How to Hire a Web Developer

The speed and convenience of the interface are the things that help your app to attract user’s attention. This gives them a chance to compete on the overcrowded market. In this article, we’ll explain how to hire a web developer who’ll help you to build a web application that stands out.

Nowadays, any application has to obtain a beautiful, fast, and responsive web version. It is a common market requirement for both in-house and market-oriented apps. In order to create, improve and maintain your web application, you need to have a great web development department. Such teams are usually equipped with different specialists like web developers, PMs, QAs, and many others. However, the core of those teams is the back-end, full-stack, and front-end developers. They do all the heavy lifting and work on the technical state and functionality of the web platform. No doubt that the appearance and slick interface are the qualities that users value the most. This is why UI/UX design and implementation stages are mission-critical steps for the success of the product. Because of that, today we’ll focus on the question “How to hire a web developer”.

List of Contents:

• Outlining expectations when hiring a web developer
• How to hire a web developer: skills and experience
• Best place to hire web developers
• Tips and tricks on how to hire a web developer
• Why hire a web developer
• Conclusion

According to the studies, you have only 10 seconds to convince the user to stay on your page. The market is overcrowded with different SaaS offerings, and your web app has only a couple of seconds before the user abandons it for any reason. This may be laggy UI, bad design, puzzling controls, or anything else. No matter what complex integrations and advanced AI features it has under the hood – the first impression is everything. Many sophisticated software products lose the competition to more simple apps just because they have a more user-friendly interface. And it is hard to blame the users because all of us are overwhelmed with various products and services, and we don’t have time to learn something new or dig into non-intuitive UI. As a result, a skilled front-end developer is a must for implementing the user-attractive web application. Their work enables functionality and determines the user experience. They are responsible for the visual side that users interact with. It is quite important to hire a web developer that obtains certain skills and experience to provide and support interactions with customers. Therefore, every company needs to outline its expectations first in order to know how to hire web developers that will meet all the requirements.

OUTLINING EXPECTATIONS WHEN HIRING A WEB DEVELOPER

This approach is rather efficient for any company that wants to make the right decisions and find reasonable solutions. Preparation and clarity is the first step to success. You need to define all your expectations in detail, which will help you to take further steps.

Firstly, it is required to estimate all the tasks the software engineers will deal with.  As long as you know what you need, it will be faster to hire web developers that can either start from scratch or carry on the outlined tasks. Don’t forget to add this information to the job description. You will have the chance to get your priorities straight.

Secondly, finding a good web developer might seem not that easy however, make it a rule to define the basic skills and required experience in order to hire a front-end developer for your project.  Do the research and make a list of technologies that your new team member will be working with on a daily basis. Don’t expect that the candidates will be equally experienced and proficient in all technologies. Separate the technologies into “must-have” and “nice to have” categories. Thus you’ll be able to prioritize the candidates into those who have minimum required qualifications and those who will bring extra value to the project. For example, you need to hire a web developer who will be working with the app that is using Angular and TypeScript. In this case, Angular will be your first priority, and Typescript will be second because it is a JavaScript component that can be learned by experienced JS front-end developers pretty easily and quickly. If you’ll get only applications from the devs who haven’t worked with TypeScript before – no worries, you’ll simply need a couple of extra weeks to put him on track. If you also have applications from devs who have experience with both technologies – then they are your first priority to set up an interview, give technical tasks, and so on. When you include a detailed job description for the candidates, they are also able to assess their own suitability for the job. In short, you eliminate the need for numerous pointless interviews.

Thirdly, it is reasonable to learn the job market as you’re going to decide where to hire a web developer. Check the local market as well as the outsourced options. Nowadays, you have so many options to choose from. It helps to manage your expenses and find a suitable offer.

Finally, the company should always check previous projects and customer ratings and analyze their technical and communication skills to set the appropriate future collaboration. The decisions need to be made only after careful consideration, so let’s concentrate on each point more attentively.

HOW TO HIRE A WEB DEVELOPER: SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Fluent knowledge of JavaScript is a must for every web developer as long as most of the visual functions depend on JavaScript and its frameworks. Certainly, the performed tasks are related to the back-end layout, without which nothing can exist. Therefore front-end developers should be fluent in HTML5 and CSS as well. In short, HTML5 and CSS support structural components, whereas JavaScript deals with interactive functions. Moreover, React, Vue.js, and Angular, which have become top JavaScript front-end frameworks, provide front-end developers with all innovative features. Applying new approaches helps to withstand the rapidly changing demands of the market and become flexible. If you hire a web developer that is experienced with one of them, it will be another advantage to gain.

Besides, it will be great to cooperate with specialists who are capable of supporting the responsiveness of the web application.  Responsive web design covers resizing, hiding, shrinking, or enlarging automatically while using HTML5 and CSS. It is not just a trend, but today’s market requirement. The web application should be designed to get the user easy and quick access to different devices. It needs to perform and look good no matter the screen size, including desktops, phones, and tablets. Therefore the skilled specialist will easily enable the sophisticated performance, usability, and accessibility of your web application.

