How To Hire A Rails Developer

Rails has significantly simplified web application development. It excels in handling complex business logic and database interactions. Its convention-over-configuration approach eliminates the need for developers to make countless decisions about the structure of their codebase. This enables them to focus more on solving unique business problems.

Rails Developers can build applications with user authentication and authorization, payment processing, data visualization, and real-time updates. They can also use it to create dynamic and interactive websites, e-commerce platforms, and more. This framework was born out of the need for productivity and speed. Compared to other languages and frameworks, it stands out for its elegant syntax and emphasis on developer happiness.

Rails Developers: Why are they needed?

Rails developers are in demand due to their proficiency in building web applications efficiently and effectively. Their expertise in the Ruby on Rails framework allows them to create feature-rich and scalable applications while adhering to best practices in software development.

Numerous industries benefit from the skills of Rails developers. The tech industry itself sees a high demand for their services, with startups like Basecamp and GitHub relying on Rails for their foundational products.

Skills required

  • Ruby
  • Ruby on Rails framework
  • RESTful API concepts
  • Database management
  • MVC (Model-View-Controller)
  • Debugging

Job titles

  • Ruby on Rails Developer
  • Rails Software Engineer
  • Ruby Developer
  • Web Developer (Ruby on Rails)
  • Back-End Rails Engineer
  • Full Stack Developer (with expertise in Ruby on Rails)

How to Search for Rails Developers

LinkedIn

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


While searching on Google, use Boolean operators like "AND," "OR," and "NOT" to refine your search. For example,


site:linkedin.com "Rails Developer" AND "Ruby" AND "Rails"


will show results related to Rails developers with experience in both Ruby and Rails.


Some of the most popular LinkedIn communities where you can find Rails developers are Ruby on Rails, Ruby on Rails Outsourcing, Ruby on Rails (ROR), Ruby and RubyOnRails, and Ruby Jobs. These communities will make it easier for you to find good developer portfolios.

Online job boards

To hire Ruby on Rails developer, post job openings on Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn, Naukri, 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 Ruby on Rails developer who matches your specific job requirements.

Developer communities and forums

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

Tech conferences and meetups

Attend Ruby on Rails and related community events to network with talented developers. Search for the upcoming regional or global conferences online.

HackerEarth hiring challenges

Sponsor online coding challenges to find competitive developers. For instance, Sedin partnered with HackerEarth to run the Ruby on Rails Developer Hiring Challenge to hire skilled Ruby on Rails Developer. These events often attract very talented individuals and thus can help you hire individuals with good Ruby on Rails developer skills.

Open source communities

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

Online learning platforms

Connect with active Ruby on Rails or similar course members on learning platforms like Udemy and Coursera. These platforms validate Ruby on Rails skills, aiding in targeted hiring. By actively examining the learners you can find and hire Ruby on Rails developer with the skills aligning your organization.

Local universities and coding boot camps

Local universities and coding boot camps cultivate Ruby on Rails talent, streamlining the hiring process. Internship programs offer firsthand experience, aiding strategic hiring decisions. Collaborating with career services ensures direct access to a pool of talented individuals. And hence help you hire a Ruby developer who has practical skills.

Social media channels

To find Ruby on Rails developer, you can also use social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook to post job openings or project requirements. Engage with Rails Developer communities online. For example, WNB.rb is a virtual community for women and non-binary Ruby enthusiasts. You can also join a Ruby on Rails community on Slack with more than twenty thousand devs.

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 Ruby on Rails communities, including r/rubyonrails, r/rails, r/ruby, r/LearnRubyonRails, etc. You can also join the Ruby on Rails-related Discord servers such as Ruby on Rails and directly interact with the devs.

Ruby on Rails Developer Assessment

The most common assessment framework for Rails 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 are instrumental in the process to hire Ruby on Rails developer with the right skillset. By presenting candidates with specific coding challenges aligned with Rails development, you can assess their proficiency, problem-solving skills, and adherence to Rails conventions. Integrating code completion tasks into the hiring process enables recruiters to make informed decisions when looking to hire Ruby on Rails developer who can contribute effectively to projects.

Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)

MCQs are also a good way to assess a developer's technical knowledge of Ruby on Rails concepts. You can choose to include these questions in the Ruby on Rails developer hiring assessment. They can help in evaluating a developer's understanding of Rails fundamentals.

Project-specific questions

You can also add questions that are specifically tailored to the project requirements. These questions can range from relevant tools required during the project to code completion tasks. It will aid you in finding the right candidates with the Ruby on Rails developer skills that the project demands.

Language-specific questions

These questions will help assess a candidate's overall knowledge of Ruby on Rails, its main features, and why it's favored in web development. You can also delve into architectural concepts, such as the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, and ask how Rails implements and enforces this separation of concerns. Add questions of routing, including how to define routes and why they are crucial for handling HTTP requests effectively.

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Sample Questions to Ask a Rails Developer

  • In a given array of Integer values, find all the duplicated numbers.
  • Create a Rails controller action for editing a post. Include the code that finds the post by its id and renders an edit form.
  • In the view template for displaying an individual post, write the code to display the post's title and content.
  • Write a brief code snippet to outline the steps involved in implementing user sign-up functionality in a Rails application.
  • Create a code snippet that demonstrates how to create a form in a Rails view template for creating a new post.

