I just got scammed $10,000 by a developer working 5 jobs at the same time. Here is what I learned
Hiring the right developer is harder than shipping code.
I thought I had found the perfect hire—until the second sprint revealed the truth.
When companies modernize their tech stack, sometimes the hardest part isn’t the code.
It’s the people.
Recently, I hired a developer who seemed perfect:
- Strong experience
- Solved a bug quickly in the interview
- Comfortable with AI tools
But then reality hit…
- First sprint: slow (but expected).
- Second sprint: weak code quality.
- Slack activity was spotty.
- When I asked for a quick call, the answer was: “We need to schedule it.”
Something was off.
After speaking with peers, I learned a new term: “over-employed.”
Developers stacking multiple jobs, juggling them with AI.
On paper, it sounds clever.
In practice, it kills commitment, quality, and culture.
- Great employees grind.
- They push back, they argue, they take ownership.
- They know reputation > quick money.
Lessons I’ve learned from hiring (and firing) hundreds of devs:
- Filter fast—bad hires cost energy.
- Know task timelines—if a 2-hour job takes 3 days, something’s wrong.
- Surprise calls reveal commitment. (Even on weekends !!!!)
- A great hire feels like a missing puzzle piece—they fit fast.
- Motivation matters: hungry builders > money-chasers.
And a quick note if you’re a young developer reading this: stacking jobs may give you short-term cash, but it won’t build a long-term career. The fastest way to stand out? Show urgency, keep learning, and be the teammate people can trust.
Hiring right is harder than coding.
- What are your best tips for spotting great talent?