Before hiring a web developer or working with any web design and website development company, understand what you need. A beautiful design? Front-end interfaces? Something to handle complex back-end logic? Or a system to manage the entire website from top to bottom? You can talk to your current tech team, as they can help you figure out which skills are essential versus just nice to have.
During your meeting with candidates, begin with a conversation about their past projects and work style. If things feel right, then move on to a small, focused coding challenge that mirrors coding questions and real work. Being a recruiter, you must pay attention not just to the final code but also to how they communicate, solve problems, and manage time. If you think they are flexible, that’s a green flag. Go for it. Hire them.
Let’s understand everything in more detail from A to Z in the steps below.
Challenge 1: Understand Your Need For a Developer
These are some of the questions you can ask yourself to understand why you’re hiring a web developer. Once you’ve answered these, you’ll have a better idea of whether you need a front-end developer (for design and user experience), back-end developer (for the server and database stuff), or a full-stack developer (who can do both). These questions will make your goals clear as well:
- Are you building a website from scratch?
- Are you redesigning an old one, or adding features?
- Do you need ongoing support or just a one-time fix?
- Are you launching an e-commerce store or a blog website?
Challenge 2. Hiring Through the Right Model
Here is a great tip for you: if you’re not tech-savvy, meaning you don’t understand the technicalities of development and coding, and you still want end-to-end recruitment services, then you must go for recruitment agency where you get a dedicated team. But know that there is no one-size-fits-all way to hire. It depends on your budget, timeline, and project size. You get options like these:
- In-house developers for long-term projects where the developer is part of your core team.
- Freelancers for smaller projects or startups testing ideas quickly.
- Dedicated teams or Agencies for complicated projects or companies wanting to outsource everything.
Challenge 3: Not Getting Distracted
When it comes to web development, don’t get lost in buzzwords. It means you must not get distracted or overwhelmed by trendy or technical-sounding terms that sound impressive (for example, progressive web apps, serverless architecture, RESTful APIs, Agile methodology, and more) but they are like jargon for you, because you don’t understand them. You must not take them as your criteria to hire a web developer. Instead focus on their past work, skills, and whether they can deliver what you need.
Challenge 4: Finding a Place to Hire a Developer
You’ve got options, and the right one depends on your hiring style. What works best for you depends on how you like to hire. For example:
- A reputable web design and website development company like ScienceSoft, Digital Gravity, OpenXcell, and others that offer ready-to-go teams.
- Any recruitment agency such as Monster, CareerPro, HackerEarth, and Hired if you want a hands-off, fully managed approach.
- Referrals from other business owners or entrepreneurs if you want to go with someone’s word-of-mouth recommendation.
- Freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, and more if you like to review resumes and run interviews.
- Developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and Topcoder if you’re technical and want to go deep into coding discussions before hiring.
Challenge 5: Writing Job Description
Your job post is a pitch, not a shopping list. You’re trying to attract skilled developers. Mention your company culture or what excites you about this project. That enthusiasm is contagious. A great job description should feel welcoming and inspiring, not intimidating. And it just might win you your dream developer. You can do that with this quick 5-step process.
- Explain your project. Is it a sleek new e-commerce site? A custom booking platform? Developers want to know what they’re building and why it matters.
- Next, include the timeline. Is this a quick 2-week job or a 6-month commitment? Being clear about deadlines helps filter the right candidates from the start.
- Then, dive into required skills. Be specific. For example, instead of just saying Must know JavaScript, say “Must have experience with React and integrating REST APIs.
Challenge 6: Testing a Developer’s Skills Before Hiring
A resume can look shiny, but that doesn’t mean much if the skills aren’t real. Ask them questions like What were the hardest problems in this project? How did you solve them? If you could do it again, what would you change? This gives you much more information than just a list on their resume. Being a recruiter, the only way to be sure is to test them. But do it smartly. Know that you’re not just testing code but testing how they think, adapt, and collaborate. Keep it reasonable as no one wants to spend days coding for free
- Start with a coding challenge. Platforms like HackerEarth let you set custom tests based on the skills you need.
- You can also do a live coding session on Zoom or any shared IDE tool. This gives you a window into their problem-solving and communication style.
- Look for communication skills like if they can explain technical things in easy words and if they feel okay to ask questions.
- Time management is also important, like if they can meet deadlines without needing constant help.
- Notice their energy and excitement about the project. When people are passionate, it shows in their work. Developers who believe in your idea will put in extra effort to make it successful.
Challenge 7: Cost to Hire a Web Developer (Dubai-Specific)
Hiring in Dubai varies a lot. Don’t compare costs alone. Look at the developer’s portfolio, responsiveness, and how well they understand your business.
- Freelancers typically charge anywhere between AED 100 to AED 400 per hour. Their prices depend on how special or advanced their skills are. They are great for fast jobs or short projects.
- In-house developers, on the other hand, come with a monthly salary and additional responsibilities like junior devs charging somewhere between AED 8k to 15k a month.
- Mid to senior level devs charge AED 18k to over 30k a month.
Final Words
Finding a web developer can seem like a big task, but it can be easy if you follow some steps. First, it’s important to be clear about what you need and to share your ideas in a simple way. Also, find smart ways to check their skills and help them begin their work. When you find the right developer, you’re not just getting someone to write code but a partner who can help make your ideas come true.