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Hiring Ruby on Rails developers who not only have technical expertise but also align with your organizational culture and project goals can be challenging, especially if you’re a non-technical recruiter. It’s critical to know what skills to look for and where to find top developers as a poor hiring decision can lead to setbacks, low-quality code, and wasted resources.
To make your search easier, we’ve put together this handy guide to help you navigate the process of hiring the best Ruby on Rails developers. We’ll take a closer look at the crucial skills and qualifications to look for in Ruby on Rails developers along with where to source candidates including collaborating with a nearshore Ruby on Rails development company. Then, we’ll walk you through how to test for those all-important Ruby on Rails programming skills, and how to put together a thorough pre-employment testing assessment that enables you to find the top-scoring candidates to take to the interview stage. Even better, all of this is possible without you having to look at a single resume.
Sounds good? Let’s get to it.
Ruby on Rails, is a free and open-source framework for creating websites using the Ruby programming language. Ruby on Rails has been used to build such platforms as Shopify, GitLab, Airbnb, Crunchbase, Twitch, Fiverr, Hulu, Bloomberg, SoundCloud, and Zendesk.
The Ruby on Rails framework was conceived out of the need for productivity and speed. It facilitates developer efficiency and effectiveness by leveraging conventions over configuration, and providing default settings and structures to accelerate the process of creating robust, data-driven platforms and applications. This approach eliminates the need for developers to make countless decisions about the structure of their codebase thus enabling them to focus more on solving unique business problems.
Some important built-in features in Ruby on Rails are:
In order to hire a Ruby on Rails developer with the right skillset, you need to understand what their job entails.
A Ruby on Rails developer specializes in building web applications using the Ruby programming language and the Rails framework. They transform client requirements into functioning web solutions, focusing on the back-end components and integrating various technologies to ensure seamless performance.
While there are different roles a Ruby on Rails developer may take, there is a core set of job responsibilities relating to the position.
Day-to-day tasks of a Ruby on Rails Developer include:
That’s a lot of responsibilities, so you need to ensure the developer you hire is capable of bearing the load. Later, we’ll look at how skills-based testing can help make that decision easier and simpler, but for now let’s focus on the key skills you should look for to hire a Ruby on Rails developer.
Creating a candidate profile for a Ruby on Rails Developer can be tricky, given the diverse range of skills required for different projects. It’s important for recruiters to distinguish between what is truly necessary for your team versus what would be nice to have. A mismatch here can lead to hiring challenges and project delays.
To aid in this process, here are some of the most important skills you should look for when hiring a Ruby developer:
Once you have a clear candidate profile, the next step is crafting a job description that attracts the right Ruby on Rails developer. A well-structured job description can make all the difference in your hiring process.
Clearly outline the specific responsibilities of the Ruby on Rails developer, such as developing applications, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. This gives candidates a clear understanding of how their work will contribute to your projects and objectives.
It’s common to overlook the importance of soft skills and the ability to work collaboratively, which are just as important as technical skills in a developer for successful project execution. A well-rounded developer is often more valuable than one with only technical prowess.
What makes your organization stand out? Whether it’s innovative projects, a dynamic work culture, or opportunities for professional growth, sharing these aspects can attract top talent.
Position: Senior Ruby on Rails Developer
Location: [Remote/On-site/Hybrid]
Employment Type: [Full-time/Contract]
About Us
[Company Name] is a forward-thinking [industry/sector] company building innovative solutions that [briefly describe mission or core product]. We pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative, growth-oriented environment where developers thrive.Key Responsibilities
Required Technical Skills
Preferred Qualifications
Why Join Us?
When hiring Ruby on Rails developers, it’s important to choose the right hiring model that aligns with your project requirements and team structure. Before committing to a full-time hire, assess your project’s scope and timeline.
For short-term or smaller projects, you might consider working with a freelancer or consultant. For ongoing development or larger projects, bringing a Ruby on Rails developer on board full-time or outsourcing the work to a nearshore Software Development Agency could be more beneficial.
Therefore there are three primary hiring models to consider:
This model involves hiring a full-time, permanent Ruby on Rails developer who becomes an integral part of your team. Companies choose to hire in-house to build their core team and culture.
In-house hires typically have a strong sense of commitment to building and maintaining the product and growing the company, while the company is committed to integrating them into the team and creating a career development plan.
However, the recruitment process for in-house Ruby on Rails developers can be time-consuming and expensive, as it may involve extensive screening, interviewing, and onboarding processes.
To hire Ruby on Rails developers, post job openings on Glassdoor, Indeed, Stack Overflow Jobs, ZipRecruiter, et al. The job boards on these platforms often provide advanced search and filtering options, enabling you to narrow down the candidate pool based on their experience, location, and skillset.
With thousands of professionals and technical experts on the platform, it’ll be easier to look for a Rails Developer that fits in your team.
