How to Evaluate a Programmer's Qualifications and Skills?

First and foremost, let’s clarify that we’re assessing a specific candidate for a particular company or project. For instance, the candidate should be prepared for mundane, routine tasks in one scenario, while in another, they might need to act in an extraordinary way.

In the first scenario, an IT programmer might need to work independently, whereas in the second scenario, an IT specialist might be required to collaborate closely with a team. These approaches can indeed assist in evaluating the experience of an IT expert.

The recruiter should ascertain the IT professional’s attitude towards programming and their passion for their work. Do they dedicate time to their professional growth? Another vital criterion is the candidate’s teachability: how swiftly do they grasp new information and acquaint themselves with emerging technologies?

Are they involved in personal projects or developments? Do they see these projects through to completion? The candidate’s breadth of knowledge and education are also crucial. Are they self-taught or possess a formal technical degree? What development tools and languages are they familiar with?

Figure out about the candidate’s specialization within a specific field or technology. How do they approach selecting tools when starting on projects from scratch? Do they have a preferred language? How do they feel about legacy code?

Determining a developer’s code perspective is essential. Also, it’s important to ask whether the candidate plans the architecture of their solution or dives directly into coding, addressing deficiencies along the way. Much depends on these factors, influencing task completion speed and the quality of the end result.

Another crucial aspect is the developer’s ability to see a project through to completion. Some developers’ perfectionism drives them to refine a project even when it’s time to move on to new endeavors.

The evaluation process will also vary based on the level of expertise sought – Junior, Middle, or Senior programmers. For newcomers, enthusiasm, a desire to learn, and the drive to grow are main. Experienced developers are judged on task execution speed, minimal rework, and refinement of solutions. Efficient work methods are equally important. Experts in the field are expected to produce solutions that are not only effective and functional but also forward-looking and aligned with the company’s future needs.

Assessing a Programmer’s Personal Qualities #

The most effective employees within a company are those whose values align with the company culture. Therefore, it’s worthwhile to preemptively evaluate a candidate’s soft skills to understand their future plans, career aspirations, and the kind of work they are currently seeking.

Here are a few questions to help clarify a developer’s motivation and perspectives:

• According to the candidate, what qualities define an ideal IT specialist?
• What tasks have been the most engaging for them?
• In what type of team do they feel most comfortable working?
• How should an ideal workflow be structured? Is it Agile or Waterfall?
• What does their dream job look like?

Recruitment success depends on whether your company competes with the employee’s dream company or not.