Hire a WordPress Developer (Back-End)

Introduction

What is a WordPress Developer?

WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that allows users to create and manage websites with ease. The back-end of WordPress refers to the administrative area where website owners can make changes to the site’s functionality, design, and content. A WordPress back-end developer is responsible for creating custom plugins, themes, and functionality to enhance the website’s performance and user experience. They work with programming languages such as PHP, JavaScript, and CSS to ensure that the website runs smoothly and efficiently. A skilled WordPress back-end developer can help businesses create a website that is not only visually appealing but also functional and user-friendly.

How popular is WordPress?

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world, powering over 40% of all websites on the internet. As a result, the demand for skilled WordPress developers has skyrocketed in recent years. With its user-friendly interface, customizable themes, and extensive plugin library, WordPress has become the go-to choice for businesses and individuals looking to create a professional website. The back-end development of WordPress is equally important, as it involves the creation and management of the website’s functionality and features. As such, the demand for experienced WordPress back-end developers continues to grow, making it a highly sought-after skill in the tech industry.

Where to find a WordPress Developer?

When it comes to finding a WordPress (back-end) developer, there are several options available. One of the most popular ways is to search for them on freelance websites such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr. These platforms allow you to post your job requirements and receive proposals from developers all over the world. However, it can be challenging to find the right candidate as you have to sift through a large number of proposals and conduct interviews to ensure that they have the necessary skills and experience.

Another option is to use job boards such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn. These platforms allow you to post your job requirements and receive applications from developers who are actively looking for work. However, the downside is that you may receive a large number of applications from candidates who are not qualified for the job, which can be time-consuming to sift through.

If you’re looking for a more efficient way to find WordPress (back-end) developers, CoDev is the perfect solution. CoDev is a platform that connects businesses with vetted developers at a low cost quickly. With CoDev, you can be sure that you’re getting access to top-quality developers who have been thoroughly vetted and tested. Plus, you can save time and money by avoiding the hassle of sifting through proposals and conducting interviews. So, if you’re looking to hire a WordPress (back-end) developer, look no further than CoDev.

Why should you hire a WordPress Developer?

When it comes to building a website, WordPress is one of the most popular platforms out there. It’s user-friendly, customizable, and offers a wide range of features that make it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes. However, to truly make the most of WordPress, you need to have a skilled back-end developer on your team.

Here are just a few reasons why you should consider hiring a WordPress back-end developer:

1. Customization: While WordPress offers a lot of built-in features, there are times when you need something more specific. A back-end developer can help you customize your site to meet your unique needs, whether that means creating custom plugins or tweaking the code to make it work just the way you want it to.
2. Security: WordPress is a popular platform, which unfortunately makes it a target for hackers. A back-end developer can help you ensure that your site is secure, by implementing best practices for security and staying up-to-date with the latest security patches.
3. Speed: A slow website can be frustrating for users, and can even hurt your search engine rankings. A back-end developer can help you optimize your site for speed, by minimizing code bloat and optimizing images and other media.
4. Maintenance: WordPress requires regular maintenance to keep it running smoothly. A back-end developer can help you with tasks like updating plugins and themes, backing up your site, and troubleshooting any issues that arise.
5. Integration: If you use other tools or platforms in your business, a back-end developer can help you integrate them with your WordPress site. This can help streamline your workflow and make it easier to manage your business.

Overall, hiring a WordPress back-end developer can help you get the most out of your website. Whether you’re looking to customize your site, improve its security and speed, or integrate it with other tools, a skilled developer can help you achieve your goals.

Hiring

Job Description Template

For a helpful job description template, click here.

How to interview a WordPress Developer?

When it comes to hiring a WordPress (back-end) developer, it’s important to conduct a thorough interview process to ensure you find the right candidate for the job. Here are some tips on how to interview WordPress (back-end) developers:

1. Start with the basics: Before diving into technical questions, start by asking the candidate about their experience with WordPress. Ask them about their previous projects, the types of websites they’ve worked on, and their familiarity with WordPress plugins and themes. This will give you a good sense of their overall knowledge and experience with the platform.
2. Ask technical questions: Once you’ve established the candidate’s experience with WordPress, it’s time to dive into the technical details. Ask them about their experience with PHP, MySQL, and other programming languages and databases commonly used in WordPress development. You can also ask them to walk you through their development process, from setting up a local environment to deploying a site to a live server.
3. Assess their problem-solving skills: Finally, it’s important to assess the candidate’s problem-solving skills. Give them a hypothetical scenario or a real-world problem you’ve encountered in the past and ask them how they would approach it. This will give you a good sense of their ability to think critically and come up with creative solutions to complex problems.

Interview questions and expected answers

When you hire with CoDev, we use third-party coding tests and expert technical interviews to evaluate candidates. That said, here are sample questions that might be helpful in your own interviews:

1. What is your experience with Javascript and how have you used it in your previous WordPress projects?
   Expected answer: The candidate should have a solid understanding of Javascript and be able to provide specific examples of how they have used it in WordPress development, such as creating custom plugins or modifying existing ones.
2. Can you explain the difference between client-side and server-side Javascript?
   Expected answer: The candidate should be able to explain the difference between client-side and server-side Javascript and how they are used in WordPress development.
3. How do you optimize Javascript code for performance in WordPress?
   Expected answer: The candidate should be able to explain techniques for optimizing Javascript code in WordPress, such as minimizing file size and reducing the number of HTTP requests.
4. Have you worked with any Javascript frameworks or libraries in WordPress development? If so, which ones?
   Expected answer: The candidate should be able to provide examples of Javascript frameworks or libraries they have used in WordPress development, such as jQuery or React.
5. How do you handle Javascript conflicts in WordPress?
   Expected answer: The candidate should be able to explain how they troubleshoot and resolve Javascript conflicts in WordPress, such as using the console to identify errors or disabling conflicting plugins.
6. Can you explain how you would implement AJAX functionality in WordPress using Javascript?
   Expected answer: The candidate should be able to explain how they would use Javascript to implement AJAX functionality in WordPress, such as using the jQuery AJAX method to send and receive data.
7. How do you integrate third-party Javascript libraries into WordPress?
   Expected answer: The candidate should be able to explain how they would integrate third-party Javascript libraries into WordPress, such as using the wp_enqueue_script function to load the library and its dependencies.
8. Have you worked with the WordPress REST API and Javascript? If so, can you provide an example of how you used it?
   Expected answer: The candidate should be able to provide an example of how they used the WordPress REST API and Javascript in a previous project, such as retrieving and displaying posts or creating custom endpoints.
9. How do you ensure cross-browser compatibility for Javascript in WordPress?
   Expected answer: The candidate should be able to explain how they test and ensure cross-browser compatibility for Javascript in WordPress, such as using browser testing tools or writing fallback code for unsupported browsers.
10. Can you explain how you would use Javascript to create a custom WordPress plugin?
    Expected answer: The candidate should be able to explain how they would use Javascript to create a custom WordPress plugin.