It is difficult to overstate how important is to find an excellent JavaScript developer for hire, to build an excellent web development team. So how do you find the best candidates and the best sites to hire Javascript developers?
Javascript, is in the world of tech today has become fundamental. It's importance in today's web is unparalled. It is the central scripting language of the World Wide Web. Your web development team should not just have a good number of JS freelancers, you need to make sure there is a good percentage of excellent, top-talent of script developers.
Why do you need to find and hire Javascript developers?
Let's start a little bit from the beginning. Up to about 10 years ago, the key to a great web development team was having a great set of backend developers. Javascript was considered to be a nice-to-have tool for front-end developers. There were tweaks, validations and quite a few nice effects you could create using frontend scripting but the real work was done at the back-end. It was not a crucial part of web developemt, therefore you could afford not having dedicated JS developers.
However, websites and web software developed in those days lacked a fundamental piece of functionality. Refreshing a page could not be done asyncronously.
AJAX changed all of that. Suddenly web development took a whole new direction. Web pages become much more responsive to user input - you could build web applications which felt like desktop applications and responded like desktop applications. Websites become FAST.
This took web development into a whole new paradigm - and at the center of the web development revolution is this language. Instead of scripting being solely used at the front-end, it become also a key part of the server-side programming.
This is of course the reason why JS developers are key to a great development team. The great thing about Javascript development is that it can be used in both the front end and the backend, making qualified Javscript developers also a full stack developer.
Of course, scripting engines are built into all major web browsers including Chrome, Internet Explorer, FireFox and Safari, and virtually all websites incorporate some aspect of scripting to enhance their front-end. You'll typically also see browsers competing to develop faster and faster rendering and scripting engines.
As we have also just highlighted, in today’s tech landscape, JS has even evolved to become a server-side programming language through languages such as Node.js, React.js, Angular.js, Express.js and plenty of other script-based programming languages. It’s entirely possible to develop web applications entirely with JS through the MEAN stack. You'll also find today, that Javascript programmers are also likely to be fully proficient in back-end and server-side programming paradigms. Such stuff as MongoDB, Express etc.
It is no longer mostly known as a front-end language and has become synonymous with web development in general.
Let's a few uses of languages which can be used by a Javascript coder.
There is still plenty of need of using scripting to work on the front-end. This was the forefront of Javascript and is still a strength of the language. JS together with newer features of CSS have given lots of strength and room for creativity to web developers.
Let's have a look at a number of the main Javscript frameworks available these days. Most freelance Javascript developers will know a couple of these Javascript frameworks well, and should be able to develop with most of them in a fairly short period of time. These Javscript frameworks are great for SaaS app development together with general website development where Javascript is being heavily used.
Javascript Frameworks
Node.js developers
Node.js developers use the power of JS for server-side programming.
Node.js was one of the very first languages which started to push the boundaries of Javascript by creating a framework to allow the language to be used for server-side programming. Using the same syntax of JS front-end development, programmers could actually perform all tasks which ar necessary at the backend such as interfacing with databases, performing necessary computations, tasks and logic, deal with logins and all of the other functions and features typically associated with server-side programming.
In the words of Node.js itself: "As an asynchronous event driven JavaScript runtime, Node is designed to build scalable network applications."
Most hired Javascript developers can easily transition to working with Node.js applications.
React Developers
React is the the Facebook developed JS library.
When Facebook start to develop a certain level of complex forms for their user interfaces, they started to find a number of stumbling blocks. The languages and technology available at their disposal were not able to reach the demands and needs of the Facebook teams.
So what did the experts at Facebook do?
They developed a new, more powerful programming library for their own use case. This is how React.js was born.
The results they started to achieve were so amazing, that they felt that it would be a pity that the only developers to be enabled by this new technology would be their own. So they decided to completely open-source the project. Suddenly, all programmers were able to take advantage of this new language.
Using the raw technology developed at Facebook, programmers are now able to create highly responsive, complex user interfaces which are able to quickly and efficiently react to user events.
Again in the words of React: A JAVASCRIPT LIBRARY FOR BUILDING USER INTERFACES.
