When looking to develop an iOS app, finding a suitable candidate may seem challenging. Apart from technical knowledge, you would also prefer timely communications, deadline adherence, and goal alignment. This is exactly the kind of situation a proficient iOS freelancer can help with. Now the only question is how to find one that fits this criteria. Where do you even begin your search?
Let us address this with a practical yet comprehensive approach tailored to your specific needs while hiring iOS freelancers or hire ios developers because no one has the energy to sift through hype and fluff.
Why are Freelancers iOS Worth Hiring?
You don’t need a hero. What you really need is dependable, proficient, and accessible professionals. Here is a list of traits that redefine value:
Checking the freelancer’s previous engagements should always come first. Do they possess experience with the type of applications that you wish to develop? While exact matches to your specifications may not be necessary, presence of applications on App Store or working demos is a good indicator.
An excellent iOS freelancer goes beyond coding. They explain what they are doing and what questions need answering while keeping you updated. For them, not being able to communicate clearly from the start is a warning sign.
Star ratings should not be the only focus, rather, the text feedback must be evaluated as well. Professionals pay attention to customer satisfaction feedback regarding their work. Are they praising their iOS developers work on engagement, timeliness, and efficiency, or only the end result? All of these factors are important for you to identify iOS developers that will work on your project.
A red flag to most freelancers would be him/her having a brief conversation with a potential client for quotation purposes. Such practitioners freelance to earn money, instead of providing services their clients. An exceptional iOS programmer will take the time to ask all necessary questions to ensure that he knows what your milestones are before planning the code.
There are changes to iOS development every year due to updates from Apple. Verify that they have the latest Swift, XCode and iOS SDKs. Ask your developer what version he is currently on and what steps he has been taking to keep his skills up in the past months.
Where Do You Find Them?
Having established what qualities to consider, it is now important to discuss where to look for such freelancers. Most of the platforms contain such freelancers although not all of them are professional or serious.
Contra might be something you want to check out if you'd like a more curated platform to hire ios freelancers. It emphasizes quality, independent freelancers and the profiles have a personal and project-oriented touch. It is common for freelancers to provide clear descriptions of their services and work processes, which saves you from having to wade through irrelevant details.
Upwork has gained popularity for a reason: it has a massive pool of freelancers including seasoned iOS developers. With a good review system, you can assess the applicant's skill level, but be prepared to sift through applicants with irrelevant work histories. In any case, clear, succinct job descriptions tend to yield positive results.
Toptal is more exclusive. Out of all the freelancers who apply to Toptal, only a small percentage are accepted, which means less browsing and more doing. If you need a long-term iOS development partner, or require senior level expertise, Toptal has them ready for you.
Don't underestimate your network. Often, reaching out is the most effective way to search for trustworthy freelancers. A simple message to a founder group, a developer Slack channel, or even a LinkedIn post can yield extremely valuable referrals.
GitHub and forums related to iOS development are not the most orthodox places to start your search, but they can be helpful. Although it requires more effort, it tends to be worthwhile in the long run.
A Few Suggestions Before Hiring
Whenever feasible, try starting with a mini project. Additionally, this would help you both to gauge how well you work together before the long-term commitment.
Be as specific as possible regarding your goals and timelines. Giving clear details helps them tailor the output to match your expectations perfectly.
Be mindful of time zones. While a 10-hour difference is not ideal, as long as both parties are comfortable with the proposed communication arrangements, it shouldn’t be an obstacle.
Closing Remarks
The focus should never be on who looks appealing at first glance. For your iOS freelance developer or developer hire, focus on usability, industry experience, and an overall good working relationship. Evaluation of their previous assignments, their manner of speech, and a robust platform will help find exactly what you need.