The development of digital products and technological solutions is a complex process that requires an exceptional level of skills for everyone involved. First, this applies to Laravel developers, as the technical part of the work depends on them.
As of 2023, there are many different programming languages and related frameworks. This provides almost unlimited scope for choosing technologies when implementing ideas or business concepts. Especially when creating websites, services, or programs that run through browsers.
Laravel is considered one of the best modern frameworks for these tasks. According to Statista, the share of its use reaches 9.45%, and the number of active sites based on the technology is 743 thousand. It is not the most popular solution in the world, but it has a number of features and advantages.
ISITLab experts will tell you more about the framework and the process of hiring a Laravel developer for your project.
Purpose and Features of Laravel
PHP has been a website and web application development leader for over 10 years. Laravel is a PHP-based framework designed to create simple, reliable, and functional IT solutions.
Features:
- Simple structure and architecture.
- MVC (model-view-controller) template.
- Reusable code.
- Support for RoR, Yii, and CodeIgniter.
- Platform scalability.
- Convenience and practicality of development.
According to the State of Laravel survey, about 72% of respondents consider the framework the easiest and most convenient for creating web apps.
Advantages of the framework
An average Laravel developer needs 2 to 5 years to learn and start working with the framework. This is one of its main advantages. However, it is not the last one.
Strengths of the framework:
- Ease of use. You can use both unique and template code to develop an app.
- Speed of deployment. To create software, it is enough to use the standard functionality and publicly available libraries.
- Scalability of IT solutions. The framework can expand its platform as needed or migrate to other technologies.
- Functionality. Standard features are enough to implement a full-fledged app that meets the needs of the target audience.
- Selection of project executors. Usually, there are no problems when hiring a Laravel developer, as the market is saturated with talent.
- The cost of work. Compared to other frameworks, the price of employing a Laravel developer is lower and is around $40/hour, according to Salary.
If you are planning to launch your own project on this framework or need to expand your team, the best solution is to hire a dedicated Laravel developer. ISITLab experts will share tips on how not to make a mistake in choosing an expert and where to look for one.
Guide to Finding the Perfect Developer
A good idea and concept are only the basis and the first step in creating a development project. To bring it to life, you need the assistance of a skilled Laravel developer with experience in solving similar tasks to yours.
Sometimes finding and hiring a specialist takes weeks, which delays deadlines and reduces the competitiveness of the future IT product. We recommend the following tips when choosing a Laravel developer to reduce the time and effort involved.
What to look for when choosing a Laravel developer?
- First, determine which skill set meets the needs of your project. That is, whether the potential contractor can work with certain technologies, carry out a set of processes, etc.
- Assess the ability to adapt to different situations, punctuality, responsibility, etc. This will allow you to find a Laravel developer who will quickly integrate into your project and execute it flawlessly.
- Pay attention to the specialist's portfolio. The IT hiring market often offers talents with no experience in commercial projects. However, their qualifications and potential may be enough for certain tasks.
Tech skills
A typical Laravel developer has the following set of skills:
- Web development of both websites and apps, PWA, SPA.
- Knowledge of DB, ability to work with certain complexes.
- Skills and understanding of OOP & MVC.
- Ability to work with PMF (Project Management Frameworks).
- Knowledge of HTML, CSS, JS, RoR, etc.
- Understanding of software architecture and structure.
This is just an example of what a candidate for the Laravel developer role in your project should be able to do. An extensive list of required skills is formed individually when conceptualizing future development.
Soft skills
The personal qualities of a Laravel developer are also very important:
- Communication skills
- Stress resistance
- Punctuality
- Adaptability
- Willingness to compromise
- Desire to improve
These soft skills of a Laravel developer will help to level out potential problems during the project implementation.
Portfolio
Your Laravel developer candidate doesn't have to be experienced in commercial projects. Yes, this experience is essential, but it is not considered a key factor when hiring a specialist.
A talented OSS (Open Source Software) project developer may be a better choice in some situations. For example, if you are creating an IT solution with a limited budget.
That's why you should pay attention to the portfolio of potential project executors. You will be able to find proof of the Laravel developer's expertise, which will be a catalyst for hiring them for your team.
What is the best location to hire a Laravel developer?
The price factor and the performers' expertise depend on the region of their work. In addition, there may be communication and coordination issues if you work with remote specialists.
You should choose a Laravel developer whose hiring cost suits you as well as their expertise. To some extent, it depends on the region of hiring. Let's take a closer look at the typical locations of development service providers.
USA and Western Europe
Top regions are usually the most expensive in terms of development quality. This is not surprising, as they are economically ahead of the rest of the world.
