Why (and when) you need killer HTML skills
Looking for a Web Developer, Front-End Developer or UI Engineer? Then you’re gonna need a candidate with A++ HTML skills.Â
Since HTML is technical stuff, you need proof your candidate knows what they’re talking about. Here’s how you test it:
- Ask candidates to complete an assignment using HTML.
- Ask candidates targeted HTML interview questions.
- During interviews, ask them to comment on existing HTML code or explain their HTML assignment via a presentation.
- For junior roles, ask basic questions to see if they get HTML, CSS and/or JavaScript.
HTML interview questions
Key questions
- What’s your HTML experience?
- Walk us through your assignment and explain the code you used.
- What’s your fave thing about HTML...?
- … and your least fave?
- What experience do you have with HTML, CSS and/or JavaScript?
- What templating languages have you used with HTML?
- What improvements would you make to the performance and user experience of our website?
- Is HTML validation part of your dev process? What do you pay attention to?
Tech questions
- What do we use semantic elements for? Do you have an example?
- What are the most awesome new elements in HTML5?
- How would you embed an audio and video file in an HTML doc?
- What’s the difference between <canvas> element and <svg>?</svg></canvas>
- What tag would you link to a CSS file and a JS file? Where would you place it and why?
- What does the <!DOCTYPE HTML> do? What happens if you don’t use it?
- How do you ace readability of HTML?
- Have you used custom data attributes?
- What are the empty elements and what are they used for?
- What’s the difference between standards mode and quirks mode?
- How can you get a user location with HTML5?
- Have you used HTML5 Web Storage?
- Why are Server-Side Events so awesome and how do you use them?
- Do you know about accessibility rules? Give an example.
- How would you load external fonts to your website? What’s the best practice performance-wise?
- Have you worked with svgs before? What’s so great about them? How do they differ from image files?
- What do you take into account for mobile versions? Do you use a ready framework for grid?
- What are your fave tools to check browser compatibility? What browsers are best to build websites?
What to look for
- They have potential: For senior roles, look for candidates who are comfortable making high-level decisions.
- Multiple skills: Look for candidates with wide experience using HTML in tandem with CSS and JavaScript.
What to avoidÂ
- They don’t know the basics: Candidates who don’t understand even the basics ain’t gonna cut it.Â
- They aren’t comfortable: Candidates should be comfortable answering knowledge questions and give logical answers to HTML exercises.
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Start optimizing your recruiting process today.
Start optimizing your recruiting process today.
