Many developers know PHP. It is indeed one of the most widely used web programming languages across the world. Its popularity is one of its main strengths. However, it implies a job market whose offer is very wide, but the qualification not always easy to grasp. Especially since being a good technician is not enough to make a developer the element you need to complete your team. This guide covers the essential elements to understand how to recruit a good PHP developer.
PHP compared to other programming languages
PHP is clearly intended for the web. Once this observation is made, it does not take long to see that it is absolutely everywhere on the Internet. It is indeed by far the most widely used server-side web programming language. He is involved in the development of websites and web applications, from the simplest to the most complex.
PHP is a popular scripting language for developing dynamic web pages displayed using requests sent to an HTTP server. It was born in 1994 from the hands of a Canadian programmer called Rasmus Lerdorf. Although written in C, PHP also draws inspiration from other programming languages. It has thus undergone various influences from C++, Java and Perl. This diversity is one of its strengths, but also one of the complexities of this language, which is not always easy to master.
What makes a good PHP developer?
Technically, keep in mind that a good PHP developer should have most of the skills below:
- Excellent knowledge of PHP syntax and its particularities,
- Mastery of good language practices, particularly with a view to optimizing code performance and security,
- Good understanding of the MVC pattern (Model-View-Controller),
- Mastery of one or more PHP frameworks (Symfony, CakePHP, Laravel, etc.),
- Knowledge of object-oriented programming,
- General understanding of front-end technologies (JavaScript, HTML, CSS),
- Ability to work with one or more database management systems, in SQL or NoSQL (MySQL, PostgrSQL, MongoDB, etc.)
This list illustrates what a good PHP developer is from a technology perspective, however it has its limitations and should be tailored to your personal needs. In general, when you want to recruit a developer, it is better to focus on the overall profile than the perfect match with each criterion listed. If you work with the Yii framework and you receive the CV of a developer with a lot of Symfony experience, he may be better able to help you quickly than a developer who knows the basics of the framework you use but has a less advanced general understanding of language.
It's up to you to ask yourself the right questions to establish an accurate analysis of your needs. This list of objectives will serve as your common thread throughout the recruitment process. By writing a job offer that is precise and representative of the needs of your IT team, you are already ensuring a large part of the success of your search.
Attract the right candidates
An offer to match the popularity of PHP In Switzerland, many PHP developers are scrutinizing the job market. In Geneva alone, it is not uncommon to see dozens of simultaneous job offers asking for PHP knowledge. There is demand, and therefore a certain competition for companies seeking to recruit good developers. However, theoretical knowledge is not everything and not all candidates necessarily correspond to your needs.
The good PHP developer is not only the one who knows the technology on the fingertips but also the one who corresponds to your values . He must be able to easily find his place within your company and be proactive. To facilitate the recruitment process, it is therefore important to know how to attract the right candidates. Remember that conducting a long series of interviews with developers who do not match your needs is a waste of time for you, your company and of course the candidates.
A good job posting is accurate and honest The best job postings are the most detailed. This of course requires a little more preparation time, but the results are all the better for it. It starts with being specific about the technologies your business uses. Which framework, or framework, is honored in your IT team? What template engines does it use? What type of servers does your information system rely on? Of course, do not indicate any confidential data, but at least name the technologies in order to ensure that the candidates will apply with full knowledge of the facts.
When in doubt, ask for more, but never less. So don't claim to be looking for a PHP expert if you need a full-stack developer. PHP developers work at the server level and therefore essentially at the back-end. They obviously collaborate with front-end developers in the same project but this is not their main expertise.
Present the mentality of your company and the type of profile you are looking to integrate into your team, even if it means being divisive. Finally, indicate the particularities specific to the position. Is it a CDI or a contract for the duration of specific projects? What level of training do you require? How many people does your technical team consist of? Will the developer be allowed to work remotely? The more you go into detail, the closer the motivation of the candidates applying will be to yours.
Succeed in the interview of your future PHP developer
The main challenge of interviews is to find the balance between the technical and human part. As a recruiter, you have to know how to distinguish between what concerns human resources and what concerns business expertise. You may be part of an internal department at the recruiting company. On the contrary, you may be hired as a recruitment agency or firm. In any case, the chances are high that PHP is not one of your main skills. It's quite normal. Do not hesitate to be accompanied by an expert in the field for the interview phase. Ideally invite the team leader or a PHP developer who will be in direct collaboration with the selected candidate.
Together, you will be able to broaden the field of competence and ensure that you recruit the best PHP developer, both technically and human. With this guide, you should now be able to write a proper job ad, know what to focus on for your interview, and how to hire PHP developers. If you want to hire a software development team who will source the best web development for your upcoming projects, consider Vietnam as trusted place for outsourcing php development
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