How To Hire A Wordpress Developer

WordPress developers specialize in creating, customizing, and maintaining websites using the WordPress platform. They tackle various challenges, including developing and optimizing themes and plugins to enhance site functionality. They help improve site performance and security, ensure responsive design for mobile devices, and integrate third-party tools and services.

WordPress developers also work on SEO optimization, content management, and user experience enhancements. WordPress was developed in 2003 as a blogging platform but has since evolved into a versatile content management system (CMS).

Wordpress Developers: Why are they needed?

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) globally, powering millions of websites. Its flexibility, ease of use, and extensive plugin ecosystem make it a preferred choice for individuals, businesses, and organizations to create and manage websites. WordPress developers are essential to customize, extend, and optimize WordPress websites to meet specific requirements, ensuring they function smoothly, look appealing, and remain secure.

With the increasing importance of online visibility and user experience, WordPress developers remain highly relevant in today's digital landscape. Their expertise in WordPress development, coupled with skills in web technologies, SEO, and security, positions them as valuable assets in building and maintaining successful online platforms.

Skills required

  • WordPress CMS proficiency
  • PHP programming
  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript
  • Theme development and customization
  • Plugin development and customization
  • MySQL database management
  • Responsive web design

Job titles

  • WordPress Engineer
  • WordPress Web Developer
  • WordPress Theme Developer
  • WordPress Plugin Developer
  • WordPress CMS Developer
  • WordPress PHP Developer
  • WordPress Solutions Architect

How to Search for Wordpress Developers

LinkedIn

With thousands of professionals and technical experts, it’ll be easier to look for a Wordpress Developer that fits in your team.


While searching on Google, use Boolean operators like "AND," "OR," and "NOT" to refine your search. For example, "Wordpress Developer" AND "PHP" will show results for Wordpress Developers with PHP as their preferred programming language.


One of the most popular LinkedIn communities where you can find WordPress developers is "Freelancer Wordpress Developer" with over 40k members. Here you can easily find good developer portfolios.

Online job boards

Post job openings on Indeed, LinkedIn, Naukri, Glassdoor, and Stack Overflow Jobs. The job boards on these platforms often provide advanced search and filtering options, enabling you to narrow down the candidate pool based on their experience, location, and skillset. This allows you to efficiently identify and hire Wordpress developer who matches your specific job requirements.

Developer communities and forums

Engage with Wordpress Developers on platforms like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and other related forums. For instance, a developer who consistently provides insightful answers to complex Wordpress-related questions on a forum may be an excellent fit for your team. Furthermore, by actively participating in discussions, sharing your job openings, or contributing to relevant open-source projects, you can establish your presence in the Wordpress community.

Tech conferences and meetups

To hire Wordpress developer with good technical skills, attend community events to network with talented developers. Search for the upcoming regional or global Wordpress Developers conferences online. You can attend or sponsor events focused on PHP, Website development, and how online presence is necessary. It will allow you to connect with professionals who are deeply passionate about the field.

HackerEarth hiring challenges

Sponsor online coding challenges to find competitive developers. For example, SysCloud partnered with HackerEarth to sponsor an PHP Developer Hiring Challenge to hire PHP developers with 1-3 years of experience.

Open source communities

Engage with active contributors in Wordpress-related open-source projects. It can help you find and hire Wordpress Developer with good portfolios. It can help you find authentic and good developer portfolios. For instance, you can review the GitHub profiles and contributions of active Wordpress community members and reach out to those whose work aligns with your job requirements. Collaborating with individuals who are already dedicated to the Wordpress ecosystem can lead to successful hires.

Online learning platforms

In order to hire Wordpress developers with exceptional skills, you can search platforms like Udemy or Coursera. These virtual classrooms are where developers hone their skills. Consider reaching out to course participants, showcasing your company's opportunities. Initiate conversations about their Wordpress projects. This proactive approach can be used to hire Wordpress developers who are actively learning on these platforms.

Local universities and coding boot camps

Collaborate with local academies and educational institutions to find aspiring Wordpress Developers. Collaborating with coding boot camps provides access to individuals who undergo intensive Wordpress development training. To find and hire Wordpress developer with the right skillset, attend events, host workshops, and offer internships to create a tangible connection with potential candidates. By tapping into these educational avenues, you not only identify skilled developers but also contribute to nurturing the Wordpress talent pool in your local community.

Social media channels

Use platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook to share projects and job openings. Engage with Wordpress communities such as Dev community.

Referrals and employee networks

Promote employee referrals and leverage existing networks to gather recommendations.

Lightbulb Pro-Tip

Reddit is a great place to look for various Wordpress-related communities, including r/Wordpress, r/WordpressPlugins, r/ProWordPress, r/WebDeveloperJobs, etc. You can also join related Communities on Discord with thousands of members.

