Category: For Employers

Leadership, strategy, and everything related to hiring and managing your development and engineering team.

Toptal vs. Upwork for Hiring Developers [2025]

Are you navigating the complexities of hiring freelance developers? This detailed comparison uncovers the true costs associated with popular platforms like Toptal and Upwork, including hidden fees, service charges, and commission structures. Drawing from extensive firsthand experience and user insights, we clarify pricing structures to help you accurately budget and make informed hiring decisions. Discover where each platform shines, potential pitfalls, and why Lemon.io might offer a more transparent and cost-effective alternative tailored to your project’s specific needs.

Aleksandr Volodarsky
Apr 14 12 min read

Arc.dev Review [2025]: The Good, Bad, and Better Alternatives

Are you considering Arc.dev for hiring freelance developers? This detailed review uncovers the true costs associated with Arc.dev, including hidden fees, service charges, and commission structures. Drawing from extensive firsthand experience and candid user stories, we clarify the platform’s pricing, vetting processes, and overall reliability to help you accurately budget and avoid common pitfalls. Discover where Arc.dev excels, where it falls short, and why alternatives like Lemon.io might offer a more transparent and effective solution tailored specifically to your project’s needs.

Aleksandr Volodarsky
Apr 14 8 min read

From Good to Elite: What Makes a Top 1.2% Developer

Elite developers aren’t defined by impressive resumes or years of experience—instead, they possess a rare blend of deep technical insight, forward-thinking problem-solving, and the ability to transform challenges into lasting improvements. This article reveals the key traits that set the top 1.2% apart, offering practical tips to identify developers who not only write code but also architect scalable, resilient systems for the future.

Feb 6 4 min read

Beyond the Algorithm: Why Your Technical Interview Process Is Broken

Traditional technical interviews often overemphasize algorithm puzzles at the expense of real-world problem-solving and business context, filtering out truly exceptional engineering talent. This article exposes the flaws in today’s interview processes and offers a fresh approach that evaluates practical skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to build real products.

Feb 6 7 min read

Code Quality at Scale: How to Maintain Standards While Growing Fast

When rapid growth threatens to erode your pristine codebase, discover how elite teams maintain rock-solid quality without sacrificing speed. This article reveals actionable strategies—from reinvented code reviews and documentation practices to automated quality gates—that ensure your engineering standards scale alongside your business.

Feb 5 6 min read

Why Big Tech Names (and Certificates) Don’t Guarantee Technical Excellence

Big tech names and shiny certificates might catch your eye, but they often mask a troubling gap between theoretical knowledge and practical, hands-on problem-solving. This article cuts through the credential hype to show why true technical excellence is defined by deep understanding, adaptability, and effective communication—qualities that can’t be captured on a piece of paper.

Feb 5 7 min read

Interview Questions that Separate Elite Engineers from the Meh

Elite tech companies are ditching cookie-cutter algorithm questions in favor of inquiries that probe how engineers tackle real-world challenges and lead under pressure. This article dissects the interview strategies of giants like Google, Netflix, and SpaceX, revealing the questions that truly distinguish exceptional talent from the average.

Feb 4 7 min read

The Senior Developer Myth: Why Years of Experience Don’t Equal Expertise

Think twice before equating years of experience with true expertise—our deep dive reveals that many so-called “senior” developers are merely repeating the same patterns without the real problem-solving chops needed for today’s challenges. Discover why relying on tenure alone can cost your team dearly, and learn how to spot genuine technical leadership beyond the resume buzzwords.

Feb 4 6 min read

Rand Fishkin’s secrets to succeeding in a unicorn-obsessed VC world

Are you considering raising venture capital for your startup? This insightful review dives into the realities of VC funding through the experiences of Rand Fishkin, founder of Moz and SparkToro. Learn about the hidden pressures, potential pitfalls, and the true costs of chasing unicorn valuations. Discover why focusing on sustainable profit, long-term stability, and customer satisfaction can lead to greater fulfillment and success.

Aleksandr Volodarsky
May 24 7 min read

M&A Expert Alejandro Cremades’ 5 red flags to watch for during M&A negotiations

Every startup acquisition has a story—yet it’s usually only the successes we hear about. But what happens when M&A deals don’t go as planned? In our candid conversation with M&A Advisor Alejandro Cremades, we uncover the often-overlooked challenges and red flags founders need to recognize to protect themselves from tire kickers and bad-faith buyers. Learn what to watch for and how to ensure your exit is a story worth sharing.

Aleksandr Volodarsky
May 19 6 min read

Edtech Developer Recruitment: Unveiling Strategies for Success

In today’s digital age, technology is revolutionizing the way we approach education. Edtech companies are at the forefront of this transformation, working tirelessly to make online learning experiences more engaging and accessible for everyone. This piece from Mathema, a leading educational platform, delves into the world of Edtech developers — their key roles, the impact […]

Jan 31 4 min read

How to hire a software developer

We’ve got plenty of brilliant ideas about making a top-notch and mega-useful product. But sooner or later, we understand that our ideas are dust in the wind without a talented squad of developers.

Jan 16 11 min read

How to hire employees for a startup, fast and pain-free?

Believe it or not but studies have shown that startup owners spend up to 40% of their time on hiring (and other tasks that do not generate income). Now, they could have been making money, working on their product, looking for the first investors, and strengthening their network. Yet, they’re stuck ankle-deep, fighting to find […]

Dec 1 13 min read

Pet projects: why you want your dev candidate to have some

A simple yet reliable way to evaluate a developer When you are looking for a new developer, at some point all resumes start looking more or less the same. Pretty often, it all boils down to what technologies a developer is familiar with, and what projects they’ve had experience with before.  There is nothing wrong […]

Sep 7 4 min read

126 websites to show off your design

Discover 126 websites perfect for showcasing your design work and boosting your startup’s visibility. Curated by the Lemon.io content team, this list includes platforms we’ve used ourselves to attract attention, gain referrals, and grow our business.

Jul 10 0 min read