Why Is It Important to Find People In Your Time Zone?

‍

Recruiters are always on the lookout for talented developers to fill open positions in their organizations. In recent years, however, there has been a growing trend towards finding developers who are located in the same timezone as the entire team. 

‍

In this post, we'll explore why this trend is gaining traction, and why recruiters should prioritize finding developers in their timezone.

‍

Aligned Communication

Different time zones between a team and developer can make scheduling and communication challenging, leading to delays and frustration. However, hiring a developer in the same time zone can minimize these issues, offering flexible working hours and leading to better work-life balance, job satisfaction, and employee retention. Synchronous meetings in the same time zone enable faster turnarounds on projects and reduce the risk of misunderstandings compared to asynchronous communication.

‍

Increase in Retention Rates

As aforementioned, hiring developers in your time zone can increase employee retention rates. According to the consulting firm Gallup, employees who have friends at work are seven times more likely to be engaged in their job. This means It's easier to build relationships and connect with colleagues who are in the same time zone. Employees who feel connected to their team are more likely to stay with the company long-term.

‍

Team Collaboration

Collaboration is a key factor in developing successful projects. When developers are working in the same time zone, they can communicate with each other in real time. This leads to faster decision-making, better teamwork, and ultimately, a more successful project outcome. A study by the software company Buffer shows that 19% of remote workers surveyed listed Collaboration and Communication as the biggest challenge when working remotely.

‍

Cost Reduction

‍ According to a study conducted by the Harvard Business Review, distributed teams (teams working across different time zones) can lead to increased project costs due to communication barriers, coordination issues, and longer project timelines. For example, when team members are in different time zones, it can be difficult to communicate in real-time. This can lead to delays in decision-making and problem-solving, which can increase project timelines and costs.

‍

However, recruiters can reduce these costs and improve project outcomes by hiring developers in the same time zone.

‍

Time zone differences can impact productivity

Working in different time zones can lead to delays in feedback and decision-making, ultimately impacting productivity. When the time zone difference is too great, unrealistic deadlines or project delays can become a problem.. 

‍

In conclusion, prioritizing candidates in your own time zone versus casting a wider net for remote developers can be a controversial topic. While limiting your pool of candidates can lead to a lack of diversity, prioritizing your time zone can help overcome communication issues and management complexity. Ultimately, the best approach will depend on your team's specific needs and priorities. 

‍