Let us guess: You're looking for a DevOps developer, right? It's a safe assumption for us to make, given that — according to labor-insights experts Burning Glass — the role is in incredibly high demand, with 312,786 open positions posted nationwide in the last year alone. Why the popularity?
With hands in both development and operations engineering, DevOps developers are the people who actually create the products and services your clients want. Basically, an all-star DevOps team makes sure you stay ahead of the game. Sound like a valuable asset? That should be a resounding "yes."
What's the best way to go about finding and hiring a top-notch DevOps developer? Here's a handy checklist to guide you on your way to a great (and fast) hire:
Read on for more details and insight into each of the steps. Your upgraded hiring journey begins now!
Every day without a DevOps developer is a day the competition has a creative advantage over you. Because these are the folks who move the ball forward (development-wise), it's imperative that the formalities of your hiring process aren't slowing you down. Use the diagram below to identify where your hiring process could be tuned up to speed up.
DevOps developers are responsible for delivering your company's digital products, so even entry-level developers come at a high price. (Don't worry, they're worth it.) So while perks like working remotely and flexible hours are absolutely influential with tech talent, you'll want to make sure you offer a good salary up front to show prospects you're serious about their value.
Take a look at Randstad's salary guide to see how your offer compares to national averages. But since salaries are sure to vary by region, it's a good idea to check out our salary calculator for up-to-date pay rate data for your specific area.
The skills and specialties of a DevOps developer can vary widely based on a business's needs, so it's absolutely critical that employers know precisely what they're looking for in their search. Get together with the hiring manager and senior leaders from your DevOps squad to discern which skills, experience and certifications are required to fulfill this role, as well as which would be ideal.
Perhaps you require a developer with robust experience in the finance and insurance industries. Or maybe your company's developers both create and support products, making debugging a major component of the job. Are you in need of a Unix pro? Someone who specializes in Java? Or someone proficient in a variety of scripting languages? The answers to these questions (and more) will serve to guide the course of your search.
(Tip: Remember to think about the future, too. You're not hiring just for the projects of today, but the development of products for tomorrow.)
To kick off your skills selection, here are the top sought-after skills for DevOps developers nationwide:
software engineering
software development
Java
Python
JavaScript
SQL
C++
Given the staggering number of job postings this past year, you can bet prospects will be looking at a lot of job descriptions. Follow these three pointers to make sure your description stands out from the crowd.
don't write like a robot
While DevOps developers, of all people, are likely to appreciate a good robot, they already know they'll be working with computers, data and scripting languages wherever they end up. So while it makes sense to demonstrate programming prowess, remember that the job description is the chance to show them why they want to work for you specifically. To put your best (human) foot forward, use concise, engaging language while showcasing elements of the job that appeal to the actual person applying.
For example, DevOps developers quite literally never exit the learning curve; it's a constant for them. That being the case, prospects will want to know how much extended education your company supports. Also, because much of the work of a DevOps developer can be done outside of the office, perks like working remotely and flexible hours will be important to call out.
show how the job is meaningful
You don't have to look hard to see how the work of DevOps developers is meaningful — to a company and society as a whole. Their creative work provides solutions not only to their employers, but those their employers serve. We're talking healthcare solutions, financial solutions, education solutions and more.
Creating cutting-edge software and products is a far-reaching accomplishment, and DevOps developers are the only people who understand how to make it happen. Make sure prospects can tell by your job description that you know and recognize the value they bring to the table.
make it easy to skim
DevOps developers will have a multitude of job descriptions to sift through — just recall the staggering 312,786 job postings we mentioned earlier. The best way to ensure your description gets the serious consideration it deserves is to make it easy to skim.
This doesn't mean skimping on information, but rather packaging it in a way that's easy to absorb. Short paragraphs, bullet points, uniform structure and punch-line-first sentences are great ways to ensure your description is engaging and eye-catching.
For even more advice and insights, check out our guide to writing highly effective job descriptions.
The technologies industry is known for driving change, but employers in this arena also need to be able to react to the change around them. That means there's an acute need for employers to keep a finger on the pulse of the industry and its hiring trends.
Take a look at some of the trends that are underway today:
You know there are a plethora of channels to find talent, including job boards, career websites, word of mouth and much, much more. But depending on your company's size, recruitment budget and other factors, certain channels can make hiring — particularly for positions as important to future-proofing your business as DevOps developers — rife with risk. So consider expanding your options by partnering with a staffing agency.
A professional staffing firm knows all too well how a bad hire can derail business strategy and cost a company time, money and reputation. By providing a prescreened and vetted pool of talent, as well as a team of industry-specific experts for guidance and insight, staffing agencies make it their mission to help organizations find the right person — minimizing risk and maximizing reward is their business.
If you're ready to take the next step in your hiring journey, reach out to the experts at Randstad Technologies today. Or, if you'd rather browse candidates first, head over to our Find Employees portal and take a first look at our nationwide pool of talent.