In the competitive tech industry, having the right talent for the job can mean the difference between success and failure. And, hiring specialists such as software programmers is a must. Recruit the finest programmers with these tips!

The tech industry is relatively new compared to other fields. Hence, it isn’t surprising that many businesses are still trying to define member roles, such as software programmers and engineers. Furthermore, creating an IT team will become more competitive. According to the US Bureau of Labor of Statistics, IT and computer-related skills will continue to grow through 2029.

So, as the IT industry grows, hiring the right software programmers has never been more critical. It is a challenge for companies and recruiters to clearly define a software programmer’s job description, role, requirements, and responsibilities.

What is a Software Programmer?

Most of the time, the term software programmer is used interchangeably with a software engineer. However, programmers have different roles and tasks than engineers. Then, recruiters need to identify these differences. If not, they may hire the wrong person for the role, which will cost their company money and resources.

What is a software programmer, then? The obvious answer is that a programmer is the one who writes codes for software and applications. Yet, software programmers’ responsibilities are more than just coding. Working in a team, they are also involved in designing, maintaining, and troubleshooting systems and software.

Therefore, for your recruitment process, you need to identify a programmer’s roles, responsibilities, and skills to distinguish the best candidates.

Software Programmer Roles and Responsibilities

Software programmers need to possess a range of skills to fulfill their duties. They need to combine their technical knowledge with their soft skills to work with a team. The following are the major roles and responsibilities of software programmers:

Planning

Programmers need to go over the program design, flowcharts, and models to get ideas on how they should code. Additionally, software programmers should also help in the planning stage of a project to provide estimation and level of effort.

Coding and Testing

Writing codes is the primary responsibility of programmers. Using the created design, programmers focus on writing the proper codes to perform the appropriate tasks. It is also crucial that they write notes or comments along with their code instructions. By doing so, software programmers can test if their codes and instructions are correct.

Upgrading

Another main task of programmers is to run systems analysis. They must continually make sure that the programs work and are scalable. If not, programmers need to update the codes to upgrade the system.

Repairing

Software is always vulnerable to glitches. Even with constant debugging, some programs will stop working. When this happens, programmers will comb over the codes to find and repair mistakes and get the system working smoothly. In addition to reevaluating and repairing the system, programmers also need to meet with the quality assurance team. Programmers must work with the team to identify problems and formulate solutions.

Hiring Tips and What to Look For

It is always a challenge for recruiters to interview technical personnel. Interviewing software programmers poses more difficulties due to the dynamic practices in the field. That is why recruiters must not only look for fixed skill sets but adaptability to changes. Here are the skills to look for in a software programmer:

Programming Language Proficiency

There are many programming languages for coding. For example, Phyton, C++, C#, JavaScript, and PHP are the most popular languages in 2021. However, no one expects a software programmer to master all the languages. But, it is advantageous to be proficient or to specialize in two or three languages. Therefore, you must test their coding skills. Ask for their work samples and assess their knowledge of specific programming tasks.

Mathematical and Problem-Solving Skills

Programming involves math. To be on a proficient level, a software programmer must have an understanding of algebra and arithmetic. Additionally, programmers write codes to solve a problem. Hence, a software programmer must be adept at identifying issues and finding efficient solutions.

Great Communication Skills

Most people picture a programmer working alone in front of their computer. Although this may be true most of the time, a software programmer still needs to communicate and work with their team. Usually, a programmer needs to coordinate with a lead programmer, software engineers, designers, and other project stakeholders.

Documentation Skills

A continuation of good communication skills, a software programmer also needs to write well. From time to time, they will need to write technical documentation of their progress. These include committing messages, release notes, and instructions among others. As a result, writing down and explaining the technicalities in the work benefits the whole team.

Curiosity and Resourcefulness

A software programmer must also be curious and resourceful to succeed in their field. They need to be investigative to identify problems. And, being resourceful will allow them to find solutions to address the said problems.

Business Sense

Having a good business sense, a programmer will consider the bigger picture. They will look at how their work will affect the company and the client as a whole. By doing so, they will think about their codes and consider adding more value to the project.

Additionally, hiring managers should always consider if the software programmer candidate will fit your company culture. Will their experience and personal values allow them to work with your current team? Are they familiar with the tool kit that your team is using? Do their work styles align with your organization?

Why Startups Use Full Scale

We at Full Scale have one of the most stringent and best recruitment processes in the business. Our experienced and talented programmers, testers, developers, designers, and other specialists are on top of their professions.

You don’t have to worry about how to hire the best software programmer for your project. Let us know what you need, and let us build your dream software, development team. We have the resources to help your startup achieve your business goals fast and affordably!

Contact us now, and let’s start building your dream team!