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Essential Skills to look for when you Hire Front-end Developers

Essential Skills to look for when you Hire Front-end Developers

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Front-end developers work with the client-side programming of websites. They are naturally in high demand. 

The salary of a front-end developer in a company like Apple, Facebook, or Google can be as high as US$400,000 annually. Even the package offered by startups is fairly high in the US. 

The following graph gives an idea of the average annual cost of hiring front-end developers in US$. The data is of October 2018 from 8 different countries spread across the globe:

average annual cost of hiring front-end developers

Source

Why Front-end Development Is Complex

Experts in web development believe that front-end developers have a tougher job than their back-end counterparts. The reasons are as follows: 

  • Front-end development work is constantly in flux because of the advances that keep happening.
  • The front-end code has to be compatible with different versions of a varying range of browsers. Each version of every browser operates with its own limitations and bugs. The front-end developer has to take all of those into account.
  • Making the front-end compatible with mobiles is even tougher because of the incredible variation of smartphones. Some Android versions not only have bugs but feature regressions also.
  • Front-end developers have to work with CSS and HTML, both of which have limitations with reference to dealing with bugs. 
  • Front-end developers need to understand website behavior and security issues, both of which keep changing. 
  • Front-end developers need to have an eye for design, and the empathy to develop everything from the users’ perspective. 

Front-end Web Developer Skills To Look For:

Front-end developers need to have three sets of skills: primary tech capacity, secondary abilities related to design and web performance, and soft skills:

Primary Skills (Technical)

  • HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): HTML constitutes the nuts and bolts of any website content. This is the most basic skill that every front-end developer you hire must have at their fingertips.
  • CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): This is the language to determine how to present the content on the foundation built with HTML. CSS determines the style of the website – its animations, color, fonts, layout, etc.
  • Javascript/Jquery: This is what makes websites interactive. Javascript (JS) is the programming language that determines how a website functions. Jquery is a library of addons and plugins that compress some common functions requiring multiple JS scripts into a single line.
  • CSS and Javascript Frameworks: These frameworks contain an assortment of CSS and JS files that provide a common framework for a number of tasks. The option of using both of them together extends the range of multifunctionality.
    The CSS Bootstrap, for example, handles the look and feel of a website while Angularjs determines the content.
    Frameworks have their pros and cons like everything else. If you hire a front-end developer, he needs to know which frameworks to use for what kind of website.
    In-depth knowledge of CSS and JS frameworks is also essential for the efficient responsiveness of websites.
  • Command Line: Graphic User Interfaces (GUIs) are essential as they facilitate pointing and clicking on an interactive menu. However, sometimes it becomes necessary to key in commands for something specific. Front-end developers need to have this command line skill in addition to their mastery over GUIs.
  • RESTful Services/APIs: Representational State Transfer (REST) is a computer technology with a high level of usage. It enables two computer systems to communicate with each other over HTTP.
    Lower bandwidth usage determines the preference for REST over SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol).
    RESTful APIs (Application Program Interfaces) allow front-end developers to code their interfaces without depending on the back-end. RESTful APIs use HTTP requests to GET, DELETE, POST, and PUT data.

hiring dedicated developers

Secondary Skills (Design and Web Performance Related)

  • UI/UX Design: The ultimate test of a website is in its efficiency in user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). A front-end developer has to ensure that the website performs well on different browsers. This is where automation tools come into the picture.
    Efficient UX designing needs control over information architecture. An efficient copywriter may supply the content, but the hired front-end developer has to determine the order in which users get to see that content.
  • Visual Editing: Visual communication is an essential front-end web developer skill. It covers the entire span from determining the visual hierarchy to making elements appear clickable.
  • GIT/Version Control: Version control software like the most-preferred GIT allows the front-end developer to return to the previous version to check what might have gone wrong when something does.
  • Wireframing: This is the structural blueprint of a webpage. It outlines the content and functionality of the page with a focus on user needs and experiences. Combined with UI prototyping, wireframing facilitates the identification of mistakes before the designing process starts.
  • Debugging: Bugs are an inevitable feature of the front-end development process. It is essential for front-end developers to keep testing their code for bugs and debug it. 

Also Read: 10 FAQs To Consider When Outsourcing Front-end Development

Soft Skills

A scan of job postings for hiring front-end developers across the globe reveals an interesting feature. 

A number of companies, the tech giants included, ask for some human skills before they go into technical skills. The reason is, without these basic human skills, even a tech genius will be unable to work effectively in a collective workspace.

More importantly, the front-end developer needs to keep the user in mind. That, too, is impossible with just tech skills. It needs the human skills listed below: 

  • Teamwork: Your front-end developer needs to work in a team environment like everyone else. A loner will never have empathy for the user.
  • Communication: One without effective communication skills is unlikely to fully understand how best to communicate with users. 
  • Problem Solving: Knowing how to work around a problem is what differentiates a good front-end developer from an average one. 
  • Creativity: Without a creative flair, your front-end developer will not know what looks good enough to hold your visitor and convert them.  
  • Attention to Detail: On the client interface side, every little thing matters just as much as the big picture.

What Next?

Front-end development is a field of constant evolution. You need people willing to constantly learn and adapt. Outsource your front-end development work to a dedicated team at Uplers. 

