Hiring an Android developer is not an easy task for many companies. Due to the high demand for professional developers, companies end up competing for talent by offering bonuses, perks, and higher salaries. Small and midsize non-tech companies struggle the most with hiring decent Android developers.
Android is a huge mobile market, so it's no surprise that Android developers are in high demand from a wide variety of companies looking to market their products to a mobile audience and create new mobile apps and services for Android users.
However, finding a freelance Android developer to hire is not an easy task, especially if your internal team doesn't have technical experts.
In this article, we'll show you how to evaluate candidates.
Types of Android Developers
Like any other developer, Android ones can be divided into three categories based on their skill level and experience:
Junior Android developers
These guys have up to three years of development experience. They are fluent in languages including Java, Kotlin, and Dart and can develop simple applications. Junior developers need oversight from middle and senior developers who review their code, share experiences and help with complex tasks like integrations.
Middle Android developers
Devs of this level have over two to three years of experience in app development. At this stage, they can work independently and create more complex projects. Mid-level Android developers require regular code review by senior colleagues. They can work on complex projects, but only with more experienced developers.
Senior Android developers
Our final stage is experts who can lead and control large products. They have extensive experience in developing Android applications, are well versed in architecture, can think through complex plans, and predict how development will go in the long term. Senior developers are most in demand.
It would be best if you hired either a middle or senior developer for an ongoing project. Junior developers need oversight and mentoring, and large companies with strong technical departments usually hire them to grow within the team.
Essential skills for an Android app developer
Any Android developer must have certain talents and experiences. Let's talk about them in more detail, so you know what to look for.
Hard skills
Experience with Java and Kotlin
It is good for a developer to know both of these languages, but Java is a must as it is still the most popular language for Android applications. Kotlin is younger and will eventually replace Java.
Familiarity with the Android SDK
This is an Android developers' development kit that has everything you need to create apps, including tools for storing data, creating action bars, and adapting apps to different screen sizes.
Experience with API is required for integration
APIs are the primary means of communicating with third-party services, so you can't build a modern application without them.
Understanding the backend
Your Android developer doesn't need to be able to design the back end, but they need to have a clear understanding of the internals of your product.
Knowledge of XML
Android engineers use XML to access web data, so this is an important part of Android development.
Acquaintance with Material Design
This is a set of Google recommendations for colors, transitions, and tints for UI elements. An Android developer should be familiar with these guidelines. Otherwise, the application they have developed may not be approved by the Google Play store.
Experience with different databases
It is a must since every application must store data and, therefore, must be integrated with the database. An Android developer needs to know how to choose the right database for a specific project and integrate it.
Hard skills are important, but soft skills are also something you should look out for.
Soft skills
Communication skills
Make sure the developer you hire can communicate with the rest of your team, understand the requirements, and bring up any issues in time before they make a significant impact on the project. If you are hiring an Android app developer overseas, make sure you don't have a language barrier.
Teamwork
An Android developer needs to be able to work in a team, as mobile development projects typically involve many people, from stakeholders and business analysts to designers and other developers.
Cultural compliance
Every company has a different culture, and you need to make sure that your new developer shares the values of your company and your team. If they don't, cooperation can become painful.
At Ideamotive, we always encourage our clients to interview our developers on technical and social skills. This way, our clients can select the ideal candidate for the job and ensure that our developers are qualified.
How Ideamotive can help you hire an Android developer
Ideamotive is a mobile and web development team that includes business analysts, designers, Android and iOS developers, web developers, and QA engineers. With us, you can hire Android developers who continually improve their skills through training and peer review.
We are hiring Android developers with STEM degrees so you can be confident in their skills.
You can work with Ideamotive on an outsourcing or outstaffing model, a time and material model, or a fixed price. If you are looking for an Android developer to expand your team, or you need a whole team of development specialists for your project, do not hesitate to contact us.
How to Hire an Android Developer at Ideamotive? Just leave us your contact details. We can help you find the perfect employees for your project.
