Developers need two different types of skills: Technical skills and soft skills. The best talent has both sets of skills. Here is the know-how you should look for in top talent.
Technical skills
Technical skills are the first set of skills we’ll take a look at. Some years ago, developers didn’t need a lot of extra knowledge. Today? The skills required for successful software development are getting much more complex. The most important tech skills include:
A programming language and frameworks
The first thing to look for in a developer is a strong background in at least one language, such as C#, C++, PHP, Java, and Python. The next thing to look for are skills in frameworks like React, Angular, Ruby on Rails, and Django.
Problem-solving skills
While knowing how to code is an essential skill, top developers are also good problem-solvers. You see, those developers who are good at spotting bugs can find problems in their code faster and fix them.
Integrated Development Environment
Integrated Development Environments (IDE) speed up the work. They help developers write, compile, run, and debug their code.
Databases
Skills in database management systems enable developers to backup, secure, and manage their database.
Source control
Source control or version control is a way to keep track of different file versions and the source code. It’s useful for coordinating efforts when multiple developers might be working on the same set of files. With version control tools, developers can manage, store, and secure their code.
System design
A developer who is skilled in system design understands information about the system and its elements. He or she has a better understanding of how changes can be made to the system .
Cloud services
Developers who have cloud computing skills use cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud. A cloud developer understands how to use these platforms for your company’s cloud computing strategy.
Data security and data privacy
Data security and data privacy are increasingly important. A developer with data security and privacy skills can analyze risks and mitigate them.
Clean maintainable code
Developers spend a lot of time maintaining code. Great developers write maintainable code that lasts a long time. Their code doesn’t have to be rewritten anytime soon.
Algorithms
Developers who understand algorithms can organize data and use them to solve problems.
Soft skills
There are other, non-technical skills that will help a developer become a top performer. As the US National Bureau of Economic Research reports, certain soft skills, such as conscientiousness, predict success even more than a person’s cognitive abilities. The soft skills to look for in a software developer include:
Teamwork and cultural fit
A key skill is teamwork, so how well your developer works together with the rest of the team. Your team members need to be able to collaborate for the best results. In fact, research shows that collaboration improves motivation and performance.
Communication skills
A developer with great communication skills offers a lot of advantages. Teamwork will get a lot more effective if your tech talent can convey technical topics to non-technical stakeholders.
Adaptability
Can your developer adapt to new situations? Flexibility can’t be overlooked in today’s workplace.
Creative thinking
A Forum report, “The Future of Jobs”, shows that creativity is the third most important skill in today’s workplace. And it’s true, a developer who is able to think in an innovative way has a lot to give to your team.
Assessment exams using software assessment tools
Even today, some companies still provide assessment exams in printed format. We suggest that you go for a computer-based skills assessment tool as they are more convenient and cost-effective in the long run.
A software assessment tool can be customized into several categories such as aptitude and Intelligence Quotient (I.Q.) tests, coding tests where the answers are either multiple choice or in an essay format.
If your company still doesn’t have one, you can hire an IT expert to develop an assessment tool for you. They can customize these tests for specific programming languages, aptitude, and I.Q. tests. There are free and paid versions of these online tools. Some paid ones in the market are:
- HackerRank
- Interview Mocha
- Mettl
- Codility
- QuodeIt
- SkillValue
- Test4Geeks
- Hackerearth
One of the popular free online tools is programming Skills. However, a major disadvantage when using free tools is that the tests available are accessible to anyone. So, any applicant can search on Google for these tests and find a similar test like it.
This could mean that applicants are aware of the possible questions before even taking the test. We suggest you get yourself a paid subscription to maintain the integrity and privacy of your assessment tests.
Source: https://fullscale.io/blog/skills-assessment-for-software-developers/