Do you want to develop your business and establish its web presence? Do you want to hire web developers for your own company?
Planning to take courses in web development to enhance your skills? If your answer to all these questions is YES, we can help you. This blog will discuss common web developer questions and their concise and powerful answers. First, let’s talk about fundamentals.
What is web development?
A simple Google search would tell us that web development (website development) is a broad term referring to the tasks associated with developing websites hosted via the Internet or the intranet. It is about building websites through coding and programming their features and functionalities based on the owner’s requirements.
These requirements are achieved through web development processes such as web design, content development, client-side or server-side configurations, database structuring, and network security configurations. That said, we can determine the web developer’s job description from the definitions given.
What is a web developer’s job description?
Web developers build and shape the experience of each user or client visiting a website. A web developer then has to deal with the process of producing a complete website, either working on one node of the project or working along the development line.
Web developers work closely with project managers and designers to ensure the final product is aligned with its scope, features and functionality, design requirements, allocated budget, and schedule.
Along with this process, important duties also subject the web developer to collaborate and communicate closely with clients, take regular assessments, attend scheduled scrum meetings, and more. From there, we would know the necessary roles and skills that can be expected from a web developer.
Taking things lightly in web development leads to project collapse. At Full Scale, we measure our success with how our clients succeed. These common questions were prepared for startups to avoid getting scammed and ending up with a poorly engineered website. Now, let’s look at the roles of a web developer in the next section.
What are the roles of a web developer?
Work closely with a project manager for task updates and alignments.
 Web developers must build a strong rapport with their managers to relay project progress updates properly. This also lets the web developer keep up with the client or owner.
Coordinate with designers to achieve desired visual outputs.
This is the side of web development that is essential for product outputs. The web developer coordinates with the designers to achieve the required features and functionalities in line with the website’s entirety and aesthetics.
Practice constant communication with colleagues.
Teamwork is important in web development. Communication plays a vital role among team members. Web developers should be steadfast in communicating whatever updates they apply, issues they encounter, and fixes they have implemented.
The contact channel for each team member should be accessible in case important issues arise. Communication is key in relationships.
Aim to create highly appealing and engaging sites that best fit the client and user needs.
As a web developer, one shouldn’t limit oneself to specific tasks but should focus on giving the best output possible. They should also think outside the box to provide the clients with the best and most satisfactory products.
The role of a web developer is very important as some startups still fail to understand the gravity of web development fundamentals. However, at some point, startups and business owners hire incompetent developers, which propels them to unproductivity and profit loss. Thus, in the next section, let’s examine the primary skills a web developer should possess.
What skills should a web developer possess?
The job of a web developer requires skills in several web platforms and programming languages. Some of these include JavaScript, JQuery, HTML, HTML5, CSS, Web programming skills, E-commerce, UI Design, Security Principles, Object-Oriented Design, Web services, and APIs.
Web developers should also have technical skills that will enable them to handle work-related tasks. In general, these skills are essential when working in software development.
Building products using HTML/CSS/JS for frontend development
Understanding OOP
Documenting project build and maintenance
Maintaining websites
Updating websites
Familiarizing debugging tools
Aside from technical skills, the web developer should also possess soft skills. Soft skills are interpersonal skills such as people skills, ethics, and personality that help them be productive independently and as a teammate. Among these skills include:
Coordination
One should stay organized and accurate when it comes to tasks. This trait will help web developers meet the project’s requirements and standards.
Attention to detail
Staying precise and accurate makes a web developer competent as a worker. Attention to detail is very important in programming. This is especially true in a project requiring different programming languages and conversions.
Time management
Web developers should be able to manage their time wisely. They should be able to determine which tasks to prioritize so they can work their way in and out of the project as timely as possible.
Communication
This is one of the most important soft skills. As mentioned, communication is an essential part of the development process. It could make or break any project.
Web developers should be able to address their concerns as they arise. Additionally, they must give constant updates on the changes and updates on their part of the project.
Working well under pressure
Development is a time-sensitive endeavor that a developer should handle critically. Therefore, web developers must stay steadfast and approach problems head-first to prevent time pressure.
