Offshoring is not a new business practice. It has been around for decades, but with advancement in technology it is being practised more and more by businesses. The rising costs and dearth of talent in tier 1 countries like the US and the UK has led to companies looking for alternatives to hiring locally. Offshoring is a popular solution that allows IT companies to hire talented developers, engineers and technicians from other countries at comparatively low prices. Building teams by hiring offshore developers allows companies to hire the much needed expertise from a large global talent pool.
But qualifications and skills are not the only crucial factors to be considered when hiring offshore developers. Skills and past experience are undoubtedly the primary consideration of a developer. You need them to have good knowledge about the work you expect them to do daily. But at the same time, you need to look beyond technical skills when hiring an offshore developer. When you work with a developer remotely, you need them to possess certain soft skills without which the work and quality can suffer. Below we list a few important skills to look for when hiring offshore developers.
Communication skills
Employees in every field need to be good at communication. But when the said employee is working for your company from the other side of the world, possessing excellent communication skills is not just preferable but a necessity. Your offshore developer should be able to communicate their thoughts, problems, solutions, and ideas efficiently to the onshore team. They should be able to pass along updates and any necessary information regularly through the company’s preferred modes of communication. When asked about work, they should be able to effectively explain to their managers about their current position. Additionally, they should understand what you expect from them. An offshore developer worth hiring is someone who can communicate to you their work and understand your needs in return. Communication gaps can impact a project’s outcome and quality.
Teamwork
Most of the time developers are part of a team with other employees working on the same project. They share the same ultimate goal; the success of their project, which also includes not missing the deadlines. To achieve this the team needs to work together in sync. Each team member is assigned their own roles but the success of the project depends on each member being able to deliver their work on time. It is also important that each member is on the same page which is achieved through collaboration. When the team works together they are able to view a problem from different angles, thereby tackling it quickly and creatively. Your offshore developer needs to be a team player. Whether they are part of a team that is offshore or onshore, they should be able to collaborate with their team members so as to not lose sight of the goal.
Critical thinking
No matter how hard you try, there are going to be times when you are not going to be available to your offshore developer. Despite your instructions and notes, the developer may hit a snag. You need a developer that can think critically. They should be able to judge a problem objectively and provide a fix instead of waiting for hours to consult the onshore manager. It doesn’t have to be a permanent fix either. The offshore developer should be able to use their knowledge and expertise to provide a solution to an unexpected problem so as to continue with their work and not waste their entire day waiting to consult the manager. You need someone who can think for themselves when needed instead of waiting for instructions.
Accountability
It is essential that the offshore developer you hire is accountable. They work for you from a different country, so you cannot monitor or track their work in person. So, you need someone who understands their role and takes their responsibilities seriously. If you hire an offshore developer who is easily distracted or misses deadlines, the project suffers. Nowadays there are various tools that can track the work of remote teams. But regardless, hire an offshore developer who is committed to their work and is willing to put their time and efforts to ensure quality results.
You don’t just hire the skills, you hire the entire person. A person’s attitude can impact their work which impacts your company. When you hire offshore developers who possess these skills besides the required technical skills and qualifications, you find a developer who you can trust.
