How to hire a Node.js developer

Hiring a Node.js developer can feel like navigating a maze. It can be difficult to create an attractive compensation package or assess a Node.js developer’s essential skills.

But selecting the wrong candidate could lead to lost productivity, team discontent, poor user experience, and – ultimately – a loss of revenue. 

We’re here to help. In this article, we provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to hire Node.js developers. We cover everything – from identifying your needs and finding qualified Node.js developer candidates to conducting effective interviews and selecting the best person for the job.

What you need to know before hiring a Node.js developer 

Before you start looking for a Node.js developer, you must understand your needs. Ask yourself:

Which skills are must-haves?

You should know which tools your Node.js developer must be familiar with to work on your project. For instance, should they know about specific tools (like Express.js) or databases (like MongoDB)? 

Say you’re building a blog. Your Node.js developer should understand how to use MongoDB's flexible data storage to manage its content. This tool makes it easier to handle your blogs and CMS platforms with ever-changing content, comments, and categories. 

How much can you spend?

Know how much you can afford versus how much Node.js developers are worth. According to ZipRecruiter, a junior Node.js developer in the US earns about $75,718 per year. This doesn’t account for the cost of the special tools or software they’ll need to do their job.

To attract candidates, come up with a competitive compensation package – one that meets or exceeds the average. See what others are offering for similar roles, and pay attention to the perks offered in addition to salary. You can look at industry reports, job ads, or self-reported salary information on job sites.

When the average compensation is more than your allocated budget, adjust the payment structure or the scale of your project. Consider hiring a developer using alternative payment models – like fixed payments for project milestones. Similarly, you can opt to hire your developer as a part-time employee or independent contractor.

When should you hire a Node.js developer? 

Sometimes it's not about if you should hire a Node.js developer – but when. The right time might be when you’re:

• Starting a new web project

• Upgrading an existing system

• Building real-time features like live chats

• Working on data-heavy tasks

• Creating Internet of Things (IoT) projects like security camera systems

Skills and qualifications to look for in a Node.js developer 

Your Node.js developer needs a particular blend of hard and soft skills:

Hard skills

• Core knowledge of the Node.js runtime environment 

• Familiarity with built-in Node.js libraries and modules (e.g., fs, http, events)

• Expertise in using middleware in frameworks like Express.js

• Ability to design and implement RESTful APIs using Node.js

• Knowledge of database integrations (e.g., MongoDB with Mongoose, MySQL, or PostgreSQL)

• Understanding of buffers, readable streams, and writable streams in Node.js

• Proficiency in handling and logging errors and using debugging tools (e.g., Node Inspector or ndb)

• Ability to profile and optimize Node.js applications and minimize response times

• Familiarity with testing libraries and tools like Mocha, Chai, or Jest

• Understanding of the event loop and non-blocking I/O

Soft skills

• Adaptability to new Node.js libraries, tools, or best practices 

• Problem-solving abilities in asynchronous environments when working with built-in modules

• A collaborative mindset to engage with the community, contribute to open projects, and work on middleware implementations

• Clear communication in API design to ensure other developers and users understand the intended functionality and usage

• Patience in database integrations to ensure seamless data flow and troubleshoot issues

• Detail-oriented approach with streams when working with buffers, readable streams, and writable streams

• Receptive to feedback while debugging 

• Continuous learning in performance optimization, especially when it comes to profiling applications and ensuring minimal response times

• Teamwork in testing phases to ensure comprehensive testing coverage

• Empathy for fellow developers with event loop management, ensuring production of clean, understandable code that respects the principles of non-blocking operations

Where to find skilled Node.js developers 

One of the biggest challenges of hiring qualified Node.js developers is locating the right talent. This often starts with creating an effective and detailed Node.js developer job description that appeals to strong candidates – but finding places to display your job ad to the right crowd can be tricky. 

Traditional hiring platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, or Glassdoor can connect you with various developers, but they often fall short in attracting the niche, high-level expertise required for Node.js projects. Also, with these platforms, you’ll spend more time reviewing applications from unqualified candidates. This is why you might take a more-creative approach to finding talent.  

3 creative ways to find Node.js developer candidates 

There are more Node.js jobs than there are Node.js developers, so get creative to find specialized developers for niche projects. Here are a few creative ways to find Node.js developer candidates:

Online job boards

Here are a few popular online job boards where you can post job openings for Node.js developers:

• Dice connects companies with technology candidates, including Node.js developers.

• Toptal is a freelance marketplace where you can find Node.js freelancers. 

• JSJobs is a job board specifically for JavaScript-related roles, making it a great place to find Node.js developers.

