Are you looking to expand your team with experienced offshore developers? This article is your go-to guide for all you need to know to make a successful hire. Below, you will find:
Keep reading to find out how to hire offshore developers who will fit your project goals and company culture.
$40/hour
Warsaw, Poland
Full-time
Tech stack: SQL, Python, R, Tableau, Power BI, QlikView, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, Amazon Redshift, Google BigQuery, Snowflake, Talend, Apache Nifi, Informatica, Apache Hadoop, Apache Spark, AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Microsoft Azure, Git, Jupyter Notebook, Excel, Matplotlib, Pandas
Marek is a mid-level business intelligence engineer with 4 years of experience in the offshore dedicated development team. He specializes in data analysis and visualization with SQL, Python, R, Tableau, and Power BI.
Recently, Marek worked on a comprehensive Power BI reporting system for a financial services company. He optimized SQL queries and integrated data from multiple sources into MySQL and PostgreSQL databases. Marek also has experience with data warehousing solutions like Google BigQuery.
Full-time
$50/hour
Kyiv, Ukraine
Full-time
Tech stack: React, Node.js, Nest.js, Express.js, GraphQL, TypeScript, Jest, JavaScript, MongoDB, ReduxJS, Webpack, CSS3, SASS, Tailwind CSS, PostgreSQL, AWS, Google Cloud
Dmytro is a senior full-stack developer with 5 years of experience in web development. He specializes in React, Node.js, Nest.js, Express.js, GraphQL, and TypeScript.
Dmytro’s recent work included offshore web development services for an e-commerce platform on the React + Node.js stack. He also implemented GraphQL and has experience integrating AWS and Google Cloud services. In some projects, Dmytro was a technical lead and mentor for junior developers.
Full-time
$55/hour
São Paulo, Brazil
Full-time
Tech stack: Swift, Objective-C, Xcode, UIKit, CoreData, SwiftUI, RESTful APIs, JSON, Git, Firebase, Realm, Core Animation, TestFlight, AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Lucas is a senior iOS developer with 6 years of experience in mobile app development. He specializes in Swift, Objective-C, and SwiftUI.
Lucas recently led the development of a travel booking app. He was responsible for creating architecture solutions, optimizing app performance, and integrating RESTful APIs and Firebase. He managed local storage using CoreData. Lucas also has experience in conducting technical reviews and mentoring.
Full-time
$35/hour
Lviv, Ukraine
Full-time
Tech stack: TypeScript, React, Redux, MaterialUI, Tailwind CSS, Git, Webpack, Babel, Jest, Enzyme, RESTful APIs, GraphQL, HTML5, CSS3, SASS, Docker
Anhelina is a middle frontend developer with 4 years of experience in TypeScript, React, Redux, and MaterialUI. She has delivered over 7 projects, working with cross-functional dedicated offshore teams. Anhelina has documented development processes, controlled code quality, and configured project builds.
Full-time
$40/hour
Bucharest, Romania
Full-time
Tech stack: Node.js, Express.js, Nest.js, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL, RESTful APIs, GraphQL, TypeScript, Docker, Kubernetes, Git, Jenkins, AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Bogdan has 3 years of experience in Node.js, Express.js, and Nest.js. He has worked as an overseas developer for startups in the fintech, education, and healthcare sectors. Bogdan has participated in projects involving the development of RESTful APIs and GraphQL endpoints. He has designed databases using MongoDB, PostgreSQL, and MySQL.
Recently, Bogdan led an initiative to refactor outdated codebases. He set up Docker containers, managed Kubernetes clusters, and configured CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins.
Full-time
Offshore developers are IT specialists who work in countries far from the company’s headquarters. They often operate remotely with a large time zone gap and lower labor costs. For example, if your company functions in the US, you can hire offshore developers from India, the Philippines, or Eastern Europe.
Hiring overseas developers has many advantages:
1. Cost savings
One of the most significant benefits of hiring offshore developers is cost efficiency. It allows your company to bring on more highly skilled professionals for the same or even a lower budget compared to onshore recruitment.
In the USA, UK, and Western European countries, the average rate for a software developer ranges from $70 – $120 per hour. By hiring offshore developers, you can reduce labor and tax costs by about 60% compared to onshore hiring. For example, in Eastern Europe, developer rates are approximately $30 – $60 per hour.
