How to Hire a .NET Developer?

Different development models call for different types of developers. If you’re looking to build a website, for example, then you might need to hire a designer and a front-end developer to handle the look and feel, as well as a back-end developer to take care of the database. You might want an iOS and an Android developer too, so you can build smartphone and tablet applications.

The problem is that hiring all of these developers can take up a lot of money and resources. One way to combat that is to look at using a language like .NET, which is a free, open source solution that’s designed to bridge the gap between programming languages and platforms. In other words, you can develop with .NET to tap into the power of multiple different languages and libraries to build applications that can be accessed easily from any device.

Why Use .NET

Because of .NET’s portability, it’s also a popular choice for cloud developers who are creating Internet of Things solutions and dealing with data at scale. There are also different implementations (including .NET Core, .NET Framework and Xamarin/Mono) that are designed for different use cases.

.NET also has the advantage of being open source and having the backing of its own community of third-party developers, who contribute their own code to add extra features and functionality. Over 60,000 developers and nearly 4,000 companies are already sharing code, and there are hundreds of thousands more developers who use the language on a daily basis.

Of course, it’s not necessarily the fastest option, and if you’re looking for something that’s specifically designed with security in mind then you might want to look elsewhere. With that said, .NET is a pretty good all-rounder and a decent choice in a variety of situations, from small-scale development projects to online games, cloud applications and enterprise grade software platforms.

Checklist to hire .NET developer

So, you’ve decided the time is right for you to hire your first .NET developer. Congratulations! It’s an exciting time, but before you get carried away you’ll want to take a little time to work on a brief for potential hires so that you know exactly what you’re looking for and what they’ll be working on. With the brief in hand, you can create job descriptions if you’re looking for freelancers or file requests for proposals with companies who might be able to help you.

Once you’ve started to receive responses, you’ll want to evaluate them based on some of the criteria that we’ve listed below to see whether they’re a good fit for you and whether they’ll be able to help you to achieve the results that you’re looking for. Here’s what you’ll want to consider.

What projects have they worked on?

Reputable .NET developers have portfolios of the projects that they’ve worked on and they’ll be more than happy to talk you through what their role was and how they helped their clients to achieve their goals. They should also be able to put you in touch with those clients so that you can be given a personal testimonial.

Are they as good as they say they are?

Anyone can talk themselves up in a portfolio or resume, but not everyone can back up that talk with action. It can be difficult to gauge whether a .NET developer is any good unless you’re a developer yourself, so if you’re able to ask someone else for a little help, be sure to do so. If that’s not possible, spend some time familiarising yourselves with the basics of .NET so that you can ask them questions that are specific to .NET and weed out those who aren’t quite as good as they say they are.

What’s the account management like?

When you’re investing huge amounts of money into a .NET project, you expect a little more than someone who can do a competent job. You expect someone who can guide you through the process, keep you updated about deadlines and answer any questions that you might have along the way. Some companies are good at this, and some of them...well, not so much.

Are they familiar with ASP.Net?

ASP.Net is an important part of the .Net ecosystem, and it’s a good idea to look for a developer who’s comfortable with using it. Short for “Active Server Pages”, ASP allows people to build more powerful services and applications and ultimately to go above and beyond regular .NET development. You might not need an ASP developer, but it’s nice to know whether your developer is able to work with it just in case.

How’s their documentation?

When a developer works on a website, they’ll typically document the process or leave markup in the code itself so that other developers can easily come in and make changes or implement fixes without needing to wrap their heads around the system line-by-line. Some of the best developers when it comes to speed and creativity are the worst when it comes to documentation.

What are their other interest areas?

Whether it’s systems administration, a specialism in security or even a flair for graphic design, most developers have some overlapping interest areas that can come in handy. If their main job will be to work with .NET, it’s only natural to focus on that, but don’t be afraid to use their talents in other ways if you can and if they’re willing.

Do they understand your goals?

A good developer is more than just a builder following an architect’s plans. They’ll work with you to understand what it is you’re hoping to achieve with your .NET project and they’ll offer up proactive, practical solutions to any problems you face along the way. Facilitating communication between web developers and senior management isn’t always easy, but it’s a must if you want your .NET project to actively push your business in the right direction.

Freelance .NET developer VS  Development Company

When it comes to finding a .NET developer for hire, you have two main choices: you can hire a freelance developer or you can work with a full company. Freelancers tend to be cheaper, and they’re often paid per hour instead of per project, which has both pros and cons. Some of the most popular websites for hiring freelancers are Upwork, Toptal and Developers for Hire.

Hiring a freelancer is inherently risky. The quality of the code could be low, the communication could be poor and account management could be almost non-existent. On top of that, when you’re working with a company, you’re able to tap into the experience of multiple developers instead of just one. That’s why as a general rule, it’s a better idea to go with a low-cost software development company than with a freelancer.

You’ll also want to bear in mind that different people use different pricing models. Some bid for jobs with a fixed price, while others bill on an hourly rate. With a fixed cost, you know what you’re getting, although you also risk people cutting corners to get the job done on time and on budget. You can also create an in-house development team of your own, but that means that you’ll be stuck paying people’s wages until whenever their contract is complete.

Ultimately, one of the best options is to hire .NET developer offshore using an offshore development team. That’s because there are skilled .NET developers all over the world, and many of them live in countries with a lower cost of living than what we’re used to in the western world. That means that you can make big savings versus using  a developer from your country while still paying more than enough for people to earn a decent living. Everybody wins.

The bottom line

Now that you know what to look for when you’re hiring a .NET developer, it’s over to you to get started. By now, you should have a good idea of what to look for when you want to hire .NET developer, and you should also know whether you’re looking for a freelancer or a full agency. You’ll know what questions you need to ask, too.

Now it’s time for you to start working on a comprehensive brief for the project so that when you hire dedicated .NET developer, they’ll know exactly what work is involved. This will mean that potential applicants will self-select, because they won’t apply for the job if they don’t think they’ll be able to do it, and it will also mean that they can come into the interview with enough information to explain exactly how and why they can help you.

Still struggling with .NET development? No problem. Here at Zfort Group, our team of skilled web developers is always available to lend a hand with any development project of any size. We have plenty of experience with .NET and we’ll be more than happy to guide you through the process of your first ever .NET build. We look forward to hearing from you!