10 questions to ask a developer in an interview

We have compiled a list of questions that can help you find the right person for your team. So without further ado, here are 10 questions to ask a developer in an interview:

1. Can you tell me about your previous work experience and projects? This question will give you an overview of the candidate’s experience and achievements, and will allow them to showcase their skills and expertise as well as giving you a first insight into their communication style. 
2. What are your areas of expertise and what technologies do you have experience with? This question will help you understand the candidate’s technical abilities and their knowledge of the technologies relevant to the position. Do they go on about a technology you’re not even using? Maybe the person didn’t do their preparation for this interview. 
3. Can you describe a challenging project you worked on and how you approached it? This question will give you insight into the candidate’s problem-solving skills and their ability to handle complex tasks.
4. What do you enjoy most about being a developer? This question will give you a sense of the candidate’s passion and motivation, and will help you determine if they will be a good fit for your team. Don’t look for uniformity but look for heterogeneity. All parts of your development cycle should be covered by employees that like doing what they are doing. 
5. Can you describe a situation where you had to work in a team and how you contributed to the project? This question will help you evaluate the candidate’s collaboration and communication skills, and will give you a sense of their ability to work in a team environment.
6. What do you do to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and developments in the field? This question will help you determine if the candidate is committed to staying current and learning new skills, which is essential for the success of a developer team, especially in fast moving startup environments. 
7. Can you describe a time when you had to troubleshoot a problem and how you resolved it? This question will give you insight into the candidate’s problem-solving abilities and their ability to think on their feet.
8. What do you consider to be your biggest strengths as a developer? This question will allow the candidate to highlight their strengths and demonstrate why they are a good fit for the position and will tell you a lot about their level of self confidence. 
9. Can you describe a time when you had to work under a tight deadline and how you managed your time and resources? This question will help you evaluate the candidate’s time management and organizational skills, and will give you a sense of their ability to handle pressure.
10. Do you have any questions for us? This question will give the candidate an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the company and the position, and will also give you an opportunity to address any concerns they may have. We’ve found this to be one of the most important questions, especially when you really like the answers to the above 9 questions before that. 

In conclusion, asking the right questions in a developer interview is essential for evaluating a candidate’s skills and experience, and for determining if they will be a good fit for your team. By asking questions about the candidate’s previous work experience, areas of expertise, problem-solving skills, passion and prioritisation skills you will be able to have a precise picture of the kind of person you will be dealing with and hopefully will have found your dream match! It also allows for a better developer onboarding process and can make one-on-one meeting with an employee a lot easier in the long run.

If you choose to work with Holycode to provide you with IT staffing services, we’ll make sure to help you ask all the right questions from the start. So let’s get started – contact us today!