Four Essential Interview Questions to Hire Great Web Developers

Traditionally, web developers are responsible for crafting a significant portion of your public-facing identity, making it especially critical to get the right candidate into the role. Without the ideal mix of traits, your business could suffer if potential customers aren’t impressed with your web presence.

Typically, evaluating a job seeker’s hard skills isn’t overly challenging, as you can review their education and experience to help gauge their capabilities. There are certain facets that require a deeper look, however, and asking the right questions during an interview is a large part of that assessment. Here are a few essential interview questions that can help you hire great web developers for your team:

What Are Some of Your Best Soft Skills?

Generally, soft skills are harder to assess through a resume and cover letter alone, and a straightforward question about which competencies the interviewee views as their best can provide a lot of valuable insight. Which soft skills you consider to be priorities will depend largely on the function of the role and the current makeup of your team, so there isn’t an inherently right or wrong answer. Ideally, you’ll be able to use this question to gain insight into the candidate’s personality, which can go a long way in identifying which job seeker will fit in best.

What Do You Find Hard About Coding?

Many hiring managers tend to focus on questions that allow applicants to speak to what they enjoy, but learning about the aspects of the position that may leave them struggling is also incredibly important. If a job seeker states that a particular aspect of coding that is highly relevant to the role causes them strife, then they might not be the best candidate even if they otherwise appear to have what it takes. However, if their response focuses on tasks or issues that can be covered by other team members, and the rest of their skills fill a critical gap, it could be a great match.

How Do You Keep Up with the Latest Trends in Web Development?

Web development, like most of the tech world, evolves over time. Often, you’ll need your developers to stay on top of current trends to remain competitive. Job seekers who can answer this question well are often motivated to keep learning and growing on their own, and are typically passionate about the field. Those who struggle might not have much interest in staying abreast of new developments, which might not be ideal.

What Are Your Favorite Development Tools and Why?

Different businesses often have varying preferred sets of tools, so finding out which ones the candidate favors can let you know if they are capable of working in your environment. Additionally, you may learn about new options that can help propel your team forward, especially if they are more efficient or cost-effective approaches.

This question can also reveal a potential red flag. If the job seeker states that notepad is their preferred tool for coding, then they might not be prepared to perform their duties in a formal work environment.

If you would like to learn more or are trying to fill a web developer position, the professionals at The Squires Group can help. Contact us to see how our recruitment specialists can assist you with all of your hiring needs.


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