2. Access to a global talent pool
Hiring an offshore software development team gives you access to a vast pool of skilled developers worldwide. So it’s easier to find the perfect fit for your project’s specific needs.
3. Flexibility and scalability
Hiring offshore developers allows you to scale your team up or down based on project requirements. This way, businesses are free from the long-term commitment of hiring full-time staff and can focus on their core activities.
Now, let’s look at popular regions and resources available to hire offshore developers.
To conduct an effective search for the best offshore developers, we recommend you select one target region to start with. There are many popular offshore locations, and hiring processes here can be quite different. In this section, we’ll analyze these regions based on the latest assessments and ratings.
For example, the Global Services Location Index (GSLI) ranks countries based on their financial attractiveness, people skills, digital resonance, and business environment. Based on GSLI, the Asian region is among the leaders, with India taking the top spot in 2023. Companies often hire offshore developers from this region due to the lowest costs and big talent pools.
However, Asia falls short in digital resonance and business climate metrics compared to European countries. Let’s have a further look.
The SkillValue assessment platform has tested over 500k devs on 160 skills with different complexity. Based on the results, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine occupy 3 of the top 5 countries with the highest developer skills.
In specialized tests for JavaScript and C/C++, Moldova and Ukraine are also among the top 3 winners. Romania and Poland are not far behind, with results in the top 10.
Experts point out that Eastern Europe has become a “new offshore software development paradise.” The region offers the most qualified IT experts and a well-developed business environment.
Moreover, the Good Country Index places Ukraine in the top 1 for the Science & Technology category. The index ranks countries based on their contribution to global well-being. In contrast, Poland holds the 16th position, the USA ranks 59th, and India is 81st. It indicates that Eastern European countries are not only cost-effective but also leading in tech expertise.
According to the research, businesses can hire offshore developers from Eastern Europe about 2.9 times cheaper than in the US.
For example, the average daily rate for developers in the US is $920 (~$115 per hour). In contrast, Poland offers an hourly rate of $44, Ukraine – $41, and Romania – $29.
Here are some key findings on average offshore software development rates by country:
Mexico
$448
$56
Argentina
$376
$47
Poland
$352
$44
Hungary
$344
$43
Brazil
$328
$41
Ukraine
$328
$41
Czech Republic
$304
$38
Bulgaria
$304
$38
Romania
$232
$29
Croatia
$224
$28
Moldova
$200
$25
India
$192
$24
China
$192
$24
Philippines
$184
$23
Eastern Europe also boasts a significant number of software developers. In 2023, Poland had over 401,000 developers, the highest among CEE countries. Ukraine had 200k coders, and Romania ranked third with 139k IT specialists. In comparison, LATAM’s popular nearshore region has over 500k developers in Brazil, 220k in Mexico, and 115k in Argentina.
Also, as mentioned above, working across time zones can impact communication and project management. For a US-based company, the time difference with Eastern Europe is more manageable compared to other regions.
For example, if your company operates on the United States East Coast (EST), the time difference with Poland is +6 hours and +7 hours with Ukraine. Thus, you will get around 3 overlapping working hours for real-time collaboration.
In contrast, working with developers in Asia presents more significant time challenges. India, for instance, is +10.5 hours ahead of EST, while the Philippines is +13 hours ahead. This time gap can make real-time communication difficult and can delay project timelines.
Now that you know which region to focus on, you can easily start a search to hire offshore staff. Here are some effective strategies to locate top talent.
Online platforms offer extensive access to qualified professionals. Many job sites have features that match job postings with suitable candidates based on their profiles. Here, you can find both full-time and freelance offshore dedicated developers.
Consider these popular platforms:
LinkedIn is particularly useful as it connects professionals and companies. Here, you can use your brand network to find offshore developers. Posting job vacancies on LinkedIn can attract a wide range of candidates. As people engage with your brand, they may also explore job opportunities. You can check developer’s profiles for their skills and work history and communicate with them directly.
Also, you can seek recommendations through online communities. To do it, check out popular sites like Stack Overflow and GitHub.
Collaborating with IT staff augmentation partners is an efficient way to hire offshore developers. Staffing agencies handle most of the recruitment tasks. They will also take care of administrative issues, office accommodation, and payroll so you can focus on core project tasks.
