Hiring JavaScript Developer: Must-Have Qualities and Skills of a Great JS Developer

There was a time when being functional and bug-free was the only requirement of a website. But we have come a long way since then; people now desire an excellent-looking website with high performance. This preference of users led us into a world where using only HTML and CSS isn’t an option. 

Developers have long been using JavaScript to provide a sophisticated user experience, and the trend is still rising. You can not make a successful website or web app without using JavaScript. In fact, 94.5% of all websites use JavaScript or its libraries.

All of those factors contributed to the rise in demand for a JavaScript developer. Thus the quantity of so-called JS developers is also increasing exponentially. According to SlashData, JavaScript has gained 5 million new developers since 2017. 

Even though the world has more than 12 million JavaScript developers, finding an expert is still tricky. By expert, I meant the individual who knows all the tricks and hacks of JS development and can deliver a top-notch website within a given timeline. So, how do you find such JS experts without exhausting too much energy? 

I won’t guide you through the complete journey of finding a JavaSript developer, but I will give you some leads by pointing out the must-have qualities of a JS expert. Hope you will find them useful. 

Every Javascript developer needs soft and technical skills to perform their job well. This article will give you some ideas about which soft and hard skills an expert developer needs.

Must-Have Soft Skills of a JS Developer 

Soft skills mean how well you interact and can work with others. It’s essential because a developer has to work with other team members in your workplace. Here I have pointed out some of the soft skills that are foremost. 

Communication Skills

Communication is essential among the team members to maintain the workflow. Through effective communication, a developer can bring the best to the company. 

Time Management 

When it comes to development, time management is a critical soft skill. So it’s essential to find a developer with good time management skills. If a Javascript developer can complete a task in a certain amount of time without sticking to a single part, he will be the best match for your project.

Problem-Solving Skills

If a Javascript developer has problem-solving skills, he can see every problem from a different angle and give unique problem-solving solutions

Collaboration Skills 

Developers have to work with the other team members, so collaborative action is essential to bring fruitful work. Even if a Javascript developer works alone, they still have to communicate with designers, customers, project managers, and many more.

Adaptability 

Adaptability is vital for a developer’s success. Every day, developers see new tools and widgets being developed in the tech world. So developers should always be up to date with the trends and ready to adopt things.

A JavaScript developer uses these soft skills every day at work, and having these soft skills can help a developer win more business and accelerate his workflow with his colleagues.

Self-Awareness 

In general, self-awareness is an essential soft skill for all human beings. If a developer has a sense of who he is and the person he wants to become, his professional or personal development can be created.

Must-Have Technical Skills of a JS Developer 

The JavaScript development world is insanely vast, and not everyone needs to know everything. For example, a front-end JS developer doesn’t require in-depth knowledge of Node JS and its libraries, just as a backend node js developer doesn’t need to know subtle css tricks. But there are some technical skills that every JS developer must-have. And here, we are going to discuss those common technical skills that every expert JavaScript developer should know.

Expertise in Core JavaScript

Before starting JavaScript development, a developer must learn the language first. Though a developer doesn’t need to be a master in it, it has a basic understanding of the control flow and paradigm.

Many developers may find JavaScript a complex language to adopt. Javascript has gained a good share of gotchas quirks, but it becomes a must-have habit to a developer once he gets into it and finds it an easy and exciting language.

Asynchronous Programming

Most Javascript developers write JavaScript code synchronously, which means that when executing a block of code, only one line of code is accomplished at a time. It has a detrimental effect on the performance, and a developer dont need to wait for each operation to be completed before moving towards the next one. Asynchronous programming can help circumvent this restriction by employing techniques to manage concurrency, as it does not wait for each operation to be completed. Instead, it simply executes all functions at once. Learning how to write asynchronous JavaScript code is a crucial skill that any developer should master due to the various benefits, such as avoiding browser freezes and improving the speed and performance of a website or application.

