When hiring a back-end developer, most hiring managers normally look for a lot of experience, APIs knowledge and working skills, and a credible record in working with databases. But even if a candidate answer to all these requirements, there are still a lot of other factors that influence a successful hire. Even if an applicant has been handling all kinds of responsibilities – from handling databases to security, to data access, there is still the main question of whether they will be the right fit for the exact needs of the company.
Back-end developers are a crucial part of the tech team as they construct and maintain the base on which front-end developers will later build on. There is a thin line between back- and front-end developers and sometimes it can be quite fluid so ensure that you understand what exactly does your tech team need before starting the recruitment process.
In order to land the best addition to the company’s technical theme, here are the most important things you should look for when hiring a back-end developer.
In terms of expertise, a back-end developer should be able to:
- Work with a variety of different frameworks, security procedures, and software design patterns
- Write reliable, scalable, bug-free, and well-tested code
- Show in-depth knowledge of the best practices and standards of the language they are experienced in
- Be familiar with cloud providers and infrastructure
- Have experience with using, utilizing, and scaling databases and data structures
- Work comfortably with web service technologies
To make sure that the back-end developer is compatible with the tech team, they should:
- Be comfortable with the technologies currently used by the company’s technical team
- Be familiar with the development methodology of the team, or with a similar one
- Be able to maintain a smooth collaboration by keeping detailed design docs for reference
- Be motivated to sustain the quality level of the team
- Be proactive and willing to engage constantly with the rest of the team by providing contribution, feedback, and commentary
- Be a team player and support other team members in case of need, as well as collaborate to tackle existing problems and issues with the development process
In terms of soft skills, a back-end developer should:
- Be flexible in their approach to problem-solving without sticking to a particular solution for no other reason
- Focus on solutions and takes ownership in case of mistakes and errors
- Be willing to tackle and resolve all kinds of problems, no matter their shape or size
- Possess strong communication skills and be able to convey the project needs to both front- and back-end members of the team
- Be self-aware and keep in mind other teammates’ needs
How to attract the right back-end developer
It is important that you communicate all your requirements, values, and expectations early in the recruitment process. A back-end developer is a role of high demand so you should align with the candidate’s needs and expectations in order to provide a competitive edge. To stand out as an employer, make sure to offer a great team, compelling challenges, and an enticing work-life balance.
