How to Hire Node.js Developers?

According to W3Tech, more than 30 million websites use Node.js (also referred to as Node JS). The 2018 Node.js User Survey Report states that 85% of Node JS developers use the JavaScript runtime environment primarily for web app development. Moreover, the number of Node.js downloads hit one billion in 2018, and there are no signs that this growth will stop in the foreseeable future.

This open-source development environment, built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine, allows for developing the server side of websites, web apps, and mobile apps. Many world-known companies use Node.js.

• Uber was one of the first to implement the Node.js framework in their web app.
• Netflix used Node JS to turn its website into a single-page application.
• Node.js was used to build Hippo — a successful tech startup focused on the insurance market.

Thousands of other corporations and startups have implemented Node.js in recent times. So it’s no wonder you may want to use this technology for your project.

There are a lot of Node JS developers on the market, which makes it seem easy to hire new team members. However, it’s a tough task to find Node.js developers who will integrate into your team as they have always been part of it. You may need to consider dozens of candidates to hire the one. According to recent Glassdoor research, on average, it takes 40.8 days to find a software development engineer. Our guide will help you build a proper selection system so nothing stops you from expanding your team with expert Node.js developers.

Why Node.js?

According to a survey of around 65,000 developers by Stack Overflow, 51.9% of professional programmers use Node JS. The majority of developers who work with Node.js are satisfied with the results and have noticed a positive impact on their business:

Here is a list of key advantages that Node.js development can offer:

• Asynchronous coding style

Unlike many other popular technologies, Node.js promotes an asynchronous coding style. This means that all JavaScript functions are processed in the background without blocking other requests, so the program doesn't have to wait for one task to complete to move to the next task.

• Event-based architecture

Developing software can be tricky, especially when it has to be scalable. The nodes in Node JS are designed so that an event can handle a large number of simultaneous connections with high bandwidth. This allows for creating scalable apps quickly and smoothly.

• High performance

High performance is another reason for the popularity of Node JS. This server environment can process a significant amount of data simultaneously, making it a great choice for server-side development. The high-performance JavaScript V8 engine allows developers to easily implement their code by directly compiling it into machine code.

• JavaScript for both the back end and front end

Node JS is based on JavaScript, just like frontend frameworks such as React.js, AngularJS, and Vue.js. This enables one team to work on both the front end and back end of a project using one programming language. React developers, for example, can get along with Node.js with no hassle. A skilled JavaScript team can work on both the client side and server side of your web or mobile app.

Moreover, since Node.js is based on JavaScript, developers get access to the JavaScript tech stack, its resources, and its massive, active community. This means that a developer can use the MEAN, MERN, or MEVN stacks, which cover all web development needs while exclusively using JavaScript tools.

• Perfect choice for your startup MVP

Node.js is the best solution for MVP creation thanks to its simplicity and open-source nature, offering a faster time to market. It allows you to create simple web and mobile apps quickly and with no hassle, so you can build an app with just enough features to assess how users receive it.

• Huge community

Node.js has a really active community, which means it receives a lot of support. This runtime environment has over 370 official contributors. On GitHub, it has earned over 87,000 stars.

The Node.js community has created numerous tools to speed up development. For example, the NPM (Node Package Manager) ecosystem is one of the largest and fastest-growing in the world. It offers numerous libraries and templates that can be effectively incorporated into code, allowing developers to save a lot of time and effort.

• Great technology for long-term product support

After the software is launched, it needs constant support. Node JS is updated regularly, becoming more stable and bug-free in the process. The current Node.js 18 will be supported till 2025, and versions 19 and 20 have already been announced. 

Who is your perfect Node.js developer? Tech skills and responsibilities

You’ve chosen Node JS for the back end of your next project and need to hire developers for your backend team. What’s next?

You can kick-start the search for Node.js developers by creating a portrait of your perfect candidate. In order to develop a portrait of a well-suited candidate, answer these questions:

• What would you like to build: a web product or a mobile product?
• What technical skills should your ideal Node.js developer demonstrate?
• What kind of project experience should the candidate have?
• What technical skills should your ideal Node.js developer have?
• What level of English proficiency is required?
• Which candidate requirements are essential for your project and which are nice to have?
• What are the tasks you have to handle right now? Can you delegate them all to a backend developer, or could you use the skills of a full-stack developer?
• Do you have a team lead on your project? Or do you need a Node JS developer who can play the role of team lead and organize the work of other developers?

Let’s say you’re planning to build a SaaS application for the MarTech industry. It would be beneficial to find a Node.js developer who has experience with SaaS apps, understands their architecture, is aware of all the nuances of the MarTech market, and knows the pitfalls of building a marketing SaaS app as well as ways to avoid them. Think about your product and create a portrait of your ideal candidate.  

