Are you planning to hire new developers for your company?

There are many ways to start your hiring journey, but if you want to find the best talent, you need to look beyond the usual places. Most recruiters stick to common platforms, missing out on exceptional candidates.

What are these? Let's learn about the 5 overlooked areas where you can find talents that others don't even know about.

5 Proven Sourcing Hacks to Find Developers

Beyond the usual hiring platforms, there are smart sourcing hacks that many companies often overlook. Here are the key sources that can help you reach skilled developers faster and more effectively–

1. Using a Sourcing Tool

When you manually search for talent, it takes time and often misses hidden talent who are actively not looking for jobs.

But there are modern sourcing and recruiting tools that can help you find those people. These tools help people to find and connect with the right candidates in a fraction of the time.

You can even pre-prepare your hiring pipeline, communicate, and arrange interviews using these tools.

One great example of these modern hiring tools is Airwork AI.

Here’s why we are talking about Airwork AI beyond others:

• Pre-vetted talent pool: Gives access to 10,000+ verified candidate profiles that include skilled developers who are ready to be hired.

• Smart search filters: Allow hirers to narrow their search by skills, experience, and project fit, saving hours of manual screening in hiring software engineers.

• Built-in communication: It provides built-in communication systems that let you connect directly with candidates. You can even arrange interviews within this platform without relying on other tools.

• Faster hiring: Reduces the hiring time by matching with candidates who already fit your open roles and company culture.

Interested in exploring how this platform works? Check this video:

Fix your Technical Hiring | Airwork AI | Hire top 1% tech talent

2. Search on Freelance Platforms

Recruiters often ignore freelance platforms, but they are a goldmine for finding talented professionals, such as software developers. Even many experienced developers prefer freelance work because it offers flexibility and the chance to work on diverse projects.

One of the best parts of this hiring source is that developers on freelance platforms already have hands-on experience in handling real projects. That means you can source experts who are more adaptable and problem-solving-oriented.

Here’s how you can make the most of freelance platforms:

• Look for consistent project ratings and client feedback to identify reliable developers.

• Reach out to freelancers who have long-term clients or strong portfolios. They often make great full-time hires.

• Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal can help you evaluate real-world skills from completed projects.

3. Linked Keyword

Unlike freelance platforms, LinkedIn offers a great way to connect and learn about various talents. It’s a hub for beginners and experts alike. Whatever your employment type is, you can find talented people on LinkedIn.

However, Developers use many technical terms in their profiles. But not everyone uses the exact words to describe their skills. That’s why using keywords while searching for new hires helps a lot.

Instead of searching for common job titles, use a mix of related keywords like React Developer, Node.js Engineer, or Python Backend that developers use themselves.

4. Join the Developers Community

One of the most overlooked areas to find expert developers is the developer community.

Developers often hang out in online communities to discuss projects, share ideas, and learn new things. These spaces are great for finding passionate, skilled professionals who love what they do.

Communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, Reddit’s r/programming, and Discord groups are also great places to start.

Here’s how you can use a Developer community effectively:

• Join conversations and share insights rather than just posting job links.

• Follow active contributors who provide valuable answers or share innovative code.

• Observe projects that developers contribute to. It gives you a real sense of their abilities.

5. Find From Events and Meetups

Local hackathons, coding challenges, and meetups are another great way to hire software engineers.

You can even connect with local developers at events and meetups who can help you find people who are currently available for work or can refer you to people like this.

You can get updates on these local events and meetups from their respective social media channels, such as Facebook Events or LinkedIn.

Start Your Journey To Find Developers Others Can’t See

Everyone follows the traditional way while hiring software engineers. They post circulars on Job boards or share open positions on social media.

But there are smarter ways nowadays, like using dedicated hiring software or using a freelance worker’s platform.

There are smarter ways to find them now. Dedicated hiring platforms and freelance networks make the search faster and more focused. Leverage the tips we discussed today to make smarter hiring decisions.

FAQs on Sourcing Hacks

1. What is developer sourcing?

Developer sourcing is the process of finding and engaging skilled developers before they actively apply for jobs.

2. What’s the fastest way to reach top developers?

Use of AI-powered sourcing tools and connecting in online communities is the fastest way to engage and connect with developers.

3. Where can I find developers besides LinkedIn?

You can explore sites like GitHub, Stack Overflow, Reddit, Discord, and freelance platforms like Upwork or Toptal to find developers.