Hiring talented developers is no small feat, especially at an executive level where reliability and fit are crucial.
When you're looking to expand your team with skilled coders, you're likely facing challenges in finding people who are not only technically sound but also embody the right behavioral traits.
For this reason, we've created a —a tool that helps hiring managers identify candidates who will thrive in any team.
However, if you want to speed things up, you can hire one of our vetted remote developers who can join your team in 24 hours. We also offer a 30-day trial period to ensure quality with no risk.
How the Competency-Based Framework Was Developed
Our framework was not developed overnight. It’s the result of years of experience working in recruitment across diverse international markets.
At the heart of this framework is the work done by our in-house psychology scholars and recruiters. Our professionals have a deep understanding of what makes teams function smoothly and what behavioral traits are most likely to lead to success.
For years, we have been deeply engaged with the USA, EU, and Balkan markets, hiring across Serbia, Croatia, and beyond. We have also expanded our efforts to Germany, Spain, Great Britain, and the USA, recruiting highly skilled developers in both regions.
Our experience spans both tech and non-tech roles, covering various technologies such as JavaScript, Shopify, Java, and more while working with leading industry brands like Calendly and Enjoy Good Health.
Our experience in working with Serbian developers, in particular, has shown us the importance of understanding cultural nuances, along with technical abilities.
By combining psychological insights and real-world recruitment needs, we’ve that simplifies the process for hiring managers.
It provides you with a clear, reliable way to evaluate a candidate's behavior and ensure they are the right fit for your team—whether you're hiring remote developers or expanding an existing group.
Who Can Benefit from This Framework?
This is particularly valuable for startups in the EU and USA that are just beginning to form their teams.
When you’re building your core team, it’s crucial to hire the right people from the start—developers who are not only technically proficient but also aligned with your company’s culture and vision.
Build international team
Build an international team easily by assessing competencies with , or contact us for a free consultation.
This framework gives you a clear roadmap for identifying the behaviors that lead to long-term success, helping you build a strong foundation for your startup.
While startups will find this tool especially useful, it is also effective for scaling businesses, SMEs, and large enterprises.
Whether you're adding remote developers to an established team or looking to enhance team dynamics, the competencies outlined in this guide ensure you hire developers who can contribute meaningfully to your projects and adapt to your evolving needs.
Learn how we can better assist you if you're a startup in the EU or USA just beginning to form your team by booking a free consultation call.
Why Behavioral Competencies Matter
When you're hiring remote developers, you're not just hiring someone to code. You're hiring a teammate, a communicator, and someone who will shape your company's future.
Behavioral competencies determine how well a person can integrate into your team, adapt to challenges, and contribute to your company’s growth.
Below is a breakdown of the competencies covered in our downloadable guide, categorized into five essential areas: Team Orientation, Communication, Passion & Learning, Problem-solving, and Agility.
Each section is designed to provide insight into how to evaluate and hire the best remote talent for your business.
Team Orientation (Support, Collaboration, Building Relationships, Attitude & Respect)
Communication (Presenting, Reporting, Articulation, Active Listening, Tactfulness, Adaptive Communication)
Passion & Learning (Proactivity, Intrinsic Motivation, Curiosity, Commitment, Strive for Excellence, Self-Awareness, Professional Development)
Problem-Solving (Conceptualizing, Innovation, Problem Identification, Evaluating, Research & Resourcefulness, Out-of-the-Box Thinking, Forecasting, Analyzing, Determination)
Agility (Adaptability, Fast Learning Ability, Coping, Openness to New Ideas, Receptiveness to Feedback, Empathy)
Leadership (People Management, Project Management, Decision Making, Initiating Action & Improvements, Leading & Supporting Others, Mentoring, Driving Vision, Integrity, Strategic Thinking, Responsibility.
Competencies That Shape Great Developers
Let's go through each competence briefly, and stress why it is important!
Team Orientation
Remote developers often work without constant supervision. That's why team orientation matters. Traits like collaboration, building relationships, and respect are vital to creating a cohesive, supportive work environment.
Communication
Whether your developer is writing reports or presenting ideas, clear and adaptive communication is key. A strong communicator will not only get the job done but also contribute ideas and solutions that propel your team forward.
Passion & Learning
Proactive developers with a thirst for knowledge are invaluable. The most successful coders for hire are those who take the initiative to grow and adapt. Passionate developers are driven by curiosity and a desire to learn continuously, which makes them key contributors in remote settings.
Download the crafted eBook for free
✓Assess developers' Team Orientation, Communication, Passion, Learning, and more,
✓ Ideal for internal and external selection processes,
✓ Useful for in-house assessment of the employees,
✓ Handy for starting a new team and cross-culture hiring
Problem-Solving
Every project faces roadblocks. Developers who are natural problem-solvers, especially those who can think critically and “outside the box,” will not only find solutions but anticipate potential challenges before they occur.
