How to Find Developers: 20 Expert Tips & Essential Strategies for 2025

Finding the right software developer or engineer for your project — whether it’s a game, mobile app development, or something else — can be tough. It’s even harder if you’re unsure where to start.

To make this process easier, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide on how to find and recruit the best software developers around. These strategies cover everything from locating skilled software engineers to hiring app developers.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How to find software engineers with various specializations, including full-stack, front-end, and back-end developers, as well as senior software engineers, DevOps engineers, and more.
• Tips on finding developers within your budget and meeting your needs, whether they’re freelance, remote, in-house, full-time, part-time, or on a contract-to-hire basis.
• Advice on how to find developers skilled in popular programming languages like Python, Java, SQL, Go, and others.

We’ll break down each strategy, showing you the best ways to use them and what to watch out for. Remember, combining these approaches will give you the best chance of finding the software developer or engineer who’s right for your business.

Now, let’s dive into the top methods to find and recruit software engineers.

1. Hire Developers Through Arc

Want to skip the hassle of writing job descriptions and sorting through endless resumes?

With Arc, you can start interviewing top software developers and engineers within days. Whether you’re looking to hire freelance developers or full-time engineers, Arc’s global marketplace connects you with qualified candidates fast.

What makes Arc stand out is HireAI, your personal AI recruiter. Unlike other platforms that make you wait days, HireAI delivers a shortlist of top developers in seconds. Just upload your job description, and get matched with three top candidates almost instantly — no job ads, no manual screening required.

Arc simplifies how to find and recruit software developers. Whether you need one developer or an entire remote team, Arc connects you with pre-vetted, highly skilled global tech talent quickly.

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2. Get Referrals to Find a Developer

Referrals are a powerful method for finding software developers. Ask your employees, colleagues, friends, family, or business partners if they know any skilled developers. Encourage them to ask within their own networks as well.

The biggest advantage of referrals is direct contact with trusted developers. If someone in your network has previously hired a developer, they can vouch for their skills. Plus, a developer may be more inclined to work with you if a mutual connection recommends you, especially if they have multiple offers.

Keep in mind, though, that your network’s reach limits the pool of developers you can access. Despite this, referrals remain one of the most effective ways to find top software engineers.

3. Search Freelance Platforms

Using a freelance platform is one of the easiest ways to find and hire a software developer, especially if you’re looking for a freelancer. These platforms generally fall into two categories: general and niche.

General freelance platforms

Well-known platforms like Fiverr and Upwork are examples of general freelance sites. Here, you’ll find software developers among a wide range of freelancers. Prices vary widely, but be cautious — sometimes you might pay for work that doesn’t meet your needs.

A key drawback of general platforms is the lack of vetting. Anyone can claim to be a top software engineer or developer, making it difficult to find truly skilled engineers. While there are many Upwork alternatives, sorting through the options to find top talent can be time-consuming.

Niche freelance platforms

Niche platforms, designed specifically for finding and hiring software developers, usually offer a more thorough vetting process. This can help you recruit developers more quickly, though it might come at a higher cost. Arc is a prime example of such a platform, offering vetted talent to streamline your hiring process.

Read More: Hiring Developers Online: Freelance vs Recruitment Agencies vs In-House

4. Attend Developer Conferences & Meetups

When looking for software developers near you, local tech meetups and developer conferences are great places to start. Search online for annual events or regular meetups in your area.

Meetups often focus on specific topics, so use keywords like skills, tech stack, or programming languages to find the exact type of developer you need.

Attending these events lets you network with developers in your area who are either available for work or can refer you to someone who is. Carry your customized digital business card with a two-way contact-sharing feature to these events and share it with attendees. You can easily connect with potential candidates after the event.

5. Become Active on Developer Communities & Forums

A smart way to find software engineers is by joining software developer communities and forums. These spaces can help you connect with developers directly or get referrals from community members.

Review profiles to identify potential candidates, and schedule interviews with those who meet your criteria. The downside of using developer communities is that each one has its own rules, often requiring significant time and participation before you can recruit, if allowed at all. This can slow down the hiring process.

Popular communities to explore when finding software developers include Reddit, HashNode, CodeProject, and Dzone.

6. Use LinkedIn to Find a Developer for Hire

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for finding both on-site and remote software developers. It’s one of the best platforms for hiring programmers because it allows you to review resumes, assess candidates’ experience, and explore their connections, helping you make informed decisions on who to contact.

Combining LinkedIn with other strategies in this post gives you deeper insights into candidates found elsewhere. You can also tap into LinkedIn’s social network to ask for referrals or find developers through your connections. Using social media scheduling tools can help you strategically time your posts to reach a broader audience consistently.