  • Which of the following best describes the purpose of a Rails migration?
    1. Running unit tests
    2. Seeding the database with initial data
    3. Managing database schema changes over time
    4. Creating HTML templates

  • Which Rails gem is commonly used for handling user authentication?
    1. rails-auth
    2. authentic-gem
    3. devise
    4. user-access

  • In the context of Rails, what is a "partial"?
    1. A private method in a controller

  • What is the View's responsibility in a Ruby on Rails application?
  • How does MVC promote separation of concerns in an application?
  • What is the purpose of data binding in the context of MVC?
  • Can the MVC pattern be used in desktop or mobile application development, or is it specific to web development?

  • Explain the principle of duck typing.
  • What is a Ruby method, and how do you define one?
  • What is a symbol, and how is it different from a string?
  • Explain the concept of blocks.

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 Rails Developers

Job title

In the Ruby on Rails developer job description, you should include a clear and concise job title that reflects the role, such as "Ruby Developer", "Rails Software Engineer”, “Ruby on Rails Engineer”, or “Ruby on Rails Specialist”. Writing these clearly can help you find Ruby on Rails developer whose skillset aligns with the role you are looking for.

Job summary

In order to hire Ruby on Rails programmer, provide 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. Adding a summary to the Ruby on Rails developer job description can give candidates an overview of the role.

Responsibilities

You should also outline the specific tasks and responsibilities that the Rails developer will be expected to handle. For example, you can include the following in your Ruby on Rails developer job description:

  • Designing and implementing robust, maintainable, and efficient Ruby on Rails applications.
  • Developing and maintaining the backend logic, including the Model-View-Controller (MVC) components.
  • Implementing authentication and authorization mechanisms for user access control.
  • Debugging and troubleshooting issues, identifying and resolving bugs promptly.
  • Deploying and maintaining Rails applications on production servers and cloud platforms.

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

Skills and qualifications

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

  • Proficiency in Ruby programming language
  • Strong expertise in Ruby on Rails framework
  • Database management skills (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL)
  • Testing knowledge (RSpec, TDD)
  • Deployment and server management experience

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

Preferred skills

Mention any additional Ruby on Rails 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 Ruby on Rails programmer with exceptional skills. You can also ask for experience with specific tools, libraries, or domains.

Education and experience

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 Ruby developer with qualifications you are looking for.

Company culture and EVPs

To hire Ruby developer whose values align with your company, you should briefly highlight your company's culture, and any unique perks or benefits offered to employees. It 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 details such as 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 Ruby on Rails 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 Rails 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 Rails developer:

Conduct a real-time technical assessment

The interviewee would most likely have completed a take-home assessment before the interview. 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 - skills that are not evident in an assessment.

FaceCode is HackerEarth’s flagship tech interview platform with a built-in question library you can use to test the candidate’s knowledge of important concepts they claim to be familiar with. 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 portfolio

During the Ruby on Rails developer hiring assessment, ask the candidate about their past or current projects. Find out about their work experience and how they contributed to those projects, focusing on the skills needed for the job. Have them explain a project they did using Rails, describing what they did and their responsibilities. Before you hire a developer, you should also check their portfolio or code samples to analyze their codes and projects.

Understand if they are a good culture and team fit

Another crucial aspect to check during the Ruby on Rails 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 to be hired as a Rails developer 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

When hiring a Rails developer, you should look for a strong foundation in Ruby on Rails, including a deep understanding of the framework's MVC architecture, routing, and database modeling with ActiveRecord. They should also have experience building and deploying production-ready applications. A solid grasp of web development principles is a plus.

It's also essential to look for candidates who are skilled in writing clean, maintainable, and well-tested code, and who are familiar with testing frameworks.

Rails framework is the core of Rails development. Therefore, you should focus on candidates with a strong foundation in Ruby on Rails. Expertise in Rails encompasses key aspects such as MVC architecture, routing, and database modeling with ActiveRecord. Proficiency in other tools and frameworks, like PostgreSQL, and testing frameworks (RSpec, MiniTest) can also add versatility and value.

A proficient Ruby developer is well-versed in the Ruby programming language and the Ruby on Rails framework. They possess strong problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities. They have a deep understanding of object-oriented programming principles and can leverage them to create modular and scalable software solutions.

Additionally, they are skilled in database management, version control systems like Git, and have experience with web development best practices.

One effective way to assess a candidate is to request their portfolio showcasing previous projects. It will help you in understanding their roles, challenges faced, and solutions implemented.

Additionally, you might ask them to describe a challenging project they've worked on, discuss the technologies used, and explain how they approached problem-solving and collaboration with their team. It will allow you to evaluate their project management, problem-solving, and technical expertise in a real-world context.

Rails software engineers are employed across various industries to develop web applications efficiently. They are particularly prominent in e-commerce for building online marketplaces, in healthcare for managing patient data and compliance, and in fintech for financial applications and payment processing. Rails is also a preferred choice for SaaS providers, enabling the creation of subscription-based services, and it plays a role in developing social networking and community-based websites.