These five questions will help you find the perfect web developer: What to ask at a job interview
Last updated: Jun 19, 2026
A web developer is a specialist with excellent knowledge of programming languages, attentive and diligent, communicative and creative, ready for teamwork and able to make decisions independently.
What Questions to Ask a Web Developer?
All questions are divided into two types: questions about professional knowledge, experience and questions about personal qualities. Yes, do not forget that the web developer - a person of the first order. Even a perfect knowledge of JavaScript is not so important, if the person can't accept criticism, work as a team and doesn't know what discipline and deadlines are. Be sure to pay attention to the potential employee's stress tolerance, because if projects involve a non-standard work schedule, you need someone who can work under tight deadlines without losing quality. Here are five questions to ask to find a highly qualified web programmer:
"I am not a Web Programmer. Please, Explain what JavaScript is in Simple Terms."
- Why this Question is Important? Communicating with an audience that doesn't have specific knowledge and skills in web development is part of a programmer's job. The job seeker should be able to describe complex processes as clearly as possible without using professional terms, because sometimes you need to explain your point of view to a client, a project manager or a designer who does not understand the basic principles of web development. - What the Answer Should Be? The person should not talk about the advantages, disadvantages or peculiarities of this programming language. The best answer is, "JavaScript is a programming language that improves the interactivity of a website. For example, it allows you to add interactive interface elements: slideshows, feedback forms, different types of animations."Show a Developer Specific Code and Ask them to Find and Fix Bugs in it
- Why this Question is Important? It is necessary to check the technical knowledge of the person, his ability to quickly analyze the code and find errors. In addition, it will allow you to understand how the developer thinks, his pace, the ability to read other people's code (one of the most important skills for developers). During the task, pay attention to the time spent analyzing the code, the list of errors found and the list of solutions. - What the Answer should be? The developer should read the code carefully, detect errors and fix them right away. If an interviewee reads the code chaotically and cannot find errors, it indicates his/her professional incompetence. Moreover, not all the specialists can quickly find errors in code. Sometimes it takes a bit more time for a programmer with good knowledge and skills to find and fix all the errors. This factor must always be taken into account.
"How do You Test Your Product?"
- Why this Question is Important? Testing the product at various stages plays an important role because it allows you to identify bugs in the code and the bottle neck of the application. A professional web developer pays a lot of attention to testing. - What the Answer should be? The applicant should briefly describe the product testing process and talk about their successful experience. This information will help to understand how well the candidate tests the code independently or with colleagues. Or, on the contrary, the programmer can say that only professional testers can do quality testing of a product and developers should not be involved in it. You need to understand which candidate is the best fit for your team. "Tell us about a Problem You Encountered while Working and How You Solved it." - Why this Question is Important? Bugs in the code, incorrect operation of the application, are an sagnificant part of a developer's job. The way in which the candidate solves the problem speaks of his or her professional skills, creative thinking, stress-resistance, and ability to make decisions independently. In addition, the answer to this question will help you understand whether the specialist has solved problems in partnership with colleagues. - What the Answer should be? The specialist can look for a solution on topical forums (e.g., Stackoverflow), discuss problems with colleagues or an IT specialist who manages the development team. The experienced candidate chooses the most effective solution for a particular project - he or she can solve the problem on his or her own as quickly as possible or ask peers for advice.