Writing Cross-Browser Compatible Codes

In general, internet users do not stick to using just one individual web browser; some may prefer to use Google Chrome, while others may be more comfortable with Internet Explorer. In such a situation, a developer cannot afford to write code that runs on a single web browser, as that would severely limit the website audience and hamper the website’s growth potential. To ensure that website is usable across popular browsers, mobile devices, and any other web browsing devices, it is necessary to write JavaScript code that is well-matched with multiple web browsers.

Functional Programming

Knowledge of programming using self-coded functions is another fundamental skill a JS developer should have, as it can determine how efficient code you write. With functional programming, write the code purely through functions and avoid shared states, side effects, and data mutation.

Due to the analytical nature of functional programming, the resultant code is more to the point, predictable, and easier to test and alter. Also, because it’s the point nature, the code can be executed faster, thereby improving the load times. Learning functional programming can be complex and time-consuming, but the benefits that come with it make it worth the time spent.

Efficient Memory Management

The adeptness in writing memory-efficient JavaScript code is a skill that developed over time. Any website and web application can leak memory, making it decline if the code is not correctly customized toward memory optimization. Memory leaks can sometimes even result in substantial performance problems as they end up consuming a ton of precise system resources. 

Even though JavaScript has its own mechanized memory management system, writing and optimizing code to better utilize memory and system resources lets developers take out a few additional performances from the code. Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive, and these are just four of many such skills that help a Javascript developer to grow. 

Adopting these techniques and knowing when to use them is of paramount importance. When used right, they’re sure to give the users of the website or app the best possible experience. 

JavaScript Instantiation Patterns

Another thing that a Javascript developer benefits from is learning the skill to know which instantiation pattern a developer needs the necessity to avail. JavaScript is way more flexible when it comes to using methods. Each method type has its benefits and usage, making it more important to know which one a developer should use and when. The instantiation patterns that a developer can use include functionally shared, functional, and prototypal.

Time Complexity

If any Javascript developer wants to make his applications as fast as possible, he should know how to write algorithms with better time complexity. If he has that quality, he can write an algorithm to solve a problem and measure the time complexity to improve it based on the requirements.

Last but not Least 

Yes, skills are fundamental determinators of a good developer. But there are essential qualities we often overlook when we hire a developer. We have already discussed soft skills and technical skills, so you may wonder what could be left to discuss. Well, here we are going to discuss those things: 

Empathy

Software engineers spend a lot of time with machines, but still, they should have empathy. They should always talk to their colleagues and customers with compassion.

Patience

Developers can make the best decisions when they’re in a neutral state. A Javascript developer must have the capacity to solve problems patiently. 

Open-Mindedness

Open-mindedness is important in a Javascript developer. It’s proven that a developer can work more efficiently if he is open-minded and willing to accept criticisms and ideas from others.

Eagerness to Learn New Things

In the above discussion, we know that JavaScript is constantly changing. Therefore a competent developer must have a passion for learning and discovering. 

There are many ways a Javascript developer can gather knowledge. A Javascript developer can stay up to date with the latest JavaScript news. He also should have the willingness to attend development seminars and training sessions. 

It’s a bonus if the JavaScript developer is willing to share the newly gained knowledge and mentor others. That proves the professional’s understanding of the new skills goes beyond the basics. 

A genuine passion for JavaScript

There is a well-known quote it says, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Beyond technical qualifications, if a developer truly enjoys JavaScript programming, he can go far away in his career. Because developers, skilled and experienced, won’t care about excellence and client satisfaction if they don’t enjoy the work. But when JavaScript developers like what they do, they strive to exceed expectations instead of doing the minimum. So a developer always has to be passionate about his work.

Collaborative spirit

In-app and software development, no man is an island. Even a full-stack developer working on both the front- and the back end has to work with others. So while finding a competent JavaScript developer, you can look for developers who can cooperate and smoothly work with others. 

It’s a vital link that can push a JavaScript developer towards success. When everyone in a group has a good working relationship, the project moves smoothly. 

Final words

It’s an excellent decision to examine a developer’s competence before working with them. The skillset or human qualities we mentioned are the essential criteria you should look for before hiring a competent javascript developer. I hope the above discussion will be helpful in your hiring procedure.