Finding the perfect drupal developer for your business: A step-by-step guide for 2024

Drupal has established itself as a robust and high-performing open-source CMS platform. Those who want to build a high-end website with immense capabilities, flexibility and security features, there’s nothing better than opting for Drupal CMS.

Precisely, if you want to create an enterprise-level or complex website, you must be careful while hiring your Drupal development team. A Drupal developer is an expert who has the knowledge, experience and capabilities to leverage the features of Drupal to build your feature-rich, scalable and engaging website.

With Drupal’s robust content management system, you have the power to create a dynamic online presence that can adapt to your business’s evolving needs.

Thus, hiring the right Drupal developer can be a game-changer for your business, ensuring that your website is not only functional but also scalable and efficient.

However, finding the right skilled developer who can fully leverage Drupal’s capabilities can be a daunting task, especially if you are not familiar with website building intricacies and the Drupal ecosystem.

In this article, we aim to equip you with the essential steps to hire the perfect Drupal developer for your project, ensuring a seamless and successful collaboration.

Here, we will provide you with the practical tips and guidance that will help you navigate the best partner for creating and garnishing your scalable and engaging Drupal website.

By the end of this blog, we will also provide you with a questionnaire that you can keep handy while interviewing and selecting your ideal Drupal candidates. So, keep reading!

Who is a Drupal Expert?

A Drupal expert is a highly skilled professional with extensive experience and proficiency in developing and managing websites using the Drupal content management system (CMS).

They possess in-depth knowledge of Drupal’s architecture, including theming, module development, and configuration management. This expertise encompasses various aspects, including:

• Development Skills: They are proficient in programming languages like PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, enabling them to build custom functionalities, themes, and modules within the Drupal framework.
• Drupal Architecture: They possess a strong grasp of the underlying architecture of Drupal, allowing for efficient website development, maintenance, and security.
• Problem-Solving: Drupal experts are adept at troubleshooting issues specific to Drupal and finding creative solutions to complex website challenges.

In simple terms, Drupal experts possess effective communication abilities, and a keen understanding of user experience (UX) design. They are strategic thinkers who can leverage the power of Drupal, making it invaluable for delivering high-quality, user-friendly websites tailored to specific business needs.

With this, the next question may hit your mind: should you hire a freelancer or invest in a full-fledged Drupal development agency? The answer to this question lies in the type and complexity of your website.

A freelance Drupal developer may not offer you the complete service because of limitations with them such as limited expertise, limited resources and time constraints in case they are working with other clients as well. Here, we would suggest going ahead with a professional Drupal development agency. Let us see the reasons below:

Why Do You Need a Drupal Development Agency?

Hiring a Drupal development agency is essential for leveraging their extensive expertise, comprehensive services, and efficiency in delivering high-quality websites.

Agencies bring together skilled professionals with experience in various aspects of Drupal development, ensuring that your project is handled proficiently from planning to deployment and maintenance.

You get access to developers with various skill sets (front-end, back-end, full-stack), designers, project managers, and potentially even SEO or marketing specialists – all working collaboratively to deliver a cohesive website.

The professional Drupal development firm offers a streamlined approach, adhering to best practices and incorporating the latest technologies, which results in a secure, scalable, and performance-optimised website.

They also understand the importance (and sometimes necessity as per the accessibility guidelines for many regions) of creating an accessible website, about which a freelance developer might not be fully aware of.

Now that you are aware of what you need: A freelance Drupal expert or a professional Drupal development Agency, it is time to learn about the crucial points that you must look at before making the final selection.

How to Select the Best Drupal Developer for your Business?

Hiring the right Drupal developer is a critical step towards building a successful website for your business. By following these steps, you can ensure that you find a developer who not only has the technical skills but also fits well with your company’s culture and values.

With the right developer on board, you can leverage the full potential of Drupal to create a robust, scalable, and user-friendly website. Let us see the steps below:

Step 1: Define Your Project Needs

The first step to finding the perfect Drupal developer is meticulously defining your project’s requirements. It means, what type of website do you want to create? A simple blog site, news website, gaming, reviews or a high-performing eCommerce website on Drupal.

Clear and detailed project requirements provide a solid foundation for the entire development process, ensuring that you and your developer are aligned on the project’s goals, scope, and expectations. Thus, think about: What type of website are you building? What functionalities are essential?

The important aspects to consider while defining your project needs are:

• Scope: What features and functionalities do you need?
• Budget: How much are you willing to spend?
• Timeline: What is your project deadline?
• Maintenance: Will you need ongoing support and maintenance?

By identifying key features and functionalities, detailing user management needs, and considering future scalability, you ensure that both you and the developer have a shared understanding of the project’s goals and expectations.