You’ll have a team with the entire range of skill-sets mentioned here. A team that is capable of learning on the job and adapt.

10-FAQs-To-Consider-When-Outsourcing-Front-end-Development

10 FAQs To Consider When Outsourcing Front-end Development

If there’s one thing that has changed the world of work, it’s the practice of outsourcing. Outsourcing has led to greater efficiency and cost savings, as well as flexibility, quality, and speed.

In our time, almost every industry has benefited from outsourcing. According to a recent study:

Global Outsourcing front-end development

Source

  • More than 30% of IT services have been outsourced.
  • The healthcare and finance sectors have seen an outsourcing growth of 36% and 30%, respectively.
  • For the HR sector, the figure stands at 32%.
  • Even in manufacturing, 43% is outsourced.

Nowadays, outsourcing is seen as an essential way for companies to bring about innovation, focus on core competencies, drive change, and keep up with the latest technological practices. 

Are you among those thinking of front-end outsourcing? Here are ten FAQs you should be aware of.

1. What are the Issues with Having the Team in a Different Location?

With a remote team working on your projects, you have access to top-line developers from all over the world. No longer do you have to be content with the developers locally available. You can check the portfolios, abilities, and experience of a wide variety of developers online to decide which one is a perfect fit. Yes, there will be different time zones, and this could mean a concern with instant, real-time responses. These can be overcome with initial planning as well as proper and managed deadlines.

2. Will Outsourced Front-end Developers Have the Skills I’m Looking For?

When you outsource, you have the choice of the most knowledgeable and up-to-date specialists. Their skills are always modernized and available for your benefit. This access to an international talent pool means constant insights, ideas, and innovations. Your digital presence can thus always appear fresh and appealing to your customers. 

3. Wouldn’t it be Less Expensive to Hire In-house Developers?

Hiring in-house developers leads to monthly operating costs – from salaries to office space, not to mention investment in technology and software. When you outsource, on the other hand, costs can be rationalized. A one-time operation means a one-time fee, and you can also negotiate contracts for the long-term to provide optimum savings. So the costs all depend on the scale of the work you have in mind.

4. Will An Outsourced Agency Give My Project Dedicated Attention?

Many businesses have opted for the model of a dedicated remote team in front-end outsourcing. This is when the client and agency agree beforehand on the project specifics and time needed. The agency then earmarks all the resources necessary for successful completion. This dedicated team works full-time on the project. In a manner of speaking, it becomes an in-house development team for the business. It provides the advantages of a crack development division, without the drawbacks. 

 

Hire Dedicated Front-end Experts

5. Will there be Complications in Handling An Outsourced Team?

Front-end development is a specialized process, with tools and techniques being constantly updated. With in-house developers, care has to be taken to manage these improvements, with access to training as well as management control. In such cases, outsourcing is a much simpler means of operation. The end result needs to be made clear, and the agency’s development team will take care of the quality without the fuss.

6. What Happens if there is a Growing Amount of Work, and I Have to Keep Adding Resources?

As you must be aware, a company’s digital presence cannot remain constant and unchanged. New techniques and ways of interaction constantly spring up, and these should be incorporated for the best results. With an outsourced team, the initial phase of operations can be easily taken forward to encompass more methods of digital outreach. New skills and manpower can be added, depending on the need. On the other hand, such scalability of operations with an in-house team could mean constant hiring and managing. 

7. How Can I be Sure of a Consistent Level of Attention and Output?

Regular and trusted collaboration with a reliable offshore development team creates a level of consistency in business functions. Progress is regular, techniques and technology are streamlined, and there is uniformity of approach. Further, because the outsourced team is entirely dedicated to the progress of the project, handling deadlines becomes easier, leading to consistent turnaround times. Consistency is also possible with an in-house team, but this could mean giving up other benefits of outsourcing.

8. I Have Many Specialized Needs When it Comes to Front-end Work. Will Outsourcing be Able to Handle This?

An outsourced front-end developers team will comprise of many coding and software experts. Each one of these will be skilled in handling a specific task, with best practices being followed. The team project manager is the person who will bring this all together seamlessly, meaning you get results that are up-to-date as well as robust. 

9. Will An Outsourcing Agency be Equipped to Handle Different Customer Needs and Interfaces?

Today’s customers access the net in a variety of ways. For starters, they use different browsers. Then, there are different screens – from mobile phones to laptops to tablets. Businesses cannot ignore these diverse means of access, as it would mean potentially ignoring a large base. Offshore remote team developers are well-versed in the coding required for your digital presence to seamlessly switch between these modes. In-house developers, on the other hand, could well have the skillsets for only a few. 

10. What About Integration with the Back-end Team? 

Many times, companies find there is a lack of continuous collaboration between front and back-end developers. This can lead to issues of overall responsibility. An expert and experienced offshore development agency can resolve this during the preliminary discussion stage itself. Their team can ensure co-operation between front and back ends with a knowledge of security, server codes, security, and data management. In this way, operations can be coupled together, leading to integrated and hassle-free output.

At Uplers, we’re well aware of all of the above and more. We’re an offshore remote team provider company working with over 7000+ clients worldwide and can help you leverage the true potential of outsourcing for your front-end development requirements. Contact us today!