Technical and Soft Skills to Look for in a WordPress Developer

Introduction

Are you ready to create a Wordpress website for your business? It is one of the best and most affordable website builders any SME business can use. Though it is easy to operate, the WordPress web developer always understands the minor technicalities.

If you have never created a website with WordPress before, you might want to hire WordPress developers. With their extensive knowledge of WordPress, these experts can swiftly launch your website. Additionally, they can

• Develop plugins to give your website new features
• Make your website stand out from the competition by adding unique interfaces and animations
• Fix issues and apply updates as required

However, finding the right WordPress developer for your company can be daunting. There are many WordPress developers on platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed. Still, only a few have the right personality, skills, and experience to build your ideal website.

We have created this guide to help you to get the perfect WordPress developer for your brand. To know more about WordPress developers and why you need one in your team… Stay tuned. Also we have covered the skills you should look for ideal candidates and provided the essential tips on how to hire a WordPress Developer.

What Does a WordPress Developer Do?

A WordPress developer specializes in creating and managing websites using the WordPress platform. They design and implement websites by coding and configuring themes and plugins. It is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) that can be installed on web hosts to create any website. Their responsibilities include:

• You can create business websites
• Mobile applications and websites
• Create fully fledged eCommerce stores
• Recurring membership sites
• You can write hobby and lifestyle blogs

WordPress developers also integrate third-party tools to ensure your website meets client needs and industry standards. They are mainly responsible for two major tasks- Plugin and WordPress.

Plugin Development

WordPress plugins are software components that integrate seamlessly into a WordPress site. Skilled WordPress developers should know how to use the WordPress Plugin API to create custom plugins, enhancing or extending site functionality.

Plugins can significantly or subtly alter your website. Here are some examples of what plugins can do:

• Create stunning sliders for your website
• Design sleek contact forms for your site
• Backup your site data effortlessly
• Scan for broken links
• Get real-time security updates
• Enable two-factor authentication and other security features
• Automatically optimize SEO settings for your site and industry

WordPress Development

Along with developing plugins, your WordPress web developers should know how to:

• Create a website from scratch
• Design the UI with navigation menus, layouts and buttons
• Manage the back-end, including databases, APIs, and server environments
• Write and troubleshoot core WordPress code
• Test and debug the site in a development environment before going live

Full-stack WordPress developers handle both the front-end and back-end of a website. However, most WordPress developers specialize in either front-end or back-end programming. If you want to hire WordPress developer, you must have a sharp eye on the resume and portfolio of the candidate before hiring them. 

What Should You Look For in WordPress Developer?

Acknowledging you with major points about WordPress developers, now let’s have a look at the skills you must be aware of:

Technical Skills

The Technical skills your WordPress web developer should have: 

Brief Understanding of the WordPress Development Environment

First, your hire should be well-versed in the WordPress development environment. They should know how to:

Create Custom Themes for Your Website

The web developer will help you create WordPress themes for your website. But for that, they should know the following programming languages and systems to give you the finest result:

HTML : HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is a computer coding language. You can use it to design and align web pages and online applications. Also, it uses markup codes to highlight how elements on a webpage are displayed. WordPress developers use this language to:

• Highlight H1, H2, H3, and so on
• Help you insert pictures, links, and videos
• Highlight sections of a page, such as footers and headers
• Help you create tables and page layouts
• Try different styles for text, such as bold, italics, and so on.

CSS : The abbreviation of CSS is Cascading Style Sheets. It is essential for website creation. WordPress developers use CSS to highlight the visual properties of web elements, such as layout, colors, and formatting.

JavaScript : JavaScript, commonly abbreviated as JS. It is a programming language that empowers every WordPress web developer to create dynamic content. Unlike static content, dynamic content changes according to user demographics, data and in-session behavior. Some significant examples of dynamic content are listed below:

• Purchase fields and forms that alter based on how the checkout process is handled.
• Banners that change what appears according to the user's location.
• Sidebars that display product recommendations based on users' previous purchases

PHP : This is considered a popular open-source scripting language for web development. The developers can use it for many purposes like encrypting data, auto-generating files, and accessing databases.

MySQL : Lastly, MySQL is a relational database management system that uses structured query language (SQL). WordPress relies on MySQL to store user data, comments, and custom fields in table structures. Your hires should use MySQL to access, retrieve and execute operations proficiently. They should also know how to utilize plugins to access and modify MySQL databases. 

Make a Development Environment

The developer you desire to hire should know how to build a development environment for creating and testing themes. It is a workspace for developers to implement and test changes without applying them to the live environment. However, it is a safe and easy way to test code and see the results before deploying it to end-users.

To set up and use a development environment, a WordPress developer needs to be aware of the following:

Create a local server stack : Your developer should use tools like MAMP, Varying Vagrant Vagrants (VVV), XAMPP, or Docker to set up a local server environment for testing.

You can choose and use a text editor : Your hires should know how to use a text editor for coding. They need to select a text editor that speeds up development. Depending on the project, they might choose a simple text editor for writing code or an integrated development environment (IDE) with testing and debugging tools.

