How To Increase Software Developer Productivity

On average, there are five open job positions for every one software developer in search of a position, which means that finding a developer is a very difficult task. Finding the perfect developer? Well, that’s even more challenging! In fact, in the United States, the average timeframe for finding a developer — any developer — is 35 days; that is, if you’re not selective. This 35-day time frame seems to apply to a typical developer for any run-of-the-mill project. But most companies have projects that require specific expertise, requiring a far more selective vetting process. Therefore, it’s conceivable that your search could take weeks longer. That just won’t cut it if you’ve got a fast-approaching deadline. And many companies don’t need a permanent employee; they may only require the developer for a single project. Many businesses consider temporary staffing services, but some have concerns that there may be a lag in terms of ramp-up time and actual productivity from an otherwise unknown talent.

Many erroneously assume that hiring temporary on-site staff is less effective. They believe that they’ll need to use an onboarding process that’s comparable to the process that’s used for permanent employees. Based on this belief, they presume that temporary staffing is an unwise financial and time investment. This is quite far from the truth, because high-quality temporary staff do not typically require intensive onboarding. An experienced team of temporary developers should integrate into your workflow quickly and seamlessly, deploying code on day one and even boosting the overall level of productivity from your existing staff. How is this possible? Think of temporary IT staff as ER Physicians: they act fast and get results fast. That’s what they are expected to do!

Improving Software Developer Productivity Using Temporary On-Site Staff

What many company leaders don’t realize is that they can achieve their objectives — such as rapid onboarding and maximum productivity — in a cost-effective manner by turning to temporary on-site staffing services. There are a few reasons why a tech and software developer staffing firm can provide your business with team members who reach maximum productivity just a few paces out of the starting gate. Consider the following benefits of software developer productivity, arising from good temporary staffing practices.

  • Temporary talent will have experience with the onboarding and integration process. Qualified temporary staff have worked in this capacity for many years, as they enjoy the variety and diversity of working for multiple companies. This type of developer is usually well-acquainted with many different workflow/development methodologies, and they’re accustomed to expectations of rapid assimilation and almost immediate contribution. These skilled professionals are great at getting up to speed and integrating into your existing workflow, because they’ve done so many times before. Temporary staff are well-positioned to reach maximum productivity within just a day or two in many instances. This also raises overall staff productivity if you have employees stepping outside of their comfort zone to “cover” for an unfilled position.
  • Temporary software developers often come as part of a well-established team. A majority of iTech’s clients are large companies and multinational corporations, so it’s common to dispatch a team of developers rather than just a couple individuals. In most cases, the development team has worked as a cohesive unit on many different projects. As a result of this experience, they know how to work with each other efficiently and productively. If you ask any project manager or team leader, you’ll likely find that it can take weeks or even months for a team to acquire this refined synergy. By calling in established teams, companies avoid taking weeks for a development team to ramp up to full speed.
  • A top IT and tech staffing services provider will hire for cultural fit and soft skills. Lots of companies underestimate the importance of hiring for cultural fit and soft skills. However, a good cultural fit is vital, even when it comes to temporary team members. You need to ensure that the people you hire will mesh well with your current employees and your company as a whole. Otherwise, productivity suffers. One example is the developer who thrives in a highly-collaborative, small-team environment. That individual may see a major dropoff in productivity if they’re placed in a less-collaborative setting where they largely work independently. Similarly, a developer who’s most comfortable in a more rigid, formal office environment may find it very distracting to work in a more relaxed, pet-friendly office. An experienced staffing company will understand the importance of cultural fit and soft skills. Therefore, they’ll ensure you get software developers who are well-suited to your company and to the project. This will ensure maximum productivity, both in the temporary staffer and in your in-house team members (who would otherwise be affected by the tensions that arise from a poor fit).
  • Staffing service providers will ensure a better match between the talent and your project specs. It’s not uncommon for companies to recycle project specs from similar project and modifying them to suit the new project. The end result is a mismatch in your hire’s actual skill set and the required skill set, causing a major productivity shortfall that may jeopardize project success. A seasoned staffing firm will be aware of this common-but-faulty practice, and ensure that your project specs and job description are both accurate and cohesive. Only then will the recruiting process begin.

Additionally, companies often make the mistake of believing that they must perform their standard onboarding and hiring process for temporary on-site staff. But often, temporary team members don’t need the comprehensive training and familiarization that a permanent employee requires.

Our consulting services can help you identify problem areas that are affecting your company’s tech productivity. When new team members are on-site, this serves as a learning opportunity for team leaders and even company leaders. It’s much easier for a newcomer or outsider to identify problem areas in your process; a simple de-briefing session conducted at the end of a temporary staffer’s time with your company can be a great opportunity to get ideas and suggestions for improvement.

iTech is based in Burlington, Vermont with offices throughout the United States and North America including Montreal and a delivery center in India. If you’re ready to maximize your software developer productivity while hiring temporary staff, contact us today.

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