Job interviews can be nerve-racking, but knowing how to prepare can make all the difference. For a development job interview, you’ll need to be ready for highly technical questions, as well as questions that delve into your background and skills. To help you get ready, we’ve compiled the most common web developer interview questions and answers that you’ll likely face when it’s your turn to be interviewed.
What Is a Web Developer?
A web developer creates and manages websites. They are responsible for overseeing the performance of a website, deciding its layout and design, and analyzing the traffic it receives. In order to learn web development, you need to have exceptional coding skills, as programming languages are the primary building blocks with which websites are built.
As a web developer, the scope of your work will depend on your specialization. If you are a front end web developer, then you are responsible for the user interface, design, layout, and overall aesthetic of the website. On the other hand, a backend web developer covers the server-side to ensure the website runs smoothly. Finally, full stack developers work on the design and server-side of a site.
Answers to the Most Common Web Developer Interview Questions
Once you get an opportunity to be interviewed for a web developer job, you will be answering different sets of questions. You will be asked technical questions to assess your knowledge of the subject. You will also have to answer behavioral questions to gauge how you work with other people, as well as general questions to get to know your background and experience.
Top Five Technical Web Developer Interview Questions and Answers
A technical interview is perhaps the most important stage of a web developer interview because it is the company’s way to gauge the depth of your expertise. The interviewer will inquire about your coding skills, projects that you’ve completed, and programming languages you’re comfortable using. Here are some technical interview questions to consider and how to best answer them.
What programming languages are you comfortable working with?
Coding is a primary web developer skill that you will learn as part of the basics. Different companies have different programming languages that they use for most of their products. As this is a web developer job, you must be able to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
The specific type of web developer job that you are applying for also makes a difference. For instance, if you are applying for a backend web developer position, you should develop strong SQL skills because this is the main programming language used for database management. In addition, you should be familiar with some of the best web development languages such as Python, Java, C+, and more.
As a follow-up question, you may be asked about the core elements of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Common follow-up questions are: What is a block element and an inline element in HTML? What are CSS selectors? What is the CSS box model and what is the margin of a box element? What are pseudo-classes in CSS?
How does CORS affect the web development process?
Cross-origin resource sharing (CORS) is an essential HTML component that allows you to share a set of resources from one domain to another. This works best for front end web developers because it is used to “copy” styles, fonts, and content. While sharing resources is possible, CORS also has a principle that ensures websites are secure.
Under what is known as the same origin policy (SOP), there is a guarantee that while a website can use the same resources and elements as another, there is a restriction in place. This prevents security attacks and information theft. In a web development job interview, security matters a lot, so you must know the right measures to guarantee the protection of data.
How do you achieve responsive web design?
To achieve responsive web design, you must first be familiar with basic web and UX/UI design. Knowing the right elements to use will help you achieve an optimal viewing experience. A responsive design says a lot about the quality of the user experience on a website.
In responsive design, you want to make sure that the website is adjusting well to the screen upon which it is displayed. When you switch your view from a wide-screen laptop computer to a mobile phone, all the elements, like font size or image size, should adjust. Being able to answer this question shows that you understand basic design principles as a web developer.
Between HTTP 2.0 and HTTP 1.1, which is better?
This might seem like a trick question because HTTP 2.0 is just an improvement from HTTP 1.1. HTTP 2.0 reduced the load time of websites. It prioritizes loading the content first and enables various resources to load all at once.
Additionally, modern browsers use HTTP 2.0 because of its SSL encryption, which helps guarantee the safety of data. Taking the CORS principle into account, HTTP 2.0 also supports the sharing of various resources from one domain to another.
How do you properly configure a RESTful API?
Your knowledge in backend web development is tested by this basic technical question as it deals with servers and databases. The application programming interface or API sets up the communication between websites and databases. If you need information from a website, then your server will contact it, and it should provide the right data.
A RESTful API guarantees that you are retrieving the information that you need. For example, if a user searches for a specific topic on a search engine, it should be able to pull up the relevant sites needed. As a web developer, you want to make sure that there is a precise movement of data from all of these servers and databases.
Top Five Behavioral Web Developer Interview Questions and Answers
Behavioral interview questions will test your overall personality and your ability to be a team player. During a web developer interview, the recruiter will want to look at how you deal with problems and how you work with other people. Inquiring about your experiences and attitude toward a difficult situation is a normal part of the interview process, and it might include questions like the ones listed below.
Are you comfortable with pair programming?
Pair programming is a coding technique in which two programmers work on a specific project. It fosters excellence and camaraderie through cooperation, and companies would prefer that you are open to it. Not being comfortable with pair programming could give the impression that you are unwilling to work with others.
Can you name a successful project you completed as a web developer? How did you work on it?
This is a common question in an interview process designed to look at your process, more than your achievements. To answer this question, you can demonstrate your technical skills by informing the interviewer about the strategies and technologies that you used. More importantly, you should be able to describe if you worked on it alone or with a team, and what valuable lessons you learned along the way.
How do you deal with negative feedback on your project?
Negative feedback is common, especially in the early stages of a project. This question is designed to show whether you accept constructive criticism and what you do with it. It is best to cite a specific example and describe the ways in which you incorporated the feedback into your revisions. If you are uncomfortable with negative feedback, it is best to train yourself to respond better to it.
What do you do when a program you worked on does not run?
To answer this question, you can talk about a specific example and the strategies you implemented to address the problem instead of simply stating what you felt. In the interest of being amiable, you can still express your personal thoughts. However, since this is a web developer interview, your interviewer is more interested in knowing whether you were quick to resolve issues as they came up.
How comfortable are you with meeting project deadlines?