Set Up Debugging : WordPress developers need to configure debugging in their development environment. They should be familiar with tools and techniques to streamline and simplify the debugging process, such as:

• PHP constants like WP_DEBUG and WP_DEBUGLOG
• Plugins like Query Monitor and Debug Bar
• Unit test data sets such as WordPress.org Theme Test Data

Professional Experience With Custom Plugins : The WordPress web developer should have professional experience in developing custom plugins. It includes WordPress theme developers, WordPress plugin developers that are aware of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and MySQL. Along with this they should also have strong command to:

• Use WordPress APIs
• Write clean and efficient code
• Optimize, test, and install plugins
• Follow the latest WordPress and PHP standards for plugin development

Soft Skills

Along with technical skills, your WordPress developer should have good soft skills. It will help your developer to work in a stress free environment. Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities can help your newly hired developer fit into the team and company culture. 

Communication Skills : WordPress Developers should have good communication skills as they have to work with other departments too. These are:

• UI and UX designers
• Backend web developers
• Marketing team
• Managers 
• Data scientists and analysts

The WordPress web developer you hired should be very much aware of how to 

• Explain highly technical concepts to non-technical staff in simple and easy language
• Guide and help others when others have doubt
• Accept and give constructive criticism

Problem-Solving Capabilities : The WordPress developer you hire should have problem-solving capabilities:

• Quickly identify and resolve issues
• Develop various solutions to problems
• Understand problems from different perspectives
• Avoid assumptions and recognize biases

English Language Skills : If you are about to hire a WordPress developer, you must be aware of his English language skills. You need to make sure how fluent they are while speaking. Or else they are going to face difficulties in communicating, understanding the requirements of the projects.

Expert Skill Sets : At the last, the WordPress developer should be confident about their areas of expertise and be able to:

• Make quick decisions
• Know how to work under pressure
• Adapt the change whenever required
• Open up with their perspective and suggestions to the team
• Guide and teach their junior or freshers
• Always ready for development consultants

How to Hire a WordPress Developer?

After looking at the technical and soft skills, now let’s move on to how to hire a WordPress developer? Hiring a WordPress developer can gradually enhance your website's functionality, design, and performance. A skilled WordPress web developer can bring your vision to life if you are building a new site or working on an existing one. Here is a step-by-step guide to hiring the right WordPress developer for your requirements.

Define Your Project Scope

Before you start searching for a developer, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of what you need. Outline the specific features, functionalities, and overall goals for your project. This will help you clearly communicate your requirements and ensure potential developers understand your vision.

Key Points

• List the main objectives of your website.
• Specify any custom features or plugins you need.
• Determine whether you need ongoing maintenance or just a one-time project.

Set Your Budget and Timeline

Determine how much you’re willing to spend on your project and establish a realistic timeline for its completion. Having a clear budget and timeline will help you find developers who can meet your requirements within your constraints.

Key Points

• Decide on a budget range for your project.
• Set a target completion date.
• Consider the cost of any additional features or ongoing maintenance.

Search for Candidates

Look for WordPress developers on various platforms. Job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed, freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr, and WordPress-specific forums are great places to start your search.

Key Points

• Use job platforms to post your project and attract candidates.
• Browse profiles on freelance websites.
• Check out WordPress communities and forums.

Review Portfolios

Examine the portfolios of potential candidates to ensure their style and capabilities align with your project. Look for developers who have experience with similar projects and can demonstrate a variety of skills.

Key Points

• Look at previous work to assess quality and style.
• Check for experience with similar projects.
• Evaluate their ability to handle different types of projects.

Conduct Interviews

Interview potential candidates to assess their technical, problem-solving, and communication skills. Ask about their experience with WordPress, their approach to development, and how they handle challenges.

Key Points

• Prepare a list of questions about their experience and skills.
• Evaluate their communication abilities.
• Discuss their approach to problem-solving and development.

Check References

Speak with past clients to understand the developer’s reliability, quality of work, and adherence to deadlines. Reading reviews and testimonials can also provide valuable insights.

Key Points

• Contact previous clients for feedback.
• Read reviews and testimonials on their profiles.
• Verify their reliability and quality of work.

Test Their Skills

Assign a small test project to evaluate the developer’s capabilities and see how well they meet your requirements. This will give you a better understanding of their skills and how they handle real-world tasks.

Key Points

• Give a small, relevant task to test their abilities.
• Assess their problem-solving and development skills.
• Evaluate their responsiveness and attention to detail.

Discuss Terms and Conditions

Once you’ve chosen a developer, clearly define the contract's payment terms, deadlines, and project milestones. This will protect both parties and ensure everyone is on the same page.

Key Points

• Outline payment terms and schedule.
• Set clear deadlines and project milestones.
• Draft a contract with all agreed-upon terms.

• Hire Your Ideal WordPress Developer with Top Technical & Soft Skills Today!
• Book an Appointment.

Why Choose AIS Innovate to Hire WordPress Developers?

At AIS Innovate, our experienced and expert team will help you hire the best WordPress developer. You can build custom plugins, create smooth and attractive themes, and keep your website secure. We will ensure you hire a WordPress developer who updates your website with the latest trends and technologies. 

Moreover, the team will focus more on the user experience and functionality of the website. The WordPress developer you hire can make your website visually appealing and showcase the purpose of your website. AIS Innovate is a dedicated partner committed to helping your business thrive online. They focus on quality, innovation, and client satisfaction, making them the ideal choice for your WordPress development needs.

Conclusion

Last but not least, hiring a WordPress developer to build plugins for your eCommerce website can be a daunting and time-consuming process. To hire a desirable candidate, you need to look at every aspect of his skills, whether technical, soft, communication, or management skills.

Following the above mentioned process, you can easily find a developer who meets your needs. WordPress web developers are essential in bringing your website vision to life. A well-chosen developer can add significant value to your project, ensuring a smooth and successful development process.

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