You also have to consider what role you are hiring for. The Node.js roles in your team can be divided into two categories: software architect and software developer. Let’s take a close look at each.

Software architect

You can’t build an app from scratch without someone who builds its architecture — a software architect. The software architect takes responsibility for making important technical decisions that affect the future of the project.

In order to create a proper web app architecture, you need to start from a discovery phase. An application’s structure has a profound effect on the overall quality of the application. The success of the development process, maintenance, and upgrade of the app directly depend on the time you invest in architectural design before the actual coding begins. On top of that, the need for a well-thought-out structure grows along with the project’s size and complexity.

Someone who will play the role of software architect should be able to:

1. Make important technical decisions
2. Choose a project technology stack
3. Develop a scalable software architecture and logic
4. Play the role of team lead, if necessary
5. Ensure that all technical and operational requirements are met

This is why hiring a software architect is very important. The cost to hire this specialist is higher compared to a regular Node JS developer. But when it comes to a software architect, trying to save money may have negative consequences because this person is responsible for the app’s base.

Software developer

In the IT industry, it’s common to divide specialists into junior, middle, and senior roles according to their experience and skills. Nevertheless, this concept appears somewhat outdated. In most cases, a senior just means someone who has over five years of industry experience. But this experience may not be relevant for your particular case. That’s why you should pay attention to a developer’s portfolio, the tech stack they work with, and personal qualities. Often, a developer who has one year of experience can cope with tasks better than a developer with over seven years of experience. It is not necessary to work with top JavaScript frameworks like a pro to successfully handle day-to-day tasks. This said a newbie who has worked on a few diverse projects over the last year may be just what you need for your particular case.

Developers with less experience can bring benefits to your project thanks to their creativity, flexibility, curiosity, and desire to learn. That’s why you shouldn’t necessarily avoid a junior developer while only searching for a senior. It’s important to choose a Node.js specialist according to your needs.

Don’t strive to employ only senior programmers: super-skilled Node.js developers may not be great team players (imagine two A players trying to harmoniously work on one team). Moreover, with small or moderate-sized projects, there may simply not be enough tasks to keep multiple senior developers busy. Such specialists may be good consultants or mentors, but perhaps not full-time team members.

A software developer must be able to:

1. Write efficient code

2. Maintain and upgrade existing software 

3. Fix bugs reported by quality assurance engineers 

4. Meet deadlines

5. Work closely with other team members: frontend developers, designers, business analysts, project managers, etc.

To sum up, usually, you don’t need to look for high-end professionals. It’s more important to ensure that your developers work harmoniously as one team.

Hiring options

There are several ways to find and hire suitable Node.js developers for your project. Here is a list of the most popular and effective cooperation models:

• In-house

If you wish to gather a team of specialists under one roof who will work solely on your project, you need to hire dedicated Node.js developers. Moreover, this option is good when you’re not considering remote collaboration, want to communicate with your developers directly, and wish to control the development process yourself.

However, in this case, you will have to pay your Node.js developers a fixed salary on a monthly basis regardless of progress made, which may be disadvantageous during periods of downtime when there is not enough work for your developers. In addition, there are a lot of overhead expenses like office rent, hardware, and software.

• Freelance

Hiring a freelancer is the cheapest but also the riskiest method of Dedicated development team. You can hire a freelance Node.js developer to complete certain tasks within your project or speed up the development process by outsourcing a piece of work. But hiring freelancers for long-term cooperation may not be the best way to go. First of all, most just don’t look for long-term cooperation. Second, complex projects require full-time involvement, dedication, and reliability that some freelance specialists may not be ready to provide.

• Outsourcing

IT outsourcing is the best way to find Node.js developers for stable and reliable cooperation on a remote basis. You can outsource your whole project or only part of it and hire as many specialists as you need that will work on your project for as long as you need.

This cooperation model appears to be the most beneficial because it’s a more flexible and cheaper alternative to on-site hiring. Its main advantages are the ability to significantly cut the time spent searching for and onboarding suitable candidates and the opportunity to search in a larger talent pool than your city or region can offer. Moreover, the outsourcing vendor takes full responsibility for the quality of service provided by the Node.js developers. Plus, there are no hidden costs: when hiring developers on an outsourcing basis, you pay purely for the job done.

The only challenge is to find a reliable service provider. To avoid risks and speed up the hiring process, analyze the services of software development companies you’re interested in, take a look at each company’s previous works (for example, if you need to outsource mobile development then check the Node.js-based mobile applications created by a chosen company), and talk to company representatives. A vendor should be proactive and ready to share responsibility instead of blindly executing assigned tasks.

Before choosing your perfect cooperation model, you have to clarify your needs, budget, and the level of control you want to have over your project and the developers who work on it.