Remember that you will work for a client that needs the project ready by a specific date. This question measures your ability to respect client timelines and stick to deadlines. You can also talk about your ability to negotiate with clients if you feel that a project cannot be accomplished in their expected timeframe.
Top Five General Web Developer Interview Questions and Answers
General web developer interview questions may include introductory questions and anything that sheds light on you and your previous work experience. Usually, this takes place during the first stages of your interview.
Why did you decide to apply to this specific web developer position?
This question gauges your understanding of the role and whether you are aware of what is required from you. Make sure to read the job description thoroughly, because this will tell you exactly what you need. Reading up about the company will also help you discuss why this specific working environment is appealing to you.
What is your background in web development?
Talk about your educational background first, especially any training or certifications that you’ve earned. Some companies prefer degree holders, but major tech firms often partner with coding bootcamps to hire talent. Finally, if you have any personal projects or web development work, make sure to bring them up as well.
Do you prefer to work on web or mobile applications?
The best way to answer this is to talk about your capabilities to work on both. Web development and mobile development are two interconnected specializations, and as a web developer you must be skilled in both.
Do you have any previous internships or work experience?
Internship experience is ideal for fresh graduates applying for entry-level positions. Talk about any project that you worked on, especially the large-scale, successful ones. If you have previous work experience, including freelance projects, make sure to mention them as well. Your interviewer wants to know your level of expertise, especially for jobs that call for a few years of experience.
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What is your least favorite website and why?
When answering this question, you need to discuss the technical issues and elements that make your cited website below average. You can talk about the design, functionality, or user experience.
You can also talk about how you would improve it if given the chance. This is one way for your interviewer to make sure you have a critical eye and are able to focus on how to improve things and keep up with new trends and technologies.
Tips to Prepare for a Web Developer Interview
1. Preparation is Key
Make sure you are ready to answer questions during the different stages of the interview, from the more general initial questions to the in-depth technical and behavioral interview questions. If you are applying for a position at a tech company, it is best to do your research so you can show why you’d be a good fit. Make sure that you understand the job description well and have all of your credentials ready.
2. Study for Technical Interview Questions
Technical questions will take up a large portion of your interview. Make sure you take some time to review the fundamentals of web development. You can also revisit more advanced topics like content management systems, adaptive designs, and responsive web design.
3. Be Presentable
Whether it is an in-person interview or a video call, make sure that you are presentable. Dressing appropriately gives the interviewer the impression that you are taking this seriously. If you are interviewing over a video call, make sure you are in a quiet place to avoid unnecessary noises.
What Skills Should I Put on My Web Developer Resume?
Highlight these necessary skills in your web developer resume, or even your LinkedIn profile, to immediately capture the company’s attention. Your resume content should be directly relevant to a web developer’s duties and responsibilities.
Advanced Coding Skills
Your job as a web developer will revolve around coding, so you must be well-versed in as many programming languages as you can. Some of the most important languages are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You must also have practical SQL experience because this plays a huge role in database and server maintenance, which all web developers should be familiar with.
An Eye for Optimal Design
To achieve optimal and interactive web applications, you need to have an eye for design. Other than knowing the basic design principles, you must follow trends and observe other websites to see what’s effective. Your goal is to provide a smooth user experience through the design and structure of your websites or mobile apps.
Good Communication Skills
Soft skills like good communication will take you far as a web developer. Communication skills are needed to foster healthy collaboration with your clients and teammates. As a web developer, the websites or applications you create are means of communication between individuals or stakeholders.
How to Find Web Developer Jobs
These web developer resources might come in handy while you look for a web developer job. Some of these sites offer helpful tips for coding interviews, ideas for all types of projects related to web development, and more.
GitHub
GitHub is a trusted resource for web and software developers. Here you can find helpful tips, forums, instructions, and even source code for projects you are interested in. You can create a profile where you can showcase all of your web development projects. Rather than a LinkedIn profile, you can give your GitHub profile if your potential employer asks for your portfolio.
StackOverflow
StackOverflow is a job site that specifically posts web developer jobs for all levels. There are more than 10,000 companies posting jobs, and the site serves over 100 million visitors monthly. Aside from being a job site, it is also a public platform where you can find external resources and even ask coding questions directly to experts.
AngelList
AngelList is a job site for startup companies, including tech companies and ventures. Through this site, you can find ideal opportunities in web development, and some may even offer the chance to work in Silicon Valley. You can create a profile and then job matches will be generated for you.
Web Developer Interview Questions FAQ
How Do I Prepare for a Web Developer Interview?
Read up about the company and the position that you are applying for. Be prepared to go through the different stages of an interview, answer technical questions, and even complete a short coding test. In addition, be ready to talk about your previous web development projects and relevant skills for the job. You also want to be ready for personal questions such as “what are your favorite types of projects to work on?” or even “what do you do in your spare time?”
How Is a Web Developer Interview Structured?
During a web developer interview, you will go through different stages. The first stage will deal with more general questions about your educational and work background. If you qualify for the next stage, there will be behavioral interview questions as well as inquiries on your soft skills. Finally, you will have to answer technical web development interview questions that help demonstrate your level of expertise.
What Should a Web Developer Wear to an Interview?
It is best to wear corporate attire such as dress shirts, black pants, or anything formal. Although what you wear will not determine whether you get the job, it will still show that you are prepared and interested in making a good impression.
Do Web Developers Have Technical Interviews?
Yes, technical interviews make up a good portion of a web developer job interview. Through these types of questions, your interviewer will be able to gauge the extent and depth of your skills and knowledge. This is also a way to see if you are still familiar with the basics, as well as with more advanced programming languages and trends in the industry.
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