Accelerated digital transformation has pushed local businesses to go online in order to expand their customer base. Now every small business has the opportunity to scale owing to their websites and web applications. Moreover, JavaScript is your go-to language to build scalable applications, which in turn increases the demand for JavaScript developers.
One of the main reasons that JavaScript is so popular is because it is pretty easy to pick up. You can change the dynamics of any website or application with only a few lines of code. However, in order to write high-quality and fast applications, a developer should have a deep understanding of the language and any upcoming updates.
Nonetheless, to hire JavaScript developers who are perfect for your company’s needs is no walking in the park. It requires thorough searching and evaluation. Before jumping into the checklist, let’s understand the different types of JavaScript programmers you need to hire.
Do you really need a JavaScript developer?
Depending upon the application that you are planning to build or its current progress, you will be mainly focusing on three types of developers for your search to hire JavaScript developers:
Front-end developers –
Front-end developers mainly focus on the design and implementation of the application’s interface. In simpler terms, they are responsible for the portion of the application that users regularly interact with.
If you already have a back-end developer in your team, then you should focus on hiring a front-end developer.
Back-end developers –
Now we know that front-end developers take care of the interface, but where is the data stored? How does the front-end work? This is where the back-end comes into the picture. It empowers the application’s database architecture.
If you already have a front-end developer in your team, then you should focus on hiring a back-end developer.
Full-stack developers –
If you are looking for jacks-of-all-trades then full-stack developers are the solution for you. These developers can work on both the interface and the architecture part of the application.
If you are planning on building an application from the scratch, you should focus on hiring full-stack developers.
The do’s and don’ts while hiring JavaScript developers
Now that we are clear with different roles, take a look at the Do’s and Don’ts that can help you hire a JavaScript programmer.
Project Progress –
When you hire JavaScript developers, you employ them depending upon the project and its progress. The following are some vital observations to keep in mind –
Already started the work on the project –
If you have already started the work and have some prewritten code, then the hiring process becomes much simpler. You’ll be searching for somebody with a particular range of skill sets that can deliver what you are looking for.
For instance, if your codebase utilizes a certain framework, you’ll be searching for somebody with past experience with the framework. However, you’ll need to hire somebody with deep knowledge, who can rapidly add whatever elements are required or roll out whatever improvements you need without having to later rework code.
Beginning from scratch
In case you are starting the project from scratch, you will need to hire JavaScript developers who can build an application, start to finish, or have the ability to match your business needs.
Experience is important –
Hiring developers with significant experience guarantees that you can finish your work efficiently and on time. Experienced professionals have more resources and can apply their insight in discovering answers for the issues that emerge in your application and help to build a versatile application. Nonetheless, you will have to remember that more prominent experience accompanies a more noteworthy salary.
So the factors that you will have to keep a check on are – complexity of the project, the experience of the developer and the salary that you can offer.
Test the skills –
To hire JavaScript developers you need to examine many CVs or portfolios, but before that consider screening your candidates’ JavaScript knowledge through an ability test. An ability test will assist you with rapidly distinguishing which of your candidates are most grounded in JavaScript. This can help you focus your time and consideration on assessing them more profoundly.
For a front-end developer, you can incorporate a test on User Interface(UI) libraries like React or Angular, since these libraries will be required in their work. For a back-end developer, you can include something like a Node.js test. In case you’re after a full-stack developer, you’ll need a decent blend of both to ensure applicants have the right abilities across all spaces.
Interview the candidate –
After the technical ability test, to hire JavaScript developers, an interpersonal interview is a must. Here you can understand how the selected candidate will apply their technical knowledge to overcome errors.
Some questions that can be asked in the interview are –
- How do you measure if a project is a success or a failure? What metrics do you use to determine that?
- Talk about a project that you worked on which failed and what were your key takeaways from that?
- How would you resolve a disagreement between you and your project manager regarding the development process? Give an example of previous experience if any.
Test the collaborative and communication skills –
We often make the mistake of considering that developers are lone wolves who can develop an application on their own. In any case, that is not really the situation. Regardless of whether you’re recruiting a full-stack developer who can contribute to both the back-end and front-end of your application, your JavaScript developer will need to team up with other members in order to push their work ahead. Hire JavaScript developers, who can join forces with others as it plays an important role in the success of your project.
Another component of the hiring process is looking for great communication skills. Not everyone can understand the programming language, the developer would need to communicate the ideas, any suggestions, errors, and the progress of the project in simple language to the stakeholders.
How much to pay –
The salary may vary depending on the experience and the geolocation. According to many surveys, the average base salary in the US might range between $30,000- $100,000 per year for an experienced JavaScript developer.
Final thought regarding JavaScript developers –
In order to hire JavaScript developers who are the best and qualified candidates for your team might take some searching, but you can save a lot of your time and assets by following the above checklist.
You can also hire remote developers for your project with Turing.com, these highly qualified developers, pre-vetted for a Silicon Valley bar will be the right fit for your team.