You’re thinking of hiring a web developer – but what now? If you want to make sure you hire the right person for the job, there are some things you need to know and think about very carefully. We have put together a list to help you make the best decision for your business when hiring a web developer:

• Make sure your developer has a professional qualification. This shows that they have studied their subject and understand it fully. This will help you to know that they are capable of doing a good job.
• Consider setting them some tasks. Web development can involve writing intricate and complicated code, so see whether they are able to work well in a real life, pressurised situation.
• Ask them about their experience. Get a clear idea of the kinds of industries they know and the types of development work they have done.
• Ensure you can offer them a competitive package. Web design and development are incredibly popular at the moment, with lots of companies needing to hire someone to complete programming work for them. You will need to make sure the position you are offering is reasonable, as a good developer will probably have a lot of job options. Carry out some market research to see what other employers are offering.
• Think about how their role in the company will actually work. What will you require your developer to do? What kind of systems will they be working on? Will they be part of a large IT team? Will they have any contact with your clients? By carefully considering these questions, you will be able to work out what kind of person you need to fit into your existing team.

Hiring – and keeping – a good web developer can be tricky, as it’s the kind of profession where people are used to moving around regularly. However, if you have a role that is well rewarded, you can find the right person for your company.