If you are not a developer yourself it can be challenging to validate the competence of a developer considered for a project or position. However, there are a few things you can do to ensure that the developer you are working with has the skills and experience necessary to complete your project successfully.

In this article we will examine some of the methods and principles you can use in order to gauge the level of competence, experience and overall whether or not a particular developer is suited for the project you have in mind. Enjoy!

References and certifications

One of the most effective ways to validate a developer's competence is to ask for references from previous clients or employers. Many developers also hold certifications or qualifications in specific programming languages or frameworks, which can provide evidence of their knowledge and expertise.

These references can provide valuable insight into the developer's work ethic, technical skills, and ability to deliver on time and within budget. You can also ask for examples of previous projects the developer has worked on, and review their code and end results, in order to get a sense of their level of expertise.

Conduct a technical Interview

Another way to validate a developer's competence is to conduct a technical interview. This can be done either in person or over the phone, and should include a series of questions and exercises designed to test the developer's knowledge of programming languages, frameworks, and other technical concepts relevant to your project.

But since you are not necessarily skilled in programming yourself, it can be helpful to compile a list of relevant questions or exercises ahead of time by using the internet to look at what other people ask in these types of interviews.

This can include questions about the developer's experience with specific programming languages, frameworks, or tools, as well as more general questions about their approach to problem solving and coding best practices. You can also ask the developer to solve a coding challenge or complete a technical exercise during the interview, to assess their practical skills.

Professional outside help

Alternatively, you can also consider hiring a professional to review the developer's work and provide an independent assessment of their competence. By having a professional developer conduct the technical interview with your potential candidate, you can avoid having to follow the steps in our previous answer.

One such professional company is The Outstaff. We are skilled and experienced in personalized matching of talent with businesses, and we will ensure a transparent process that takes your specific needs and requirements into account.

Because of our vast pool of candidates, we will often be able to forward the first CV's of candidates within 24 hours after establishing your project scope, allowing a swift transition for you and your business.

This makes it easy to scale your business according to your needs at any given time, as we have talents for just about any programming language, at many different levels of skill, and the ability to find the best fit in a short time.

Therefore, this can be a particularly useful approach if you are not familiar with the technical aspects of the project yourself, and we can thus provide additional reassurance that the developer has the skills and experience necessary to deliver a high-quality product.

Other ideas

There are a few other ways you can help get a feel for the developer and their skills if you are not technically inclined yourself. The three above methods are preferred, but you can also add in the next two principles to get a fully rounded idea of the competence.

Look for experience with similar projects

If the developer has previously worked on projects that are similar to yours in terms of scope, complexity, and technology stack, this can be a good indication of their ability to deliver the results you need.

Check their online presence

Many developers have an online presence, such as a portfolio website or a profile on a professional networking site like LinkedIn. Reviewing this information can provide insight into their work history, skills, and achievements.
Final thoughts
Overall, the key is to do your due diligence and take the time to thoroughly evaluate a developer's competence before hiring them for your project.

By following these suggestions and using a combination of different methods, you can increase your confidence in the developer's ability to deliver the results you need.