You can use these 16 web developer interview questions to determine which nearshore software engineering candidate is right for your team.
The role of web developers in building your brand's digital presence is critical. This job requires someone who has strong technical skills, a sense of design, and a security-first mindset.
Soft skills would be helpful as well. To provide an outstanding digital experience, your new web developer will work closely with designers, analysts, and business stakeholders. Having fluency in any programming language could be as important as communicating complex ideas to a non-tech audience.
You can use these 16 web developer interview questions to determine which candidate is right for your team.
Please describe how you approached a project you enjoyed.
Questions like this will help you better understand the candidate's work style - how they think about solving problems, managing user feedback, interacting with quality assurance teams, and collaborating in a team environment.
What would you tell a colleague without a tech background about a concept like _____?
Web developers will need to communicate effectively with non-technical colleagues in departments such as sales and marketing. Use topics such as: to see how well they can communicate in jargon-free language.
- Model-View-Controller (MVC)
- and responsive design
- Popular cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure
- APIs
- Microservices architecture
Give me an example of when you had to present?
Often, IT plays a strategic role in a company, and your web developer might be asked to attend meetings or provide status reports to leadership. Extroverts are not required for good candidates, just the ability to speak in front of others. Ask applicants how they dealt with questions from the audience and what they learned from the experience in general.
Tell me about a website or app you find irritating. What's wrong with it?
Interviewers use this question to gauge the candidate's interest in good web design and problem-solving ability. Answers beyond complaining about someone else's work are considered good answers. Professional web developers can offer practical solutions to practical problems, such as improving loading speeds or optimizing user experiences.
Tell me how you solve problems with applications when they stop working.
Web development is about fixing things that go wrong, so listen to how candidates speak about fixing problems. Are they aware of when they need help and resources? If their first solution fails, what do they do next?
Can you share an experience when you dealt with negative feedback?
Beta testers and users provide feedback to web developers, which can be discouraging and damaging. As a web developer, the ideal candidate should be able to take input, analyze it, and turn it into action. Look at how the candidate addresses a problem and comes to a solution.
I would like to hear about when you feel you have been unfairly held responsible for an error.
Managing teamwork isn't an easy task, but it can significantly indicate a candidate's attitude toward it. Interviewees who are quick to point fingers at colleagues are a red flag. Ideally, you should hire a diplomatic web developer who will work toward a solution rather than get frustrated too quickly.
How challenging does it come to developing front-end applications?
The development staff works closely together with web developers. Their knowledge of the structure of data, the functions available, how APIs are called, and how web services are configured is essential. A question such as this will help you distinguish between developers and designers.
Your spare time is your chance to tell me about the projects you are working on (or have worked on).
We live in an increasingly technological world. Hiring a web developer means you want someone who invests some time in growing their skills and keeping up to date on emerging trends. You should be able to ask candidates about their past or present personal projects and potentially even see their work.
Which APIs have you used?
Candidates should have experience using well-known APIs such as Twitter, Slack, Dropbox, or Google's API suite. Candidates should be able to explain how to call API functions and integrate results into their designs. An experienced professional may have worked on developing and documenting APIs. In their presentation, they will be able to discuss how they worked with the development team to create a secure and functional interface.
How do you envision Web development in the future?
Candidates are free to discuss technologies such as Web3, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G and edge computing, or any other hot topic they wish. Ask the candidate how they intend to develop their skills as a follow-up question. This conversation can lead you and the candidate to discuss your company's professional development program.
Would you mind sharing your preferred content management system?
WordPress and Joomla are two popular content management systems (CMS) most candidates have experience with. Do you know about any modules or themes they have built? Applicants may have experience with headless CMSs, which are not governed by a front-end interface, or decoupled CMSs controlled by an API.
Experience in headless or decoupled CMS signals that the candidate has advanced web development skills.
How much SQL do you know?
Developers should know how data is structured, even if they don't interact directly with a database. A database administrator's experience, for instance, can prove useful.
How does mobile development differ from desktop development?
All web projects should be mobile-friendly. Google search rankings favor websites optimized for smartphones and tablets, which deliver over half of all web traffic. Suitable candidates for the web developer role should be familiar with cross-platform optimization. Additionally, they should be able to share their opinions about crucial differences like screen size, touch input, multitasking limitations, and browser plug-in variations.
Does this code contain any errors?
During interviews, candidates are frequently asked to write code on the spot, which isn't ideal. A second option is to provide interview candidates with strategically placed errors in a code such as a Java class and JavaScript that calls it and asks them to debug it. Candidates can be quickly evaluated for their technical knowledge and attention to detail.
What are your strategies for managing tight deadlines?
The deadlines on web projects can be extremely tight, and the pressure to complete a project on time and a budget can be intense. You can gain insight into a candidate's time management, stress management, and general work ethic by asking open-ended answers about deadline management. Candidates should share examples of how they have met project deadlines despite obstacles in the past.
With the help of these web developer interview questions, you should be able to identify candidates with impressive technical skills and solid interpersonal skills, which will be crucial to your company's digital strategy.
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