How to hire the right developer
Getting candidates to apply can take time, however, choosing the wrong person can even prolong the completion of the project so hiring the right one should be taken seriously.
Below, here are a few tips that you can apply:
1. Get to know the applicant
This might seem like extra work, however, most smart business owners put in the effort and get to know the person before handing the project to a freelancer they don’t know. Organizing a phone call or Skype chat, or even having a little email conversation can be sufficient enough. It’s always best to meet up with the developer in person, but that can’t always happen due to today’s remote work trends.
At the same time, getting valid contacts like phone numbers and email addresses are also important. Being able to reach out to the developer can prove to be crucial, especially during urgent matters.
The bottom line: make sure you organize a call with your candidate. A short interview can get you a better look at them and their behavior can possibly tell you more whether they are to person for you or not.
2. References and Portfolios
Getting real customer testimonials is also an important part of the hiring process, and luckily, acclaimed WordPress developers can easily provide them. Also, looking for reviews and recommendations on Facebook and Google can be a good idea mostly because it’s rather difficult to forge reviews.
Unfortunately, a lot of companies are doing just that so entrepreneurs must be alert and keep their eyes open for fake testimonials.
Just as with references, great developers can easily provide examples of their previous projects that are now up and running.
Smart businessmen always ask for portfolios since hiring an inexperienced developer who just entered the market can cause a lot of unwanted headaches.
3. Go beyond WordPress
Even though WP knowledge and skills are in the focal point, an experienced and top-tier WordPress developer most likely has some other skills and qualities to give too. Apart from WordPress, good WP developers know how to use Photoshop, Fireworks, have UX/UI knowledge, experience, and knowledge in hosting, know about the importance of optimization, conversion rates, and have a good understanding of how the world of digital marketing generally works.
4. Good work ethic
Having a good work ethic and a comprehensive process for keeping clients up to date about the project and billable time are features that all great WordPress developers should have. Business owners should also have their own way of tracking work progress and timeframe so that both sides have a traceable and transparent system when it comes to outlining the work and the pay.
Luckily, there are great platforms and applications out there that can monitor the work of the developer that can give business owners better insight into what’s happening with their website and what they are paying for.
Great developers regularly give updates about the projects and tell if they’ve run into obstacles or if they will finish the project on time or even before the deadline. Having a meeting every few days or once every week, in accordance with the size and scope of the project should be necessary and good developers know that.
Good response time is also essential for a professional to be regarded as “great”. Getting a timely response to emails is a crucial factor especially when the website requires urgent changes. Most developers are working on more than one project and they may not be able to provide fast feedback, however, all responsible professionals respond within 24 hours.
Delays in the initial conversation are always a clear sign that the developer isn’t really that professional or is working on too many projects as it is.
5. Security
Regarding everything from payments, general business information, overall website security details, and website credentials should be handled securely by the person who is being handed the project.
6. Professionalism and experience
This has been stated before but it’s the foundation of a successful collaboration. Based on the requests, the WordPress developer should have a deep understanding of the WP platform, starting from the plugin ecosystem, to security, core aspects, and custom theme development. More complex projects often require the modification of the WP core framework and only knowledgeable and experienced developers should execute those tasks.
Another important aspect should be the implementation of a monthly maintenance and update plan, especially if there’s a content-heavy website involved with constantly updated content and functionality. Ongoing support should also be a top priority for business owners.