Hire Drupal developers pre-screened for technical and cultural fit

Websites have become a vital part of businesses in the contemporary world. A website is like an online shop or office that's open every day, all year round. It provides customers or clients with information about a business's products or services. In addition, it allows businesses to sell their products and services online. That's why it's vital to have a website that is appealing and functions well.

Drupal is an  open-source content management system (CMS) that helps businesses create unique websites. Millions of people worldwide use this software, which  powers some of the biggest websites, including Tesla, Warner Bros. Records, Arsenal, the University of Oxford, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Drupal developers are in high demand due to the popularity of this CMS. When you hire Drupal developers, they can help your business create a website that is appealing and easy to use. Drupal experts can also offer custom Drupal solutions to meet your business's specific needs.

Before we get into the details of how to hire Drupal developers, let's look at the benefits of using this CMS.

Benefits of Using Drupal

There are many reasons businesses choose Drupal. Here are some of the most important:

• It's open-source and free: One of the main reasons businesses choose Drupal is its free use. You don't have to pay anything to use the software. In addition, it's open-source, which means that anyone can contribute to its development.
• It's highly scalable: Drupal is a highly scalable CMS. This means that it can handle a large amount of traffic without crashing. It's the perfect CMS for businesses expecting to experience rapid growth.
• It's flexible by design: Drupal's design is flexible, which means that it can be easily customized to meet the specific needs of your business. You can add or remove features, change the look and feel of your website, and much more.
• It's accessible and multilingual: Drupal's newest release allows your message to reach a much wider audience.

What Is a Drupal Developer

Essentially, there are  three main areas of expertise in the Drupal community: site building, backend/module development, and themes. The abilities necessary for each area differ substantially.

Drupal developers are expert web developers who specialize in creating websites using the Drupal platform. Drupal developers need to deeply understand how Drupal works and be proficient in programming languages such as PHP and MySQL.

Generally, when you hire Drupal developers, they should have a mix of site building, backend development, and theming skills. If you hire Drupal developers with all three skill sets, you can anticipate getting the most bang for your buck. Often, however, it's more important to focus on one area or another depending on the project requirements.

What Does a Drupal Developer Do?

A Drupal developer builds and maintain websites, and is responsible for the site’s functionality, architecture, and performance. Developers also create custom modules to add new features to Drupal websites.

As mentioned earlier, there are three main types of Drupal developers that you can hire. Let's take a look at the different types of Drupal developers and what they can do for your business:

• Drupal site builders: Site builders are responsible for putting together the pieces of a Drupal site. This includes configuring modules, setting up content types, creating views, and more. In addition, they can create custom templates (also called themes) to change the look and feel of a website.
• Drupal backend/module developers: Backend developers are responsible for customizing the functionality of a Drupal site. This includes module development, integrating with third-party services, and writing automated tests. Backend developers need to be proficient in PHP.
• Drupal themers: Themers are responsible for changing the look and feel of a Drupal site. This includes creating custom templates, adding CSS and JavaScript, and improving usability.

Benefits of Hiring a Drupal Developer

As you can see, expert Drupal developers have many skills. Hiring a team of expert Drupal developers or individuals is essential for businesses that want to create a website with this CMS. Here are some of the benefits of hiring a Drupal development team or individual:

• Expertise: Drupal developers have a deep understanding of how Drupal works. They are also expert web developers proficient in programming languages such as PHP and MySQL. All these skills are necessary for creating a functional and scalable website.
• Efficiency: Drupal developers can help you save time and money. They can quickly create an appealing and functional website without compromising quality.
• Support: When you hire a dedicated Drupal developer, they can provide you with 24/7 support and maintenance by helping you fix any issues with your website.
• Flexibility: Drupal developers, especially freelancers, can work according to your schedule. This is beneficial for businesses with a tight budget or working on a tight deadline.
• Cost-effective: Hiring a Drupal development team or individual may sound expensive, but that's far from the truth. Some companies and freelancers have pricing models that they customize according to your budget.

How Much Does an Expert Drupal Programmer Make?