Step 2: Understand Drupal Ecosystem

While technical skills are undeniably necessary, understanding the Drupal ecosystem goes beyond that. Familiarity with this ecosystem allows you to accurately assess a developer’s expertise and skill set.

The Drupal ecosystem encompasses the extensive community, numerous modules, themes, and best practices that define how Drupal sites are built and maintained.

This knowledge ensures the developer can effectively utilise Drupal’s full potential, create scalable and secure solutions, and stay updated with the latest advancements and trends in the Drupal platform, ultimately contributing to the success of your project.

Step 3: Consider Your Budget

A clear and realistic budget helps you narrow down your options and ensures that you can afford the level of expertise and services you need. It’s important to account for not only the development cost of your Drupal website but also additional expenses such as design, third-party integrations, hosting, and ongoing maintenance.

Let us see how careful consideration of your budget impacts the success of your project:

• Freelance vs. Agency: Agencies offer a wider range of expertise but often come with a higher price tag. Freelancers can be more cost-effective, but their skillset might be more limited. Define your project needs and weigh the cost-benefit of each option based on your budget.
• Experience vs. Cost: Experienced developers naturally command higher rates. However, their efficiency and ability to avoid pitfalls can save you money in the long run. Balance the need for expertise with your budget constraints.
• Hourly Rates vs. Project-Based Pricing: Some developers offer hourly rates, while others provide fixed project-based pricing. Choose the pricing model that best suits your project size and risk tolerance.

Step 4: Craft a Compelling Job Description

A well-written job description attracts qualified candidates. It clearly outlines the project’s objectives, required skills, and specific responsibilities, helping attract qualified candidates who fit your needs.

The job description should detail essential technical skills for your project such as proficiency in Drupal modules, theming, and coding standards and soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and project management. You can include the following:

• Clearly Defined Requirements: Outline the functionalities you need for your website and the specific Drupal skills required (e.g., back-end development, experience with Drupal 9).
• Highlight Your Company Culture and Values: Don’t just list technical requirements. Briefly describe your company culture and values.
• Benefits and Growth Opportunities: Showcase the perks and professional development opportunities you offer to entice talented developers seeking a stimulating and rewarding work environment.

Avoid technical jargon that might alienate qualified candidates. Use clear, concise language that effectively communicates the project scope and the type of developer you’re seeking.

Step 5: Explore Hiring Options

Exploring different hiring options is crucial when trying to find the perfect Drupal developer for your website project.

This involves considering various sources and methods to find suitable candidates, such as freelance platforms, specialised job boards, development agencies, and referrals from your network. You can do the following in order to bring your perfect Drupal developer on board:

• Job Boards: Utilise platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, or even Drupal-specific job boards to post your job description and reach a wide range of developers.
• Freelance Marketplaces: Websites like Upwork or Fiverr offer a pool of freelance Drupal developers.
• Drupal Development Agencies: Partner with a Drupal agency that can provide access to a team of experienced developers with diverse skill sets (front-end, back-end, full-stack).

By thoroughly exploring these options, you can identify the most effective way to source talent, ensuring the best fit for your web development project.

Step 6: Prioritise Technical Expertise

Once you float your requirements online, you will start getting applications. Thus, it is time now to start the shortlisting process. There could be a list of strong portfolios in hand; however, evaluation of the technical expertise is crucial to ensure the success of the project.

In this step you thoroughly assess a candidate’s proficiency with Drupal’s core features, contributed modules, and custom development capabilities. You can do the assessment under following heads:

• Technical Skills Assessment: Utilise coding challenges or code reviews from the developer’s portfolio (GitHub profile) to evaluate their proficiency in relevant programming languages (PHP, JavaScript) and Drupal-specific tools.
• Experience with Your Chosen Drupal Version: Drupal has different versions (7, 8, 9) with varying functionalities. Ensure the developer has strong experience with the version you’re using or plan to migrate to.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Present a real-world Drupal-related scenario and assess their approach to tackling the challenge. This reveals their critical thinking skills and ability to find creative solutions.

By prioritising technical expertise, you’ll find a developer who can not only build your website but also navigate complexities, ensure long-term maintainability, and contribute to your website’s ongoing success.

Step 7: Assess Soft Skills

While technical proficiency is crucial, a developer’s soft skills—such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability—play a significant role in the project’s success.

Effective communication ensures that the developer can clearly understand your requirements, provide regular updates, and collaborate seamlessly with your team. Strong problem-solving skills enable the developer to tackle unexpected challenges and find innovative solutions.

Moreover, assessing their ability to work well in a team environment, manage time efficiently, and adapt to changing project needs can help ensure a smooth and productive development process.