Wordpress Developer Assessment

The most common assessment framework for Wordpress Developers on HackerEarth includes

A combination of technical evaluations, coding exercises, and behavioral assessments. Here are some common components of the assessment framework:

Code completion tasks

Code completion tasks play a crucial role in evaluating and deciding to hire WordPress developer with the right skillset. These tasks can provide a practical assessment of a candidate's proficiency in WordPress development, theme customization, and plugin integration. By presenting specific coding challenges, you can gauge a candidate's familiarity with the WordPress ecosystem and their ability to work within its framework. Integrating code completion tasks into the Wordpress developer hiring assessment process ensures in making well-informed decisions.

Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)

When looking to hire Wordpress developer who possess the requisite skills MCQs can be very helpful. You can choose to include these questions in the Wordpress developer hiring assessment. They can help in evaluating a developer's understanding of Wordpress fundamentals.

Project-specific questions

You can also include project-specific questions to assess a candidate's knowledge. It can vary depending on your requirements. It will aid you in finding the right candidates with the Wordpress developer skills that the project demands.

Language-specific questions

Wordpress developers can be asked questions related to HTML, CSS, and PHP concepts. They can also be asked questions related to theming and plugins. Asking very basic and technical questions can also help assess the candidate’s knowledge and skill sets.

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Steps to Create a Wordpress Developer Assessment on HackerEarth

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  2. Add questions from our library and create a test
  3. Send invites to candidates
  4. Evaluate our AI-assisted report and shortlist candidates

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Sample Questions to Ask a Wordpress Developer

  • Write a simple WordPress plugin that adds a custom widget to the sidebar
  • Create a custom shortcode in WordPress that displays recent posts from a specific category when inserted into a post or page content.
  • Write a custom WordPress query to retrieve the most recent three posts from a specific category and display them in a loop.
  • How would you integrate a third-party REST API into a WordPress site to display external data?
  • Explain how you would make a WordPress theme responsive for different screen sizes.

  • Which programming language is WordPress primarily built with?
    1. JavaScript
    2. Ruby
    3. Python
    4. PHP

  • What is the purpose of the WordPress loop?
    1. To create custom database queries
    2. To control the display of search results
    3. To retrieve and display posts from the WordPress database
    4. To manage user authentication

  • Which WordPress function is used to create a custom navigation menu in a theme?
    1. register_menu()
    2. wp_create_menu()
    3. register_nav_menu()
    4. create_custom_menu()

  • Explain the difference between GET and POST methods in PHP. When would you use each?
  • What is the purpose of the echo and print functions in PHP, and how do they differ in their usage?
  • What is a PHP variable, and how do you declare and use variables in PHP?
  • What is SQL injection, and how can you prevent it when working with PHP and databases?
  • Describe the process of securing a PHP application. What are some best practices for improving PHP application security?

  • Explain the difference between actions and filters in WordPress plugin development.
  • When should you use action hooks, and when should you use filter hooks in a WordPress plugin? Can you provide examples of each?
  • What is the purpose of the WordPress options API, and how can you store and retrieve plugin settings using this API?
  • How do you enqueue scripts and styles in a WordPress plugin, and why is it important to do so properly?
  • How can you debug and troubleshoot issues in a WordPress plugin? What tools and techniques do you use?

File Note

These sample questions provided here are for interviewing early-experience talents. For more customized assessments for candidates with higher experience, you can contact our team at contact@hackerearth.com. or request a demo here.

Guidelines for Writing Job Description for Wordpress Developers

Job title

Begin with a clear and concise job title that reflects the role, such as "Wordpress Engineer", "Wordpress Web Developer", and "Wordpress Theme Developer". Writing these clearly can help you find Wordpress developer whose skillset aligns with the role you are looking for.

Job summary

While writing the Wordpress developer job description, include a brief overview of the position, focusing on the essential responsibilities and objectives. Describe the main aspects of the role and how it contributes to the company's goals. Including a summary in the Wordpress developer job description can provide candidates with an overview of the role they are applying for.

Responsibilities

Outline the specific tasks and responsibilities that the Wordpress developer will be expected to handle. This may include:

  • Designing and developing websites or web applications using WordPress
  • Creating custom WordPress themes from scratch or modifying existing ones
  • Building and customizing WordPress plugins to add specific functionality
  • Developing responsive and user-friendly website layouts
  • Integrating WordPress with other technologies and APIs
  • Ensuring website security through best practices and plugins

It's an important part of the Wordpress developer job description. These key points will help developers understand the job requirements.

Skills and qualifications

List the essential Wordpress developer skills and qualifications that candidates must possess, including, but not restricted to:

  • In-depth knowledge of the WordPress CMS, including theme and plugin development, customization, and administration
  • Strong proficiency in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP, which are fundamental for WordPress development
  • Ability to create custom WordPress themes from scratch or modify existing ones
  • Experience in building and customizing WordPress plugins to add specific features and functionality
  • Understanding of responsive web design principles for creating websites that work well on various devices and screen sizes
  • Knowledge of database management, particularly MySQL, which is used by WordPress

Mentioning the required Wordpress developer skills can help candidates understand the role they are applying for. As a result you can find and hire Wordpress with the right skillset.

Preferred skills

Mention any additional Wordpress developer skills or qualifications that would be beneficial but not mandatory for the role. It might attract candidates with broader skillset and thus help you hire Wordpress developer with exceptional skills. You can also ask for experience with specific tools, libraries, or frameworks.