Engage with developers on platforms like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and other online forums. For instance, a developer who consistently provides insightful answers to complex Rails-related questions on a forum may be an excellent fit for your team. Here are some other online communities where you can find Rails developers:
Attend Ruby on Rails and related community events to network with talented Ruby on Rails developers. Examples are Rocky Mountain Ruby, Southeast Ruby, SF Ruby Meetup, DC Ruby Meetup, RubyConf, and RailsConf (the largest official Rails conference in the U.S.).
Hiring freelancers or contractors is another viable option for adding RoR developers to your team. Companies typically hire freelancers for short-term and limited-budget projects and small tasks. Freelancers and contractors offer flexibility and cost-effectiveness, but they may not have the same level of commitment as a direct hire.
Freelancers usually need more attention and supervision because they may communicate less and share less knowledge with different teams within the company. Therefore, when hiring freelance Ruby on Rails developers, you should provide a detailed project description and make sure freelancers have all the documentation they need to complete the project successfully.
Companies can hire freelance Ruby on Rails developers on freelancer marketplaces such as Fiverr, Upwork or Toptal.
Another avenue for hiring Ruby on Rails developers is through outsourcing your development tasks to a nearshore software development agency. These companies house teams of skilled professionals capable of delivering high-quality code for your project. With a dedicated project manager overseeing the process, you can trust that your project will be completed efficiently and within your budget.
Partnering with a nearshore software development services vendor in Latin America also comes with significant cost savings because nearshore developers have lower living costs and can accept lower wages compared to their U.S. counterparts. In addition, you don’t have to worry about retirement contributions, health insurance, paid time off, or home office reimbursement because these are already included in the developer rates. This approach also provides flexibility in scaling your team up or down as needed, without the long-term commitment of a direct hire.
When outsourcing to a nearshore Ruby on Rails development team or firm, prioritize those with a proven track record of working effectively with remote clients and maintaining strong communication channels. Look for a company that offers comprehensive services, including consultation, development, and ongoing maintenance support. Additionally, ensure they possess a strong portfolio and positive reviews from past clients.
Now that you have a clear idea of where to source candidates, assembled an applicant pool, the next step is to quickly find the best candidates to move on to the next round of your hiring process. The best approach is to use a combination of technical skills tests, soft skills tests, personality tests, and custom interview questions.
Remember, you can always reach out directly to Next Idea Tech if you want to skip the hassle of searching. We’ve got loads of amazing Ruby on Rails developers just waiting to help you out on your next project. Our nearshore LatAM developers are already pre-vetted for their:
It’s no secret that many job hunters are elastic with the truth when it comes to listing their skills on a resume. One of the best ways to circumvent this is to use skills tests. Skills-based hiring removes the uncertainty of the resume. Leverage platforms like HackerEarth, TestGorilla, and Qualified.io to automate screening and to standardize assessments.
These tools offer:
After candidates successfully pass the skills tests, the next step is to conduct technical interviews to evaluate their hard skills. This stage is crucial because while skills tests help filter out unfit candidates, they may not always identify the best fit for your Ruby on Rails developer role. In these interviews, you can delve deeper into their practical knowledge and problem-solving abilities with tailored questions.
Here are some common components of the technical interview assessment framework:
Code completion tasks are instrumental in the process to hire Ruby on Rails developers with the right skillset. By presenting candidates with specific coding challenges aligned with Rails development, you can assess their proficiency, problem-solving skills, and adherence to Rails conventions.
Sample Questions
1. Write a Ruby method to find all duplicated numbers in a given array of integers.
def find_duplicates(array)
# Your code here
end
Example Input: `[1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 5, 3]`
Expected Output: `[2, 3]`
2. Add a custom scope to the `Post` model to retrieve all posts published in the last 7 days.
class Post < ApplicationRecord
# Your code here
end
3. Write an Active Record query to find all posts with a `status` of “published” and a `created_at` date within the last month.
Post.where(/* Your code here */)
Multiple-choice questions
Multiple-choice questions are also a good way to assess a developer’s technical knowledge of Ruby on Rails concepts. You can choose to include these questions in the Ruby on Rails developer interview to evaluate a developer’s understanding of Rails fundamentals.
Sample Questions:
1. Which Active Record association is used to establish a one-to-many relationship?
2. Which HTTP verb is typically used for updating a resource in RESTful Rails routes?
3. What is the purpose of the Rails asset pipeline?
4. Which component of MVC is responsible for business logic in Rails?
5. Which testing framework is commonly used in Rails applications?
These questions are designed to evaluate a candidate’s understanding of Ruby on Rails, its key features, and why it’s a popular choice for web development. You can explore architectural concepts like the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern and how Rails enforces this separation of concerns. Additionally, include questions about routing, such as how to define routes and their importance in managing HTTP requests efficiently. This approach ensures a comprehensive assessment of the candidate’s technical expertise and practical application of Rails principles
Sample Questions:
1. What is MVC in Ruby on Rails?
Assessing the understanding of MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture is crucial as it forms the backbone of Ruby on Rails development, establishing the candidate’s foundational knowledge.
