The foundation of any project’s success is ensuring you have the right teams in the right place at the right time. Similarly, continued success and progress in the project means having highly-rated developers you can trust with both great collaborative initiatives and strong individual efforts.
Unfortunately, achieving all this is easier said than done. Getting the right JavaScript developers into your team will arguably be the first, hardest challenge you’ll face. Lucky for you, we’ve just outlined a guide for hiring JavaScript developers, detailed with all the do’s and don’ts you’ll need to consider amidst recruiting.
Table of Contents
4 Do’s of Hiring a JavaScript Developer
Here, we’ll review 4 do’s you’ll need to keep in mind when trying to hire JavaScript developers.
- Define the Roles and Responsibilities of the JavaScript Developer in Advance
Before scouting for talented JavaScript Developers, define the roles and responsibilities the developer will fill in your institution. This includes specific experience and technical skills required to qualify for the job (as well as soft skills you think are important to the role.)
By outlining these responsibilities up front, you significantly improve your chances of landing the right combination of soft and technical skills needed to ensure the project’s success.
- Evaluate the Candidates’ Skills and Experience with JavaScript and Related Technologies
Before bringing a JavaScript developer on board, you want to ensure they have a strong foundation in the coding language and any related technologies. These include CSS, HTML, and JavaScript frameworks like Vue, Angular, or React.
The best way to evaluate your candidates’ skills is by reviewing their portfolio or GitHub profile and asking them to undergo IT skills tests, a technical test and coding challenge.
- Evaluate their Problem-solving Skills and Ability to Write Clean, Maintainable Code
You only want to hire JavaScript developers with extensive experience working on complex projects and who demonstrate an ability to write code that’s easy to understand and maintain. The coding challenge we talked about earlier should help you gauge the developer’s problem-solving skills and ability to write clean, maintainable code.
- Strongly Consider Developers Who’re Active in Distinct JavaScript Communities and Have Strong Online Presences
JavaScript is one of the most constantly evolving languages, so it’s essential to hire developers who’re up-to-date on the latest technologies and trends in the space. Such kinds of developers also tend to be active in different JavaScript communities, where they consistently attend meetups and conferences.
JavaScript developers with a strong online presence will also tend to be more passionate about their work and keep up with trends, fresh ideas, and have new perspectives that can benefit your team.
4 Don’ts of Hiring JavaScript Developers
While it’s essential to know what to do when hiring JavaScript developers, it’s equally important to avoid common mistakes that tend to cause people to land the wrong candidates. Here are 4 you should keep in mind.
- Never Hire Solely Based on a Candidate’s Academic Credentials
Sure, academic credentials are essential, but they do not always provide a complete picture of the candidate’s experience or skills. So instead of hiring a JavaScript developer solely based on their academic credentials, focus on evaluating each candidate’s skills and practical experience.
Look for developers who have extensive familiarity working on real-world projects and can prove a track record of high-quality work.
- Do Not Ignore the Importance of Cultural Fit
Cultural fit is an essential factor you must consider before hiring any new team member, and that’s particularly true when going for JavaScript developers. Developers who don’t fit well with your company and team culture will just create tensions that’ll negatively impact everyone’s productivity.
To evaluate a candidate and ensure they’ll fit with your company and team culture, study their personality, work style, and values.
- Do Not Overlook the Importance of Debugging and Testing Skills
Testing and debugging are critical skills that every JavaScript developer should possess, so do not overlook any of these when evaluating your potential candidates. Question each applicant about their experience with testing frameworks like Mocha or Jest as well as their process of troubleshooting and debugging code.
Only go for candidates who’re experienced with integration testing, unit testing, and end-to-end testing.
- Do Not Forget to Consider Each Candidate’s Work History and References
Amidst the hiring process, ask for references and follow up with past colleagues and employers to better understand the candidates’ work styles, soft skills, and technical expertise. Doing this will also help you learn which candidates work well with others and can meet deadlines.
Conclusion
Finding the best JavaScript developer can be a daunting task. But by following the do’s and don’ts we’ve outlined in this guide, you can increase your chances of landing the perfect candidate for the job.
Remember, finding the right JavaScript Developer isn’t just about their technical abilities. Their ability to collaborate on projects, communicate effectively, and work with others will also extensively impact the project in question.
Furthermore, bear in mind that the hiring process is a two-way street. The best candidates are also evaluating your team and company to ensure they’ll be a good fit for them. So be sure to showcase your firm’s positive culture, mission, and values during the interview process to attract the best candidates.