How to screen JavaScript developer skills to find the best – guide for IT recruitment

1. What is JavaScript?

JavaScript (also known as JS) is high-level, prototype-based, untyped, dynamic language. Depending on the environment JavaScript can be interpreted or compiled. It is a multi-paradigm programming language, supporting object-oriented, imperative and functional programming styles.

JavaScript started as a browser-only language, adding many possibilities for enhancing websites already written with HTML and CSS. In 2009 everything changed. Now, JavaScript can be used anywhere (literally everywhere, even in spacesuits) because of Node.js – which is JavaScript runtime environment based on Google’s V8 JavaScript Engine. Applications written in JavaScript can be very fast if they are made by skilled developers. Because of very low entry level into JavaScript world, it’s now one of most popular languages in use.

Remember: Java and JavaScript are not the same programming language. Developers are sensitive about their favorite languages so it’s very important not to confuse names.

2. What is important for IT Recruiter to know about JavaScript?

Demand for JavaScript Developers is rising very fast. There are a few things you should know when you are looking for JS developer.

– As I previously mentioned, JavaScript is very easy to pick up. With few lines of code you can change the behavior of the website or make simple HTTP Server with Node.js. And this is also JavaScript’s pitfall – a lot of developers are learning only small parts of language just to get things done. To write high quality, fast applications you need to have very good knowledge of JavaScript itself.

– There is saying in JavaScript world – „Day without new JavaScript framework is a day lost”. New tools are popping up like mushrooms in rainy weather. I do not condemn this – It’s quite the opposite – I encourage it. This phenomenon shows us how creative and passionate JavaScript community is. But such state of things has one huge drawback – we require from developers knowledge about frameworks that have been just created. Very good knowledge of popular frameworks is important to write efficient JavaScript applications fast but it is better to have a developer with huge experience with pure JavaScript and older frameworks or libraries to learn new tool than to have a developer who follows blindly what is new without a deep understanding of language.

– On the other hand, sometimes pure JavaScript is not enough. You can do everything from the scratch but it’s time-consuming and as we all know – time is money. Good JavaScript developer should know at least one popular, battle-tested framework or library. And because the ecosystem is constantly changing, knowledge about tools that were used 2-3 years ago can be outdated.

– You need to know what kind of JavaScript developer you are looking for – is it someone who will join Front-end team? Or it is someone who will work with server-side applications?

Or maybe is it someone who will work on hybrid mobile applications or Internet of Things devices? Core understanding of language in these cases is the same. However, each one of these developers should have different knowledge related to their work field.

– For high-level positions, commercial experience is required but for junior or even mid-level developers interesting portfolio with a well written code on one of popular repository hosting services (such as GitHub) can be just as good. Bonus points if a candidate is a contributor to Open Source projects.

3. How to verify JavaScript skills in screening phase?

Screening is hard when you don’t know technologies used by developers. It is even harder when everything is changing so fast like in JavaScript ecosystem. So, let’s move to a few practical recruiting tips how to verify skills of JavaScript Developers.

3.1 Technical screening of JavaScript skills based on CV

JavaScript technology – basic glossary of JavaScript terms for IT recruiters

Candidate’s CV can tell us a lot of useful information but you need to know how to pick what is most important. There are many different technical phrases on each resume and it’s very important not to be confused by them. As Technical Recruiter looking for JavaScript Developer, you need to be familiar with all terminology used by candidates.

You will find useful information below – it will help you maintain sanity while screening.

JavaScript glossary for technical recruiters

JavaScript versions	EcmaScript 5 (ES5 – available everywhere), EcmaScript 6 (ES6 – available in newest browsers), EcmaScript 2016 (ES7 )
JavaScript frameworks and libraries	Angular.js, jQuery, React, Backbone, Ember, Vue.js, Polymer, Aurelia, Knockout, Rx.js
JavaScript frameworks for Node.js	Express.js, Hapi.js, Koa, Sails, Meteor
Node.js package managers	NPM, Bower, JSPM
Node.js based task runners and build tools	Gulp, Grunt, Broccoli, Webpack
JavaScript testing frameworks	Casper, Mocha, Jasmine, Jest, Karma
JavaScript transpilers	Traceur, Babel
Hybrid mobile apps frameworks	Sencha Touch, Ionic, Apache Cordova, IntelXDK
JavaScript supersets or languages that compile to JavaScript	TypeScript, CoffeScript, Elm, Dart

These are the basics. Now we can go deeper. There is a variety of tools, frameworks and libraries and each of them is different. To make things spicier, there can be large differences in tools versions. If a candidate states that they know AngularJS, is it a version of framework our client is looking for? Keep reading and everything will be clear.

