How to Avoid Common Mistakes Hiring a Remote MT4 Programmer?

Do you have doubts about the value of MetaTrader developers in remote workplaces? Perhaps you think that the idea of hiring a remote MT4 programmer is bad, but this misconception could make you overlook an important amount of highly skilled coders.

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If you’ve heard before that hiring a remote MT4 developer is a bad idea, then you should read this post. Maybe the next time you need to hire the services of an MT4 programmer, you will not refuse to consider a promising MQL developer just because he or she is not in the same city or time zone.

Here are four misconceptions about hiring a remote MT4 programmer and how you can avoid them.

Remote MT4 Programmer Myth #1: Productivity Will Fall.

From large mutual funds to individual Forex traders, all of them are increasingly turning to outsource as a smart business solution. However, the most recurrent question remains: how can we make sure that members of the remote team remain focused on their work?

According to a study published by the Harvard Business Review, employees who worked from their homes increased their productivity considerably —more than 13%— compared to those employees who remained in their usual job. In addition, remote workers were also happier and less likely to give up.

Once contracted, remote MT4 programmers must face the same productivity challenges as their on-site colleagues. So, regardless of where they work, they will always need actionable development plans, clear communication, well-defined priorities, automated tools, and optimizing debugging.

Remote MT4 Programmer Myth #2: Teamwork Will Suffer.

Concerns about remote MT4 programmers fitting into your local work culture usually fall into three categories:

Remote MT4 developers won’t share your local work ethic. In the context of hiring, when people refer to culture, they usually mean work ethic and moral standards. A reliable MT4 programmer who works remotely will often work hard to gain your trust and prove himself/herself as someone who can add value to your project.
They won’t show the same sense of accountability as your local MT4 developers. A smart MT4 programmer isn’t just a sharp technical specialist, but a socially smart professional as well. Because he/she succeeds or fails on the strength of their reputation, the MetaTrader coder knows that it pays to be trustworthy and accountable.
They won’t ever feel a part of your project. A remote MT4 programmer (especially those with plenty of experience) has worked in many workplaces and followed many rules and protocols. The MetaTrader developer knows that it pays to try and try to satisfy your current project so you want to count on him/her for future jobs.

Engaging great remote MT4 programmers means more than discovering their coding prowess. You can find trustworthy team members with good communications skills by using standard resources and interviewing methods.

Dig deeply during interviews. In interviews, use open-ended questions that relate to a candidate’s experience working hard and avoiding ethical compromises. To ensure a good fit with your work culture, make sure that MT4 programmer shares your priorities on code maintenance, documentation, and testing.
Use online tools to promote team-wide communications and collaboration. Companies nowadays are spoiled with many communication tools such as Slack, Google Hangouts and Skype to build and grow meaningful team relationships, along with an abundance of project management tools. These tools will help make the collaboration of ideas, products, and services part of the development process.
Build trust with transparency. Don’t keep your remote MT4 programmer in the dark. Make sure the MetaTrader coder knows whatever it’s important for project development.

Remote MT4 Programmer Myth #3: Our Sensitive Data Will Be Unsafe.

Given the multitude of security breaches and incidents that occur daily, it’s reasonable to be concerned about data security beyond your firewall. The good news is, there’s a wealth of effective, affordable security solutions available to remote developers everywhere.

You might already have the resources needed to secure your data offsite. Consider these tactics:

Sign an NDA. It’s an important part of data security and a good way to start protecting sensitive information.
Make sure the MetaTrader programmers work with secure cloud-based services. An MT4 programmer who works with cloud-based applications guarantees that your data will be protected with software programs and practices that are often as secure as on-site operations.
Check the security hygiene for remote MT4 developers. That means rechecking if the MT4 programmer uses proven security practices, such as two-factor authentication, and virtual private networks (VPN). These practices dramatically reduce the risk of malware infections and security breaches.
Describe your security expectations in detail. Make sure that remote MT4 programmers consistently maintain your security standards.

Remote MT4 Programmer Myth #4: Communications Will Falter.

When you’re used to getting the attention of a local or on-site Forex programmer, it’s easy to discuss changes or problems that must be addressed quickly and clearly. But what happens when the MT4 programmer works in a different state or country? That’s when it’s time to address these concerns:

Will I get the responsiveness that modern development projects require? In another survey conducted by TINY pulse on the satisfaction and productivity of remote workers, 52% reported having contact with their manager at least once a day. When an immediate response is needed, communications tools, such as video Skype and Zoom, are available. These applications usually include whiteboard and screen sharing capabilities that make real-time development teamwork a snap.
Living in different time zones will make communications difficult. As remote discussions become more common, all its participants must become mindful of who is where and what the time is at their location.
Quality of meetings will decline. Remote work does not mean the quality of communication goes down. Tools such as Skype, Zoom, or GoToMeeting are designed to make meetings more effective.

So, what can you do about this?

Make your expectations clear. Provide your remote MT4 programmer with a clear understanding of required work hours and availability.
Prepare for meetings. Help remote MT4 programmers streamline communications by sending them the agenda and other required information before the meeting begins.

Moving from Hiring to Distributed Team Building

Many of the misconceptions about hiring remote Forex developers have never been true or aren’t true anymore. You can avoid bad results when hiring remote MT4 programmers by developing the resources, guidance, and relationship building that successful distributed teamwork requires.

You’ve read about four outdated ideas on remote MetaTrader programmers and how you can integrate them with your project.

Have you had a positive or negative experience with a remote MT4 programmer? Please share it with us and tell us how you managed it in the comments section below. We want to hear what you think!