How to Hire Database Developers: Practical Tips on How to Build an Effective Team

Did you know that 95% of businesses acknowledge that managing unstructured data is a pain point that hinders various processes, such as customer relations and growth? To avoid this problem, organizations are hiring database engineers for various roles, such as information analysis, SQL administration, IT management, as well as business analysis.

But what is the process of hiring a database developer on a reasonable budget? How do you hire the best candidates on short notice, especially when responding to sudden market demands? Here is an in-depth guide to help you get started. Keep reading to learn more.

What You Will Gain If You Hire a Database Developer in 2023

Database programming professionals play a critical role in insights to drive various functions  Here are the benefits that you’ll experience whether you hire a remote, full-time, or freelance database developer to join your IT team.

• Tighten Security and Database Availability

Database professionals bring in expert knowledge and facilitate ongoing monitoring to ensure that your business stays ahead of hackers, as well as sophisticated self-executing attack tools. This enhances security and data availability around the clock.

• Fix Latency Issues

You can hire a database programmer to run a diagnostic check on your system and reveal any variables that may contribute to latency issues, such as poor database optimization, hardware infrastructure limits, or poorly written code.

• Handle Multiple Transactions with Ease

Database designers can handle all the functions that complement growing data input or transactions, such as deletion, modification, or rebuilding to ensure rollback, consistency, and the deadlock resolution of your database system.

• Ensure Regular Recovery and Availability

Remote database engineers will complement the services of your cloud vendor to ensure regular recovery and minimal downtime for business continuity.

Businesses that postpone the need of hiring database designers run the risk of experiencing a data breach that can result in untenable losses. Moreover, unnecessary downtime also means losing customers, especially in a consumer segment where everything is connected online. Another disadvantage of running a business without dedicated database administration includes decreased response time when log files sizes increase

Database Developer Must-have Skills

An ideal developer will design, build, test, deploy, and maintain a custom data platform that embodies your intricate business requirements. That said, here are the must-have skills and expertise to consider when you interview database programming developers for hire.

In-depth Understanding of Data Modelling

Data Modelling is a crucial skill when it comes to database programming and management. With this skill, developers can highlight the actual entities that constitute a typical database management system, such as products, customers, and services. The developer will also be in a position to describe the relationship between the aforementioned entities and reduce the risks of multiple management pitfalls that extend to tight coupling, zero saturation, and data redundancy.

Good Mastery of Database Programming Languages

Database developers for hire should demonstrate advanced skills in programming languages used in various information management roles. For instance, a website coder should understand basic querying languages, such as SQL. SQL is loved by most developers because it can fulfill various fundamental data operations, including DML, DCL, and DDL.

Besides SQL, you should find database developers who are good at various programming languages used in this field, such as Java, Golang, Python, and C#. These programming languages will come in handy when the employee will be dealing with various frameworks and technologies to build custom database platforms.

Hands-on Skills with Multiple Database Management Systems

A critical skill for talents in this area is proficiency with Database management systems, popularly known as DBMS. This system is responsible for storing, retrieving, updating, or even manipulating data sets in preparation for various tasks.

Your job candidate should understand the standard Atomic, Consistent, Isolation, and Durability (ACID) model used to mitigate data redundancy, as well as maintain its integrity. On top of that, the developer should have hands-on experience with popular DBMS used by both small and large-scale enterprises, such as:

• MySQL
• PostgreSQL
• Apache Cassandra
• Oracle
• MongoDB
• SQLite

Data Security Skills

In-depth data security skills ensure that the employee takes proactive action to safeguard the system from hacks and unwarranted access. Although employing strong security ethics comes with experience, it will help if you determine whether the programmer can guarantee data integrity and maintenance over time. To ensure security, you can also hire fortify developers for cybersecurity.

Strong Technical Educational Background

A majority of employers consider hiring database developers with a background in tech-focused university degrees, such as computer science. However, some talents usually major in software engineering or technical information technology that extends to data extraction and organization.

Soft skills to consider when hiring talent for database software development include:

• Oral and written communication proficiency
• In-depth understanding of software documentation
• Research, analytical, and presentation skills
• Experience in working with teams

Key Roles and Responsibilities of Database Developers

Hiring a database developer successfully entails undertaking the roles and responsibilities that they should perform once you onboard them into your team. Typically, a qualified and experienced database developer will:

• Design, build, and deploy reliable database systems that facilitate seamless data storage, access, and analysis to complement your business requirements
• Maintain database systems to foster peak performance, productivity, as well as availability around the clock
• Monitor database systems to ensure optimal response times and concurrency levels
• Employ hacker-proof security strategies and protocols to guarantee the safety, integrity, and accuracy of your data around the clock
• Create conceptual models that give detailed explanations of how various data items relate to each other
• Perform regular backups by designing archives and planning an efficient recovery strategy to ensure business growth and continuity, disasters notwithstanding

Where to Find the Right Database Developers

You can find database developers in many places, depending on your budget and hiring needs. Some of the most prevalent sources to begin your search include:

Freelance Websites

Freelance database development turns out to be an excellent option for businesses that want to hire on short notice or on a slim budget. Unlike full-time employees, freelance talents are relatively affordable to collaborate with given that their rates don’t include traditional employer benefits, such as health insurance, or commuter allowance. At the same time, this model gives clients greater flexibility with minimal exposure to financial risk, since most freelancers charge hourly rates.

The cons of working with a freelance database developer include unpredictable work quality, as well as challenges in implementing cohesive supervision. The model also comes with other business risks, such as trusting a stranger with sensitive data, ideas, or even prototypes. In the long haul, working with freelancers might result in negative repercussions.

