{"id":8313,"date":"2019-02-20T14:09:56","date_gmt":"2019-02-20T19:09:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.brainstation.io\/?p=8313"},"modified":"2019-02-20T14:09:56","modified_gmt":"2019-02-20T19:09:56","slug":"how-to-hire-a-great-web-developer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/blog\/how-to-hire-a-great-web-developer","title":{"rendered":"How to Hire a Great Web Developer"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re a hiring manager, chances are you already know how difficult it can be to hire a Web Developer, with <\/span>major talent shortages<\/span><\/a> reported across North America.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding the perfect candidate for any job can be tough, but in a job market as competitive as this, companies are finding it particularly vexing to lure top talent in Web Development.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why a smart and sensible process is crucial when trying to find the right person. Here are some tips on how to approach the hiring process to ensure you secure your star Developer. <\/span><\/p>\n

Understand Your Needs<\/b><\/h2>\n

Before you even start on your job posting, it\u2019s important to know exactly what you\u2019ll need out of your Web Developer-to-be.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sure, every company would love a Full-Stack Developer who can code in all varieties of programming languages and understand every detail of your project, but if the scope of the role is more narrowly focused on the front- or back-end, you may be better served with someone who specializes. To get a sense of how relatively scarce each role is, BrainStation\u2019s <\/span>2019 Digital Skills Survey<\/span><\/a> found that 33.7 percent of Developers polled considered themselves Full-Stack Developers, while 26.5 percent were focused on the front-end and 7.2 percent specialized on the back-end.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not sure of the difference, <\/span>we can help<\/span><\/a> \u2013 but essentially Front-End Developers are responsible for designing the \u201cface\u201d of the digital product being developed, while Back-End Developers\u2019 responsibilities include database interactions, user authentication, business logic, and server, network, and hosting configuration. Front-End Developers are usually expected to understand programming languages, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as well as frameworks such as React, Bootstrap, Backbone, and AngularJS, while Back-End Developers should know server-side languages like PHP, Ruby, and Python, as well as tools like MySQL, Oracle, and Git.<\/span><\/p>\n

Developers of all types are expected to know something about the mission of <\/span>W3C<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you do probe for specific skills, don\u2019t overshoot and insist upon experience and knowledge of programming languages and other competencies that aren\u2019t actually relevant to your position or company.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s also worth noting which skills are harder to find than others. BrainStation\u2019s Digital Skills survey showed that the most widely used programming languages are JavaScript (with 79.6 percent of Developers reporting that they use it at work), followed by SQL (46.7 percent), and Python (34.7 percent). On the other end of the spectrum, it\u2019s harder to find developers who regularly use Assembly (1.2 percent), Perl (2.4 percent), or Swift (9 percent).<\/span><\/p>\n

Dig Into Past Projects<\/b><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s probably obvious that examining a candidate\u2019s portfolio is a crucial element in the hiring process, but it\u2019s especially important that you have live work to test so you can really get a sense of the Developer\u2019s ability to create a functional and smooth user experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe No. 1 mistake businesses make when hiring a Web Developer is hiring someone who is knowledgeable at development but knows very little about user experience or conversion optimization,\u201d <\/span>Stringjoy<\/span> Founder Scott Marquart told <\/span>Business.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLooking good is only a small piece of what makes a website excellent. It also needs to function intuitively and be easily navigable, so that any prospect who lands on your site knows exactly how to do what you want them to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In exploring a candidate\u2019s past projects, don\u2019t just ask what technologies, tools, and programming languages they used, but why they used them, so you can gather a sense of their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Ask about the significant challenges faced. And always ask what they would do differently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember: Talent can be Trained<\/b><\/h2>\n

Most interview processes should include a live coding challenge \u2013 as much as Developers detest them \u2013 and a take-home assignment, which, taken along with the portfolio, will give you a sense of your candidate\u2019s workflow, decision-making, and competency level. The interview, then, needs to focus on the intangible qualities that will determine whether your candidate will be a good fit. Ask how they work with others, and how they juggle competing deadlines. Ask for a few of their favorite websites and which web browser they use (the answer should be \u201call of them.\u201d)<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, some companies are prioritizing life skills and personality fit above all else.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe stopped vetting tech candidates based on lack of experience or formal education a while ago,\u201d <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> Daniela Arango, an HR and Creative Manager for <\/span>imagetoner.com<\/span>. \u201cWhat we look for now are references of tech professionals that have great resilience in life, and a natural ability and predilection for learning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, one reason it\u2019s important not to get hung up on an area of weakness for a candidate who otherwise could be right for the job? Professional development should be a part of every good Developer\u2019s playbook.<\/span><\/p>\n

BrainStation\u2019s survey found that 63.4 percent of Developers use skills training to learn new techniques and ideas, a number even higher among entry-level respondents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask questions about your candidate\u2019s enthusiasm for education and ongoing skill development, and explore the specific ways in which your potential hire finds opportunities for self-improvement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those are important traits among even the most seasoned and skilled candidates, given how rapidly the field is evolving.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, BrainStation\u2019s survey found that although 78 percent of Developers believe that machine learning and artificial intelligence are the trends that will have the most impact on development in the next five to 10 years, 83 percent have never developed for any artificial intelligence platforms or blockchain technology.<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, almost all Developers will need to level up their skills in the coming years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Offer a Competitive Salary <\/b><\/h2>\n

According to Indeed, the average salary for an entry-level Web Developer in the United States is <\/span>$66,254<\/span>, rising to <\/span>$105,302<\/span> for a Senior Web Developer. To have a hope at landing your ideal Web Developer, offering a good salary in that range is a must. If you have the flexibility, you might also try to lure your candidate with other perks, such as a flexible schedule, the ability to work from home, or by offering to support continued education.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you have found the right candidate, act fast.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs far as the folks who are more seasoned, they\u2019re not even getting to the point where they\u2019re looking for jobs,\u201d Ari Weil, vice-president of products for website performance optimization startup <\/span>Yottaa<\/span>, told the <\/span>Boston Business Journal<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen these guys are on the market there\u2019s so much demand for them that they\u2019re getting snapped up within a day or two.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A smart, sensible process can make all the difference when it comes to landing your ideal Developer. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":8317,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[97],"tags":[772,227,771,176,100],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Hire a Great Web Developer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It can be difficult to hire a Web Developer, but a smart and sensible approach can help you land the ideal candidate. 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