Hire Programmers in Africa with these tips

Introduction

Freelance programmers are fast attracting the attention of the global workplace for several reasons. The first centers on the fact that the remote place work culture among the young and young at heart, is fast gaining ground on the continent. This youthful demographic is ambitious, determined, and hunger for opportunities and growth. Also, increased internet connectivity and faster broadband speeds, mean programmers in Africa stay abreast of the latest developments in the IT sector.  They are also adept in the use of the newest communication tools and productivity apps like Trello and Slack, among others.

If you desire to hire the best programmers in Africa, then the following tips will come in handy in your quest:

1.Draw up a plan and define your exact needs

Hiring a programmer in Africa should mean that you should have a clear picture of your goals(both short, medium, and long term) for the position. Note that software programmers come in many shades and hues; therefore, your job specification serves as the template to filter and zero in on the most suitable candidates.

Set up the hiring process such that you can assess the applicants against important indices/parameters. These considerations will range from questions to test competence in assessing work ethics, among others. Besides, you might also need to input growth plans into the overall vision/mission of your tech business. Armed with this information, it becomes easier to pitch and attract the best programmers in Africa.

a.Search in the most appropriate places

Hiring programmers in Africa will often entail conducting searches in the right spots. The advent of the internet means that many programmers on the continent spend much time and active presence on various online platforms. Therefore the world wide web is logically the best place to begin under the following sources. Besides, you should also consider setting up meetings at physical locations:

Job boards

Job boards, such as africanfreelancers.com, are veritable places to request and work with programmers in Africa. These platforms often keep a database of tested programmers, whose skills are matched with the specifications of the project.

Social Media Platforms

Many programmers in Africa maintain active profiles on social media platforms, with a bent for business. In this regard, an excellent place to search is LinkedIn. Once here, employers can peruse important information such as programming bias, proficiency level, work experience as well as proofs of executed tasks.

Technology blogs

Technology blogs are another fruitful means of hiring programmers in Africa. For starters, technology hubs or blogs lead the way in sharing knowledge and updates in the software space. From these interactions, one can link up with participants who display an in-depth understanding of various programming languages.

Attend Hackathons

These are power-packed events that bring programmers in Africa together. The sole aim of these meet-ups centres on testing/developing new software, testing the limits of various programs as well as applications in real-life situations.

Keep an eye on the most talented programmers and establish contact once you deem them a suitable fit for your needs.

2. Put in place robust interview sessions

Under this tip, hiring programmers in Africa should go beyond the mere answering of theoretical aspects of software engineering. Engaging in a pragmatic interview session/think tank will reveal the inner workings, mindset, and core-problem solving skills of the applicant.

You can kickstart this engagement process by asking the following questions:

a. Projects completed, with an emphasis on the tools and tactics used in achieving the goals of the projects.

b.Projects that proved difficult. Ask about what went wrong during the task, and what lessons were learned?

c.Are there instances where applicants took on multiple projects? How did they manage in those situations?

3. Look for programmers who write clear codes

At first glance, this tip seems cliched. A programmer is ordinarily expected to know how to write codes in different programming languages. However, writing clean code is a skill that you should keep an eye out for. A programmer who writes messy/complicated codes will find it challenging to work with others, who may need access to his/her work.

4. Place a premium on Communication and people-skills

While it is essential to keep an eye on the core skills of the African programmer, do not relegate the possession of specific other skills. Research shows that projects flourish where rounded programmers with excellent communication and team working skills are in the fray. The reason for this is not far fetched. Many of today’s fast-paced projects comprise groups of programmers and other related professionals. Therefore, your African programmer must be comfortable in group sessions and think tank forums, in the execution of a project.

As the years go by, your African programmer can assume higher roles, such as a project manager, based on having these soft skills.

5. Give your target programmers the whole picture

Under this tip, it is essential to return serve to applicants who have shown potential in the interview process. A return of service centres on the employer, creating a buzz/excitement in the projects for execution. In this regard, show them the cool, engaging, and challenging stuff they will be a part of. Highlight the fact that their contributions will form an integral part of the software development process. Show how their work will impact the growth of the company. If your business plan permits, you can hint at developers becoming equity owners of the business, as they put in the work and time.