I hired an acquaintance as a software developer last year and it exceeded my expectations.
He reached out to me as I had not announced the need for any developer, but I did have tasks/projects that suited his area of expertise. Different loose ends, some of which he could solve. Since you are doing it the other way around (matching people to a single project) it will be harder, and you have to be discerning. I had the advantage of knowing this person through my network, and whilst we were not friends, I knew that he had a good integrity, seen his previous work, his education etc., and as he reached out to me, he showed good initiative and willingness to help me.
The interview in this case consisted of some abstract technical questions and negotiating the terms of the contract. You need to do more research on candidates.
If you don't know enough to be able to judge a candidate's code, I'd recommend you get in touch with someone that can, to help you. If you are building a simple app interface, you don't need to spend heavily or go for experienced developers. Integrity and enthusiasm is more important. If however there are any advanced components, such as a custom database, 'smart algorithms' of any kind, or major framework decisions by the developer that will affect future development-- find someone with skills that seem 'overkill' for the project.
A great developer will amaze you with their ability to solve problems, however the best technical developers often lack communication skills. You have to be clear in describing the objectives, which means providing technical specifications. You can suggest methods but leave them open-ended, however the desired result must be communicated well. As you are not a developer yourself, you should look for a developer able to explain their work to you, who comments and documents the code, etc.
If you can choose between a mediocre team or one excellent developer, the latter is worth a lot more. It will also be easier to manage. This does not mean you can relax though. A good developer will offer you guidance and suggestions (engagement), they will also expect you to provide feedback during the process to make sure they are meeting your requirements.
He reached out to me as I had not announced the need for any developer, but I did have tasks/projects that suited his area of expertise. Different loose ends, some of which he could solve. Since you are doing it the other way around (matching people to a single project) it will be harder, and you have to be discerning. I had the advantage of knowing this person through my network, and whilst we were not friends, I knew that he had a good integrity, seen his previous work, his education etc., and as he reached out to me, he showed good initiative and willingness to help me.
The interview in this case consisted of some abstract technical questions and negotiating the terms of the contract. You need to do more research on candidates.
If you don't know enough to be able to judge a candidate's code, I'd recommend you get in touch with someone that can, to help you. If you are building a simple app interface, you don't need to spend heavily or go for experienced developers. Integrity and enthusiasm is more important. If however there are any advanced components, such as a custom database, 'smart algorithms' of any kind, or major framework decisions by the developer that will affect future development-- find someone with skills that seem 'overkill' for the project.
A great developer will amaze you with their ability to solve problems, however the best technical developers often lack communication skills. You have to be clear in describing the objectives, which means providing technical specifications. You can suggest methods but leave them open-ended, however the desired result must be communicated well. As you are not a developer yourself, you should look for a developer able to explain their work to you, who comments and documents the code, etc.
If you can choose between a mediocre team or one excellent developer, the latter is worth a lot more. It will also be easier to manage. This does not mean you can relax though. A good developer will offer you guidance and suggestions (engagement), they will also expect you to provide feedback during the process to make sure they are meeting your requirements.