Top 10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a ReactJS Developer

ReactJS is a JavaScript library, that offers a flexible, high-performing, and maintainable codebase. It has all the robust features that businesses need for their web development project or to scale existing applications. However, the decision to hire React developers can be challenging. You need to assess their technical skills in core React concepts such as its components, hooks, Virtual DOM, and testing alongside soft skills such as collaboration, teamwork, and problem-solving.
In this article, we’ll make your hiring process easier by providing ten essential questions that you should ask and access both their technical and soft skills. Alongside the tips that will help you to find the right candidate.

Questions to Access Technical Skills:

To evaluate the compatibility and expertise of the developer, it's highly important to interview ReactJS developers with the right questions. Here are the 7 technical questions that you should ask when looking to hire dedicated ReactJS developers:

1- What is the key difference between a class component and a functional component in React?

This question is essential to ask because it will show how well developers understand the components of React and their functionalities. Moreover, you can check the developer’s knowledge of moving React from class components to more modern functional components by using Hooks.

What to look for:

The right candidate will answer the following concepts:

• Knows that ES6 class components are more complex while functional components are simple.
• Describe that with the help of Hooks such as useState and useEffect functional components handle its state and actions.
• Will prefer functional components modern code rather than class component.
• Should mention how lifecycle methods with the help of modern Hooks.

2- What is your approach to state management?

This question is important as it shows how developers manage data in the React application. They should be experts at handling both complex and simple situations.

What to look for:

When you hire dedicated ReactJS developers expect them to mention:

• Difference between local and global state.
• Should understand the simple situation where useState is enough.
• Can explain useContext and useReducer for transferring and managing complex data.
• Knows where to use State Management Libraries (e.g., Redux, Zustand, Recoil).

3- What is the role of Virtual DOM, and how is it different from the actual DOM?

This question shows whether developers know how to make React apps work efficiently without delay. If they know how Virtual DOM works, that means they know React rendering logic.

What to look for:

The right candidate will answer:

• Represent Virtual DOM as a lightweight copy of actual DOM.
• Explain how Virtual DOM is used when React changes the state.
• Mention that Reacts compare the new Virtual DOM with the previous one and perform changes in the actual DOM.

4- How do you handle side effects in React applications?

This question is very essential to ask, as in real-world apps side effects such as getting data from the server, setting timers, or saving data are very normal. In search to hire dedicated ReactJS developers ensure they know how to handle these properly with the help of the right tools.

What to look for:

The potential developer will be familiar with:

• The usage of useEffect is the leading way to manage side effects in functional components.
• Know how dependency array control effects.
• The function of clean-up effects such as timers so to stay away from memory leaks.
• The reference of custom hooks is a plus, as they know to make readable and reusable side effects.

5- Can you describe your process of testing for React applications?

Examining the testing skills is highly recommended when you hire dedicated ReactJS developers. It ensures that a developer is good at catching bugs and building the application smoothly.

What to look for:

You should expect them to answer:

• Mention types of testing like unit testing, component testing, and end-to-end testing.
• Using testing tools such as Jest for unit testing, react testing library for component testing, and Cypress for overall testing.
• Write readable and modular that is easy to test.
• Follow rules and practices or frameworks like Test-Driven Development (TDD) to write error-free code.

6- What techniques do you use to optimize the performance of React applications?

To optimize the performance of an application, it is extremely important to hire dedicated developers who know all the techniques and tools. Those tools should help them to build applications with no re-rendering, less load times, and be highly user-friendly.

What to look for:

A good developer will mention:

• Expertise in memo tools such as React. memo and useMemo.
• Uses lazy loading techniques such as React. lazy and Suspense.
• Understand performance tools like Lighthouse or React Profiler to detect defaulted parts of the app.
• Familiar with dividing code, so to make small parts of the app.

7- Have you ever integrated APIs into your React project?

This question shows developer expertise in the integration of React applications with APIs. Real-world applications demand data from servers which is possible by using APIs effectively within React.

What to look for:

Skilled ReactJS developers should talk about:

• Specify integration tools as fetch, axios, or React Query to make API calls and get data from servers.
• Mention how to handle load times and errors.
• Understand authentication methods such as sending tokens or headers for security purposes.

Questions to Access Soft Skills

Soft skills are equally important as technical skills. To examine the soft skills of a ReactJS developer following questions can help:

8- How do you stay updated with the evolving React ecosystem?

React ecosystem is continuously changing with the addition of new features and updates. This question will help you to examine how much interest developers have in learning plus their engagement level with other developers' communities.

What to look for:

Expect them to answer:

• Reading blogs regularly from different resources like React Blog, Dev. to, or JavaScript Weekly.
• Engaged with other developers on different platforms such as Stack, LinkedIn, and Reddit.
• Learn new features and updates from reliable courses.

9- Have you ever worked with designers or backend developers? How was the experience?

This question will help you assess the teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills of a developer. Making an application is not a single-man job, it requires a team including especially designers and back-end developers. Make sure when you hire dedicated ReactJS developers they know how to work with others and share ideas openly.

What to look for:

Look for the following replies:

• Have a good experience working closely with designers and back-end developers.
• Have hands-on experience with design tools such as Figma or Zeplin
• Talks considerately on tasks, feedback, and code reviews.
• Working on tools like Postman for testing APIs and Git for team collaboration is a plus.

10- Can you walk me through your typical development workflow?

You can analyze their time punctuality and problem-solving skills with this question. Without managing time developers can never provide good quality code.

What to look for:

Their response should evolve around the following points:

• A clear workflow step includes understanding of task, creating UI, developing components, connecting APIs, testing, getting feedback, and deploying.
• Trace tasks with the help of different tools like Jira, Trello, or Notion.
• Checking code quality and testing application before making it live
• Talk about code and tasks with other team members.

Extra Tips to Hire Dedicated ReactJS Developers

The interview is just one of the methods to access a developer’s expertise, experience, and skills. You can also find an experienced ReactJS developer by following these tips:

• Review their GitHub profile to check past work, project portfolios, and coding quality.
• Give them the task to check practically their skills and code styles.
• Examine their communication habits and remote availability if hiring for a remote job.
• Try to reach out to reliable agencies like Bizmia to provide you with experienced and skilled ReactJS developers.

Conclusion

Many businesses find it difficult to hire dedicated ReactJS developers. But asking the right questions can help you to evaluate their skills, expertise, and knowledge. You can evaluate their technical skills by interrogating them about components of React, side effect handling, API integration, and performance optimization techniques. Moreover, by questioning their teamwork experience and development steps you can notice their soft skills.

Asking the right questions will help you to add the right candidate to your team. Additionally, you can check their GitHub profile, assign them tasks, and consult an agency to make your hiring process easier.