When you’re hiring an Android app developer, you want to guarantee that the developer you hire has all of the qualifications and experience necessary to back up any claims of Android expertise. To do this, you’ll need to make sure that you’re going to the right source.
At first glance, it can seem that the world (and the internet) is abundant with places to hire Android developers. Visit any freelancing site, and hundreds of developers will boast of their Android skills, which they put on sale for $5 an hour. Unfortunately, not all Android developers are created equal, and false promises from inexperienced devs can leave you in the lurch if a top notch Android application is your end goal.
However, if you can find one of the great pockets of Android app developers out there, you and your future Android app are in luck. To help you, we’ve put together a list of the best places to look.
Here are the top 5 sites for finding and hiring great Android developers to set you and your Android app up for success.
1. Toptal
Toptal is a global talent network for the top 3% of software developers and designers, and plenty of these developers specialize in Android apps. Since each developer is vetted for his or her skill and background in the Android industry, you already know that you will get one of the very best with Toptal. Furthermore, after talking with one of their senior engineers, Toptal will personally hand-pick top Android developers according to your specific project needs for you to hire. This ensures that you not only find one of the best developers in general, but that you will also hire a top-class developer who was hand-picked for your project.
Toptal’s matching process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, but this is nothing compared to the time you would have to spend sifting through resumes yourself.
2. Android Development Communities
There are 99 Google Developer Communities all around the globe, and likely one in your city, where passionate Android app developers get together to host lightning talks and share skills. By tapping into these communities, you are likely to find a developer who is passionate enough about his or her work to dedicate spare time to improving it, which is a great quality to find in a potential hire.
If you don’t have the time or energy to search these groups in person, you can also look into hiring Android app developers through communities online by using sites like Google+. Online communities like the one found on Google+ can be more casual settings to meet developers that might turn into valuable contacts.
3. Guru
Guru is another online freelance marketplace where you can hire Android developers, but the most interesting feature from Guru is the site’s Work Room tool. Thanks to Work Room, you can negotiate contracts, discuss features and progress, and share files with your freelance Android app developer once you find one to hire.
On Guru, there is a wide range of prices for freelance Android app developers, so you can find someone to fit pretty much any budget. However, you should be very careful not to sacrifice quality for cost, since this will often come back to bite you down the line.
4. Android Conferences and Hackathons
Like development communities, hackathons and conferences are great ways to hire Android developers that are invested enough in their work to devote large chunks of their free time to improving and challenging themselves. Scour hackathon boards for events that specialize in Android or mobile, or sign up for email lists to get alerts.
Depending on your location, you might also be able to find conferences that are specifically tailored to Android development in your area. Simply purchase a ticket, and you’ll will find yourself with plenty of casual access to talented developers. For example, Droidcon in San Francisco is a great way to find devoted developers in the area. If you can’t attend the conference itself, see if you can get in touch with speakers or organizers. If they can’t help you with your project themselves, they might be able to refer you to a good source.
5. Upwork
If you want to check out another online marketplace, Upwork is an online freelance marketplace that you can turn to. However, it is important to note that Upwork is better known for the number of freelancers it provides than the overall quality. If you have more time to sift through developers and vet them yourself, you can definitely find some great developers on this site, but you’ll have to be extremely careful to avoid the duds. Promises of complete apps finished within the week for $12 an hour may sound tempting, but scenarios like these are often a scam that will leave you shelling out more money down the line to fix bad work.
Whatever route you choose to take on your quest for hiring the best Android developer, don’t forget to equip yourself with the best resources available. Essential Android interview questions can really help you make sure that you are not out of your depth. Happy hiring!