2. Explain what Active Record means in Ruby on Rails.
Active Record is foundational to Rails’ “convention over configuration” philosophy. A candidate’s understanding of it reveals their ability to work with Rails’ model layer, design efficient database interactions, and leverage Rails’ built-in features for rapid development.
3. What are Rails Gems? Can you name a few you have used?
Gems extend a Rails application’s functionality. Understanding which Gems the candidate has experience with can reveal their ability to enhance and optimize applications.
3. What is meant by splat operator?
The splat operator is widely used in Rails for metaprogramming, route definitions, and flexible APIs. Understanding it demonstrates a candidate’s proficiency with Ruby’s syntax.
4. Explain the principle of duck typing.
Duck typing is central to Ruby’s flexibility and is heavily used in Rails to promote reusable, modular code. A candidate’s grasp of duck typing indicates their ability to write polymorphic code and work with Rails’ dynamic patterns, such as polymorphic associations or view rendering logic.
5. Can you explain the asset pipeline in Rails?
Asset management is essential for optimizing performance; elucidating on the asset pipeline will unveil the candidate’s knowledge of performance optimization in Rails.
You can also add questions that are specifically tailored to the project requirements. These questions can range from relevant tools required during the project to code completion tasks. It will aid you in finding the right candidates with the Ruby on Rails developer skills that the project demands.
1. How would you integrate the Stripe payment gateway into our Rails application?
Tests experience with APIs, gems (e.g., `stripe-ruby`), and handling authentication, webhooks, or error handling for critical external services.
2. Our app has slow database queries. How would you diagnose and resolve this using Rails tools?
Assesses their ability to optimize N+1 queries, use tools like `bullet`, or implement caching strategies (Redis, fragment caching).
3. How would you refactor a monolithic Rails app to extract a microservice? What challenges might arise?
Gauges experience with modularization, API design, and mitigating technical debt.
4. How would you design a real-time notification system using Rails?
Tests creativity with tools like Action Cable, background workers (Sidekiq), or websockets.
5. Describe your workflow for collaborating on a Rails app using Docker and CI/CD pipelines.
Ensures they can work within your team’s ecosystem (e.g., containerization, automated testing).
Salary considerations are also important when you are looking to hire a Ruby on Rails developer. The cost of hiring a Ruby on Rails developer varies significantly based on location and experience. As a reference, the median salary for a Ruby on Rails developer in the United States in 2025 is $116,258 per year, according to Salary.com.
Factors influencing the cost of hiring Ruby on Rails developers include:
Location plays a significant role in determining the cost of hiring Ruby on Rails developers, as different countries have varying cost structures influenced by living expenses, demand for tech talent, and local market conditions. Developers in high-cost regions like the United States and Canada often charge rates up to 10 times higher than those in regions like Latin America, Africa, or Asia. For example, hiring nearshore Ruby on Rails developers in Peru on average costs $14,409 per year, while in Mexico, the annual cost can rise up to $74,385. These disparities allow businesses to balance quality and affordability by leveraging global talent pools.
Senior developers with more experience typically command higher rates compared to junior developers. As an example, let’s consider a middle to senior-level Rails developer from New York. Depending on where they are, knowledge-wise, their average yearly salary will likely be between 109k to 137k.
The complexity and length of the project can impact the rate. Advanced features (e.g., AI, real-time functionality), custom solutions, and integrations increase technical demands, requiring specialized expertise and raising rates. Larger projects with multiple modules or scalability needs also drive up costs due to extended timelines and resources.
The type of work arrangement (in-house, freelance, or outsourced) significantly influences the cost and flexibility of hiring Ruby on Rails developers. In-house developers offer full-time commitment and alignment with company goals but come with higher costs, including salaries, benefits, and overhead. Freelancers*l provide flexibility and are cost-effective for short-term or project-based work, though managing them can be challenging. Outsourced dev teams, often through nearshore software development agencies, offer a balance of expertise and scalability, ideal for businesses needing end-to-end solutions without long-term commitments. Each model has trade-offs in cost, control, and management, so businesses should choose based on project scope, budget, and long-term needs.
Besides the salaries, other cost elements involved in the hiring process could include:
These elements combine to form the total cost of hiring a Ruby on Rails developer, and understanding them will help in budgeting and making informed decisions during the hiring process.
Building a winning team of Ruby on Rails developers requires a thoughtful approach that takes into account various factors. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you can improve your hiring process and increase the likelihood of finding brilliant Ruby on Rails developers who will contribute to your success.
However, hiring top-tier Ruby Rails developers can be a time-consuming and challenging task. That’s where Next Idea Tech comes in. With a proven track record in providing access to top-notch nearshore developers, Next Idea Tech can take on your critical Ruby on Rails development projects.
Partner with Next Idea Tech to simplify your hiring process and tap into the expertise you need to drive your Ruby on Rails projects forward.
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