According to one research, when not sleeping, an average British checks their smartphone every 12 minutes. Around 60-65% of Brits under 35 years old look at their phone during the first and the last 5 minutes of their day (just after waking up and just before going to sleep). It’s pretty much the same around the whole Western world, especially among the youth.
All this shows how powerful and influential the mobile market is. Without a smartphone app, running a prosperous IT-related business can be really tough. Now, add to it the fact that around 75% of mobile devices around the world are powered by the Android system.
So, how can you make sure that your company is following the recent trends and reaches as many of its potential customers as possible? Hire Android developers!
How to run the search, though? How to find one of the top Android developers in the world and make them join your team?
Here are the 10 rules to follow!
1. Look for the correct technical skills
There are some specific hard skills to look for when planning to hire an Android developer. The most important ones are:
a) Good knowledge of Java (don’t confuse with JavaScript!)
b) Good knowledge of the Kotlin programming language
c) Experience with Android SDK (Software Development Kit)
d) Knowledge of XML from the Android application development perspective
e) Experience in Android app data management with SQL
f) Some knowledge and experience in basic app testing
2. Remember about the soft skills
While the technical skills of an Android app developer are quite specific, the soft ones might feel a bit more vague. However, there are still some important features that can be mentioned, such as:
a) Ability to work both individually as well as within a bigger team
b) Experience in cooperating with other, non-dev teams
c) Critical thinking
d) Logical thinking
e) Experience in working the agile way (even if your company/team is not yet working with agile methodology implemented)
3. Don’t forget about the design (UX/UI)
When you want to hire Android developers, you need to think about people who are not only engineers but also creative individuals with an understanding of good design practices. While at some point you might decide to hire separate people to design the layout of your app, in the beginning, you will probably stick with what the developer has presented to you.
This means that the developer you want to hire for your Android application development should possess a good knowledge of design best practices, with special focus on the UX (User Experience) and UI (User Interface).
4. Review the portfolio
Before the interview, don’t forget to ask your potential new Android developer about their portfolio. When you finally meet with the candidate, go together through the projects you found the most interesting and ask about the specifics of how the candidate participated in the project.
Did they develop the whole thing by themselves or were they a part of the bigger team? If the latter, ask which part of the app they exactly worked on. Remember also about the “Don’t forget about the design” rule and review how your potential Android developer approaches UX and UI.
5. Define whether you want your app to appear on other platforms as well
In the year 2023, cross-platform compatibility continues to be an essential factor when developing applications. With diverse operating systems and device preferences, it's crucial to decide early on if you want your Android app to also be available on other platforms, such as iOS, Windows, and web.
If your target audience is scattered across different platforms, opting for a cross-platform development strategy would be beneficial. This approach not only maximizes your potential audience reach but also improves the cost-effectiveness of your project. Tools like Flutter, React Native, or Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) make it easier to maintain and update your app across multiple platforms simultaneously.
However, each platform has unique features and user expectations that may not translate seamlessly from one to another. Certain functionalities and design elements in Android might not work as smoothly or look as aesthetically pleasing on iOS or other platforms.
Moreover, cross-platform apps might not always offer the same performance level or access to platform-specific features as native apps. Therefore, careful analysis of your business needs, target audience, budget, and app requirements should guide your decision.
In 2023, as the lines between different platforms continue to blur, the choice to expand your Android app to other platforms could open up significant opportunities for user engagement and business growth.
6. Think of project and industry fit
Not every Android app developer is the same. Even the top Android developers in the world have different areas of expertise and focus on slightly different projects. So, when you plan to hire an Android developer, look for candidates who worked with projects and industries similar to yours.
For example:
a) A developer who worked with projects for universities or schools will do a good job working on an app for the educational sector.
b) Experience in banks or insurance companies is useful when transferring to fintech startups.
c) Previous work on booking solutions is something to look for when hiring for a mobile project dedicated to the hospitality industry.
7. Always look for agile Android developers
Although engineering teams often use specific management methods, still not all the developers are familiar with them. Always try to hire Android developers with experience in working agile and with the use of other, supporting methodologies (e.g. Kanban, Scrum, DevOps).
Agile development is great for Android app development, as — if correctly adapted — it significantly speeds up and simplifies the software building process, while still keeping it organised. However, agile can be also great for non-dev teams. So even if you are not using these management methods in your company yet, you might in the future ultimately follow the trend, meaning it will be great if you already have a team member that can lead the change.
8. Consider the company culture fit
Some people prefer working in a huge corporate environment, others feel more motivated when working in smaller startups. Some can easily work remotely, delivering the same quality of product whenever and wherever they work, others can focus only by the office desk.
Take all these into consideration when you want to hire an Android developer. During the interview, ask them about what is their preferred way of work and briefly present the culture at your company. Once again, review carefully the resume of the candidate and look for businesses and projects similar to yours.
Take also into consideration the location of your company, partners, and target clients/users. Asian work culture and ethics, for example, is quite different from the Western one, so if your main focus is this market, it’s recommended to hire an Android developer with experience in working with Asian (South Korean, Japanese, etc.) companies.
9. Assess your project well
Sometimes hiring one Android developer may not be enough. Of course, there are simple apps that can be built and later maintained by a single person, but if your business will focus highly on the mobile app you want to have developed, you might want to hire more people to handle it.
10. Ask proper Android developer interview questions
You probably already have some idea of questions you might ask your Android developer candidate during the interview. What are the projects you worked on? How did you exactly contribute to them? How do you approach the design of an app?
However, you should also not forget about the technical interview. If you aren’t a techie yourself, you can always ask an experienced Android developer to help you out. Think of your colleagues or, alternatively, book some time with an expert consultant who can sit down with you and run the interview for you.
To get you prepared for what's coming, here are some great Android developer interview questions that should be asked during the technical interview:
a) What are the Adapters in Android application development? When would you use them?
b) RecyclerView vs ListView — what’s the difference between the two?
c) What’s your favorite library for Android development?
d) What are the options when it comes to storing user data?
e) What are your ways of making sure the user data is stored securely?
f) What are the differences between minSdk and targetSdk?
g) Native app development or React Native/other cross-platform solutions? Why?
h) What are the ANRs?
i) MVC vs MVP vs MVVM — what’s your choice and why?
Other experts you’ll need
Having an Android developer hired is just the first step to making a truly game-changing app. With a good programmer, you might have all the necessary technical difficulties overcome but this won’t be enough to turn random users into returning customers.
To achieve success on the market, you will need a team of experts who will be able to successfully cooperate to realize the same idea. Designers will make your Android app look great and easy-to-navigate, data engineers will deliver data that can be analyzed to fully understand your customers, and an IT project manager will draft the whole plan on how to make your product a hit.
To have all the necessary members of your team assembled with an ease, contact us at Ideamotive. We operate a unique, extensive network of IT experts, so we can connect you with the most promising talents on the market in no time.