Education and experience

In the Wordpress Developer job description, you should also specify the educational background and professional experience required for the position. This could range from a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field to several years of relevant experience. Mentioning these prerequisites can help you filter out the candidates beforehand. And thus help you hire Wordpress developer with qualifications you are looking for.

Company culture and EVPs

Briefly highlight your company's culture, values, and any unique perks or benefits offered to employees that can help attract candidates who align with your company's ethos. Sharing your company's core values can attract more candidates because they can already see a glimpse of how things work. It's also a good opportunity to pique the applicant's interest in your company.

Application instructions

Provide instructions on how candidates can apply for the position. Include where to send their resume, portfolio, or other required documents. Also, specify the deadline for applications, if applicable. It's another crucial point to be included in the Wordpress developer job description.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Include a statement affirming that your company is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.

Lightbulb Pro tip

You can incorporate gender-neutral pronouns like 'they/them' to promote an inclusive workplace. Additionally, it's beneficial to align your developer personas with your job profiles before advertising an open position. This approach ensures that your job descriptions resonate with a diverse range of candidates.

Download our guide for writing better developer personas

How to Conduct Wordpress Developer Job Interview

Skill-first hiring requires that the developer interview process be designed to understand the candidate’s skill and experience in the given domain. You can consider the following guidelines when conducting a face-to-face interview with a Wordpress Developer:

Conduct a real-time technical assessment

During the Wordpress developer hiring assessment, candidates are given a remote assessment. However, using the interview platform to assess skills in real time will tell you a lot about the candidate’s communication skills and thought process.

FaceCode is HackerEarth’s flagship tech interview platform with a built-in question library you can use to test the candidate’s knowledge of Wordpress and Web development. The built-in IDE environment can be used for assessing their ability to write clean, efficient, and maintainable code. You can also use the pair-programming method to observe their problem-solving approach, logical thinking, and attention to detail.

Learn how Facecode can make tech interviews easier

Understand the candidate’s project experience and review the portfolio

During the Wordpress developer interview assessment, explore the candidate's past and present projects. Focus on their personal contributions and the skills they used. Ask them to discuss a Wordpress project, detailing their responsibilities, problem-solving, and collaboration. If available, review their portfolio or code samples for coding style, documentation, and project quality.

Understand if they are a good culture and team fit

Another crucial aspect to check during the Wordpress developer interview assessment is if they align with your organization's values. While technical skills are essential for a developer, the significance of cultural fit should not be overlooked. The ideal candidate must possess not only accurate coding abilities but also effective communication and collaboration skills to thrive in agile and collaborative environments. Evaluating a candidate's capability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team is crucial. This assessment provides valuable insights into the candidate's problem-solving skills, communication, and adaptability, helping to determine their fit for the role and the team dynamics.

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FAQs

Look for candidates with strong foundation in web development and expertise specifically in WordPress. Key qualifications to consider include a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, and proven experience with WordPress theme and plugin development. Proficiency in HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript, knowledge of responsive web design, SEO best practices, and the ability to troubleshoot and debug issues effectively are also essential.

Additionally, a portfolio showcasing previous WordPress projects can make the developer stand out. Always remember to prioritize skills over degrees or any kind of certificates that the candidates might have.

While having experience in all the necessary tools and technologies is ideal, it may not always be feasible or required for every WordPress developer position. The specific requirements should depend on the nature of the job and the project's complexity.

Flexibility and a willingness to stay updated with evolving technologies are often just as important as having a comprehensive skill set. Assess the job's specific demands and consider the candidate's ability to learn and adapt when deciding whether expertise in all tools is necessary.

A WordPress engineer should be proficient in HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript. They should have a deep understanding of WordPress core functionality, theme and plugin development, and be able to customize and extend WordPress to meet specific project requirements.

Additionally, strong problem-solving skills, knowledge of databases, SEO best practices, and responsive web design principles are essential. Effective communication, teamwork, and the ability to collaborate are also crucial.

Start by reviewing their portfolio of previous work. Ask the candidate to walk you through specific projects, discussing their role, challenges faced, and the solutions they implemented. Inquire about their experience with project management tools like Trello or Jira and version control systems like Git. Present an issue or task relevant to your project and ask how they would approach it.

Furthermore, consider giving a small practical test or coding challenge to evaluate their problem-solving skills and coding proficiency. Lastly, contact their references to gain insights into their project collaboration, and overall performance.

The requirement for WordPress developer skills can vary significantly across different job roles within the web development and digital marketing fields. For a Front-End Developer, proficiency in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and the ability to integrate WordPress themes is crucial. Back-End Developers need expertise in PHP, MySQL, and server-side scripting to create custom WordPress plugins. Web Designers may require a strong grasp of design principles, user experience (UX) design, and the ability to create visually appealing WordPress themes.

Content Managers often need basic WordPress skills to publish and manage content effectively. SEO Specialists should understand WordPress SEO plugins and on-page optimization techniques.