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How to Hire The Best Web Developer

Written by Fida Hussain  »  Updated on: July 29th, 2025 41 views

As businesses continue to expand their digital footprint, the demand for skilled web developers is growing. A good web developer is capable of wearing many hats: they can take care of the frontend as well as backend tasks, while optimizing performance and making for a better user experience as a whole. The breadth of their capabilities serves as an advantage on many projects since they can work through many different responsibilities and contribute to various projects as a whole.

However, with numerous web developers available, hiring a good one is not always realistic or easy. This article can help you analyze your needs, ask questions about the skills you need, identify the qualities that matter beyond technical skills, and finally hire a web developer who achieves your goals.

Clarify Your Technical and Product Needs

Before you even start the search for a web developer, get clarity on what you need. Are you working on a new MVP, scaling an established product, or cleaning up technical debt on an existing system?

Here are a couple of key questions to help clarify your need:

Do you need frontend, backend, or full-stack experience?

What current technology stack are you using?

Do you want someone to blend in or bring something new?

Is this a short-term project or a long-term commitment?

Example:

If you're creating a real-time dashboard for logistics data, you may require a React frontend developer with WebSocket and API integration experience, not someone who just knows HTML/CSS.

Who Typically Hires Professional Web Developers?

You’re not alone in this hiring decision. Understanding who usually hires developers can help position your expectations.

Startups: Need fast execution with versatile skill sets.

Product companies: Look for scalability, code quality, and maintainability.

Agencies: Often hired for short-term or client-specific projects.

CTOs/Tech leads: Bring in developers to complement or scale internal teams.

If you're in any of these categories, your needs will vary, but your approach to hiring should be strategic.

Essential Skills to Look for in a Web Developer

Even if your focus isn’t just technical, you still need a solid skill foundation. Here's what most good web developers should bring to the table:

Proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

Experience with modern frameworks (React, Vue, Angular, Laravel, etc.)

Familiarity with Git and version control workflows

API integration (REST/GraphQL) and third-party libraries

Testing, debugging, and performance optimization skills

Understanding of deployment tools and hosting environments

Bonus: Look for developers who contribute to open-source or have active GitHub portfolios.

These criteria help you hire web developers who match your technical requirements and work style. A well-matched hire contributes more effectively to your team and long-term goals.

Look Beyond Code: What Really Matters in a Hire

The right developer is more than just their technical expertise. Below are four key factors that truly define a strong hire:

1. Traits Over Just Tech Skills

Skills are learned while characteristics (sometimes called soft skills) like accountability, curiosity, and persistence are often natural. A developer who is asking the right questions and is owning their tasks will far and away outperform a developer who simply "knows more technology."

2. Ability to Think, Not Just Build

A good developer does not simply follow orders. They solve problems. Look for people who can show a thoughtful approach regarding technical decisions and understand the business impacts behind their code.

3. Enthusiasm for Your Product and Stack

Interest brings performance. A developer who actually cares about your product, likes your stack or has some genuine interest in what they’re doing is far more valuable than someone going through the motions for a paycheck.

4. Don’t Let Rational Checklists Blind You

It's too easy to get caught up in degrees, number of years of experience, and what tools they have used in their experience. These types of criteria do not guarantee success. Evaluate how they think, communicate, and act in real-life situations.

Selection Criteria: Your Developer Shortlisting Checklist

Here’s a quick reference when evaluating potential hires:

Relevant tech stack experience

Clean, maintainable code samples (GitHub preferred)

Ability to communicate ideas and technical decisions

Collaboration skills in tools like Git, Slack, and Jira

Previous projects similar to yours

Long-term availability or interest

Remote readiness and timezone compatibility (if applicable)

Steps to Hire a Good Web Developer

1. Define the Role Clearly

Set expectations — not just tasks. Define outcomes, performance benchmarks, and how the role fits within your tech team.

2. Write a Precise Job Description

Include tech stack, project goals, soft skill expectations, and company culture. Add a small task or codeword to filter out generic applicants.

3. Source Smartly

Go beyond job boards. Tap into:

GitHub/Stack Overflow

Tech Twitter and Discord communities

Dev-focused platforms like Toptal or Arc

Referrals from trusted engineers

Vetted development agencies

4. Run a Focused Evaluation Process

Review GitHub or project portfolio

Assign a real-world take-home task or code review

Have a structured technical + cultural fit interview

Optional: paid trial task to evaluate live performance

Conclusion

A strong web developer does more than just align with your tech stack; they align with your product goals, bring their own ideas, and know how to work within your particular workflow. Working with a web development company that has a clear process for hiring will help you find developers who will have great long-term value within your projects. By properly writing your requirements and using a thorough evaluation process, you can avoid common hiring pitfalls and onboard developers who can help with your product's ongoing growth.



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