These skills are essential as increased competition necessitates exceptional business promotions through web development. Startups must collaborate with competent development companies and highly skilled developers to foster growth and emerge victoriously.
Now, let’s continue to discuss common questions typically raised during web developer interviews.
Web Developer Interview Questions
Questions will always vary according to the type of web developer you are aiming for. In a normal setting, a human resources recruitment officer would ask questions such as: What’s your programming expertise? What are the projects that you have done that you are proud of? How many years of experience do you have?
Here are seven common web developer interview questions. These can help startups assess web developers’ skills and serve as guides for web developers.
What is your programming language expertise?
Answering this question should be easy. Just be honest about what you’re best at and emphasize it. State some projects where you have used that specific language and mention others you are also good at.
What are the projects that you have done that you are proud of?
For this one, it would be a plus if you could state the biggest project you have worked on based on your experience. However, one thing that would also make you stand out is mentioning the project you are proud of. This could be a project that you put your heart into accomplishing or one that is awarded.
How do you keep up with the latest trends and updates in development?
Your answer to this question determines your initiative as a programmer and how you handle new challenges. As technology evolves, the development process is also dynamic.
To nail the question, just be honest with an answer backed up by your experience. If you have little experience handling such things, you may state your curiosity and willingness to adapt to the latest trends.
What are your best soft skills?
This, of course, is a question that relates to your interpersonal skills. There are things mentioned above to take note of and, as much as possible, you should possess. Soft skills are essential in maintaining a good working dynamic between you and your workmates.
How would you describe yourself?
You could answer this according to how your previous colleagues or friends describe you. Be as transparent as possible when answering this question.
If you can’t solve a problem at work, what would you do?
There is no right or wrong answer because this is your own problem-coping mechanism. However, it would be better to acknowledge your inexperience or inadequacy regarding the problem and seek help, such as a quick Google search, a Stack Overflow thread, or asking your colleagues. As mentioned, communicating your issues with your workmates mobilizes workplace dynamics.
How would you describe your work process?
Your answer must be specific and clear for technical questions. Before the interview, ensure you are familiar with the whole process, such as using snippets for quick layouts, some jQuery, and starting to code or opting for a more in-depth approach.
These are just some basic questions that you can ask. Questions will vary depending on the interview and the workload you will be handling if you get the job.
You may also be asked technical questions about code organization, the purpose of web platforms and frameworks, debugging and debugging tools, and SEO considerations.
Full Scale is here for you!
Since we focused on web developers for this article, are you looking for web developers who can help you develop beautiful and quality websites for your business?
Full Scale is here for you! You can consult with us, find help in every step of the web development process, transform your ideas, build solutions, and gain revenue. Contact us, and together, we will build your success online.
Full Scale has a roster of talented individuals dedicated to producing quality outputs through our Guided Development program. With a pool of software development teams experienced in different programming languages, our company helps business owners develop their business websites and systems.
Successful execution of web development is a must, but in reality, there are undesirable factors that lead to the failure to understand the business. Also, web development is expensive, and limitations emerge as startups pursue success with intense zest. Plus, human resources are scarce.
However, at Full Scale, we want to instill trust and confidence in our clients. We offer continuous support to help your business grow in the digital world.
Our dedicated services, such as web and mobile application development, search engine optimization, graphic design, business consultancy, and content writing, will help you capitalize on your idea and harness the power of the web.
Matt Watson is a serial tech entrepreneur who has started four companies and had a nine-figure exit. He was the founder and CTO of VinSolutions, the #1 CRM software used in today’s automotive industry. He has over twenty years of experience working as a tech CTO and building cutting-edge SaaS solutions.
As the CEO of Full Scale, he has helped over 100 tech companies build their software services and development teams. Full Scale specializes in helping tech companies grow by augmenting their in-house teams with software development talent from the Philippines.
Matt hosts Startup Hustle, a top podcast about entrepreneurship with over 6 million downloads. He has a wealth of knowledge about startups and business from his personal experience and from interviewing hundreds of other entrepreneurs.