How Companies Are Hiring Remote Software Engineers During The Pandemic

Remote work is now a normal. Not just while the pandemic-induced SOPs prevail, indeed it has now become a perfectly feasible and acceptable mode of getting work done. One of the fields that saw remarkable returns to remote work was software engineering. So much so, research by Gaper suggest that there is still a lack of supply of engineers when we compare it to the surge in demand for the same.

Now how did companies go about hiring remote engineers during this time? There were a few tried and tested means to do this and some new and innovative ones alongside.

Everyone’s First Stop: The Gig Economy

Anytime someone has needed some work done online, they’ve turned to freelance platforms. This is a great and reliable way of getting small projects done if, and only if, one is careful and meticulous about hiring the right person.

It is also sometimes a tad bit expensive to hire one freelancer to do all your work. This is coupled by the challenge of gathering a team if that is what you are looking for. Engineers and developers on these platforms are more inclined towards small projects that they do in a few days and move on to the next one. They are not looking to be contractually bound or restricted to a single firm. That is kind of the point of this way of working.

Augmented Teams of Remote Engineers

This is not exactly a new concept, it just found traction during the pandemic. Businesses that are looking to hire vetted, trained and long-term teams of software engineers go for this option. Essentially this just entails letting another company provide you with a proper team of engineers and developers from all around the world while they also take care of payroll and compliance issues. Well reputed companies like Gaper, Toptal, Andela and Turing also ensure that their engineers are highly skilled and trained for the tasks at hand.

Apart from being a cost-effective approach to hiring professionals, there is also the benefit of working with your team on a long-term basis. Any upgrades or changes or other after-sales services that a business may require are unquestionably included in their services. It is likely having an in-house team of engineers without any of the admin hassle.

The Challenge With Hiring On Your Own

The two major issues with hiring your own remote team are the vetting and training of the applicants, and keeping up with the regulations of the country they are based in. Gaper, for example, hires its own engineers after a thorough process of evaluating, testing and rigorously assessing the professionals they choose to bring on board. Not only that, the company is also very mindful of soft skills that individuals bring to their teams.

Similarly, a client does not have to maintain separate records and procedures for every single foreign team member in order to conform to their local regulations. The business you hire from takes care of everything.

A Godsend for Small Businesses and Startups

These businesses have greatly eased things for small businesses and startups. Hiring distributed and remote teams of engineers has become more straightforward while also removing the burden off their human resources and finances.

You may have noticed that this article does not go beyond the two aforementioned methods fo hiring remote software engineers. This is because they are, well, unreliable and not worth anyone’s time or efforts. Remember, if something is too inexpensive or someone overpromises services that no one else would reasonably provide at disproportionately low prices, run away. Else, prepare to be trapped in a paradox where you spend less…but you also spend more.