Why Your Next App Developer Should Be Freelance

At JetCake, our approach to connecting companies with tech talent is a little different. We believe in matching freelance app developers and software engineers with the right company after they’ve gone through technical and screening interviews. We put candidates through career coaching to prepare them to integrate with a company. And, we provide them with a network of support to ensure on-the-job success after placement. 

A major reason why we take this approach is that we’ve worked with remote developers all over the world. When companies opt to freelance, they choose to access a global network of talent that extends far beyond their immediate geography. That decision can seem radical, but it shouldn’t. As one expert points out, “The quality of programming is location agnostic; no one (save a few national security apparatuses) can really differentiate between code written in, say, Prague, with code written in Palo Alto.” 

There are some big benefits to working with freelance app developers. Here are just a few reasons why the choice to go with a freelancer should be a no-brainer. 

Save on overhead expenses

Companies spend an average of $4,000 to recruit a new employee, depending on the location and the position. Much of this expense comes from costs related to bringing someone in for an interview, posting the position, and the in-house resources of reading resumes and doing phone screens. Those costs significantly decrease when you outsource work to a freelancer. It takes less time and fewer resources to interview someone you’ll be partnering with for a project, rather than hiring for three to five years. 

Likewise, remote app developers save companies on relocation and full-time overhead costs beyond the recruiting process. By some estimates, a fully-functional remote engineering workforce will save between $11,000 up to $50,000 per employee, per year. “Talent who works at home does not require any office space, computing equipment, coffee, and covering of commutes,” notes one blog. App developers can work from anywhere, and exchange rates make it possible to pay well without breaking your budget. 

Avoid making the wrong hire 

The US Department of Labor estimates that the cost of making the wrong hire is at least 30% the employee’s first-year earnings. There are steep financial costs to hiring the wrong app developer, as well as the cost of delayed project timelines, wasted resources, and employee burnout. 

Because freelancers are contracted for a set period of time or project completion, there’s lower risk if a company hires the wrong person. App development lends itself perfectly to freelancers. It takes – depending on the complexity of the app – between three to four months to see the project to fruition. A freelancer can come on for all or a portion of the process. Freelance developers will usually provide project estimates for discrete milestones, including a quote for a minimum viable product, a quote for functionality in your budget, and a quote for the total amount they think it would take for a standout product. If you’re wary about a person’s ability, break up their contract into milestones and ask for an MVP before moving on to the next phase of app development.

Access a network of real talent

Freelancers, in general, get a bad reputation for being mercenaries. Companies have traditionally valued loyalty and a CV that doesn’t show evidence of job-hopping. However, in the world of tech, many programmers and developers are self-taught. Their resumes don’t show a linear progression of college degrees, entry-level experience, certifications, and promotions. One report found that less than 50% of software developers had eight years of experience in coding. Even fewer have professional work experience. 

More than 80% of programmers enjoy coding as a hobby. Nearly all software developers learn their skills informally. It logically follows, then, that many top app developers and programmers take on less traditional career paths. It’s up to recruiters to go beyond job boards and LinkedIn to find great freelancers.

Finally, by working with a freelance app developer, companies are able to sign-on specialized talent as needed. CodeMentor notes that the desire for niche talent has increased across industries, but it is especially prevalent in tech. “Let’s say you want to develop an Android app. Even though the developer you are currently working with is somewhat familiar with mobile development, he or she may not be an expert in Android development. A freelance developer who specializes in developing Android apps will definitely deliver better results,” writes CodeMentor. Ready to start saving money and accessing talented app developers? Learn more about how JetCake prepares freelancers to integrate quickly into teams and projects.

This article was originally published at JetCake