Many industries are primed to benefit from staff augmentation, none more so than the IT sector. Whether you need help with a particular project or want outside assistance in the longer term, there are many benefits of staff augmentation when you work with a top outsourcing company like BairesDev.
But if you do decide to look for outside software developers and technology talent to join your in-house staff, what qualifications should you look for? From knowledge of programming languages to soft skills like communication, these are the top skills to consider.
In-House Development Team Vs IT Staff Augmentation
IT staff augmentation means you’re working with an outsourcing company, which will find talent to join your in-house team to complete projects or assist you as needed on an on-demand basis. This model offers numerous benefits to teams of all types and sizes, such as:
- A reduced price tag due to no need for onboarding or overhead costs, among other factors
- The ability to fill in talent gaps
- Access to specialized skill sets
- Talent when you need it
Key IT Staff Augmentation Skillsets
These are the most important skills to look for in IT professionals.
#1 Programming Languages
One of the most important skills for any IT project is knowledge of top programming languages. This is critical for maintaining technologies as well as building new ones throughout the development cycle.
The top programming languages for this include:
Python
A high-level programming language, Python is enormously popular for numerous use cases, including web applications, desktop software, and complex games. Instagram, Google, and Spotify are just some of the applications built with Python.
Why is Python so popular? It’s readable, for one. It’s also supported by many libraries and frameworks, which reduce development time and effort. Finally, it’s easy to learn and use, as well as scalable.
JavaScript
JavaScript is ubiquitous in web development. In fact, it’s perhaps the most popular language in the world. While it’s traditionally been used in front-end development, it’s gaining prominence as a server-side scripting language as well.
This is an important language for staff augmentation companies to leverage because it enables web developers to create interactive, feature-laden websites and applications.
Java
Java is an important language for software developers because of its many qualities and use cases, such as its widespread use in the world of enterprise applications. The object-oriented, languages offers features like memory allocation and garbage collection and has a low learning curve. Additionally, it’s platform-independent, enabling developers to work across operating systems and environments.
Java is an official language for Android. It’s also used to build web servers, eCommerce web applications, and more.
C#
The C family has stood the test of time. C itself dates back to the early 1970s and is the foundation for programming languages like C++ and C#.
There are numerous benefits to C#, such as:
- Integration with Microsoft technologies like Windows, Visual Studio, and Azure
- Versatility and popularity
- Ease of use
- Application to game development with Unity
#2 Web Development
Practically every business today needs a good website. Staff augmentation companies are in a prime position to build sites and maintain them for a variety of companies, and that’s why web development skills are so important.
Front-end development
Front-end development refers to the part of websites users see and interact with. Developers who specialize in this area should know languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They should also understand responsive design principles so they can create sites that are appealing and respond to user needs.
Additionally, there are accessibility considerations. It’s important for users with a variety of backgrounds and abilities to be able to access different aspects of the website.
Alt text, for example, refers to text that describes visual components of websites, such as images and videos. These tags help users with visual impairments understand the context of the images.
Back-end development
Back-end development involves building the infrastructure and behind-the-scenes aspects of the website. Back-end developers should know server-side programming languages like Python, Ruby, and PHP, along with database management systems such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. API development and integration are also important principles.
Backend and frontend developers generally work closely together, so they’ll need to collaborate and communicate well.
#3 Mobile App Development
There’s a growing demand for mobile app developers, as the demand for these apps grows as well. Here, we’ll look at iOS and Android development separately because these two domains require different technical skills.
iOS Development
iOS development requires knowledge of Swift—the chief programming language for Apple products. Additionally, these mobile developers should know how to use Apple’s development tools and frameworks, such as Zcode and UIKit.
Android Development
Java and Kotlin are the official languages for Android development, so programmers in this space need to know the ins and outs of these tools. They should also have Android Studio and Google’s development tools in their arsenal.
#4 Cloud Computing and DevOps
Cloud computing is increasingly important in the IT and software development space. Additionally, many businesses are embracing DevOps principles in their projects. Here, we’ll take a closer look at these two concepts.
Cloud platforms
Cloud platforms are computing platforms that provide a variety of services, including storage, networking, and more. They can be accessed anywhere, as long as the user has an internet connection.
Examples of cloud platforms include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
DevOps practices
DevOps is a set of principles blending software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops). The goal is to improve quality and increase speed through principles like:
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Automation
- Continuous improvement/continuous deployment (CI/CD)
- Infrastructure as code (IaC)
- Containerization and orchestration
- Monitoring and feedback
#5 Cybersecurity
As cybercrime becomes more ubiquitous, IT teams need to ramp up their skills and specializations to mount defenses.
Network security
Cybersecurity requires a multifaceted approach. Let’s start with network security. There are many entities and principles involved in this concept, beginning with an adherence to secure network design principles.
Additionally, teams should make good use of firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection systems.
Application security
Security principles are also important for the applications you create, too. Secure coding practices are critical for building secure software. Additionally, organizations must create a strong foundation.
Security frameworks and standards, such as OWASP and ISO 27001, are important for shaping this type of foundation. Moreover, augmented staff and teams should conduct vulnerability assessments, which identify weaknesses before problems escalate.
Penetration testing is another important part of software development. This involves testing products to identify vulnerabilities that cybercriminal could exploit and addressing them before they become problems.
Soft Skills
IT staff augmentation teams need a variety of soft skills to complete projects. These interpersonal abilities and personal attributes improve project flow and success. Important soft skills in the software development cycle and IT projects include:
#1 Communication
Any team demands strong written and verbal communication skills, and the IT sector is no different. This is critical for solving problems, brainstorming ideas, and working together as a unit.
Collaboration is closely related to communication. This, too, is essential for IT workflows. Every team member needs to be able to collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders.
#2 Problem-solving
Problem-solving is essential in tech. Teams frequently encounter issues, and it’s important for professionals to think analytically and find creative solutions.
Additionally, teams need to be able to troubleshoot efficiently and debug technologies quickly and seamlessly.
#3 Adaptability
The technology world is ever-changing, and IT professionals must be able to learn new tools quickly. Adaptability also relates to flexibility in changing project requirements—it’s important to understand how to adapt.
#4 Time management
Time is of the essence when it comes to technology projects. IT professionals must be able to prioritize, organize, and meet project deadlines.
Hiring an In-house Team Vs Staff Augmentation Services
There are many benefits to staff augmentation vs. consulting or hiring an in-house team. But it’s not an either-or scenario. You may have an in-house team that’s lacking key specializations, so you bring in additional staff to fill in the gaps. Or, you need extra talent to ramp up a project and complete it more quickly. You’ll still keep your existing staff while augmenting your team with outside talent.
Conclusion
Successful IT staff augmentation demands numerous technical and soft skills, from knowledge of tools to communication, collaboration, and time management.
Remember this is a team effort, and every team member must have a well-rounded skill set. Software developers and IT professionals work together to bring projects to fruition, and they must hone their qualifications and skills to ensure that they are positively contributing to their team and environment.
