JavaScript is one of the pillars of modern website building — you won't find a website today that doesn't use this technology. This is all thanks to its extreme flexibility and wide range of features that allow you to create functional websites with beautiful and pleasant designs.
However, one difficulty lies behind the popularity of the language, namely, hiring specialists for JavaScript development. High demand and a small number of specialists give rise to high competition for each programmer. In this article, we will take a closer look at how to hire JavaScript specialists without making mistakes and hiring a worthy candidate. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
JavaScript developers roles
There are two types of developers, namely front-end and back-end (there are also full-stack programmers who can work in these two areas, but we will omit them for now). Let's take a closer look at these two specialists so that you have a complete picture before you hire a dedicated development team of JavaScript developers.
Front-End Developers
This type of developer is responsible for the functioning of the visual part of the website interface. These are all kinds of button animations, drop-down lists, photo carousels and other website elements. As a result, we have the following list of responsibilities for this type of developer:
Creation and refinement of the functional design of websites and web applications
Creation of various features aimed at improving user-experience
Analysis of the codebase to identify errors and fix them
Creating maintainable code
Back-end developers
Back-end programmers, on the other hand, work on the part of the website that remains behind the scenes and is not visible to the end-user. At their core, they make what front-end developers create work. For example, if a designer has created a drop-down list, the back-end developer makes sure that all items in this list lead to the right parts of the website. And this is just one of the examples. In addition, they ensure that the website is optimized so that its performance is excellent under any load. Based on the above, the following list of responsibilities can be compiled:
Work alongside front-end developers to create complete and functional websites and web applications
Analysis of processes and creation of code to implement the functionality of the website from the server-side
Creating reusable code
Continued focus on protecting website data and user privacy
Implementation of various solutions for storing website and user data
Must-have skills for a JavaScript developer
So, we figured out the main responsibilities of developers. Now is the time to talk about what a professional JavaScript developer should be able to know, both back-end and front-end.
Front-End JavaScript developer skills and knowledge
1. Ability to review code This is an extremely important skill so that specialists can review each other's code for various errors. In addition, it helps to write code better, since a skilled colleague can recommend how to make this or that part of the code better.
2. Knowledge of project architecture First of all, the developer must know and be able to work with the existing architecture and its layers, as well as have a basic knowledge of design patterns. In addition, it is essential to be able to deal with the implementation of new features in the architecture and understand the design patterns and principles of SOLID. Do not forget about adding various new subsystems to the existing application architecture.
3. Knowledge of HTML and CSS The entire front-end rests on three pillars, namely JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It is the developer's responsibility to know these tools in order to fulfill their responsibilities. 4. Testing knowledge Another important skill in the JavaScript developer's arsenal. The developer must be familiar with unit testing approaches, have experience in test-driven development, and be able to work with test automation infrastructure. 5. Knowledge of Angular and React These are the main libraries and frameworks for JavaScript development that provide many advanced tools for creating technologically advanced and modern websites.
Back-end JavaScript developer skills and knowledge
1. Ability to review code Just like a front-end developer, it is extremely important for a back-end specialist to be able to review the code to improve its quality.
2. Knowledge of project architecture It is extremely important for developers to have an understanding of architecture levels as well as MVC (Model-View-Controller). Also required is the ability to integrate new features into existing architectures and understand commonly used design patterns and SOLID principles. Another important skill is the ability to create an application architecture from scratch, using given technical and business requirements.
3. Knowledge of NodeJS NodeJS is a software platform based on the V8 engine that turns JavaScript from a highly specialized language into a general-purpose language that helps developers create powerful back-end for websites and web applications.
4. Knowledge of CI and VCS VCS or version control system is an extremely important tool that allows you to keep track of all changes that are made to the developed web application or website. In addition, an important part of the back-end development is CI (continuous integration) which helps to combine the whole array of code into a common repository and check it for errors using automatic testing.
Where to find JavaScript developers?
You have several options on how you can add new JavaScript developers to your technical development team. There are three options in total, namely to hire freelancers, create your own in-house team or turn to an outsourcing vendor. Let's look at them in more detail.
1. Hire freelancers
This option is one of the most economical. On specialized sites like Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, many JavaScript developers offer their services. Hiring is extremely simple and fast and you can easily start development. However, along with this, the following problems immediately arise. Communication with remote employees is quite inconvenient. In addition, code verification will also become more complicated at times. Also, don't forget that there are no guarantees that a freelancer will not find a better project and leave you with a half-finished project.
2. Assemble and in-house team
A fairly common option for gathering your own development team. All specialists are located in one office, which greatly simplifies the process of communication and business decision-making. However, this approach is quite expensive, since you need to rent an office, equip it, and also pay each programmer a salary and sick leaves.
3. Turn to outsourcing vendor
An excellent option in terms of price/quality. All thanks to the fact that you can contact a company from any region and thereby save money. In addition, the company gives you official guarantees of its services and can sign an NDA if required. However, it is worth noting that there may be language difficulties in communicating with the development team. You can find such companies on sites like Clutch, GoodFirms, and It Firms.
Wrapping up
Hiring JavaScript developers requires a certain level of knowledge and training. You should perfectly understand what kind of developer you are looking for and what skills he should have. We recommend that you find a technical person to help you interview candidates and test their technical knowledge. This will greatly speed up the search for candidates and test their skills.
