How to hire for a Website Developer?
Summary:
Web developers design and build websites. They are typically responsible for the appearance, of the site and technical aspects, such as site speed and how much traffic the site can handle. Web developers may also create site content that requires technical features. They are sometimes known a web designer or full-stack developer if they can do both front-end and back-end development.
Job Description:
A web developer or programmer is someone who takes a web design – which has been created by either a client or a design team – and turns it into a website. They do this by writing lines and lines of complicated code, using a variety of languages. Web developers have quite a difficult job, because they essentially must take a language we understand, such as English, and translate it into a language that a computer understands, such as Python or HTML.
As you can imagine, this can take a lot of time and effort and requires an intricate understanding of various programming languages and how they are used. Different types of developers specialize in different areas, which means that large web projects are usually a collaboration between several different developers.
The three main types of developers are front-end, back-end, and full-stack. Front-end developers are responsible for the parts of a website that people see and interact with, back-end developers are responsible for the behind the scenes code that controls how a website loads and runs, and full-stack developers do a bit of everything.
A front-end developer is someone who takes a client or design team’s website design and writes the code needed to implement it on the web. A decent front-end web developer will be fluent in at least three programming languages – HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
HTML allows them to add content to a website while splitting it into headings, paragraphs, and tables. CSS lets a decent developer style the content and change things like colors, sizes, and borders. JavaScript allows the inclusion of interactive elements, such as push buttons.
Back-end developers must create the code and programs which power the website’s server, databases, and any applications that it contains. The most important thing as a back-end developer is the ability to be able to create a clean, efficient code that does what you want it to in the quickest way possible. Since website speed is a major consideration when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), it is a large factor when developing the backend. Some of the most popular languages used include PHP, Python, Java, and Ruby. JavaScript is also becoming increasingly widespread as a back-end development language, while SQL is commonly used to manage and analyze data in website databases.
Since different websites have different needs, a back-end developer must be flexible, able to create different programs, and they absolutely must have a clear, in-depth understanding of the languages that they use. This is very important to make sure that they can come up with the most efficient method of creating the required program while making sure that it is secure, scalable, and easy to maintain.
Full-stack developers understand both front and back-end strategies and processes, which means that they are perfectly positioned to oversee the entire process.
In the case of small websites that don’t have a huge development budget, a full-stack developer will often be employed to build the entire website. In this case, it is extremely important for them to have a complete, in-depth understanding of both front and back-end development and how they work.
Key Job Responsibilities:
1. Website and software application designing, building, or maintaining.
2. Using scripting or authoring languages, management tools, content creation tools, applications and digital media.
3. Conferring with teams to resolve conflicts, prioritize needs, develop content criteria, or choose solutions.
4. Directing or performing Website updates.
5. Developing or validating test routines and schedules to ensure that test cases mimic external interfaces and address all browser and device types.
6. Editing, writing, or designing Website content, and directing team members who produce content.
7. Maintaining an understanding of the latest Web applications and programming practices through education, study, and participation in conferences, workshops, and groups.
8. Back up files from Web sites to local directories for recovery.
9. Identifying problems uncovered by customer feedback and testing and correcting or referring problems to appropriate personnel for correction.
10. Evaluating code to ensure it meets industry standards, is valid, is properly structured, and is compatible with browsers, devices, or operating systems.
11. Determining user needs by analyzing technical requirements.
Ideal Candidate:
1. Top-notch programming skills and in-depth knowledge of modern HTML/CSS.
2. Aggressive problem diagnosis and creative problem-solving skills.
3. Adequate knowledge of relational database systems, Object Oriented Programming and web application development.
4. Familiarity with at least one of the following programming languages: PHP, ASP.NET, JavaScript or Ruby on Rails.
5. Basic knowledge of Search Engine Optimization process.
Desired Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Web development or related field, or relevant experience.
Certifications Associated:
1. TensorFlow Developer Certificate
2. Google Cloud Certified – Professional Cloud Architect
3. Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate
4. ACE Web Specialist (Adobe)
5. MTA: HTML5 App Development (Microsoft)
6. Zend Certified PHP Engineer
7. Amazon Web Services (AWS Certified Developer)
8. PMP Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
Key Skills:
Core php, MySQL, JavaScript, jQuery, html, ajax, business development, project management, client services, process migration, process transition, process training, agile project management, Jira, adobe, digital marketing.
Common Positions:
1. Web Developer
2. Website Engineer
3. Full Stack Developer
4. Web Application Developer
5. UI/UX Developer
6. Front-end Developer
7. Back-end Developer
Screening Questions/Assessment Parameters:
1. Proficiency in JavaScript, HTML, CSS.
2. Proficiency in My SQL.
3. Knowledge of Server Architecture.
4. Experience with server-side frameworks such as python, ruby, php, Java, ASP, ASP.NET.
Basic Terminologies:
1. Websites are files stored on servers, which are computers that host (fancy term for “store files for”) websites. These servers are connected to a giant network called the internet or the World Wide Web (if we’re sticking with 90s terminology).
2. Browsers are computer programs that load the websites via your internet connection, such as Google Chrome or Internet Explorer. Your computer is also known as the client.
3. Internet Protocol is a set of standards that govern interaction on the internet.
4. HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) connects you and your website request to the remote server that houses all website data. It’s a set of rules (a protocol) that defines how messages should be sent over the internet. It allows you to jump between site pages and websites.
5. Coding refers to writing code for servers and applications. It’s called a “language” because it’s comprised of vocabulary and grammatical rules for communicating with computers.
6. Front-end (or client-side) is the side of a website or software that you see and interact with as an internet user.
7. Backend (or server-side) is the side that you don’t see when you use the internet.
8. A content management system (CMS) is a web application or a series of programs used to create and manage web content.
9. Databases, which is responsible for storing, organizing, and processing data so that it’s retrievable by server requests.
10. Servers, which is the hardware and software that make up your computer. Servers are responsible for sending, processing, and receiving data requests. They’re the intermediary between the database and the client/browser.
Industry Jargons:
1. Classes. In programming languages, classes are broadly used as the blueprint for creating something — like using the blueprint of an existing car to create a new type of car.
2. CSS (Cascading Style Sheet). Code that tells browsers how to display a webpage for the end user.
3. CTA (Call to Action). The buttons on your website that drive certain conversions or goals such as donations, newsletter signups, or user registrations.
4. Fields. The most basic of the building blocks for data collection. These are the storage units that your website visitors use to enter their names, email addresses, notes, etc. If you’re asking for first name, last name, email address, city, and zip code across five different entry boxes,
that’s five fields.
5. Framework. Suite of programs used in website or software development. This lays the groundwork for the type of programming language used for your site or app development.
6. HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). The coding language used to build a website in terms of both form and function.
7. Plugin. Modules or software that can be added (“plugged in”) to a system for added functionality or features.
8. Property. Characteristics that are dictated by CSS such as color schemes and fonts.
9. SAAS Platforms (Software As A Service). The most basic of cloud platforms; allows users to share files and collaborate on projects through their browser.
10. Wireframe. The bare bones structure of a website. No fonts, colors, or images, this layout is the first step to making sure that the foundation is sound before content is added.
Benchmark Profile:
Benchmark Profile on LinkedIn (1)
Benchmark Profile on LinkedIn (2)
Benchmark Profile on LinkedIn (3)
References:
https://www.bitdegree.org/tutorials/what-is-a-web-developer/
https://www.betterteam.com/web-developer-job-description
https://blog.hubspot.com/website/website-development
https://www.wholewhale.com/tips/developer-terms-glossary/
