Full Stack Development
What is a full-stack developer?
Conventional wisdom says a web development project is best divided into two parts: the front end (everything you see and interact with in your browser) and the back end (the data and the business logic that work behind the scenes to make your app work). A full-stack developer is a generalist who’s familiar with both the front and back ends of a technology stack.
How do you hire a full-stack developer?
You can source full-stack development talent on Upwork by following these three steps:
- Write a project description. You’ll want to determine your scope of work and the skills and requirements you are looking for in full-stack developers.
- Post it on Upwork. Once you’ve written a project description, post it to Upwork. Simply follow the prompts to help you input the information you collected to scope out your project.
- Shortlist and interview full-stack developers. Once the proposals start coming in, create a shortlist of the professionals you want to interview.
Of these three steps, your project description is where you will determine your scope of work and the specific type of full-stack developer you need to complete your project.
How much does it cost to hire a full-stack developer?
Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.
- An experienced full-stack developer may command higher fees but also work faster, have more-specialized areas of expertise, and deliver higher-quality work.
- A contractor who is still in the process of building a client base may price their full-stack development services more competitively.
Rates typically charged by full-stack developers on Upwork are:
- Beginner: $20 per hour
- Intermediate: $32.80 per hour
- Expert: $100 per hour
Which one is right for you will depend on the specifics of your project.
How do you write a full-stack developer job post?
Your job post is your chance to describe your project scope, budget, and talent needs. Although you don’t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they’re the right fit for the project.
Job post title
Create a simple title that describes exactly what you’re looking for. The idea is to target the keywords that your ideal candidate is likely to type into a job search bar to find your project. Here are some sample full-stack developer job post titles:
- Full-stack developer (MEAN) needed for a single page app (SPA)
- Seeking a full-stack developer experienced with LAMP
- Full-stack developer (PHP, Laravel, WordPress with Angular components)
Project description
An effective job post should include:
- Scope of work: From web development to project management, list all the deliverables you’ll need.
- Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project.
- Background: If you prefer experience with certain industries, technology stacks, or developer tools, mention this here.
- Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.
Full-stack developer job responsibilities
Here are some examples of full-stack developer job responsibilities:
- Write scalable, testable, well-documented code across the front and back ends
- Oversee integrations between user-facing features, server-side logic, and database systems
- Design and implement full-stack software application architecture
Full-stack developer job requirements and qualifications
Be sure to include any requirements and qualifications you’re looking for in a full-stack developer. Here are some examples:
- Web fundamentals: CSS, HTML, and JavaScript
- JavaScript frameworks such as Angular, React, or Vue
- CSS frameworks such as Foundation or Bootstrap
- Back-end frameworks such as Laravel, Ruby on Rails, or Node.js
- Back-end languages such as PHP, Python, or Ruby
- Technology stacks such as MEAN or LAMP