Most Common JavaScript names that are used interchangeably:

– JS, JavaScript, EcmaScript

– Node.js, Node, Server-side JavaScript runtime environment

– Hybrid application, Hybrid mobile application, hybrid app

Relations between respective versions of JavaScript technology:

– EcmaScript 6 extends EcmaScript 5 (JavaScripts needs to be backward compatible, otherwise new versions would break the Web)

– jQuery 1.x , 2.x and 3.x are similar

– Angular 1.x is totally different from Angular 2.x

– Core concept is same but there are differences between each major version of React

– Vue 1.x is totally different from Vue 2.x

– Applications written with Ember.js 1.x still work with 2.x

– Core concept is same but there are differences between each major version of Node.js

– NPM 3.x is richer version of NPM 2.x

It is also valuable to be aware of following relations:

– MV* Frameworks – If someone knows one of Ember, Knockout or Angular 1.x then will be able to deal with rest

– Hybrid mobile apps – If someone knows Angular or React then will be able to make hybrid mobile application

– Server-side applications – If someone knows Express, Hapi, Koa or Meteor then will be able to deal with rest

Other information on resume that can show developer’s JavaScript skills:

Because of constantly changing the world of JavaScript, there are no certificates that can prove candidate’s skills. Well, there is one. And it’s GitHub account. Good JavaScript developers often participate in Open Source projects as contributors or are making software by themselves for the greater good. In such environment, they are exposed to other developers which are constantly checking their quality of code. Sharing your code with others is the best way to be a better developer.

Another aspect is participation as a speaker in JavaScript conferences. Very often developers with very high skills in a particular field are invited to various places to talk about their experiences with these technologies.

3.2 Technical screening of JavaScript skills during phone/video technical interview

Resume can tell us something about developer’s skills but it won’t tell anything about developer itself. That’s why interviews via phone call or video conference are so popular – skills are important but we need to know with what kind of person are we dealing – and even more important – with what kind of person might our client’s teamwork. That’s why proper preparation before an interview is needed.

Below you will find few example questions that will tell you more about the candidate. I hope they will make searching for right candidate easier.

1. JavaScript interview question concerning developer’s experience

Q1: With which technologies listed in you CV, did you have commercial experience in past 2 years? What were your responsibilities?

Why to ask Q1: By asking this question, you can find out more about candidate’s Java up-to-date experience, responsibilities and achievements. Thus you get to know your candidate better.

2. JavaScript interview questions concerning developer’s knowledge and opinions

Q2: Which JavaScript libraries are you consider to be valuable and why?

Why to ask Q2: This question shows us candidate’s knowledge about JavaScript ecosystem. We can see whole  regarding choosing technology.

Q3: I’ve noticed you listed framework X on your CV. What’s your opinion about it? Is it a good choice?

Why to ask Q3: These questions show us knowledge about particular technology. Uncertain and shaky answers can help us find lies in a resume. You can also play devil’s advocate based on their answers “But why not use framework Y for that?”. Thus you can see how the candidates choose a technology, justify their choices and whether his opinions are in line with your IT teams.

Q4: If you would like to learn new technology connected to JavaScript, what would it be?

Why ask Q4: Answer to this question demonstrate candidates approach to learning and can help us find developers who are still using outdated knowledge acquired in past.

3. Java interview question concerning developer’s decision making regarding JavaScript technology

Q5: On what stage did you join recent projects? Were you involved in the choice of technology or project setup? If yes, which technology did you choose or recommend for the project and why?

Why to ask Q5: Such a questions shows not only how a candidate makes choices regarding technology but also whether they were included in making decisions. Especially important if you are looking for someone with experience.

4. Behavioral question for JavaScript developer

Q6: Think about programming project decision you made that was a failure. Why do you think it was a mistake? Why did it happen? Could there be anything done differently in order to turn it into success? What steps did you take to improve the situation? What did you learn from this experience?

Why ask Q6: That type of question will help you find out how the candidate perceives their decisions, draws conclusions and how much they learn from their previous experience.

Q7: Are you contributing to any Open Source project or maybe are you maintaining your own Open Source Project? Are you attending any JavaScript conferences?

Why to ask Q7: Questions like these show us if a candidate wants to share their knowledge and wants to be a meaningful part of JavaScript ecosystem. People with a strong will of sharing their experience are often good team players.

Check our complete JavaScript developer salary guide.

Author – Mateusz Rojecki Front-end Developer @ Coders Lab

Coders Lab (www.coderslab.pl) is the biggest coding school in Poland which is active in Warsaw, Crakow, Katowice, Wrocław, Poznań and Łódź. During six-week bootcamp students learn web development technologies: front-end or back-end. Our teaching methods focus on 4 areas: practice, work with mentor, building student’s portfolio and career support. We adjust program to current technology needs of market in order to support knowledge-based education. Over 300 students graduated bootcamps.

DevSkiller ready to use online JavaScript coding assessment tests

DevSkiller helps companies in IT recruitment process by providing them with an infrastructure which lets them test programming skills of candidates in the environment which imitates 1st day at work experience. We allow companies to use their own code base, whole IT projects using frameworks and libraries, to test programmers online. However, we also have some ready-to-use JavaScript coding tests which you can use in your technical recruitment campaign.