Why this matters:

Application developers play a hands-on role in all phases of the software development lifecycle, from inception to testing and beyond. How candidates answer this question can offer great insight into the breadth and nature of their experience, while also telling you if they have a proven track record of successfully and meticulously completing projects.

What to listen for:

  • Skilled at creating and troubleshooting software solutions from start to finish
  • Experience leading a team throughout the development process

Why this matters:

Application developers use various programming languages to create software. Having a good grasp of these languages is crucial to their success, so it’s imperative to assess your candidate’s knowledge of and experience using different languages. If they haven’t used your company’s go-to language before, a willingness to learn is also important.

What to listen for:

  • Proficiency in at least one major programming language
  • Examples of successful projects developed using each proficient language

Why this matters:

As your team develops software solutions, they need to take proactive steps to minimize any potential security risks that could expose your organization’s sensitive data — or the data of those using the finished application. An experienced application developer will be aware of the steps and quality control required to tighten security from the start.

What to listen for:

  • Awareness of and ability to lead a team through the security checks and controls process
  • Examples of situations where a security breach or leak was successfully prevented

Why this matters:

In addition to troubleshooting software in the development phase, application developers must constantly monitor for any bugs or glitches in the system. Your candidate should be accustomed to looking for the root cause of a problem and taking the necessary steps to solve it and prevent similar issues in the future.

What to listen for:

  • Experience troubleshooting before, during, and after development
  • Patience and dedication when the cause of an issue isn’t immediately apparent

Why this matters:

Application developers often face tight deadlines on work that’s critical for customers and their organization. When high-pressure situations like this crop up, you want to know that your new hire has the time management and collaboration skills necessary to navigate the situation and ensure the project is completed without a hitch.

What to listen for:

  • Prioritization and delegation skills to ensure on-time project completion
  • Ability to show care and attention to work in the face of deadlines

Why this matters:

Your new hire needs to be a skilled coder, but everybody makes mistakes or oversights from time to time. In these instances, you want to know that your candidate will accept feedback with grace and use it to grow. Top application developers don’t just take feedback in their stride — they use it to make future applications even stronger.

What to listen for:

  • Ability to improve based on constructive feedback
  • A willingness to admit and avoid mistakes going forward

Why this matters:

This question will not only tell you how candidates perceive themselves, but will also provide insights into their views on teamwork. While your new hire may work independently some of the time, they’ll also need to collaborate across the department to get projects done. As such, the best application developers tend to be approachable, resourceful, and comfortable working as part of a team.

What to listen for:

  • A valuing of teamwork and desire to be a good teammate to others
  • Indication of an ability to work in a variety of settings

Why this matters:

This question can tell you a lot about a candidate’s ability to distill knowledge. While application developers need a lot of hard skills to do their job effectively, they must also be skilled at communicating with people with varying degrees of technical know-how. After all, they may have to discuss project details with stakeholders from nontechnical backgrounds, in addition to supporting junior team members.

What to listen for:

  • Concrete examples of project leadership and training methods
  • Willingness to share knowledge and be patient with learners

Why this matters:

Learning where a candidate’s passion lies can be a good indicator of the role they’ll play on their team, as well as the path they might take at your company. If they love leading projects, for example, they may aspire to a leadership role. If they’re passionate about the creative elements of the work or the fast-paced nature of the industry, they may seek to bring fresh ideas to the table.

What to listen for:

  • Self-reflection and passion for the application development field
  • Understanding of the societal importance of application development
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