</>Unicorns, Goblins, and WizardsOr in other words… Developers, Managers, and the Staffing Firms that bring them all together

Who am I? In the web industry as a full-time professional

since 2002 (holy cow… that’s 15 years)

Currently VP, Team Lead of the Sparta Web

Tools Platform team at Bank of America

Previously Developer Advocate, Front-End

Architect, Development Team Manager,

Senior Developer at Ally Financial

Spent a short time traveling as Senior Trainer

for appendTo, LLC.

Freelanced full-time for 8 years (2002-2010)

</>

</>I’ve been part of the hiring process of front-end developers for the last several years.

I have experienced some of the same challenges you face finding good people.

Why are we doing this?

1. On-going, non-stop talent crisis #dramainthelbc

2. Role confusion in the Front-End space

3. Happier and more successful clients and consultants

</>

So let’s look at ways you can…

1. Spot a talented - and not-so-talented – Front-End Developer

2. Help hiring managers and leads narrow their focus

3. Help your consultants prepare for the interview and role

</>

</>

WHAT’S UP WITH THIS “CAN’T FIND A DEVELOPER” STUFF?

The problems are a few…

1. Statistically, the problem is real - Bureau of Labor Statistics

projects 1.4 million positions with only 100,000 CS grads

2. Front-End Developers are mostly self-taught

3. Developers often avoid recruiters like the plague

</>

The problems are a few…

1. Statistically, the problem is real - Bureau of Labor Statistics

projects 1.4 million positions with only 100,000 CS grads

2. Front-End Developers are mostly self-taught

3. Developers often avoid recruiters like the plague

</>

</>The problem with developers being self-taught is that finding the qualified – and right – one becomes a huge challenge.

Why is that?

“[…] front end development, like any specialized trade or spectator sport, is a lot harder than it looks. It isn’t until you’ve dipped your toes in it that you realize just how turbulent the waters are.”

– Ilias Ismanalijev

</>

https://medium.com/creative-business/why-is-it-so-hard-to-find-a-front-end-developer-cb92848a7c6f

Why is that?

“ We failed to update our message of a usable and

maintainable web to be relevant to the current market

and a new generation of developers.”

– Christian Heilmann

</>

https://www.christianheilmann.com/2016/10/14/we-need-javascript-to-fix-the-web/

</>So how can you spot a talented – and not-so-talented –front-end developer?

</>

“Tech” they should be aware of…

BUZZ BUZZ

BUZZHTML• Web Standards and Semantic HTML• Templating languages (Handlebars, EJS, Jade, Nunjucks, etc)• UX and how code interacts with a consumer

CSS• Sass, Less (CSS Pre-processors & PostCSS)• Browser compatibility• Responsive Web Design

JavaScript• Vanilla JavaScript (not jQuery)• JS application experience (Angular, React, Ember, etc)• Build tools and workflow (Git, Webpack, Gulp, Grunt, etc)• Unit Testing (Jasmine, Mocha, Chai, Jest)

</>

The way code looks can tell you a lot…

</>

Files can also tell their own story…

Get them talking…

For many – if not most – of the roles you are filling, you need engineers who are passionate about the web.

• Recent technical challenge they overcame?

• How about an achievement?

• How do they stay current? If Twitter, who do they follow? If RSS feeds, which service and which blogs? If newsletters, which one’s?

• What are they interested in learning in 2017?</>

</>

“Soft Skills”go way further than anyone will let on.

</>Now that we have a few new tools for spotting our unicorns, let’s talk about those “roles”

Role Confusion

Front-End Developer

Front-End Engineer

Front-End Architect

Angular Rockstar

UI Engineer

Web Designer

</>

Role Confusion

</>

“A front-end web developer is generally expected to:

• Develop functional and appealing web- and mobile-based applications based on usability

• Provide website maintenance and enhancements• Use a combination of markup languages to write

web pages• Write functional requirement documents and

specifications• Create quality mockups and prototypes on tight

timelines• Assist back-end developers with coding and

troubleshooting• Create cascading style sheets (CSS) that are

consistent across all browsers and platforms• Maintain graphic standards and branding

throughout the product’s interface• Stay up-to-date on emerging technologies• Promote usability best practices”

https://www.roberthalf.com/creativegroup/blog/hot-job-front-end-web-developer

Role confusion creates churn

This very description of a “Front-End Developer” often leaves

the hiring process in a state of churn:

• Interviews not specific to need

• Job descriptions not matching actual requirements

• Poor interview and hiring programs

</>

</>First things first.

We all need to understand…

</>NOT EVERYONEIS A UNICORNAnd that’s okay.

Focusing the role

As someone who has been part of the hiring process in

multiple companies, Managers and Leads need your help.

• Ask questions to get to the heart of the need.

• Review the job description with them.

• Determine just how “Senior” the candidate needs to be.

• Dig into the interview process. </>

Okay, before we move on…

Java is to JavaScript

as

Cup is toCupcake</>

</>Last piece…A few notes on prepping your consultant for the interview(s)

Prepping for the phone screen…

The phone screen will either make or break your consultant.

These tips can help make it successful:

1. Stay calm, take time to think through

2. Practice talking through answers to fundamentals

3. Be smart enough to say “I don’t know”. We know.

4. Ask questions. Workflow? Team? Culture? Snacks? Anything!

</>

Prepping for the interview…

Technical interviews are intimidating. These tips can help your

consultant be in the best place for success:

1. Take your time. Think.

2. Practice a 2-3 minute “this is who I am and who I want to be”

3. Code challenges and you’re stuck? Ask if you can Google.

4. Talk through the problems.

5. Ask questions (different than your phone screen)! </>

</>Finding a talented front-end developer who is passionate about growing their skill can be a significant challenge.

Hopefully these ideas will help make that challenge a little easier.

@vernonk

Devs ‘R Us

Thank you!Any questions?