Let’s get this out of the way right now: if you think hiring a mobile app developer is as simple as tossing a job post into the wind and waiting for resumes to rain down like confetti – well, bless your heart.
Because hiring the right developer – especially one who works magic with Xamarin, that clever little cross-platform wizardry framework – is like trying to find someone who can juggle flaming swords, blindfolded, while quoting Shakespeare. In Mandarin.
Alright, maybe not that hard. But close.
So, here you are. You’ve got an idea. It’s burning a hole in your mind. Maybe it’s an app to help people find their lost cats. Or order bespoke socks. Or maybe you just want to modernize your logistics platform that’s been duct-taped together since 2007.
Whatever the case, you’re ready to build. You just need the right person – or a team of similar-minded individuals – to build it.
Here’s your not-so-boring guide to how to hire Xamarin developers without pulling out your hair, losing your wallet, or swearing off technology altogether.
What in the World is Xamarin?
Ah, Xamarin. The name sounds like a minor Star Trek character, but it’s actually a Microsoft-owned framework that lets developers write a single codebase in C# and run it on both iOS and Android. That is its USP, it runs on both the dominant OSs in the world.
You read that right: write once, deploy twice. That means less duplication, lower costs, and fewer late-night coding marathons. It’s the golden goose of mobile app development.
But to make this goose lay golden eggs, you need someone who knows their way around Xamarin’s quirky corridors – an expert mobile app developer who’s not just winging it.
So, Who Should You Actually Be Looking For?
Here’s the funny thing: anyone can claim that they’re a Xamarin developer! Slap it on a resume. Mention C#. Drop a few GitHub links. Boom. But that doesn’t mean they can actually build something that works, looks good, and doesn’t explode when someone taps the back button too quickly.
So, what should you look for?
1. Deep Proficiency in C#
Xamarin runs on C#, and C# is not the kind of language you dabble in like a weekend hobby. It’s like owning a chainsaw; you either know how to handle it, or you lose a limb.
When you hire Xamarin developers, make sure they live and breathe C#. Ask for real-world experience—projects that solved business problems, not just “Hello World” apps.
2. Xamarin.Forms vs Xamarin.Native? They Should Know Both.
Xamarin comes in two flavors:
Xamarin.Native: Great for apps that need platform-specific designs and performance.
Xamarin.Forms: Perfect for apps where code-sharing and speed-to-market are key.
A good developer knows when to use which. A great one knows how to blend the two. If your candidate can’t explain the difference without Googling it mid-interview, that’s a red flag the size of a suburban Walmart.
3. UI/UX Sensibilities
Let’s face it: no one wants to use an app that looks like it was designed by a grumpy accountant in 1998. Or even 2008 for that matter! Your Xamarin developer should understand modern UI/UX principles. They should talk about user flow, accessibility, responsive design, and not just “buttons” and “labels.”
Remember, you’re not just hiring a coder. You’re hiring someone to craft a user experience.
Don’t Just Hire! Hire Remote Staff the Smart Way
Now that remote work is as common as bad Wi-Fi, you’re not limited to who lives within a 20-minute drive of your office anymore. You can and should hire remote staff to tap into global talent, especially if you’re looking for someone with Xamarin experience.
But – and this is a big “but” – remote hiring has its quirks.
1. Look for Time Zone Compatibility
You don’t want to wait 16 hours for a reply to “Hey, can you fix that bug?”
Look for overlap in working hours so collaboration doesn’t turn into Morse code messages sent across time zones.
2. Prioritize Communication Skills
It’s not just about English proficiency. It’s about clarity, responsiveness, and the ability to explain techy stuff without sounding like a malfunctioning robot. Great remote developers are usually great communicators.
3. Test Before You Invest
Do a paid test project. Nothing crazy—maybe a small module or a UI mock-up. This gives you a taste of how your candidate works without committing to a full-time salary or—worse—a six-month ghosting session.
Where to Actually Find These Elusive Xamarin Unicorns?
Look, job boards are fine. But they’re a bit like dating apps. You get a lot of matches, but most of them ghost you or show up with experience that doesn’t quite match their profile picture.
Instead, try:
- Specialized remote staffing platforms that vet candidates for you. Like our company, Remote Resource™. Get a week’s free trial while you’re at it! Both part-time and full-time hires available.
- LinkedIn and GitHub, where you can stalk, er—review—real project history.
- Referrals from developers you trust.
You can even hire Xamarin developers from offshore teams who’ve already built several cross-platform apps. Like our experts have. Bonus: they often come bundled with project managers and QA testers, so you’re not flying solo.
Interview Questions to Separate the Code-Slingers from the Keyboard-Mashers
Ask questions like:
- “Walk me through the last cross-platform app you built in Xamarin.”
- “How do you handle performance issues in Xamarin.Forms?”
- “Have you worked with custom renderers?”
- “How do you debug on both iOS and Android?”
And the kicker:
5. “How do you keep your coffee consumption under control while waiting for iOS builds?”
Beware the Buzzwords
Watch out for developers who talk in abstract concepts but can’t back them up. If they use phrases like “synergistic full-stack mobile integration pipelines” without a trace of irony, be suspicious.
Real expert mobile app developers speak clearly and directly. They know their stuff, and they explain it like a human. If they sound like a motivational poster taped to a server rack, keep scrolling.
What About Cost?
Ah yes, the burning question: how much will it cost to hire Xamarin developers?
Well, here’s the short answer: it depends.
> Hiring locally for expert mobile app developers in the U.S. or Western Europe? Expect to pay a premium.
> Hiring offshore, especially if you hire remote staff from regions like India? You get high-quality work at a significantly lower rate.
And if you’re thinking cheaper means worse, think again. There are some mind-blowingly talented Xamarin developers out there who just happen to live where lattes cost $1 and rent isn’t soul-crushing, you see.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Hire. Build
At the end of the day, you’re not just looking to hire Xamarin developers who can write lines of code. You’re building something bigger: a product, a company, a solution to a real problem.
So don’t rush. Don’t compromise. Take the time to vet, test, and communicate. Because that’s what the best & most tech-savvy expert mobile app developers do.
And when you find that unicorn Xamarin dev – who understands code, design, deadlines, and decency – hold onto them. Pay them well. Let them do their thing.
Because cross-platform dreams don’t build themselves.