Like other professionals, expert Drupal developers' salaries vary by experience and skills. According to Talent.com, the average salary for a Drupal developer in the U.S is $100,000 per year or $51 hourly. Entry-level positions usually have an annual pay of around $83,581, while more experienced employees make up to $128,000 annually.

On other websites such as Indeed.com,  Ziprecruiter, and  Salary.com, the annual salary for Drupal experts ranges from $89,625 to $114,192.

Junior Drupal Developer Salary & Skills

A junior or entry-level Drupal developer is a web developer with little to no experience working with Drupal. As such, their salary will be lower than that of an experienced Drupal developer.

According to Talent.com, entry-level positions for junior Drupal developers start at $83,581 per year. Project managers looking for a junior Drupal developer to join their team look for the following skills:

• Basic understanding of Drupal’s structure and content management system
• Proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• Experience in creating and customizing Drupal themes
• Experience in configuring and installing Drupal modules
• Good problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Senior Drupal Developer Salary & Skills

An experienced or senior Drupal developer is a web developer with several years of experience working with Drupal. As such, their salary will be higher than that of a junior Drupal developer.

According to ZipRecruiter, positions for senior Drupal developers start at $128,000 per year. Project managers looking for a senior Drupal developer to join their team usually look for the following skills:

• Extensive experience in developing custom Drupal modules
• Experience in configuring and troubleshooting Drupal sites
• Ability to optimize Drupal sites for performance
• In-depth knowledge of PHP, MySQL, and Apache
• Good problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

How To Find and Hire a Drupal Developer

Finding and hiring Drupal developers can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Here are some tips to help you find and hire the best developers for your project:

Define Your Project Requirements

The first step is to define your project's scope and requirements clearly. This will help you identify the skills and experience that you need from your developers. For instance, does your project require custom module development or theme creation?

Once you fully understand your project requirements, you can start your search for Drupal developers.

Create a Job Posting

Once you know what you're looking for, you can create a job posting for Drupal developer. Include a detailed description of your project and the skills and experience you're looking for in your developers.

Be sure to include your budget and timeline in your job posting. This will help you attract developers who are a good fit for your project. You can post your job on online job boards or freelancer websites.

Look for Developers With the Right Skills and Experience

When searching for Drupal developers, looking for those with the right skills and experience is essential. The best way to do this is to use a Drupal development company specializing in your project requirements. This will ensure that you're getting developers who are experts in the specific skills that you need.

In addition, you should look for developers who have experience working on similar projects. They will understand your project requirements and likely be able to deliver the desired results.

Hard Skills

When looking for a Drupal development company or individual developers, you should look for those with the following hard skills:

• Drupal: Drupal developers should have experience working with the Drupal content management system. This includes knowing how to create and customize Drupal themes and modules.
• Web development: Drupal developers should have experience in web development. This includes knowing how to code in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• PHP development: Drupal developers should have experience knowing how to code in PHP and MySQL.
• Database experience: This entails having a good understanding of how databases work and being able to query them efficiently.
• Skilled in PHP & PHP frameworks: Most Drupal development is done in PHP, so developers should have a strong grasp of the language. They should also be familiar with popular PHP frameworks such as Laravel and Symfony.
• A comprehensive understanding of Version Control with Git: To manage code changes, developers should be familiar with using version control systems such as Git.
• Linux/Unix: While it's not required, developers should have a basic understanding of Linux/Unix systems as Drupal is typically run on these operating systems.

Soft Skills

In addition to hard skills, you should also look for Drupal developers who have the following soft skills:

• Communication: The ability to communicate with clients and team members effectively is essential. This includes being able to understand project requirements and conveying progress updates.
• Problem-solving: Drupal developers should be able to identify and solve problems quickly. This includes being able to troubleshoot issues that arise during the development process.
• Organizational: Staying organized and meeting deadlines are essential skills. This includes being able to manage multiple projects at the same time and prioritize tasks accordingly.
• Collaborative: Drupal developers must work well with others. This includes taking input from clients and team members and incorporating it into the project.

