How to look for a software developer

[Frenchie000]

Hi,

My business partner and I are new to the entrepreneurship world but we are embarking on a project that will require considerable IT work. We are both former bankers with little tech experience and so we are looking to hire a full time software developer (and maybe to partner with him down the road). Given how important it is for us to hire the right guy we were keen to find out how others have navigated similar issues. If there are meetings or places where we could network with the developer crowd? If universities had networking events with their recent graduates? Basically, I guess what we are asking is for any advice that can help us.

Cheers

 

[alphanumeric]

Are you sure you can trust your future on a graduate?

I ask because many recent graduates may still need a couple of years of hand holding and guidance, and if your not really technically competent yourself it could end up being a waste of time for both of you.

Depending on budget it might be worth going down the agency / contractor route. Or at least find someone with a couple of years experience.

 

[qul]

in london, try www.techhub.com/ , http://www.meetup.com/SiliconRoundabout/ , http://www.meetup.com/minibar/ , www.mobilemonday.org.uk for networking events

 

[Paul Norman]

The frank answer is that your lack of IT/techy knowledge means you are entering a lottery.

However, that does not mean it is a bad idea.

But it would be worth getting some robust advice to help you secure the right means of building your project.

What you do have, I suspect, is a very clear view of what you want to achieve. Focus on that, and ensure everyone involved focuses on that. You have to avoid a person who is technically knowledgable blinding you to the outcomes you need. Those outcomes are the non negotiable measure of success to your project, and good project management (essential here) will focus on those.

Technical excuses cause many such projects to founder, good project management is a way of mitigating that.

 

[DuaneJackson]

There will be a tonne of advice on google for this if you search the right terms, try finding a technical co-founder

 

[carents]

Hi,

My business partner and I are new to the entrepreneurship world but we are embarking on a project that will require considerable IT work. We are both former bankers with little tech experience and so we are looking to hire a full time software developer (and maybe to partner with him down the road). Given how important it is for us to hire the right guy we were keen to find out how others have navigated similar issues. If there are meetings or places where we could network with the developer crowd? If universities had networking events with their recent graduates? Basically, I guess what we are asking is for any advice that can help us.

Cheers

Frenchie,

Being involved in software development for a while, and having experience working with big and startups. I would suggest you to first go and define what your minimal viable product is going to be, what are your constraints on technology (could be for example, the system has to be linux/web based etc), and then talk to potential companies or developers. Otherwise you can end up spending a fortune on something which nobody wants.

Its always a good idea to try it with time-boxed approach with an outsource company, so you don't have any obligation for salary or taxman.

TechHub is really good and you can find some rockstar programmer there. vWorker.com can also be an option.

Thanks.

 

[garyk]

Also look for someone that has experience in the vertical you are wanting to target.

You mention a banking background are you after someone with financial services experience?

 

[Frenchie000]

Thanks to all of you for your help. Several years ago, I managed an IT team when my company developed new software in house and so I am not going in completely blind. I agree that it's most important to have a very specific set of minimum requirements in mind and manage to that. I also agree that hiring an inexperienced graduate is not the right approach but I was referring to a graduate with several projects under his belt like you often find in American universities when people go back to school after having worked for a while.

With regards to contracting: This is where I am confused. The IT infrastructure I am planing on building is such an integral part of my business that I find it hard to understand the relationship with another entity (agency or contractor). What happens after the completion of the project for maintenance and for improvements, and tweaks.... I think it's a better decision to make the developer a part of the success of failure somehow. This is why I ned to find the right person.

 

[Frenchie000]

Also look for someone that has experience in the vertical you are wanting to target.

You mention a banking background are you after someone with financial services experience?

I do not need the developer to have finance experience but the company is indeed related to finance but at a very basic level.

 

[garyk]

Thanks to all of you for your help. Several years ago, I managed an IT team when my company developed new software in house and so I am not going in completely blind. I agree that it's most important to have a very specific set of minimum requirements in mind and manage to that. I also agree that hiring an inexperienced graduate is not the right approach but I was referring to a graduate with several projects under his belt like you often find in American universities when people go back to school after having worked for a while.

With regards to contracting: This is where I am confused. The IT infrastructure I am planing on building is such an integral part of my business that I find it hard to understand the relationship with another entity (agency or contractor). What happens after the completion of the project for maintenance and for improvements, and tweaks.... I think it's a better decision to make the developer a part of the success of failure somehow. This is why I ned to find the right person.

With regards contracting if you go down the road of using industry standard tools/technologies/frameworks then you wont have resourcing issues finding people. You can even looking at hiring on a fixed price basis.

Ive got 20+ years of software development experience and now work predominantly in financial services so if you need any advice just PM me.

Cheers

Gary

 

[NordEco]

TL;DR: Basically I want to be a software developer but I'm not a genius. I'm 15 and I'm learning C++ slowly. Will I be able to get a job in software development if I try hard or does it require a certain level of intelligence? I'm expected an A at Maths GCSE but I think I might only get a B. Should I look elsewhere if I'm not sure I could get a job if software development and focus on a field that I'm pretty sure I'd do well in?



myricahotels[dot]com

Why are you looking at C++ out of curiosity?

Why not C#.Net, Functional programming like F# or to throw another in the ring Java?

What made you choose the C++ and what would you like out of it in the end as IT is a big industry.

 

[NordEco]

Thanks to all of you for your help. Several years ago, I managed an IT team when my company developed new software in house and so I am not going in completely blind. I agree that it's most important to have a very specific set of minimum requirements in mind and manage to that. I also agree that hiring an inexperienced graduate is not the right approach but I was referring to a graduate with several projects under his belt like you often find in American universities when people go back to school after having worked for a while.

With regards to contracting: This is where I am confused. The IT infrastructure I am planing on building is such an integral part of my business that I find it hard to understand the relationship with another entity (agency or contractor). What happens after the completion of the project for maintenance and for improvements, and tweaks.... I think it's a better decision to make the developer a part of the success of failure somehow. This is why I ned to find the right person.

Im a developer in the financial services, mostly with the major Investment banks, if you would like some more advice, please pm me... I can introduce myself more then.

 

[Mathew100]

I think you can hire software developer at online jobs provider websites like freelancer or oDesk. There are many experienced software developer searching for job.

 

[awebapart.com]

We are both former bankers with little tech experience and so we are looking to hire a full time software developer ... Several years ago, I managed an IT team when my company developed new software in house.

I suggest you start virtual networking on LinkedIn and getting back in touch with your old colleagues.

At LinkedIn it seems to be a small world when it comes to the old boy banking/development network. I used work as a software developer at banks mainly in the 90s (both retail banks and investent banks including NatWest, Nomura) and I was quite surprised to see how many of my former work colleagues are there.

Hopefully you might get in touch with a former colleague, a developer you know and trust, who might be looking for a new challenge (software development opportunities at banks aren't what they used to be).

Best of luck!

 

[cookiimonstar1]

You need to find an intermediary like me, own a web development company (internet based) I am a programmer by trade but I don't do any of the work i deal with the customer, then farm the work out to programmers an developers mainly based in eastern Europe.