- The average hourly rate of a Laravel developer in the USA is $33-$48 (according to Salary), and in Western Europe – $35-$69 (according to Zip Recruiter).
Usually, there are no problems with IT service providers from these regions, neither in communication nor in the quality of work. However, the cost of their work is somewhat high, especially for those who need to launch their first startup.
Eastern Europe, Ukraine
These regions have a perfect balance in the price/quality ratio. In addition, over the past 2 years, their representatives in the IT industry have once again raised the bar and increased the volume of service exports.
- The average hourly rate of a Laravel developer in Ukraine ranges from $5.77 to $17.31 (according to Djinni), and, e.g., in Poland – from $11.65 to $20.77 (according to Salary Expert).
As a rule, there are no problems when working with these regions. Communication, cooperation, flexibility, etc., all meet the highest industry standards. Want to be sure of a Laravel developer's expertise in Eastern Europe? Use the services of ISITLab!
Asia, India, and other countries
As for the rest of the regions where IT services are exported, the situation is ambiguous. The cost of work is the lowest on the market (in India), but its quality is also a concern.
- The median hourly rate of a Laravel developer in India ranges from $2.83 to $9.54 (according to In.Talent), and in China – from $17.12 to $69.95 (according to Zip Recruiter).
Due to time differences and language barriers, several problems can arise when cooperating with these areas. They are usually leveled out, but they do bring a certain amount of discomfort to the cooperation.
Where to find the perfect Laravel developer?
If you think that choosing a region is the last step before hiring a specialist, you are wrong. You still need to find them among thousands of candidates. There are three most common ways to do this:
- turn to freelancers;
- find a specialized company;
- use the services of recruiters.
Let's take a closer look at their features.
Freelance platforms
There are many different platforms where employers publish vacancies and resumes of specialists, including a Laravel developers. There are local and global resources with rating systems, reviews, and other indicators of professionalism. Here are some of them:
Upwork
International freelance platform with thousands of expert resumes of individual and corporate contractors. Here you can find a Laravel developer or other specialist. You can set your own project cost and terms of hiring.
Freelancer
A Ukrainian freelance site with thousands of potential Laravel developers to do your project. At the same time, 99% of them work on an outsourcing model and provide Laravel developer services to companies worldwide. The resource has a minimum commission for hiring specialists.
Toptal
An international exchange where resumes and portfolios of specialists from different regions are published. Here you will find independent performers, for example, a Laravel developer, and whole teams. Therefore, this is one of the best options for starting cooperation.
Companies
Specialized companies, such as ISITLab, not only implement projects on their own but also provide specialized experts, such as a Laravel developer, for hiring by third-party organizations. Their advantages are professionalism, commercial experience, and skills to work in all conditions.
Recruiters
Usually, the help of an HR specialist is the most extended way to find a project developer. However, recruiters can match a Laravel developer to your business needs (and tasks). If you don't want to look for hiring specialists on your own, you can use HR services by paying a commission for their intermediation.
Useful Tips From ISITLab Specialists
No matter where you find a Laravel developer, you must ensure their experience is a good fit for your project and your specific needs. To do this, follow these three steps.
Analysis of Laravel developer expertise
First, you should make sure that the experience matches the resume description. To do this, you need to review the portfolio of a potential Laravel developer and reviews on specialized sites about their work.
If the company is hiring, you can use relevant resources, for example:
- Clutch
- G2
- DesignRush
In the case of freelance, this opportunity is provided directly on the platform.
Direct communication and test tasks
Additionally, you can check the Laravel developer's expertise with the help of test tasks and an interview. Moreover, this is the best way to ensure the professionalism of a specialist when hiring on any platform.
When choosing test tasks, ignore templates and basic examples, as they do not check the real level of the performer.
The employment agreement, NDA
If a candidate for the Laravel developer role in your project is right for you, then conclude a hiring agreement and sign an NDA with them. This will protect both parties from potential problems in the future.
Summarizing
Finding and hiring a Laravel developer is no less important than the actual project development. This is the stage where the vector of development of the future IT solution is set. So take it seriously.
- Make sure that the contractor's experience matches their rating and price. To do this, check out the portfolio and reviews.
- Communicate directly with the potential contractor and evaluate their soft skills, expertise, and understanding of the framework and your project in general.
- Sign an NDA and a contract to ensure that information is protected and that the contractor fulfills its obligations properly.
If you want to hire a professional Laravel developer quickly and without any problems, use the service of ISITLab. Our specialist will instantly integrate into the project and perfectly complete it on time and according to your needs.