Get Quotes From Multiple Developers

Once you've identified a few potential developers, the next step is to get quotes from each of them. This will help you compare the cost and quality of each developer's services. When getting quotes, ask about the developer's experience, skills, and project portfolio.

Ask for a Proposal

After you've received quotes from each developer, the next step is to ask for a proposal. This document outlines the developer's approach to your project and includes a detailed timeline and cost estimate. Reviewing proposals will help you compare the developers and decide which one to hire.

Interview Candidates

Once you've received applications, it's time to start interviewing candidates. During your interviews, be sure to ask about their experience with Drupal and their portfolio of work.

You also should ask about their availability and rates. This will help you determine if they are a good fit for your project.

Technical Interview Questions for Drupal Developer Candidates

• How do you create a custom module in Drupal?
• How do you create a custom theme in Drupal?
• How do you enable and disable modules in Drupal?
• What security measures do you take when building Drupal websites?
• How do you migrate data from one Drupal website to another?
• What performance optimization techniques do you use for Drupal websites?
• What do you do if you encounter a bug in Drupal?
• How do you debug Drupal code?
• What is your experience with Git?
• What is your experience with Linux/Unix?
• How familiar are you with the Drupal coding standards?
• What is your experience with React?

Make Sure You’re Comfortable With the Developer

It's important to be comfortable with the developer before you hire them. This means that you should understand their communication style and working approach well. You should also make sure you can trust the developer to deliver the results you need.

Choose the Best Developer for Your Project

After interviewing candidates, it's time to choose and hire the best developer for your project. Be sure to communicate your expectations and timelines clearly with your developer.

You should also set up a contract outlining the work scope and payment terms. Hiring the right developer is crucial to ensuring your project's success.

Hiring Models for Hiring Drupal Developers

To hire a Drupal developer, you must find a recruiting model that fits your business needs. The three most common  models for recruiting Drupal developers are:

• Contract Temporary: You can hire developers on a contract basis for specific project requirements. This is a good option if you have a short-term project or are looking for specific skills and experience.
• Temp-to-Hire: This model allows you to try out a developer on a contract basis before hiring them full-time. This is a good option if you're unsure about a long-term commitment or want to make sure that the developer is a good fit for your team.
• Direct Hire: With this model, you can hire developers full-time to work on your project. This is a good option if you have a long-term project or are looking for a specific skill set.

Drupal Development Company vs. Individual Developers

There are two main options for project managers who want to hire Drupal developers: development companies and individual developers. Both options have pros and cons, so it's necessary to weigh your options before making a decision.

Drupal Development Companies:

Pros:

• Development companies have a team of developers who can work on your project. This means that you have a bigger pool of talent to choose from.
• Development companies have experience working on similar projects. This means they understand your project requirements and can deliver the desired results.
• Development companies are typically more organized and have a better understanding of project management. This means that they can more easily meet deadlines and stay within budget.

Cons:

• Development companies can be more expensive than individual developers.
• When working with a company, you may have less control over the development process.

Individual Developers:

These can either be in-house or freelancers.

Pros:

• Individual developers can be more affordable than development companies.
• When working with an individual, you may have more control over the development process.

Cons:

• Individual developers may not have experience working on similar projects.
• Individual developers may not be as organized or have a good understanding of project management. This could lead to delays in the project or going over budget.
• There is a risk of individual developers getting overwhelmed by the project and not being able to finish it.

Whether to hire a Drupal developer or a company with a Drupal development team comes down to your specific needs and budget. A Drupal development company is the better option if you need a large team of developers with experience working on similar projects. An individual developer may be better if you work with a tight budget.

Hire Dedicated Drupal Developers With Revelo

Now that you know what it entails to hire Drupal developers, it's time to start your search.

If you're looking for top-notch development services from the best developers, look no further. Revelo is the leading platform for connecting businesses with the best tech talent. We pre-screen and hand-pick the best talent from Latin America with nearshoring, so you can be confident that you're getting the best talent for your project who can deliver the results you want.