However, be aware that many recruiters use LinkedIn, so some developers may find it overwhelming with “spam” messages, making it less effective for reaching top talent.

Need tips on crafting a job post that stands out on LinkedIn? We’ve covered essential elements for writing job descriptions that attract skilled software developers in these posts:

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Check out our entire set of tech job descriptions and choose the one which fits your hiring needs best:

Or, say goodbye to writing job descriptions altogether with HireAI. Discover top remote developers instantly without manual searching and screening. Try HireAI now!

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Read More: 25+ Best Tech Gifts for Programmers, Software Developers & Engineers

7. Read Medium & Other Dev Publications

Many skilled developers share their knowledge on platforms like Medium, making it a valuable resource for finding software engineers.

You can search Medium for developers based on the specific expertise or tech stack you need. With a wide range of software and web development and topics covered, you’re likely to find someone experienced with your required technologies.

Developers contributing to well-known publications like HackerNoon or freeCodeCamp are also worth considering as potential candidates.

Once you identify promising writers, expand your search beyond Medium. Many authors link their Twitter or LinkedIn profiles, giving you a better sense of who they are. This can help you decide which developers to interview.

Remember, though, that being a strong writer doesn’t always mean a developer is highly skilled. Be sure to review their work and experience beyond their articles.

8. Ask Questions on Quora

Quora is another great platform to find software developers, similar to Stack Overflow. Many talented developers actively share their knowledge on Quora, making it a valuable resource.

To start, search for topics related to your specific tech stack or areas of interest. You can find discussions where developers are looking for jobs or showcasing their technical expertise. Additionally, Quora Spaces allows you to connect directly with developers in your field.

While Quora is full of talent, keep in mind that many active contributors are already employed at top companies like Facebook, Twitter, or Microsoft, which can make recruiting them a bit more challenging.

9. Join Facebook Groups

This tactic is an effective way to find both freelance software developers and those in your area. Start by searching for developer groups on Facebook, either based on location or specific tech stacks.

Join groups that align with your hiring needs. Some may require moderator approval, so be sure to follow the group rules.

Once you’re in, actively engage with the community and offer valuable input. After establishing yourself, you can either post about your job opportunity (if permitted) or reach out privately to active members. Then, proceed to interview those who express interest in your offer.

Read More: How to Create a Remote Work Culture That’s Supportive, Positive & Fun

10. Get Tweeting on X (formerly Twitter)

On X, you can search for specific tech stacks and use the “People” tab to find software developers with the technical skills that you need.

Hashtags are another useful tool. By searching for hashtags related to the tech stacks you’re hiring for, you can find the latest tweets from developers. Some may be thought leaders already employed, while others are active developers who regularly share insights on software development—a positive indicator of their expertise.

While X is often better for finding freelance web developers alone, it can be time-consuming and inconsistent. To increase your chances of success, consider combining this method with other strategies for finding and recruiting software engineers.

11. Set Up Paid Ad Campaigns

Using paid ads is an effective way to find software developers with specific skills. You can target the right audience and set up interviews with candidates who respond. However, this approach comes with upfront costs, and there’s no guarantee you’ll find the perfect match.

You can advertise on platforms like Facebook, Reddit, Google, and LinkedIn. Online ads are great for reaching both local and freelance developers, while offline ads may be better for finding developers in your area.

For a platform tailored to recruiting software developers, consider Carbon. Carbon connects you with tech audiences through top tech blogs and communities, helping you find software engineers where they spend their time.

12. Visit Coding Challenge Websites

Coding challenge websites are excellent resources for finding software developers, especially freelancers. Developers who excel on these platforms are often highlighted, making it easier to find top talent. You can search by specific skills and, in many cases, review the code they’ve written.

Top sites to explore include TopCoder, Coderbyte, HackerRank, CodeChef, and HireVue. These platforms feature leaderboards, forums, and blogs that can help you find software engineers. HireVue even offers coding challenges that you can use during the recruitment process.

Remember, strong coding skills are crucial, but soft skills like communication are just as important for a successful collaboration.

Read More: Transparency in Tech Recruiting: Remote Companies Lead the Way

13. Use Graduate Outreach

Looking for fresh talent? Reaching out to student groups or the computer science department at your chosen university is a great way to find software developers early in their careers.

You can also connect with graduates from coding boot camps or specialized training courses in relevant programming areas. This approach is ideal if you want to recruit developers who are eager to learn and grow with your business.

14. Find Developers Through Professional Recruiters

Tired of searching for “software developers near me” without success?

Hiring a professional recruiter can be a highly effective way to find local software developers. While this method comes with higher costs, it’s a worthwhile investment if you have the budget. Recruiters handle many aspects of the hiring process, from interviewing candidates to helping you define your ideal developer.

