WordPress Developer Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

WordPress Developer Compensation

Sample Job Descriptions

Including the right content in your job description is essential when hiring a WordPress developer. The following examples can serve as templates for attracting the best available talent for your team.

How to Hire a WordPress Developer

1. Determine the type of developer you need

WordPress is a multifaceted CMS that can be extended in countless ways. This makes hiring a developer a bit challenging. Many times, a hiring manager or small business owner can get tripped up on wanting more skills than they actually need, not  understanding the technical jargon associated with the role, or by poorly articulating the job requirements.

Before you write a job description, consider the complete list of requirements your company or project requires. Focus on those skills and remember that even the best WordPress programmers won’t be experts at every step of the development process or ongoing website management.

Also think through the type of developer you need. Remember that a WordPress expert is usually skilled at a specific portion of the development process.

Ask yourself how much WordPress expertise you require:

• Front-end developer: A front-end developer will be responsible for the visual elements you see on the live website. The skills needed for this role would include CSS, HTML, page builders, or the block editor.
• Back-end developer: A back-end developer has core skills for making the website function properly. These would include tasks relates to the MySQL database, the server, security, or performance.
• Full-stack developer: A full-stack developer such a professional handles both areas of WordPress development and is proficient in both front-end and back-end coding and maintenance.

2. Determine how you should hire a developer

Not every role requires a full-time employee or a long recruitment process. Walking through your internal needs and constraints will help you decide the type of role you need and the best process for hiring your new developer.

Consider internal constraints associated with the hiring process itself:

• Recruiting: Do you have the knowledge, tools, and resources to attract and screen candidates?
• Duration: Is this a one-time project or an ongoing need?
• Management: Do you have the time and expertise to direct the work effectively?
• Urgency: How soon does the work need to be completed?
• Headcount: Do you have the budget and approval for an internal employee, or should you consider alternate options?

Answering these questions will help determine the best course of action for your current hiring need, which will then lead you down the path of how your hiring process should progress.

Three options for hiring a WordPress expert:

• Use a professional recruiting firm: The heavy lifting is done for you when working with a top-tier staffing company like 4 Corner Resources. We source, screen, recruit, and deliver only the most qualified candidate(s), saving you significant time and effort throughout the hiring process while you remain focused on your core business. Understanding your needs and ensuring the right candidate for the position is the key to our success.
• Hire an experienced freelancer: The freelance, or gig, economy continues to grow, with more talent available daily. Freelancers provide high-quality work without a long-term commitment. They can offer you a fresh perspective, more flexibility, and increased efficiency. While the freelance market isn’t ideal for every position, WordPress developers are often a great fit. 
• Advertise your full-time opening on a top job board: Your best option may be to advertise your opening on a proven job board. There are many widely used job sites out there that draw visits from qualified candidates. If you have someone internally who can dedicate the time and energy to sort through applications and screen individuals effectively, this can be a great choice. We recommend posting on zen jobs – a relatively new job board that offers free job listings. The website targets visitors at all stages of their career journey, so you’ll have an opportunity to reach a wide range of experience levels. And best yet, it’s free to post your opening.

3. Determine where to advertise your opening

While there are major job boards that apply across industries and types of roles, some positions have specialty job boards available. A WordPress developer is one of these roles.

Here are some popular freelance platforms that we recommend when hiring for a WordPress project:

• WordPress: WordPress.org offers a job board specifically for WordPress-related positions. This job board is provided by the open source project team and is available for posting for free.
• Post Status: Post Status serves the main WordPress community. It is led by well-respected community leaders, and its membership includes top developers and agencies. This job board is a great place for finding expert WordPress talent.
• Codable: Codeable is available to connect with seasoned development professionals. Codeable is a freelance platform specifically designed for WordPress projects.
• Upwork: Upwork is a freelance talent network that helps individuals connect with experts in a variety of fields to accomplish project-based needs. When you have a specific, well-defined goal in mind, this can be a great path to hiring an experienced WordPress developer.
• Toptal: Toptal is an exclusive network of the top freelance software developers, designers, finance experts, product managers, and project managers in the world. Toptal vets its freelancers before making them accessible, ensuring their legitimacy.

4. Write a concise job description

Your job description will be the first point of contact with your new hire, so make sure it sets a good example of your company and the available role. It should concise and align with the role needed.

Recommended components of a WordPress developer job description include:

• Position title
• Company overview
• Overview of the role
• A list of essential functions and tasks
• A list of hard requirements
• A list of desired soft skills
• Typical work environment
• Expected hours and work schedule
• Preferred education and experience
• Additional qualifications
• Salary and benefits

Don’t lose site of the average salary and perks for this role. These are common details found in most WordPress developer job descriptions.

5. Review resumes and portfolios

Since there are no formal certifications for WordPress developers, anyone can claim to be an expert. And in fact, many do. Make sure you protect yourself by reviewing the developer’s portfolio of work. If they cannot produce a portfolio or their vague about their experience, consider this a red flag and move onto the next job applicant.

Also consider searching Google for references to the developer’s name or email address. Since these folks spend their work days online and they have a large community of resources available, you should find plenty of references online. Take the time to review these references for communication and level of expertise. And if you don’t find any references, consider this another red flag to record.

6. Interview candidates

The interview process is a great opportunity to access communication styles and the other soft skills that will make a great candidate stand out. Make sure you pay close attention to these soft skills as you dig into the technical aspects of the role.

As you interview candidates make sure the questions asked match the role. You don’t want to confuse skill sets with applicants and mix up front-end responsibilities with those of a back-end development role. This will frustrate the applicant and provide an inclusive evaluation of the interviewee.

If you’re not familiar enough with the role to ask detailed WordPress questions and access their accuracy, consider hiring a recruiter who can manage this process for you.

7. Consider a sample project

After reviewing resumes and interviewing candidates, you should have a strong feeling for who is or is not a good fit. However, that can prove deceiving when evaluating a website developer.

Asking your preferred candidate for a pair trial project is an excellent way to access their skills and validate their level of expertise matches your requirements. And as an upside to this trial project, it will give you another chance to assess soft skills like communication and time management.

8. Create a compelling offer

As you consider your compensation package, make sure it aligns to this role and to what is expected in the WordPress community. If you misstep at this stage, you’ll certainly lose your best opportunity for finding talent.

Most WordPress jobs are remote-based, offer flexible schedules, and have additional perks like home office allowances, generous vacation policies, and time for furthering their coding expertise through community training programs and events.

Make sure your offer takes the nuances of this role into account and your offer is comparable to other openings within the market.

9. Ask for expert assistance

If you aren’t sure which path is best, schedule a discovery call today with our seasoned recruiting professionals. The 4 Corner team is on standby to help you find the best option for your unique hiring needs.