HTML - The HyperText Markup Language
HyperText Markup Language or HTML is the language you need to build a website or web application. It is among the most used front-end languages, which is used to build the front-end of a website. Hypertext refers to text that can be clicked on, while markup refers to the usage of tags to identify the elements of a document. A developer who uses HTML knowledge to build a website is an HTML developer.
What Do You Need to Know Before You Hire HTML Developer?
Ensure that the HTML developer can cater to the needs of your client base. Hire an HTML developer who understands your clients' industry, be it finance, banking or fashion.
Understand the needs of your clients so you can hire HTML developer with the appropriate skills. For instance, if the requirement is to build websites with creative and unique designs, you may need to assess the innovative thinking of the candidate.
How to Hire HTML Developer
Candidate Screening
Screen candidates for their skills and experience. Along with a knowledge of HTML, a developer also needs to know languages JavaScript and CSS. JavaScript is all about the functionality of a website while CSS, a style sheet language, is about design. With HTML, which pertains to a site's structure, the two languages are essential for building websites.
Understand Project Type
The project could be short-term and one-off or a contract-based long-term project. Hire candidates based on the scope of the project.
Write the Project Description
Write a clear description of the project or job you are hiring for. This should include the roles and responsibilities of the developer. Further, include project’s timelines and what skills are expected of the HTML developer.
Set Realistic Expectations
It is important to be realistic in the hiring process. Ensure your HTML developer knows the objectives of the project, experience needed and tasks involved. Also, be clear about the challenges involved so the candidate knows what to expect.
Interview the Candidate
The interview process is a key aspect of hiring. Interview the candidate to understand their skill levels, background and ability to communicate well. How well they present their ideas is very important apart from technical skills.
Test HTML Skills
Use a skill test to assess the developer’s knowledge of HTML. Provide HTML problems that a developer needs to solve in a specific timeframe. This helps you judge their level of expertise and also their ability to meet deadlines.
Final Decision
After considering all the above including experience, skills and interview performance, decide whether to hire or not hire HTML developer. Once you decide on a hire, send out the offer letter.
Essential Skills to Look For in an HTML Developer
Web Designing Skills
Deep knowledge of HTML is important but the candidate also needs to understand style sheet language CSS and programming language JavaScript. It would also be good to have skills in other languages like Python or C++
Responsive web design
Responsive web design involves the creation of web pages that are flexible and can be used on mobile devices as well. Knowledge of responsive design is important when you use HTML. This helps you ensure that web pages are automatically resized and look good on mobile.
Cross-browser Development
Cross-browser development refers to creating web pages that display the same functionality and behaviour on both desktop and mobile browsers, like Chrome or Safari. Knowledge of developing web pages for different browsers is a key skill.
Understanding of Server-side CSS Pre-processing Platforms
CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) preprocessors refer to scripting languages which are extensions of CSS. They help automate tasks that are repetitive or cut down errors. Knowledge of LESS and SASS, two widely used CSS extensions, is useful.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Skills
Hire HTML developer with SEO skills. Websites can get higher search result rankings if they are SEO-ready.
HTML /CSS Skills
Knowledge of HTML and CSS is essential for an HTML developer. These skills help create web pages that use a variety of style elements.
Semantic HTML
It helps to know semantic HTML, which is essentially tags providing meaning to HTML pages. Semantic HTML describes the purpose of a certain element on the page.
Back-end basics
Apart from knowledge of front-end language like HTML, the developer should also have a basic understanding of back-end development. These include knowledge of servers and databases, structured query language (SQL) or NoSQL (not only SQL).
Source Code Optimization
Source code optimization is all about improving the source code of a program while preserving its behaviour. A HTML developer would need to know how to do this to enhance performance of web pages
Fair Understanding of JavaScript and DOM Manipulation
Along with CSS and HTML, JavaScript is one of the core technologies used in building websites. Knowledge of the same is essential. Understanding of Document Object Model (DOM) which defines the structure of documents helps. DOM manipulation helps you create, alter, change the style or even delete some elements without refreshing.
Understanding of Web Standards
Web standards are sets of protocols and technologies that help in building a website. Apart from HTML and CSS, some of the factors to check in terms of web standards include quality of code, use of “alt” for images, and accessibility of the site among others. Knowledge of web standards helps the HTML developer build websites that work well.
Interpersonal Skills
The HTML developer should also have soft skills like good interpersonal skills. This is important because a developer needs to work in teams and interact with colleagues and clients.
Communication Skills
The ability to convey what’s on one’s mind is very important. A good developer should convey aspects related to work and design to other team members and clients effectively.
How to Identify Reliable and Experienced HTML Developer
- Ask for references from former colleagues and employers if you wish to hire experienced HTML developer
- This helps you understand the interpersonal and communication skills of the candidate better.
- Further, it also helps you know how well the HTML developer managed time and met deadlines.
- Further, seek samples of past work to understand the quality of work. Also, assess the candidate’s ability to pay attention to detail from their work.
- Ask the HTML developer about their career path and future plans to understand their level of focus.