Vue.js
Vue is a modern framework for creating user interfaces. It is built from the ground up to be progressively adoptable, and it can easily scale between a library and a framework depending on the needs of the user. It is made up of an approachable core library that focuses just on the display layer, as well as an ecosystem of additional libraries that assist you in dealing with complexity in huge Single-Page Applications.
Vue.js is currently in version 3 and has become one of the most popular frameworks used by top Javascript developers.
AngularJS developers
AngularJS has been called the superheroic MVW framework.
Another framework which is very powerful in the hands of top developers is AngularJS.
Once again, AngularJS is a bit of a hybrid between HTML, JS and server-side programming paradigms. In essence, AngularJS takes HTML and gives it some oomph for creating dynamic web applications.
By allowing certain concepts such as variables, calculation of results on the fly, looping mechanisms, data-binding etc, it made up for all of the shortcomings of HTML. Again, a very powerful combination was suddenly created, which has as it's core Javascript. For scripting coders you hire who are already familiar with the fundamentals of web design and development, Angular is an excellent enabler.
Other languages, libraries and development tools
There is no shortage today of languages, off-shoots, mixes and merges of languages, frameworks, and libraries all working through the raw power of scripting. Even if you have a quick look at Github, you'll see that the sheer amount of JS code is enormous.
You should have been convinced about the power that a great scripting freelancer can bring to your team.
JS continues to be one of the world’s most popular and powerful programming languages as companies and individuals use it to spice up their web pages by making them much more interactive. Given how ubiquitous it is, finding top JS developer talent for hire can be a real challenge in our specialist economy.
Most programmer resumes will list some degree of scripting experience which makes locating developers who are familiar with it easy but sifting through them to find top talent that much more challenging.
The huge amount of scripting developer jobs available makes the task of finding great talent even more difficult.
Read More: Hiring? How to Hire Freelance App Developers
What happens if you screw up whilst hiring Javascript developers / freelancers?
You might think that finding Javascript freelancers for hire is fairly easy. The huge demand for development skills has brought about the jackals and the hyenas. Those who want to get an easy meal by fooling you into thinking they have enough know-how.
We've had a few very bad experiences hiring Javascript developers who claimed to know more than they actually did.
- We've seen plagiarized code (pilfered straight from open-source code) given to us as their own work.
- We've seen buggy code which was developed very haphazardly, creating severe code maintenance issues
- We've seen plain old developers who claim they can code when they can't. This is even more so when you start looking at the tens of sites proclaiming to have the best freelancers around.
How to hire a great Javascript developer
There are two ways of hiring Javascript developers:
1. Find vetted developers
These are developers who have been passed through strict and rigorous tests to make sure they are extremely skilled.
We'll talk about this further in a moment.
2. Hire a JS developer in ever-increasing phases
If you are not going to opt for vetted recruits, you will have to go through the time-consuming process of vetting the candidates yourself.
Essentially, you'll need to have a small task at hand (which does not impact larger projects or deadlines if it fails), which you can give to the programmers under probation. When they complete these jobs, you need to have other scripting experts at hand who can verify that the solution is fine and that the new potential recruit has passed the initial test. You then need to do this 3 or 4 times to make sure that the people you are hiring actually know what they are doing.
This, of course, is a very time and energy consuming process and you need to make sure you have the resources to do this.
Not going through this process is highly risky.
Reviews of candidates on freelancer sites can be manipulated (some sites highly encourage positive reviews or none at all), so don't count too much on the excellent, 5-star reviews you see. Many of these are biased towards the coders and are NOT an indication of good talent.
Some sites may indicate such stuff as Top 3% of talent - which may typically be good indicators.
Whether you are looking to hire high-quality firms to meet your needs or gifted freelancers, there is no need to waste time looking in the wrong places for top talent. Use these 5 sites to go straight to the source for the best JavaScript freelancers and programmers in the field:
Top 5 sites to hire best Javascript developers
1. Toptal
If you’re looking for the top 3% of JavaScript developers for your mission-critical projects, then look no further than Toptal. Their rigorous screening process ensures that you have the strongest possible pipeline for your project. In the interview questions, they ask candidates to pass through a number of gates (including an in-depth skills review, a live screening, and test projects) that ensure that only the best talent is available for your project. Toptal’s screening process assesses a developer’s grasp of JavaScript fundamentals while getting at more subtle nuances as well.