Open-source communities

Node.js is an open-source platform, which means that there’s a large community of Node.js developers who contribute to open-source projects. You can find Node.js developers by getting involved in open-source projects and joining and engaging with communities like the Node.js Foundation, Stack Overflow, GitHub, and the Node.js Slack community. 

You can try to connect with developers in your niche. A company focused on warehouse management software, for example, might connect with contributors to Node.js projects that specialize in inventory tracking, logistics optimization, or supply chain databases.

Hackathons and coding challenges

Hackathons are typically weekend-long events where developers come together to build projects and solve problems. Organize or sponsor hackathons that focus on Node.js-based projects. This will enable you to measure participants’ technical skills in a real-world scenario while assessing their teamwork and problem-solving skills. 

You can also host a hackathon at a university, aiming to solve a problem or even developing an early version of your idea. Then, you can offer jobs to those who did the best. 

How to select the best Node.js developer candidates

Once you've got a pool of applicants, it's time to select the best ones. TestGorilla can improve your candidate selection process with our pre-employment screening tests and other helpful content. Here’s what we offer:

Node.js coding tests 

You can give the candidate a coding challenge to complete at home, or you can give them a live coding challenge during the interview process to assess their coding skills. TestGorilla's Node.js coding test provides real-time, objective results on your candidate’s knowledge of Node.js..

Technical interviews 

Dive deeper into their Node.js expertise with Node.js interview questions that require candidates to showcase their knowledge and skills. TestGorilla’s video interview tool makes this process easier by allowing candidates to respond to interview questions on their own time.

Soft skills assessments

You should also assess candidates’ soft skills. For example, you should test their communication skills to ensure they can clearly convey complex backend concepts to team members. 

Asking tech behavioral interview questions and using other cognitive ability and personality tests can help you determine how well candidates will mesh with your team and contribute to your company culture. 

Common mistakes when hiring a Node.js developer 

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when hiring Node.js developers:

Ignoring specific Node.js knowledge

Not all JavaScript developers are proficient in Node.js. Don’t assume a developer can handle backend just because they know frontend JavaScript. Node.js has unique backend differences that a front-end JavaScript developer might be unfamiliar with.

Not testing asynchronous code handling

One of the strengths of Node.js is its non-blocking, asynchronous nature. This means that Node.js can handle multiple I/O operations in the background while still processing other code, effectively managing tasks without unnecessary delays. 

Failing to assess a developer's ability to manage this kind of multitasking through techniques like callbacks, promises, and async/await can lead to slow, buggy code. Slow applications and buggy code can sour your user experience and turn away potential customers. 

Neglecting framework familiarity

While Node.js is the runtime platform that executes your code, frameworks like Express.js, Koa, or NestJS provide the structure for building applications. Assuming that a general Node.js developer is skilled in the specific framework you're using when they aren’t can lead to a mismatch. This means your candidate will have a steeper learning curve and your project will take longer.

Underestimating database integration skills

Node.js developers often interact with databases like MongoDB, PostgreSQL, or MySQL. Not evaluating their ability to effectively integrate and interact with these databases can cause major setbacks.

Node.js developers use databases to store and manage data for web applications. An inability to execute integrations with databases like MongoDB or MySQL might cause the app to have issues accessing or saving data.

Not measuring security knowledge

The Node.js ecosystem offers many open-source packages, which means anyone can see or modify the code. A Node.js developer should know the best practices to secure your apps – and not just because they work with open-source packages.  They should know how to protect your applications from any potential vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. 

A candidate’s lack of security knowledge can lead to data breaches, system crashes, or other major issues.

Failing to consider soft skills

Technical proficiency is crucial – but so are soft skills. Overlooking attributes like communication and adaptability can lead to collaboration challenges and other problems. 

A developer who can't effectively communicate with their team, for example, might cause misunderstandings, potentially resulting in implementation errors. Resistance to change might lead a developer to refuse to learn the latest best practices or software. 

Let TestGorilla help you find the best Node.js developers

From identifying the right blend of hard and soft skills to determining competitive compensation, hiring a Node.js developer can be challenging. Hiring managers and recruiters often make mistakes – like failing to test candidates’ specific technical and soft skills. These missteps can lead to poor user experience, team discord, and loss of revenue. 

TestGorilla can streamline your hiring process. Our unbiased, scientifically validated, and customizable pre-employment tests can help you uncover the ideal Node.js candidate for your organization. 

Ready to learn more? Take our quick product tour or create a free account to see how TestGorilla can help you hire Node.js developers who effectively contribute to your project’s success.