How to hire a Ruby developer

A Ruby developer can help your business create web apps and automations to streamline your internal processes and increase productivity. They can also build an interactive website that your customers love to use.

Hiring a skilled web developer will ensure your site never suffers from downtime or bugs that can harm productivity and drive away customers. It’s important to know what skills to look for and where to find top developers before diving into your hiring campaign.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to hire the right Ruby developer for your business.

What you need to know before hiring a Ruby developer

Think carefully about what you need from a Ruby developer before starting your hiring process. Pay special attention to the following:

Ruby vs. Ruby on Rails

It’s easy to get confused about whether you need a Ruby developer or a Ruby on Rails developer.

Ruby is a scripting language that can be used for creating static websites, basic web apps, and process automations. Ruby on Rails is a web application framework written in Ruby that’s typically used for creating more advanced web apps.

Most Ruby developers are also proficient in Ruby on Rails. But if your goal is to create a complex and highly interactive web app, then you may want to focus on hiring a Ruby on Rails developer.

Project duration

Some complex web projects built with Ruby or Ruby on Rails require a full-time developer to maintain and update them. But you may not need to hire a permanent employee for a simple project like a static website or landing page. In that case, you could save money in the long run by hiring a part-time developer or independent contractor.

Keep in mind that if you do hire a contractor, you’ll need to go through the process of hiring a developer again the next time you have a project that requires Ruby code. So, think carefully about your business’s future software development needs.

Compensation and benefits

You’ll need to offer a competitive salary to hire an expert developer. As a reference, Ruby developers earn a median salary of $108,642 per year according to Glassdoor.

Remember that this median salary doesn’t include benefits like health insurance or matching retirement contributions, which can significantly increase a developer’s overall compensation. Many developers also prioritize non-monetary benefits like paid time off and remote or hybrid work options when considering whether to apply for a role.

Skills to look for in a Ruby developer

Here are some of the most important skills you should look for when hiring a Ruby developer. 

• Ruby proficiency: Candidates should know how to use the Ruby programming language to build websites, create automations, and process data.

• Ruby on Rails experience: A developer who knows Ruby on Rails can build more complex and dynamic web apps. Check out our guide to junior Ruby on Rails developer skills for more information about what to look for.

• HTML and CSS proficiency: Many websites built with Ruby also use HTML and CSS. Top Ruby developers should be confident at coding in these languages.

• Clean coding: Applicants should be able to write clean Ruby code that other developers can easily understand and maintain.

• Collaboration: Ruby developers often need to work collaboratively with user experience and user interface designers, other programmers, and project managers. Candidates should be comfortable working in teams and have strong interpersonal skills.

Where to find skilled Ruby developers

Top Ruby developers need to know that you’re hiring in order to apply for your role. Here are some places you can share your Ruby developer job description and network with potential applicants.

Online job boards

Posting about your Ruby developer role on online job boards like ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and Indeed is a great place to start your recruitment efforts. Many experienced programmers who are searching for their next job monitor these sites for openings.

GitHub

GitHub is a popular code-sharing platform that’s frequently used by Ruby developers. You can browse the code library to see who has contributed Ruby code and actually examine their work. If you find a skilled Ruby developer, you can connect with them on GitHub and invite them to apply for your open position.

Reddit

The social media site Reddit has a dedicated forum for Ruby developers. This is a great place to network with skilled developers. The forum also has a weekly thread for job posts where you can advertise your role.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is another good place to network with Ruby developers online. You can explore developers’ resumes and see their past work experience, then message them to invite them to apply for your job. There’s also a Ruby Jobs group with more than 14,000 members where you can post your job description.

Freelance marketplaces

If you need a freelance Ruby developer rather than a full-time employee, consider posting your job description on a freelance marketplace like Upwork. Many self-employed programmers look for work on these marketplaces. You may even be able to establish an ongoing relationship with a contract developer to help you with any future projects.

Two creative ways to find Ruby developer candidates

Thinking outside the box can help you recruit a larger and more diverse pool of Ruby developer applicants. Here are two creative ideas to try:

1. Post your job on social media

Your business’s social media accounts are probably speaking to customers, not Ruby developers. But one of your followers may have a family member or friend who’s a Ruby developer that they can refer to your company.

You don’t need to post your full job description on social media. Simply let your audience know that you want to hire a Ruby developer and post a link where they can send someone they know to learn more.

2. Network at software conferences

Software conferences are often brimming with skilled Ruby developers and offer a great opportunity for networking. You may find the perfect candidate or at least build a network of developers you can reach out to the next time you need to hire.

There are many software conferences that host Ruby developers, including RubyConf, RailsConf, and Developer Week. There are also online conferences you can attend if you don’t have the bandwidth to attend an event in person.

How to select the best Ruby developer candidates

After you’ve assembled an applicant pool, the next step is to quickly find the best candidates to move on to the next round of your hiring process. The best approach is to use a combination of technical skills tests, soft skills tests, personality tests, and custom interview questions.

TestGorilla makes this stage of the hiring process easy with its library of more than 390 expert-designed tests. You’ll find programming tests focused on coding algorithms in Ruby, debugging Ruby code, and Ruby on Rails. TestGorilla also has tests for other important skills like HTML and CSS programming, clean coding, and using GitHub.

You can also use TestGorilla to better understand applicants’ soft skills. It offers tests for problem-solving, attention to detail, communication, and prioritization.

Personality tests, including an Enneagram test, help you fully understand your candidates and how they’ll integrate into your existing team.

You can create a custom assessment with up to five tests, plus add your own one-way interview questions. Custom interview questions are a great way to learn more about developers’ approach to work and programming style. Check out our guide to Ruby on Rails interview questions for ideas about what questions to include in your assessment.

Common mistakes when hiring a Ruby developer

Avoid these common mistakes in your hiring process to ensure you get the best Ruby developer:

Focusing only on coding skills

It’s easy to focus only on how adept a developer is at writing code in Ruby and forget that there’s much more to their job than simply coding. Ruby developers also need to meet deadlines, work with other developers, follow project managers’ instructions, and more. So, developers need to have strong soft skills in addition to excellent programming skills. 

TestGorilla makes it easy to avoid this pitfall and evaluate candidates’ soft skills during your hiring process. There are dozens of soft skill tests and personality tests that you can include in an assessment alongside programming tests. You can also add interview questions that ask about soft skills, such as whether a developer enjoys working on team projects.

Underselling your company

Remember that the hiring process isn’t a one-way street. Just as you’re looking for the best Ruby developer, top developers are looking for the best place to work.

So, it’s important to advertise the benefits of working for your company throughout the hiring process. Don’t hesitate to mention the perks you can offer, such as a competitive salary, remote or hybrid work arrangements, and generous paid time off. If you have a strong company culture, tell candidates about it during your interview process.

Hire a top Ruby developer with TestGorilla

A Ruby developer can help you build web apps and automations that boost your team’s productivity. They can also create user-friendly websites that your customers will love.

It’s important to get the right Ruby developer for your open role. A developer who lacks programming skills can leave you with a buggy web app, while one who lacks soft skills can hamper productivity and cause conflicts in your team.

Hiring a Ruby developer starts with understanding your business’s needs, writing a compelling job description, and recruiting applicants. You can then TestGorilla to assess applicants’ Ruby programming skills and soft skills and quickly narrow your applicant pool to the best candidates.

Create your first TestGorilla assessment for free or sign up for a product tour to learn more about how TestGorilla can help you hire the right Ruby developer.