Defining your needs helps to make the right choice due to the technical requirements. In addition to this, remember so-called soft skills like collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and willingness to learn. Since teamwork is a common part of front-end developers’ everyday life, good communication is essential here. They need to be ready to collaborate effectively to provide a valuable product.

WHERE TO HIRE A WEB DEVELOPER

Following all these steps, you will definitely come up with the question, “What is the best place to hire web developers?”  The point is that technologies have expanded the number of market offers, and the choice is not limited anymore. It is much easier to find a web developer or set up the whole team due to your requirements. There are several options to check:

In-house workforce

The first option to choose is to hire a web developer that will be a member of your in-house team. It will be great to find a good specialist; however, it usually takes some time due to the workforce shortage. Take into account the facts that, except for the salary, you also need to spend money on medical insurance, equipment, facilities, and utilities.

Freelance websites

The popularity of freelancing has formed open platforms that connect customers with contractors all over the world. The search process is greatly simplified thanks to search engines that help to hire a freelance front-end developer that fits the particular requirements. You can classify them by expertise, experience, and service cost. Looking for a front-end developer takes only referring to one of those websites, for example, Upwork, Fiver, etc. However, it is the only option to jump on. Freelance developers are often chosen because of the many advantages, although some disadvantages have been caused by knowledge retention and a lower level of control. You can check a full comparison of freelance developers vs dedicated teams in our latest article.

Hire a professional web development company

The most common option is to search your local market and hire a professional web development company with extensive expertise and relevant experience. They are considered the established contractors that can provide high-quality services, find reasonable solutions, and assist you with different kinds of consultation. Nevertheless, many customers have faced the challenge of finding the needed company in their city, region, or even country. Moreover, be ready to extend your expenses due to the highest service costs.

Outsourcing

This market approach has become a reasonable solution for many successful projects. Nowadays, it doesn’t really matter where your developers are located as long as they are skilled, experienced, and have great communication skills. These are only a few of the reasons to hire a professional web development company offshore. You can choose the company due to your own additional criteria, such as geographical proximity, time difference, cultural similarity, etc. Moreover, it has happened to be an advantage for most of the customers to hire web developers offshore. It reduces their limitations on specialists’ availability, highly-demanded expertise, and budgets as well.

TIPS AND TRICKS ON HOW TO HIRE A WEB DEVELOPER

The starting point might always seem confusing, as every company wants to know how to hire web developers that cover all the requirements. Check some additional advice that is so easy to apply in practice but impresses and pays off the customers’ expectations.

Team composition – Depending on the complexity of your tasks, you need to estimate the right number of specialists. Don’t hesitate to ask for a professional consultation. You just need to provide at least the approximate description of your needs, whereas the specialists will be able to consult you and help to set up the appropriate team strategy.

Budget flexibility – Estimate your budget limits to know your alternatives. Make sure you ask for quotes to evaluate potential candidates.

Customer rating – Spend a moment to check the examples of the previous projects and read the feedback of their customers.

Responsibility – From the very beginning, pay attention to work ethic, communication skills, and ability to collaborate.

Testing – Make sure you give a few tasks to watch the overall delivery process as well as check the final results. Paid tests are the perfect option for both sides.

WHY HIRE A WEB DEVELOPER

If you want to hire a web developer, it has several benefits that can help businesses and individuals achieve their online goals. So let’s consider some of the main reasons for hiring web developers.

• Expertise: Web developers have specialized knowledge and skills in web technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various programming languages. They are familiar with web development frameworks and other essential tools for building web applications. With their expertise, web developers can ensure that your product is optimized for search engines, mobile devices, and other important factors that can affect your online presence.
• Time-saving: Building a web solution requires a lot of time and effort, especially if you are not familiar with web app development services. When you hire a web developer, it saves time while focusing on other business aspects. A web developer can take care of the technical details, such as coding, design, and functionality, as you can concentrate on content creation, marketing, and other tasks.
• Customization: A web developer can create a web solution tailored to business-specific needs and requirements. They can help you choose the right technology stack based on your business goals, design the layout that fits your branding and aesthetic preferences, and add the necessary features and functionality your business requires. For example, if you need an e-commerce website, a web developer can integrate payment gateways, shopping carts, and inventory management systems to provide your customers with a seamless online shopping experience.
• Support: Web developers can provide ongoing support and maintenance for your products. This can include fixing bugs, updating the software, and ensuring the web app is secure. They can also provide regular backups, performance optimization, and other technical assistance to ensure that your app is always running smoothly. With their support, you can run your business without worrying about the technical aspects.
• Competitive advantage: A strong online presence is crucial for the success of any business. With a professional-looking and functional solution, you can stay competitive in your industry and attract more customers. A web developer can create a web app that is visually appealing, mobile-friendly, and optimized. They can also provide insights and suggestions on improving your app’s performance and user experience, which can help you stay ahead of competitors.

Web development requires investments but can pay off in the long run and help achieve online goals.

CONCLUSION

Most decisions usually require careful consideration, time, and even some effort. We hope that in this article, we have shed some light upon the question we raised. “How to hire a good web developer” is a common question for many customers. Taking into account all the details, you will be capable of hiring a web developer that meets your needs, fits the team, and, most important, creates attractive, responsive, and fast web applications.