Local Market Talent Pools

A business can also hire a database programmer locally, especially if the immediate job market has an extensive talent pool. Hiring locally will most likely end in integrating the employee into your in-house team as a full-time professional. This approach means greater control and oversight over the project.

However, the model can prove to be costly, given that you’ll need to pay various employer benefits, such as housing allowance. Moreover, local employees are limited to outdated tools and technologies, something that can hinder business innovation.

Traditional Outsourcing Partners

A traditional outsourcing partner has qualified candidates ready to take your project and deliver it within an agreed time frame. The client usually outsources the project as a whole and only awaits the end result.

While this model might guarantee an extensive talent pool with diverse skill sets and qualifications, relinquishing the project’s control to someone else will most likely expose your business to unforeseen risks, some of which can be detrimental. Working with traditional outsourcing partners also translates to a higher hiring budget because you are paying for some services that aren’t even necessary for your project.

Dedicated Talents

Full-service companies that assemble dedicated teams, such as Newxel usually find and hire highly qualified database professionals with specific skill sets that are 100% to the project at hand. Hiring through this model means an optimized budget, as well as a swift recruitment process, which extends to onboarding and integration. Moreover, the service provider in this model usually offers the necessary infrastructure required for successful project execution.

How to Build a Team of Database Engineers That Meet Your Project Goals: Tips and Best Practices

Direct references or access to the best sites for freelance talents won’t do much help unless you know how to hire a database developer that matches your business needs. With that in mind, here are some tips and best practices to help you get started.

An Elaborate Job Description Does the Trick

Hiring a database developer should start with an elaborate job description, highlighting the intricate needs of your project, as well as expectations from the candidate’s side. This approach ensures that you attract value-matched candidates who have a better understanding of what you expect from them. Most importantly it saves you time as the job post automatically shortlists the right people to proceed to the next recruitment stage.

Conduct Intense Technical Screening

This is probably the most critical tip, whether you want to hire a database development company or an independent developer. The intense technical screening will help you gauge the talent’s skills, experience, as well as a passion for the job at hand. Here are some tasks to include at the technical screening stage:

• Build a typical database design and structure
• Design optimized SQL queries that are compatible with third-party applications and database development solutions.
• Design database triggers that can be automated
• Perform a security check on a custom database

Leverage Simulators to Save Time and Costs

Simulators are increasingly becoming popular among businesses that want to find and hire a database development service faster. This approach is better than actual job interviews as it shields the candidates from prejudice, giving room for accurate evaluation. In other words, Simulators help HRs and recruitment managers validate a developer’s technical skills without bias.

Conduct a Coding Interview

Conducting a coding interview will help you assess the candidate’s background and skills when it comes to programming. Given that the candidate’s technical expertise has already been verified at the previous stages, this interview presents an opportunity to learn more about the person in terms of soft skills. For instance, you can assess whether they are proficient in oral and written communication for presentation, or can manage time properly.

SQL Skills Evaluation

Lastly, it will help if you conduct an online SQL test to determine whether the candidate in question can perform detailed data analyses. Conducting the test online saves time and enhances the developer’s experience because they can undertake the same anytime, from any corner of the globe. Moreover, this pre-hiring test gives you greater control and management of the overall recruitment process.

Hidden Costs to Avoid When Hiring Specialists for Database Development in Remote Model

While hiring remotely comes with a ton of business benefits, the hidden costs involved with this model can add up pretty fast and get out of hand, especially if you don’t know how to avoid them. Here are some of the hidden costs to watch out for:

Opportunity Costs

The company that you hire to find the talents for you might be new on the job, something that comes with a steep learning curve. Even if the partner might not be doing the bulk work, you’ll most likely find yourself spending beyond the estimated budget, given the hiring experts might need to convert an unnecessarily high number of interviews. You can avoid these expenses by partnering with a company that has extensive industry experience and knows where to look for qualified developers

In-Market Networking Costs

Building business relationships in overseas markets can cost you a lot of time and money, especially if your local partner has to travel often, make endless calls, and negotiate with accountants and real estate brokers. Partner with a company that offers all these services at an upfront cost to avoid getting duped or spending aimlessly.

Compensation Model: What Do Your Future Developers Expect?

It is worth noting that the compensation system of choice largely hinges on the national pay scale of your hiring location. While remote  developers charge relatively affordable rates, retaining them for long-term commitment will require including various packages, such as:

• Regular benefits
• Assurances
• Bonuses for work well done
• Time-off pay for sports and other well-being activities

Step-by-step Guide on How to Hire Database Programmers

You can hire top database designers in 7 simple steps, depending on talent availability and the scope of your project needs:

• Create a detailed job description on post it on the best sites for recruitment
• Shortlist potential candidates for technical interviews
• Assess soft skills to determine whether the talent is an excellent match
• Issues a test task that evaluates both soft and technical skills
• Conduct team-building activities with the new recruits
• Onboard the candidate to your team
• Offer ongoing training and development courses

What Does Your Business Gain By Hiring Database Developers with Newxel?

Newxel is a full-service partner that matches clients with job candidates that are a 100% match to their intricate business requirements and needs. We can find database engineers in any part of the globe within 3 to 5 weeks of initiating contact with our experts, to help you get started with your dedicated team as soon as possible.

Besides offering various engagement models to suit custom project needs, we offer an array of turnkey services that free you from the backend office routine. These services also save you from the unnecessary hidden costs of collaborating with remote developers. Hiring through Newxel gives you access to unlimited technical, IT, administration as well as finance & legal support in the local region.

Conclusion

Data is the new gold when it comes to online business operations. Hiring a database developer to get your information in order and safeguard it from unwarranted hacks is the best thing that could happen to your organization. Leverage this guide today and get the process right to stay ahead of the competition.

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