This approach is best for recruiting full-time, in-house developers. Recruiters are more motivated by the potential commission, typically around 15% of the hired developer’s first-year salary. They’re generally less focused on finding freelance coders since the commission is lower.

15. View Top Dev Job Boards

Developer job boards are a quick way to find software engineers actively seeking jobs. The main benefit of job board is that these candidates are already looking for work, so you may spend less time on initial screening.

Popular sites like Wellfound, Dice, Monster, The Ladders, and Indeed are good places to start. Some of these boards focus specifically on tech jobs, giving you access to a larger pool of qualified candidates.

However, the downside is that many job boards don’t vet applicants, and with the high volume of applications, sorting through them can be time-consuming.

You can also try Arc, your shortcut to the world’s best remote talent:

⚡️ Access 450,000 top developers, designers, and marketers
⚡️ Vetted and ready to interview
⚡️ Freelance or full-time

Try Arc and hire top talent now →

16. Head to Hiring Marketplaces

Hiring marketplaces are an excellent way to find software developers. These platforms often handle the vetting process for you, gathering key information about hiring developers that would otherwise take time to source yourself.

This streamlines your ability to connect with quality candidates quickly, speeding up the hiring process. On most online hiring platforms and marketplaces, you can post a job, review applicants, and choose the best fit for your needs.

Top hiring marketplaces to explore include Hired, Triplebyte, Crunchboard, Skillgigs, Underdog.io, Product Hunt, and The Muse.

17. Hire a Staffing Agency

Working with staffing agencies is a smart option when you need to find skilled local software developers. These agencies often handle key aspects of the hiring process, including screening and interviewing candidates, saving you time and effort.

However, this convenience comes at a cost — using staffing agencies can significantly increase your hiring expenses. If you’re interested in learning more about how agencies work, we’ve listed the details here.

18. Ask HN: Who’s Hiring?

“Ask HN: Who’s Hiring” is a monthly thread on Hacker News, a popular tech news aggregator by Y Combinator. It’s a great resource for businesses to post job openings and connect with software developers. This platform is well-regarded among entrepreneurs and developers, making it a valuable tool for finding software engineers.

Developers regularly check this post for new opportunities, whether they’re looking for on-site, remote, or freelance work.

The best part? It’s free! Simply sign up for an account, find the latest “Who’s Hiring” thread here, and add your job post as a comment. You can also request candidates to share their social profiles or other information to streamline your vetting process.

Also, keep an eye out for the monthly “Ask HN: Freelancer? Seeking freelancer?” and “Ask HN: Who wants to be hired?” threads for more opportunities to connect with top talent.

Read More: 15+ Most Popular Programming Languages & Technologies to Know/Learn

19. Ask to See Their Portfolio

While it’s not mandatory to review portfolios when searching for software developers, doing so can give you valuable insights into their programming skills and experience.

Developers often showcase their best work in their online portfolios, offering a detailed look at their achievements. For instance, if you need a web developer to revamp your online store, exploring their web dev portfolio can help you gauge their capabilities.

A portfolio can complement a resume by providing a deeper understanding of the developer’s work. Unlike a resume, which offers a brief overview, a portfolio can include image slideshows, project stories, and a walkthrough of their decision-making process, giving you a more comprehensive view of their skills.

20. Consider Outsourcing Software Development Projects

Instead of hiring full-time developers or bringing on a contract developer, you can bypass the initial challenges of finding software engineers by outsourcing to a third party.

Outsourcing firms have their own teams ready to tackle tasks or projects that your in-house team may not be equipped to handle. These agencies provide a single point of contact, typically a project manager, who delivers progress reports and oversees the project’s completion.

With this approach to recruiting developers, you’re essentially hiring an entire team, depending on the package you choose. The agency handles the vetting process, allowing you to start almost immediately after signing the contract.

However, while you don’t need to vet individual developers, you do need to carefully vet the outsourcing agency. Although online reviews can help, you won’t have the same level of control and management as you would if you recruited the developers yourself.

Read More: Arc Hiring Case Studies

Wrapping Up

There you have it! We hope these strategies have given you fresh ideas on how to find the ideal software developer or engineer for your business. Now, it’s time to decide which methods align best with your goals and budget.

These approaches will help you find any type of developer, whether you need someone with a specific tech stack, on-site or remote, part-time, full-time, freelance, or contract.

If you’re looking to streamline your hiring process, Arc can help. We extensively vet each developer to ensure they have essential skills, reducing your team’s workload.

Looking for top talent fast? See how Arc can help you:

⚡️ Find developers, designers, marketers, and more
⚡️ Freelance or full-time remote + fully vetted
⚡️ Save up to 80% with global hires

Hire top talent with Arc risk-free →