Software Development Blog
Insights, perspectives, and stories on software, business, and innovation.
Weekly Newsletter Friday 21st Nov 2025 - How to Spot a Great Developer Before You Hire
Hi there, Rob here…
Hiring developers is hard. On paper, everyone lists the same skills, the same frameworks, the same years of experience. But the things that make someone truly great rarely show up on a CV. They show up in how they think, how they communicate, and how they approach a problem when there is no obvious answer.
One of the biggest signs is curiosity. Great developers do not just accept something because that is how it has always been done. They ask questions, challenge assumptions, explore the edges of a problem, and actually want to understand the context behind the work. That curiosity is what leads to better solutions, not just working ones.
Another trait is honesty. Good developers tell you when something will take longer. Great developers tell you when something should not be built at all. They are upfront about unknowns, risks, gaps, and shortcuts. It is not negativity, it is clarity. And clarity saves projects.
Then there is practical problem solving. Not the theoretical “I know every design pattern” kind, but the grounded version. The ability to break a messy problem into small pieces, find the simplest path forward, and avoid overengineering everything. These developers move quickly because they think simply.
If you want to spot a great developer before you hire them, pay attention to how they talk about problems, not just how they talk about tech. The mindset matters far more than the tools.
👉 Skills get you started. Curiosity and judgement get you across the finish line.
Rob & Jason
Dev Partners
PS. We are Dev Partners, helping founders and businesses build software that just works.
PublishedWhat Our Clients Say About Us
“We collaborated with Dev Partners on the front end of a fairly complex telemarketing platform. Rob and Jason took the time to properly understand the moving parts, asked the right questions, and delivered a clean, intuitive interface that’s made the system far easier for our team to use. Communication was clear throughout, and nothing was ever too much trouble. Solid, dependable, and a pleasure to work with.”
Fancy a quick chat with the software geeks?
If clunky systems are slowing you down, let’s talk. No sales patter. No corporate waffle. Just a straightforward conversation about fixing the stuff that wastes your time.
Meet Rob & Jason
Two normal blokes who happen to be good at untangling messy systems. We’ll talk to you like humans, not consultants, and help you find the simplest way forward.
We’ll reply within one working day. No spam. No waffle.
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