Agility
In a rapidly changing environment, adaptability is crucial. Developers who learn quickly and are open to new ideas can take your project to the next level. Empathy, coupled with an openness to feedback, ensures that they work well with diverse teams and stakeholders, even in different timezones.
Leadership
Lastly, leadership competencies shouldn't be overlooked. Whether the developer is directly managing a project or leading a small team, traits like decision-making, integrity, and strategic thinking can make a huge difference in their overall impact on your company.
Developers who take ownership of their tasks and show initiative are more likely to innovate and drive success. That’s why we’ve included leadership competencies in our framework.
Even if you’re not hiring for a leadership role, it’s valuable to identify these traits early on. These are the people who will grow within your company and eventually take on more responsibility.
How to Use This Framework?
This framework is detailed yet easy to understand and simple for your convenience. For each skill, you'll find a brief description, followed by positive indicators of good performance and negative indicators of poor performance. Here is an example:
When to Use It?
Use it to identify behavioral traits that align with your company culture and the specific demands of your projects.
Here are a few examples of when hiring managers might find the useful:
Screening Remote Developers: You're interviewing a remote developer who seems highly skilled technically, but you're unsure if they have the right attitude or communication skills for remote work. By referring to the competencies outlined in the , you can ask targeted questions about adaptability, self-motivation, and proactive communication.
Building a New Team: When you're tasked with building a new team from scratch, it can be challenging to ensure everyone will work well together. on competencies like collaboration, problem-solving, and team orientation to hire developers who will fit seamlessly into the group dynamic.
Hiring Across Cultures: If you're hiring internationally or expanding into new markets, cultural differences can affect how team members collaborate. The guide gives you a framework for assessing key traits like empathy, adaptability, and open-mindedness, which are essential when managing a multicultural remote team.
Refining Your Interview Process: You may already have a technical interview process in place, but you're struggling to assess candidates' soft skills. structure behavioral interview questions and use role-play scenarios that reveal deeper insights into how candidates approach communication, teamwork, and leadership.
Evaluating Existing Team Members: It’s not just for new hires. You can also and identify areas for growth. For example, you may find that someone excels in technical problem-solving but lacks in collaboration. The eBook provides you with a clear framework to guide professional development plans.
Ensuring Long-Term Fit: You're looking for candidates who will stay with your company long-term. that you hire people who are not only a fit for your current needs but will grow with your company over time.
We’ve made it easy for you. The we’ve created covers all of these competencies in detail, giving you a reliable framework for hiring remote developers and coders who will elevate your team.
Remote Developer Screening
Team Formation
Cross-Cultural Hiring
Interview Process Improvement
Current Team Evaluation
Long-Term Fit Assessment
Are There Any Other [Free Materials] That I Can Use?
Of course, we are more than happy to share our knowledge with you. From our experience, every step of the selection process is important. That's why we gathered our team members to ensure the best content and guidance from headhunting to the selection process.
Our extensive experience has shown that both the technical and cultural aspects of the process are equally important, as is screening. So, be sure to check out our other materials.
If you would like to assess candidates yourself, we have prepared free first-hand materials for you by our experts. Here you can find:
Screening Template - IT Recruiter, Milica Rikić
Technical React Cheat Sheet - CTO, Luka Patarčić
Teamwork Cheat Sheet - People Manager, Katarina Stojković
Should I Consider Hiring Developers From Serbia?
Absolutely! Serbia offers an ideal combination of cost-effectiveness and high-quality talent, making it a smart choice for hiring developers.
The has highlighted many benefits related to the soft skills of Serbian developers. However, there’s more to it.
One of the standout advantages is the time zone—Serbia is perfectly positioned between the EU and the USA, allowing for seamless collaboration with teams across different continents.
This overlap in working hours ensures real-time communication, which is critical for startups that need to maintain agility and quick decision-making.
Similarly, Romania, Hungary, and the Balkan region offer these, but it is important to acknowledge that Serbian developers have a high level of proficiency in the Serbian language.
Beyond time zone benefits, Serbian developers are known for their strong technical skills and work ethic.
The country has a growing tech industry with talented professionals who bring a blend of creativity, problem-solving skills, and an eagerness to work on international projects.
Additionally, hiring from Serbia often provides a significant cost benefit, allowing startups to maximize their budget while maintaining high standards in development.
Whether you're a startup forming your first team or an established company looking to expand, Serbian developers offer a reliable, cost-efficient solution without compromising on quality.
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Conclusion
Hiring remote developers doesn’t have to be a challenge.
By focusing on the , you can ensure that your team grows with people who fit your culture and contribute meaningfully to your projects.
Download the guide and start transforming your hiring process today!
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