The IT industry is one of the most dynamically developing industries. All the time there are new solutions and technologies, as well as trends worth following. .NET is one of the most popular platforms, which is not directly dependent on a specific software language, and through which applications are created for systems of the Windows family. Nowadays, the demand for .NET Developers is huge, which makes finding and hiring the right specialist, not the easiest task. In this article, you will learn how to find and hire a .NET Developer in 2022.
If you want to know what are the most popular programming languages in 2022, we recommend our article dedicated to this topic.
What is .NET?
.NET is an abbreviation for .NET Framework, a software development platform designed for software development. It was created and released in 2002 by Microsoft to enable the easy development of desktop and web applications. The platform is free, cross-platform open-source. It is very broad and since its inception, has undergone many modifications. It supports many languages, editors, mobile devices, desktops and allows you to create websites or even games. It is not directly dependent on a specific programming language, it is a technology that aims to manage system components efficiently. It offers many capabilities, such as object-oriented programming (C#, Visual Basic), functional programming (F#), Web application development (ASP.NET), or cloud-based activities on the Azure platform. .NET Framework significantly speeds up the development process. Many well-known companies According to the StackOverflow 2019 survey, .NET has gained significant popularity over the past few years, becoming the second most liked and desired framework in the world. In Poland, .NET Developers are sought after by both smaller companies and more well-known ones, including Google, Oracle, EY, IBM, Asseco, and even banks such as Millenium and mBank.
What does a .NET Developer do?
A .NET Developer is a person who primarily deals with the analysis, creation, and development of applications using the Microsoft technology stack. .NET Developers, in addition to programming on the platform described above, may also struggle with other tasks, such as writing PowerShell scripts, creating automated Microsoft Flows, building applications using PowerApps, or programming in other languages such as JavaScript, Python, Scala, C++, etc.
The role of a .NET Developer depends on the project they are involved in and their position and skill level. Depending on the needs, the .NET Developer must adapt to the requirements set. At the beginning of a start-up project, this is mainly to analyze the client’s expectations, prepare the application architecture, write documentation, and create a PoC, or Proof of Concept. This is to check whether it is possible to meet the given requirement and whether the application will meet the client’s needs.
Typically, a .NET Developer works in a team whose members include people who specialize in different areas. These may be other developers, Scrum Masters, Quality Assurance Engineers, Product Owners, or UI/UX designers, so it is important that such a person is communicative and open to working in a team.
What skills should a .NET Developer have?
When analyzing .NET developer recruitment ads, you will find that employers most often expect the following skills:
- Experience in building applications based on .NET
- Knowledge of C#, HTML, JavaScript, jQuery, CSS, ASP.NET MVC
- Knowledge of SQL databases
- Knowledge of design patterns and VBA (Visual Basic for Applications)
Such requirements are due to the fact that .NET developers are often full-stack specialists, meaning they deal with both front-end and back-end. Depending on the company, there may also be additional requirements. The most common responsibilities described by employers are implementing back-end and WEB solutions in .NET technology, cooperation with front-end developers and testers, preparing technical documentation, creating new applications, and maintaining existing ones. Often advertisements mention the need for knowledge of C#, but the .NET platform can be used with knowledge of other languages (eg, C++, Visual Basic, etc.).
A .NET developer must be familiar with at least one .NET development environment. The most popular of these is Visual Studio, which supports a wide variety of programming languages. According to data from StackOverflow, it is used by 35.6% of developers worldwide. This integrated environment has a code editor, and debugger, but also such elements as tools for creating applications, classes, and database design. Visual Studio allows you to create standalone applications as well as web services and even websites. Other development environments that can be alternatives to Visual Studio include MonoDevelop or SharpDevelop, for example. A developer should also be thoroughly familiar with the .NET Framework, which is the most well-known .NET and ASP.NET platform for developing web applications and websites.
.NET Developers salaries
What is the salary of a .NET developer? Of course, the average salary varies depending on the location. According to data from our report “Prepare for the IT recruitment process in 2022“, the salaries of .NET Developers are as follows:
- Junior 6,699zł (Contract) i 8,061zł (B2B)
- Mid 14,053zł (Contract) i 15,100zł (B2B)
- Senior 21,295zł (Contract) i 23,526zł (B2B)
- Expert 25,844zł (Contract) i 27,853zł (B2B)
How to find and hire a .NET Developer?
Of course, you can start by conducting your own activities. You can start by searching on social media (LinkedIn, Facebook), you can try tools such as Upwork, Freelancer, Toptal or Codementor, or post ads on popular job boards. However, an online search can be tedious and inefficient. That’s why we recommend partnering with a specialized IT recruitment agency.
If you are wondering what are the advantages and disadvantages of using the services of recruitment agencies, we recommend a separate article on this topic.
However, if you want to hire a .NET Developer on your own, it is advisable to stick to some important points:
1. Write a clear job advertisement.
Writing job ads for many recruiters is the least of their worries. However, it is the most important point to attract potential candidates, not scare them away. You need to clearly state why you need a .NET developer and explain it in the description. The most important points that should be included in the ad are the explicit rate, mode of work (remote, hybrid, or onsite), type of contract offered, technology stack, and information about the company and project. This will prevent other types of candidates from applying.
2. Look in the right places.
As mentioned above, using platforms and tools like UpWork, Toptal, Freelancer, and ads on job boards can have the intended effect. If you are looking for a full-time .NET developer you need to consider whether looking for one on freelancing platforms is definitely a good idea.
.NET freelancers are a good option if you need a developer for one small project or something temporary. They charge a relatively low salary, but this often goes hand in hand with lower quality. If you want to avoid hiring an unsuitable programmer or wasting your time we strongly encourage you to use the services of specialized IT recruitment agencies. They reach not only active candidates but also those passive ones who are not actively looking for a job but may be interested in the offer.
3. Ask the right interview questions.
Technical interviews require preparation. If you have no knowledge about .NET or no programming/technology experience, it’s a good idea to ask for expert help, such as a trained IT recruiter.
4. Pay attention to both hard and soft skills.
Asking the right questions is not just a hard skill. For technical roles, it’s essential that candidates have specific knowledge in defining .NET areas and topics. However, it’s not just hard skills that matter. A .NET developer works with multiple teams, so they need to be communicative, open to working in a team, responsible, and willing to continually grow.
5. Search for developers around the world.
The ability to work remotely is one of the best strategies to attract talented developers. Now that remote work has become very popular, companies are adapting and allowing flexibility. According to our report, the ability to work remotely is one of the most desired benefits. Hiring remotely will give you access to a broader talent pool and even lower your costs because you can hire candidates who live in places where the cost of living is lower.
Summary
The demand for .NET developers is high both globally and in Poland. According to Robert Dembinski, .NET Developer working at Connectis, the growth in demand for .NET developers will continue in the coming years, due to the ever-increasing demand and integration of the Internet with all kinds of electronics, such as washing machines, refrigerators, cars, and related customer needs. Therefore, when looking to hire the right .NET Developer, it is important to approach the hiring process in the right way.
For example, at Next Technology Professionals we are able to deliver the first candidates even within 3-5 days. Thanks to our network, direct search method, consistency and possibility to gain in-depth insights about the candidates, we are capable of selecting them carefully and providing you only with the most promising resumes. Moreover, in order to ensure the right match and loyalty of the future employee, we always provide them with honest and detailed information about the opportunity and verify whether their attitude matches the company’s needs and goals.
Do you need the best .NET developers? Contact us and enjoy an efficient recruitment process.