The Web Developer Job Description - Are Coding Skills OUT and Interpersonal Skills IN?
Outlining Our Experience in Finding the Perfect Web Design Staff...
Web designer jobs are not the easiest positions to recruit for. The skill set exceeds coding or graphic design. In our experience, web developer jobs encompass everything from common sense, unrelated problem solving and clear client communication, to be a success. It is all too easy to just code away and present a polished design, but the reality is that there are so many unrelated skills that mean EVERYTHING to performing the job with any competence.
- By NOT focusing on the vital individualist skills needed by web designer, your business will never grow.
- We propose that web design really is 1% actual creative, and 99% interpersonal skills. This means putting the core skills of web development to one side, and instead place value on the analytical.
Revisiting the Web Designer Job Description
It is likely that a web developer job description will simply ask for years of experience and coding competencies. By being so narrow, there is a risk that what really matters will be missed.
Take this example of a web designer needed post:
"The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:
Then, consider all of these occurrences:
What is clear from the above is that no level of UX, UI knowledge of competency in HTML or CSS skills will solve these problems to ensure the client is satisfied. A "Web Designer" in the understood form hired today would need to revert such questions to a project manager or perhaps even the sales agent. Inefficient, back and forth, and unnecessary.
Take this example of a web designer needed post:
"The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:
- Experience in Adobe Creative Suite (particularly Photoshop, Illustrator and In-Design)
- Understanding of basic UX/UI principles
- Sound understanding of the creative process
- Appreciation of the front-end web development process
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Strong organisational skills"
Then, consider all of these occurrences:
- Client states that, having reviewed their draft website, they don't like the "feel and theme".
- Client expresses an intention to introduce eCommerce to the website but isn't sure which option is best.
- Client questions about how domain names affect SEO.
What is clear from the above is that no level of UX, UI knowledge of competency in HTML or CSS skills will solve these problems to ensure the client is satisfied. A "Web Designer" in the understood form hired today would need to revert such questions to a project manager or perhaps even the sales agent. Inefficient, back and forth, and unnecessary.
Essential Requirements & Skills
When we hire, we have seasoned measures to ensure who joins the team will be able to, in no uncertain terms, deal with the crazy.
Our Requirements:
Background in client service ideal – As you will be dealing with clients to manage them, keep them happy and managing the scope of your website build with the client
Enthusiastic can-do attitude – ability to learn and adapt, we have a friendly team who will support you through your learning.
Our Requirements:
- Willingness to learn how to build websites - yes, that's right, web development skills aren't even required for a "web design" position! We believe that skills can be taught and core design work can be delegated to specialists. We only require an applicant to either know Wordpress or simply to be willing to learn how to build websites. Sometimes a clean slate is better than a seasoned expert.
- Excellent formatting - we believe that formatting trumps everything when it comes to a website. A strong, natural eye for formatting, detail and image selection is EVERYTHING. The client doesn't often care about the backend and UI, what's important is the right images and clear lines. Clients WILL react horribly to bad presentation, while be forgiving to any UI oversight.
- Excellent command of English - This may seem obvious, but there's one reason why English skills are critical - explaining (and re-explaining) things to clients to avoid incessant time wasting. Even if your web development process is tight and the technical skills unrivalled, it will all fall apart if English skills lack to communicate. A web developer needs to be someone beyond a "shared resource" in a "back office".
- Common Sense - the ability to be able to prioritise tasks is critical, as are strong organizational skills. Basically, the web developer needs to be able to self-manage themselves across a number of projects in work-in-progress. Being able to check
Background in client service ideal – As you will be dealing with clients to manage them, keep them happy and managing the scope of your website build with the client
Enthusiastic can-do attitude – ability to learn and adapt, we have a friendly team who will support you through your learning.
Web Developer Job Applications: What We Ask For (and What We Don't)
In an effort to ensure we cover all the bases:
- We present all applicants with a test. This is very unique within the industry, but we find this helps to find the right people.
- The test takes two forms: technical and analytical.
Technical Test
Analytical Test
Sample scripts:
- We present the applicants with a simple, 5 page Wordpress website, and ask them to re-create it.
- This gives experienced candidates the chance to show their skills, but it also introduces those with no background in web design to the field. We ask for a three day delivery.
Analytical Test
- We present four emails to our applicants (outlined below) and we ask for sample response that communicate an answer and resolution for the client.
- This test is proven to show an applicant's critical thinking, research and analytical skills. The questions may seem left-field, but their nature is repetitive. By reviewing critical thinking, it's easy to assess how a potential team member will handle and manage client queries as they arise.
Sample scripts:
|
Hi there
Could you please send me some ideas of other flowers for banners, I was only given one and I don't like that one. I don't really want purple and pink theme. It looks a bit old-fashioned and to feminine. I would prefer blues greens Aqua and turquoise, both for the artwork and the writing. If you send me some ideas I will include them in my second draft. Thanks Mary Dear Officer,
Just want to let you know that our accountant has transferred the money to you today for the website deposit. Cheers, Macky |
Hello,
I keep getting emails from PayPal about upgrading to suit their new requirements. Do I have to do anything? I can't understand any of what they are talking about, and don't know if I am already compliant or not. They just want me to let them know that I am OK, and I haven't a clue. Best regards, Jill Hi there,
My email link on the website opens an email page on Windows 2011, which fails anyway when I send. I’m not sure why this happens as I use Windows Outlook. If it is happening with me is it happening with clients who are trying to contacted me? When you were setting up my website you were using a different email contact with the dialog box with was great (and worked). Can you please advise as to how to correct this? Regards Peter |
Concluding Comments
- Web development positions can be as fluid or as strict in their scope as your agency desires.
- We believe that taking the focus away from the technical skills and pushing it towards front line problem solving will open up the profession and lead to more efficient flows within your industry.
- What is critical is to let your web developers talk to each other and not sideline them to a particular project - the best web developers are those who want to share their ideas in all facets of the business.
- Insert some curly real life agency questions into your application process, to encourage prospective developers to think critically and show their non-technical skills beside their coding.
- Any web design agency is always going to face challenges. Having a team that addresses issues with lateral thoughts spreads the risk and ensures any fires or problems are dealt with quickly.
