sure that everything agreed upon is in writing so that absolutely nothing is left out. Unfortunately, verbal agreements never lead anywhere.
Always keep in mind that receiving a "yes to everything" is not a very good sign, so highlight all the points to be sure that they agree and commit to comply with everything negotiated, including payment arrangements.
Meet with your staff: It is always good to inform the team about the organizational decisions that were made, so they are prepared and welcome this new team member with open arms. It doesn't matter if he/she is far away, he/she will be part of your employees' daily work, therefore, they must be informed about the function he/she will perform, for how long and other information that you consider relevant to share.
Effective communication should be a key factor to consider before starting, so developing an effective communication strategy between the onsite team and the offshore developer should be a priority. This includes jointly developing a work plan with detailed deadlines that facilitates interaction between the parties involved.
Prepare the environment: Teleworking is a reality that many of us love.
I can literally be writing this article from my bed if I want to and no one will notice because the quality will never change. Isn't it great!
Yes, like everything it has its downside but no well, that will be an article for another day.
Once you find the "chosen one," you must have everything ready for his or her arrival. Obviously he or she will not be physically there, so you can save the desk and other office equipment, but this does not save you entirely.
It is important that you have all the necessary credentials available to work smoothly, even with a new user if possible, the tools, good Internet, equipment, software and other requirements to make this project a success.
Following all the steps mentioned above will allow you to carry out a smooth offshore contracting process without almost any mishap. I say "almost" because there will always be inconveniences, Murphy's law.
That explains the effusiveness embodied in each step. What can I tell you? The more planned it is, the better.
Here at Bamboo we are ready to give you all the necessary support, because we are sure that together we will be able to develop this project successfully, from start to finish.
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