WordPress powers over 455 million websites worldwide.

Full-time dedicated WordPress developers in the U.S. earn $63,348 a year on average with the highest number being $105,000 a year.

Thus, if you’re going to hire a dedicated WordPress developer and pay them that much, you must choose the best candidate. However, how to find the best candidate? Here is the answer.

The next couple of sections will discuss the type of questions you can ask before you hire a WordPress developer to find the right fit for your company:

  • 5 technical questions to ask

  • 5 exploratory questions to ask

5 technical questions to ask to hire a WordPress Developer

Before you hire a WordPress developer, you must make sure the chosen candidate is sound in technical knowledge. Here are 5 technical questions to ask to judge a potential candidate’s technical expertise.

  • 1
    Explain what are hooks in WordPress

    A good WordPress developer knows hooks are functions one can apply to an Action or to a filter. Furthermore, a competent WordPress developer will tell you, depending on whether you apply the hooks to an action or a filter, the hooks are called Action hooks and filter hooks.

    A skilled WordPress developer will know hooks can be added without modifying the original file.

  • 2
    Tell me how debugging works in WordPress.

    A good WordPress developer will know that Debugging PHP code is a primary part of any project.

    A skilled WordPress developer will tell you that WP_DEBUG is one such PHP constant used to enable the debug mode throughout WordPress. Furthermore, the developer would know you must set the PHP constant to true in the wp-config.php file.

    If you are satisfied with the answer, hire that dedicated WordPress programmer.

  • 3
    Mention the rules you must follow for WordPress plugin development.

    A skilled WordPress developer will tell you the rules you must follow for WordPress plugin development are:

    • Creating a unique name
    • Creating a folder for the plugin
    • Creating a subfolder for PHP files, assets, and translations/
    • Creating the main plugin file and filling in the header information
    • Creating activation and deactivation functions
    • Creating an uninstall script
    • Creating a readme.txt file
    • Detecting paths to the plugin file

    If the candidate answers on these lines, hire those WordPress website developers.

  • 4
    What steps must you take if a WordPress file gets hacked?

    The goal of the question is to assess whether the candidate knows the emergency security measures one must take if a WordPress file gets hacked.

    A competent WordPress developer will tell you the steps one needs to take are:

    • Installing security plugins such as WP Security
    • Reinstalling the latest WordPress version
    • Changing user id and password for each user
    • Checking if the plugins and themes are up to date

    If the answers are in these lines, hire those WordPress experts.

  • 5
    Tell me when you can get locked out of the WordPress admin section.

    A competent WordPress developer will focus on specific scenarios to answer the question. That is a great way to differentiate between a good dedicated WordPress developer and an average one.

    A skilled WordPress developer will tell you the situation can occur if:

    • The IP of the website is banned
    • The developer has pasted the code in a wrong location
    • The developer has pasted the code from a website with the wrong formatting
5 exploratory questions to ask to hire a WordPress Developer

If you want to hire a WordPress developer, you must be sure of not only their technical knowledge, but their leadership qualities, ability to handle pressure, and abilities to solve problems as well. Here are 5 exploratory questions to figure out the same.

  • 1
    Tell me about a time when you had to deliver a project within a very short amount of time. How did you maintain both the quality and deadline?

    The goal of the question is to figure out the developer’s ability to handle pressure. A competent developer will be prompt in their actions to finish the work within the timeline. Furthermore, a skilled developer will take care to maintain the quality of the work as well.

    If the candidate's answers match these points, hire the WordPress web developer.

  • 2
    Mention a time when one of your colleagues were not cooperating in a project at all? How did you handle the situation?

    A competent WordPress developer will be firm and clear in stating the discrepancy going on. The developer will explain what is not working on the project and how the issue can be solved.

    However, the developer will be humble when expressing their opinion and will respect their colleagues.

    If the answer satisfies you, hire the WordPress programmer.

  • 3
    What would you do if your boss or client share unclear feedback?

    The question is an excellent one if you want to hire a remote WordPress developer. Remote developers rely on the feedback they receive from their boss or clients. Thus, it is essential they communicate if there is any confusion.

    A competent WordPress developer will state the issue of unclear feedback firmly. However, the developer will be humble in expressing their opinion.

  • 4
    What if a project member is highly skilled but humiliates everyone else in the team? What would you do as a project leader?

    A competent WordPress developer will respect the skills of the project member and tell them how important they are to the team.

    However, the developer will also be firm in stating the other team members deserve respect as well and the member in question must adhere to respectful behavior.

  • 5
    What if your boss doesn’t agree with the decisions you are making? How will you handle the situation?

    A good WordPress developer will communicate the reasons behind the decisions they are making. The developer will explain why the decisions are beneficial.

    However, the developer will be humble and respectful toward their boss.