Guide
HOW TO HIRE A WEB DEV
A hiring manager's guide to identifying great web developers. From technical assessment to culture fit, a practical framework for making the right hire.
Last updated: May 2026
Technical Skills to Evaluate
Deep HTML/CSS/JS knowledge (semantic HTML, Flexbox/Grid, ES2024+), responsive design (mobile-first, accessibility), performance optimization (Core Web Vitals, image optimization, code splitting), modern frameworks (React/Vue/Angular), and DevOps basics (CI/CD, cloud deployment) are critical.
Red Flags
Developers who lack semantic HTML knowledge, have no responsive design experience, ignore accessibility (WCAG), or show no performance awareness become major liabilities in modern web development.
The Hiring Process
1. Portfolio review: Check code quality, accessibility, and performance metrics of live websites. 2. Technical interview: Deep dive into responsive layout decisions, performance bottleneck identification, and modern build tool knowledge. 3. Practical assignment: Have them build a simple landing page and evaluate semantic HTML, responsiveness, accessibility, and performance. 4. Culture fit: Verify remote work experience, async communication skills, and self-direction.
Verdict
A great web developer deeply understands front-end specifications while smoothly handling back-end and infrastructure integration. Beyond technical skills, interest in user experience and continuous learning matter. If hiring is difficult, starting with a flexible fractional contract is pragmatic.
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