IT staff augmentation services can speed up hiring and reduce costs, as you only pay for the developers you bring on. These companies often have extensive talent databases to connect you with suitable candidates in the short term.
Here at DOIT Software, we analyze the talent pool, selecting the best candidates who meet your requirements. You will receive the first suitable CVs in a few days and finish your hire in 2-4 weeks with $0 recruitment costs.
In this section, we’ll explore the steps in the offshore developer hiring process. Continue reading to find information on the necessary skills and interview questions.
Let’s go over where to start and how to create a hiring funnel for the best offshore developers.
Before you start connecting with candidates, it’s essential to define job requirements. Consider the specific duties the offshore developer will handle and the type of expertise you need. Outline the necessary skills and experience for the role. For example, you must consider offshore developers with experience in similar projects to cut supervision.
Once you know the kind of developer you want, consider how to present your company to attract top talent. Highlight the resources, tools, and benefits you offer your staff.
Create a comprehensive job ad that covers all critical aspects of the position. You need to specify the following points:
With these elements, you can hire an offshore developer with a clear vision of your expectations.
At this stage, you must create a detailed plan for the candidate’s journey through the hiring cycle. Focus on evaluating key areas that determine their ability to work on your project from another location. In this case, it’s not only about remote work but also about the flexibility to engage with an in-house team in your time zone.
If you’re working with an IT staffing agency, provide them with detailed requirements. DOIT Software experts assess not only offshore developers’ tech stack but also their communication skills and cultural fit with your company values. So you don’t have to worry about must-have traits like English level, proactivity, and time zone availability.
Ensure you gather comprehensive information on each potential hire. Request detailed resumes or cover letters and get references to confirm their work history. Also, ask for a portfolio or code samples available on GitHub. Reviewing previous projects helps you gauge the quality of their work.
Use online coding assessment tools to screen offshore developers. For example, you can set up standardized coding tests using HackerRank or Codility. Check the completed assessments and conduct video interviews to discuss the candidate’s approach to the test.
The final interview is your chance to address any questions and determine the best fit for your team. Ask technical and analytical questions tailored to the offshore developer role you’re hiring for. Assess communication, teamwork, and cultural fit during the interview process. This step ensures you select the right candidate who meets all your requirements.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the skills you need to check out before you hire offshore developers.
Depending on the expertise you are seeking, look for developers with the following technology skills:
Effective remote collaboration is essential for the success of offshore development projects. Developers should have experience with top communication and project management tools. Here are some examples:
Experience with these tools ensures smooth coordination across different time zones.
Developers should have a strong command of English to help seamless interaction. You can ask for certifications such as TOEFL, IELTS, or CEFR levels (preferably B2 or higher). Alternatively, conduct interviews or online tests in English to gauge their skills.
Developers should have relevant industry knowledge to understand the specific challenges. It includes familiarity with industry standards, regulations, and best practices. For example, if you are in the healthcare sector, developers should understand HIPAA compliance.
Offshore web developers should take part in code reviews to maintain code quality and be able to write documentation. Look for experience with automated testing frameworks such as Jest, Mocha, or PyTest. Check if the offshore developer has worked with API documentation, user manuals, or code comments.
As you can already see, hiring offshore developers requires not only a tech knowledge test but also a detailed check of soft skills. Here are a few must-have interview questions you should ask:
That’s a wrap-up of our guide on how to hire offshore developers. Start by defining the goals and requirements of your project. Next, choose the best model of cooperation. You can look for freelancers, hire in-house developers, or scale your development team with DOIT Software.
What can you expect from working with DOIT staffing experts?
Share your requirements with us, and receive tailored developer CVs within a week!
Get a consultation and start building your dream team ASAP.
REQUEST CVSAn onshore developer works in the same country as the hiring company, sharing the same time zones, language, and culture. An offshore developer is located in a distant part of the world, often with different time zones and lower labor costs.
First, share your working guidelines and agree on a clear project schedule. Use progress-tracking tools and hold regular meetings, like weekly planning and daily stand-ups. Also, focus on face-to-face conversations through video calls.
You can hire offshore developers through freelancer sites like Upwork and Toptal, local job boards, or by partnering with IT staff augmentation companies.
The rates for offshore developers range from $20-$40 per hour in India, $30-$60 per hour in Eastern Europe, and $15-$30 per hour in the Philippines.
