What is PHP and Who is a PHP Developer
Hypertext Preprocessor, known as PHP, is a scripting language on the server-side. It is an open-source language used to develop websites and applications. Further, the PHP scripting language can run on any operating system.
A PHP developer is a tech professional who uses the scripting language to build websites, applications and websites.
How to Hire PHP Developer
Hire PHP developer for your business after taking into account their technical skills. Although a PHP developer is a back-end job, the developer must be familiar with front-end development. This means knowledge of not just PHP scripting language but also HTML and CSS. PHP developers would need to collaborate with front-end developers to create a website so look for candidates who have the ability to do so. Also, look at the candidate’s educational background and any certifications they may have when you hire.
Factors to Keep in Mind Before You Hire PHP Developer
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Scope of the project
Understand the scope of your project before you begin to hire PHP developer. Are you building content management sites for your clients? Are you providing eCommerce solutions or web applications? Depending on the requirement, you would have to hire PHP developer with relevant skills. -
Industry match
Your business may cater to a variety of clients from different verticals. You would need to hire PHP developer on the basis of the verticals you cater to and the target audience. For example, you may cater to the healthcare industry and need to develop an electronic health record system. Hire PHP developer who understands the target audience and the client’s needs. -
Trends
Before you hire PHP developer, you should be aware of the development trends to make an informed hiring decision. Some of the trends include:Cloud integration: An increasing number of businesses are looking to invest in cloud infrastructure. More app and web development companies will look at integrating PHP with cloud technologies for web app development.
Smart bots: Conversational AI (artificial intelligence) is booming and most businesses have deployed chatbots to interact with customers. Development of smart bots is possible with PHP.
Accelerated mobile pages: This is an open-source coding project to help faster loading of pages on mobile. It has caught on in a big way and developers can use PHP to create AMP sites.
Skills to Look For When You Hire Top PHP Developer
Knowledge of PHP: It is important to have a thorough understanding of the scripting language in order to develop websites or applications. Familiarity with PHP frameworks such as Symfony, CakePHP, CodeIgniter or Laravel is useful.
Skills in JavaScript, HTML and CSS: Even though PHP developer role is a back-end one, knowledge of front-end languages like JS, HTML and CSS help for full-stack tasks.
Code versioning tool know-how: Understanding of code versioning tools which help track and make changes to source code helps. Some tools include Git, SVN and CVS, among others.
MySQL skills: Knowledge of database management systems like MySQL helps top PHP developer access database and make changes.
Web server understanding: Knowledge of web servers such as NGINX, and Apache can turn the candidate into a top PHP developer.
Steps to Hire PHP Developer
- First, create a clear job description describing roles and responsibilities of PHP developer.
- Look at the technical skills of the candidate and ask relevant questions to understand the developer’s level of knowledge.
- Look at the academic qualifications and see if the candidate has any PHP development certification.
- Assess soft skills such as ability to communicate and present ideas well.
How to Identify Reliable and Experienced PHP Developer
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Ask for references from former employers and colleagues. This helps you evaluate whether the candidate is a team player. A sign of reliability is working in a team well.
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Also, judge if the candidate has the ability to lead teams as and when such a situation arises.
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Assess the work samples of the candidate.
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Find out more about the problem-solving abilities of the developer. You can ask the candidate relevant questions about their past work and challenges faced. Find out how they resolved the challenges from references as well.
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Understand if the PHP developer has the ability to collaborate with clients and think creatively.
If you find the candidate ticking all the boxes, they may be a good fit for your business.