Software development job market saw a substantial increase in the past few years according to Cyberstates2018. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects also predicts that software developer jobs will increase by 30 percent by 2026. This makes finding a great remote developer for your startup a difficult process. When it comes to hiring, technical skills weighs more than soft ones, however, employers are starting to realize that both skills are arguably equally important especially for remote positions.

 

Why are soft skills important?

 

Looking beyond the ability to write quality code is what makes your new hire a remarkable one, given that the role of software developers is becoming more crucial to business growth. Hence, you need people who are comfortable working independently and can be decisive, yet enjoy collaborating with a team and on top of that, they can communicate clearly and concisely. Without these traits, your team performance will suffer as well as your company’s culture.

 

1.   Communication

 

It’s so crucial for anyone working as part of a distributed team to have great communication skills and that can be obvious from the first couple of interactions. When you don’t see your employees, it’s hard to understand the non-verbal cues of communication that are often noticed during face-to- face conversations. Misunderstanding is very likely to occur if both, you, and the developer don’t set clear rules for communicating.

 

Written communication: Although writing is an essential part of every job. It’s much more important for distributed teams because they rely on it most of the time. Considering that members are located in different time zones, writing definitely saves time and facilitates the delivery of information. Good writing is also an indicator of clear thinking as the famous saying goes “Whatever is well conceived is clearly said”. If your remote developer can communicate effectively, then they can think clearly and vice versa.

 

How to pick the perfect communicator during the interview?

 

First, you need to understand your team communication structure and how do you want your new remote developer to communicate. Ask lots of open-ended questions during the interview to get a sense of the candidate’s preferred communication style.

 

2. Teamwork

 

Does your remote developer’s working style fit your company? Can they collaborate with the rest of the team? Teamwork matters for remote companies because effective collaboration leads to better results and cohesive teams have better chances at overcoming business obstacles and hardships. When assessing a remote developer, make sure they aren’t above working as part of a large team.

 

3. Time management

 

Remote developers perform a wide variety of tasks on a daily basis. The ability to allocate time for each task and manage the daily duties efficiently is an incredibly important skill.

 

“Working remotely as an employee carries a high degree of autonomy and self-motivation. Therefore, having a strong ability to manage your time well is a critical skill. This could involve going into each day knowing what your Most Important Tasks are and tackling those first, or following a Maker/Manager schedule.” Says Luke Ryan, Head of marketing at Mokriya

 

4. Proactivity

 

Proactivity and self-motivation are the first traits to look for when hiring remote developers. According to researchers, 66% of employers listed self-motivation as the first essential soft skills among candidates. Proactivity involves the ability to point out problems or weak areas in the work structure and suggesting new ways to improve them. Good developers don’t just execute tasks assigned to them but are rather willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to provide excellent work. 

 

Proactivity and self-motivation are the first traits to look for when hiring remote developers. According to researchers, 66% of employers listed self-motivation as the first essential soft skills among candidates. Proactivity involves the ability to point out problems or weak areas in the work structure and suggesting new ways to improve them. Good developers don’t just execute tasks assigned to them but are rather willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to provide excellent work. 

 

5. Prior remote working experience

 

Hiring a developer who has previous remote working experience is a perk. They will have a better understanding of how to communicate and thrive in the remote work structure. If you’re hiring a first time remote developer, then look for people whose passion and attitude will make them excellent at pushing your business forward.

 

Remote work comes with many benefits that traditional developers don’t get, yet also comes with many challenges. Employers need to know how to spot the right developer that fits their company’s culture. Therefore, interviews are the best chance to pick the perfect candidate. Read on to know how can you spot your next remote developer in less than 15 minutes.