Step 8: Conduct Interviews

This process allows you to measure candidates’ capabilities beyond their resumes and portfolios, providing insight into their technical skills, experience, and cultural fit.

During the interview, ask questions about their previous Drupal projects, specific challenges they’ve overcome, and their approach to problem-solving. Hence, this is how you can prepare for the perfect interview and selection process:

• Review Resumes and Portfolios: Carefully examine resumes for relevant experience and technical skills. Review portfolios to assess their work style and past projects (have they built similar websites?).
• Develop Interview Questions: Prepare a mix of technical and soft skill questions tailored to your project needs. Include questions about Drupal expertise, problem-solving scenarios, and their experience working within a team. (We have included the questionnaire for the reference further in this article).
• Structure the Interview: Plan a clear interview structure. Start with introductions, delve into technical skills assessment, evaluate soft skills through scenario-based questions, and allow time for the candidate’s questions.

By conducting well-structured interviews that delve into both technical expertise and soft skills, you’ll gain valuable insights into the candidate’s capabilities and cultural fit.

Step 9: Check References

The selection process doesn’t merely end with an interview. To gain the insights about the selected developer, it is highly crucial to check the references and testimonials, which involves contacting previous employers or clients to verify the candidate’s work history, skills, and professional behaviour.

By asking specific questions about the candidate’s or the selected Drupal agency’s performance on past projects, their problem-solving abilities, and how they handled challenges, you can better understand their capabilities and how they might be the right fit for your project.

Step 10: Make an Informed Decision

Making an informed decision is the final and most crucial step when selecting the best Drupal developer or a full-fledged Drupal firm for your website development project.

Take your time, carefully consider all aspects, and choose the candidate who best aligns with your technical needs and company culture. This informed decision ensures that you invest in a partnership that will deliver a robust, scalable, and user-friendly Drupal website.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect Drupal development partener to bring your vision to life.

What Question Should You Ask from Your Drupal Development Agency?

The above steps will help you in shortlisting and selecting the best Drupal developer for your business. However, before making the final choice, you must interview them to ensure you choose the right agency. For that, asking the right questions is the key.

Below are some essential questions to help you evaluate a Drupal development agency and determine if they are the right fit for your business. Keep this questionnaire handy while interacting with your potential Drupal development agency so that you don’t miss out anything:

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Hiring a Drupal Developer

Hiring a Drupal developer is a critical step in ensuring the success of your web project. However, there are several common mistakes that businesses often make during the hiring process. Avoiding these pitfalls can help you find the right developer and ensure a smooth development experience.

• Not Defining Clear Requirements

  One of the biggest mistakes is not having a clear and detailed project brief. Without well-defined requirements, you might end up hiring a developer whose skills do not match your needs. Clearly outline your project scope, desired features, budget, and timeline before you start the hiring process.

• Overlooking Experience and Expertise

  Choosing a developer without sufficient experience in Drupal can lead to subpar results. Ensure the developer has a proven track record with Drupal, including familiarity with its modules, themes, and best practices. Look for someone who has completed similar projects successfully.

• Ignoring Cultural Fit and Soft Skills

  Technical skills are crucial, but soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork are equally important. A developer who fits well with your company culture and can communicate effectively will likely be more collaborative and responsive to your needs.

• Focusing Solely on Cost

  While budget considerations are important, choosing the cheapest option can be detrimental. Quality often comes at a price, and hiring a low-cost developer may result in higher costs in the long run due to poor-quality work and the need for extensive revisions.

• Not Checking References and Portfolios

  Failing to review a developer’s portfolio and check references is a common oversight. Portfolios provide insight into their capabilities and style, while references can offer firsthand accounts of their reliability, work ethic, and professionalism.

• Skipping Technical Assessments

  Relying solely on resumes and interviews without conducting technical assessments can lead to hiring someone who lacks practical skills. Implement coding tests, technical questions, and small project trials to evaluate their proficiency in real-world scenarios.

• Not Establishing Clear Communication Channels

  Effective communication is key to a successful project. Ensure that you establish clear communication channels and protocols from the outset. Regular updates, progress reports, and feedback loops help keep the project on track and address any issues promptly.

Conclusion

Recruiting the perfect Drupal developer requires a strategic approach.

By clearly defining your project requirements, evaluating technical skills and cultural fit, and avoiding common pitfalls, you’ll be well-positioned to find a talented developer who can translate your vision into a powerful and impactful Drupal website that propels your business forward.

Remember, investing in a professional Drupal development agency is an asset for the business as their expertise can contribute significantly to your online success. Thus, if you have a vision to build a high-performing, engaging and conversant website, then hiring a Drupal firm is the right decision.