How To Find A Kotlin Developer: A Recruitment Guide

Facing tight deadlines for mobile app development? We excel at finding top-notch Kotlin developers, conducting thorough technical screenings, and presenting you with qualified candidates right on schedule! Up to six resumes from the ITExpert team are needed to choose who to give an offer to.

Here we share insights on hiring Kotlin developers to streamline your decision-making process.

Candidate portrait: what to expect from a Kotlin Developer — their job duties and skill set

A Kotlin developer specializes in creating software products using Kotlin, a modern JVM language. Kotlin is most often used in mobile application development and less often in backend programming in other products or Data Science. Its benefits include its cross-platform capabilities, security, ease of use, and robust support.

Kotlin is particularly popular for Android app development, but there’s a growing trend of using it for backend development, often in combination with Java. This approach is common in startups where the team is open to experimenting and has the expertise to manage it effectively.

Published apps on the Google Play Store are a great start, but what other skills should you look for on a Kotlin developer’s resume? Here are the key ones:

1. Deep Experience with Kotlin and other Languages. According to Dou’s research, only 16% of Android developers are exclusively proficient in Kotlin. Most often, it’s combined with Java, Swift, and other development languages.

2. Android SDK and Kotlin Standard Library: Proficiency with these toolkits is essential for simplifying the creation and testing of Android applications.

3. API and networking: Knowledge of JSON/REST or OkHttp/Retrofit libraries is crucial.

4. Reactive Programming Tools: Experience with RxKotlin, RxJava, and similar tools is valuable.

5. Proficiency in working with local databases (e.g. SQLite or Realm).

6. Implementation of Device Features: Depending on your project needs, experience with GPS, gyroscope, camera, and other mobile solutions is important. 

7. Knowledge of OOP and SOLID Principles.

8. Version Control Systems: Proficiency with tools like Git (a system for project version control). This is a basic skill that almost every developer has, it doesn’t complicate the search.

9. CI/CD Processes: While not always mandatory, understanding continuous integration and continuous deployment processes is a nice-to-have.

When selecting middle/senior Kotlin developers, focus not only on the years of experience but also on the quality of that experience. Look for candidates with strong backgrounds in reactive programming, asynchronous programming techniques, and local database usage.

Mykola Kliestov

CTO and co-founder at ITExpert

“There are three main markers for Kotlin Android developer vacancies that work with the modern stack:

• Reactive Programming Experience (RxKotlin): This is essential for creating interactive and modern interfaces.
• Asynchronous Development: Look for candidates with knowledge of Kotlin Coroutines to handle asynchronous tasks efficiently.
• Local Databases: If you need to develop a full-fledged mobile application that works offline, experience with local databases is crucial. The most modern solution is Realm, but previously companies favored SQLite.

These skills help identify the most senior candidates by focusing on the quality of their experience. However, be cautious not to inflate the requirements unnecessarily, as this could reduce the number of applicants for your vacancies.”

Top 3 tips for hiring a Kotlin developer

#1 Define a candidate portrait

Create a list of must-have and nice-to-have requirements. Decide in advance what the selection stages will be. Consider how to assess the soft skills of an IT specialist and what criteria you will use to select a finalist candidate.

#2 Look across different platforms

To attract IT talent, search on various platforms. Useful resources include:

• LinkedIn: A professional social network where experts detail their experience.

❗️ However, be cautious as LinkedIn imposes restrictions on the number of accounts viewed or messages sent. Your profile can be blocked for suspicious activity.

• Wellfound, Djinni, and other IT job sites: You can post jobs on these platforms, process incoming applications, or make direct offers to suitable candidates.

• Niche resources: Even on Google Play, you can find mobile app developers by filtering by tags and location.

#3 Give the offer to the best specialist

After interviewing Kotlin developers, provide feedback to the candidates and choose who you want to invite to the team. Try to give feedback quickly. According to Zety, 60% of candidates will stop communicating with a company if the recruiting process is too long and confusing.

Once you’ve got an offer, the job is not over! You are supposed to handle objections from candidates and possible counteroffers and ensure you stand out from your competitors to successfully fill the vacancy.

Entrust your search for Kotlin developers to ITExpert recruitment agency

Looking to hire a Kotlin developer? It’s not an easy task, but we can help! Since 2015, ITExpert IT recruiting agency has been sourcing tech and non-tech IT specialists for companies in Ukraine and worldwide, from the USA to Israel. Among our clients are Sony, Deloitte, and Depositphotos. 

We handle the entire process, including forming the vacancy requirements, assessing the market, and setting up a targeted search for specialists. Our services include initial selection, technical screening, and support during onboarding and adaptation of new team members.

We are just one click away from adding skilled specialists to your team — contact us to discuss your recruitment details!