Toptal has an unprecedented network of freelancers that is entirely remote and spans 100+ countries worldwide. They offer a risk-free trial period of up to two weeks for companies to see if Toptal is the right fit for their needs. Whether you’re a new firm just getting started or a major business building a new product, this white-glove service is well worth the investment.
2. Clutch
If you’d rather go the firm route, then check out Clutch. They provide research and reviews of top development companies where you can find and source your JavaScript freelancers. Take time to read through their profiles and ratings for various companies as you decide which one will best meet your needs. Clutch also shares testimonials from previous clients and general cost ranges for the firms, so you can get an understanding of what firms can deliver what they promise, whether they are easy to work with, and on a fundamental level, whether you can even afford their business. With so many different development firms to choose from, Clutch is a valuable tool to help you identify which one will best meet your needs.
3. Freelancer
With nearly 20 million registered users, you can cast a wide net to find the right JavaScript developer talent through Freelancer.
They offer helpful candidate reviews (with ratings) and a “Hire me” link that connects you directly to each candidate for a real-time conversation. You can also use the site to get free quotes on the work that you need to be done.
This site is good for cheap, easy projects and offers no vetting process for its network, so it’s up to clients to find out if the freelancers are capable of the job.
Freelancer.com offers a unique bidding system for freelancers to bid on projects with various clients, allowing your company to consider multiple bids for the same project as they assess the various factors important to the project such as time, price, and experience level needed. This is a great tool for a company looking to find strong freelance talent quickly and on their own as projects come and go.
4. Extract
So you’d prefer to work with a company that specializes in JavaScript development, but want them screened for you first?
Check out Extract.
They pre-screen JavaScript development companies for you by verifying client feedback and technical skills and shortlist the top 10% of companies among 2500+ firms. With Extract, you can even get a cost estimate with a single click and contact the development firms directly, no middleman. A service like this is great if you are looking for support on a longer term, high-value project or a short-term fix, both of which could make the difference between success and failure for your company.
5. Stack Overflow
Another great service to help you find and source developer talent is Stack Overflow. Initially created as a platform for programmers to find answers to technical questions (a Q&A site to a large degree), the site has now evolved into a platform for top programmer talent.
With 40 million monthly visitors, it makes complete sense for this fountain of software development knowledge to turn its sights on recruiting as well, and they’ve done so quite successfully.
One attractive feature here is that Stack Overflow gets their job listings in front of freelancers who are both actively looking for new work and those who are not (but still meet the client’s criteria), allowing you to access a wider pool of talent to meet your company’s needs.
Lastly, Stack Overflow uses job targeting technology will help your company better leverage key data (e.g. skills needed, location, experience levels, etc.) about their talent network as you search for the right developers for your project.
There is an excellent community at StackOverflow, something which you can use to your advantage during your hiring Javascript developers process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Javascript?
Javascript is a programming language for creating dynamic content on the web. If HTML is in charge of a web page's structure and CSS is in charge of its style, JavaScript makes web sites dynamic. A JavaScript developer can assist you in developing a modern, dynamic online application.
How much does it cost to hire a JavaScript developer?
There are different costs when it comes to hiring a Javascript developer. Many factors influence rates, including competence and experience, geography, and market conditions. A typical hourly rate range would be be between $20 to $90/hour ranging from relatively inexperienced to highly proficient.
What is Javscript used for?
Javascript is a programming language that is utilized all over the world by developers in order to produce dynamic and interactive web content such as programs and browsers. As a result of its widespread adoption, JavaScript is currently the most common programming language in the world. Specifically, it is the client-side programming language of choice for 97.0 percent of all websites.
Final Words - Hire A Javascript Developer
The top JavaScript developer talent is out there, and you can vary your approach to finding them through the resources above. It’s a competitive market, but going to the right sources and building a strong pipeline from the start can make a huge difference for your company. Use the sites above to hire a JavaScript freelancer whether it’s a full-time hire or a quick freelance project. Invest in the right resources early, and the results will speak for themselves. You won’t regret going to the best sources for the top talent.
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