Step-by-Step guide on how to hire a Node.js developer

Follow our guide to find the best Node.js developers for your project:

Step 1. Create a clear description of your vacancy

Create a clear job description that will inform potential candidates about your requirements, their future responsibilities, and the advantages you offer.

How can you build a vacancy description?

1. Briefly describe your company.
2. Tell about projects you work on, and describe the composition of your existing team.
3. If relevant, inform about successful results your company has achieved.
4. List the technical requirements for your candidate (education, experience, portfolio, etc.).
5. Tell about soft skills required for the job.
6. Inform about the type of tasks the candidate will have to do if hired.
7. List the benefits of working with your company.
8. Call to action for candidates

Step 2. Search for candidates

There are many places where you can search for a Node.js developer.

• Social networks

Social networks like LinkedIn are great for searching for candidates. Currently, there are more than 224,000 profiles of Node.js developers worldwide. Many of them are open to remote cooperation. Also, you can find developers looking for full-time employment in your region or those ready to take on temporary contracts.

On social networks, you can easily find a Node.js dev that complies with all of your requirements thanks to a special matching algorithm.

• Freelance services

Nowadays, there are dozens of freelance platforms where both employers and freelancers can find what they’re looking for. Websites such as Upwork and Fiverr are among the most popular places where you can find Node.js developers. All freelancers on these sites have their own ratings and reviews that describe their level of skills and experience.

• Job search websites

This is the best way to find in-house Node.js developers and candidates looking for long-term cooperation. Websites like Indeed, Getwork, and Monster are among the most sought-after. Also, you can check local online job boards to find candidates in your region.

• Software development companies

Software development companies are ready to provide you with CVs of relevant Node.js developers available for hire right now. As we’ve already mentioned, it takes an average of 40 days to recruit a developer. When you cooperate with a software development company, you can significantly reduce the time required for finding the right candidate, as you won’t have to waste your time searching for candidates, viewing their portfolios, interviewing, and so on. With a development company, hiring can take from five to 10 days.

But where can you find such a company? Try looking at resources such as Clutch. On Clutch, you can find top Node.js development companies, check out their portfolios, and read real client reviews.

You can also go the most obvious way and use Google. Enter your query into the search engine and you will see numerous blogs of software development companies. By reading articles about Node.js, you can verify how well a company understands the technology and contact those companies you find the most competitive.

Step 3. Prepare for an interview

The hiring process includes two types of interviews: an HR interview and a technical interview. Here's the difference:

HR Interview

During the HR interview, you can check a candidate’s level of English, communication skills, and goals and expectations for working at your company. Prepare a list of questions that will let you check the candidate’s organization skills, ability to work in a team, willingness to learn, ability to complete tasks within deadlines, etc. For example, you can ask if someone is aware of the latest web development trends to check their interest in the industry as well as their awareness of the latest technologies.

Technical interview

For the technical interview, you will need to come up with a set of Node.js-related questions. The main purpose of the interview is to decide whether a candidate will be able to complete the technical tasks assigned. Questions should be directly related to your project’s needs and the skills you expect to see in your candidates.

Here is a list of the most common Node.js interview questions to inspire you. However, note that the person conducting the interview must be technically savvy. If you or your co-founder are not very familiar with Node.js, it’s best to hire an outsourcing company that will provide you with pre-selected qualified candidates.

Step 4. Send a test task

Giving candidates a test task is relevant only if you’re planning to hire in-house developers or freelancers.

A test task will let you verify candidates’ skills and desire to work for your company. Seeing that a person is ready to spend a few hours delivering a task using Node.js developer tools they may not even be familiar with speaks to responsibility, commitment, and flexibility. Finding creative solutions is also a sign that a candidate is promising and may bring new perspectives to your existing team.

However, if you’re cooperating with a software development company, you don’t need to prepare and check test tasks: the vendor takes full responsibility for selecting and testing candidates and provides you with developers who meet your expectations.

Step 5. Provide feedback

Before hiring developers, don’t forget to provide them with feedback. Establish an estimation system to help you filter candidates. This will allow you to select a few candidates that are suitable. You might also give candidates a test task to determine which are the best. It’s important to give feedback and point out weaknesses to candidates so they can improve.

Summing up

Node JS opens up a lot of possibilities, so you’ve made a good decision to follow the example of many successful companies and hire Node.js developers for your project. If you want to start creating a Node.js app, you need specialists who will take responsibility for the app’s architecture and will deliver the desired functionality to your end users.

Hiring an outsourcing team is the fastest and most cost-effective way to hire Node.js developers. At the same time, in-house workers may be a reliable but rather expensive choice, while freelancers will allow you to cut the cost of your web application while introducing risks.