Laravel, the popular PHP framework, has become a favourite amongst many businesses for its robust features, elegant syntax, and thriving community. So, even you might be confident in hiring dedicated Laravel developers.
However, finding the right Laravel developer for your project can be tricky. With many candidates boasting proficiency, how do you select the best prospect for your needs?
Well, the answer is simple. You need to evaluate the skillset and proficiency of these programmers. This guide will equip you with vital information to carefully assess and choose the best professionals.
First, Understand the Traits of Good Laravel Developers
In today’s dynamic tech landscape, a successful Laravel developer should be more than just a technical professional. Such a programmer should possess a blend of technical and soft skills.
Here’s a quick look at the core traits.
Technical Expertise
Good Laravel developers are skilled in using PHP and deeply understand concepts like Eloquent, Blade, and Artisan.
In addition, professionals who continuously learn possess Cloud expertise and API integration skills.
Problem-Solving Attitude
Efficient developers thrive on challenges. They are well-versed in tackling technical hurdles with an analytical mindset and practical solutions.
Furthermore, good Laravel developers take live coding tests and have a project portfolio to showcase their knowledge.
Skills Beyond Coding
Communication is one of the vital facets of good Laravel developers. These professionals can articulate ideas clearly, actively listen, and seamlessly collaborate within teams.
In addition, time management and a desire to learn new concepts are good traits of result-focused Laravel developers.
Project-Centric Approach
The best Laravel developers tailor their skills to your project’s needs.
For instance, security-focused projects demand robust cyber safety practices. On the other hand, complex projects require a decent level of practical experience.
So, reliable Laravel developers understand the tactic of varying the level of effort for different tasks.
Skill Assessment of Laravel Developers
Even if you have a non-technical background, it can be possible to evaluate the skills of dedicated Laravel developers. Refer to the points in this section to get a decent idea.
1. Check the Fundamentals
Start with the basics. Ask about the knowledge of a dedicated Laravel developer about PHP foundation. Can they explain data types, classes, and error handling? If they can, the basics are straightforward.
Next, you should dive into the Laravel framework. Do they understand Eloquent, Blade, routing, and middleware? Can they discuss security best practices? If you feel they answer these questions correctly, you can proceed.
Finally, don’t forget the front-end concepts. While Laravel focuses on the back end, basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript knowledge ensures smooth user interfaces. So, gauge the technical proficiency through such topics.
2. Evaluate Real-world Solutions
Before hiring, you should understand whether a dedicated Laravel developer can provide practical solutions.
For this purpose, you can request a recent portfolio showcasing past Laravel projects, ideally similar to yours in scope and complexity. Also, presenting technical scenarios and evaluating their thought process, analytical skills, and proposed solutions proves helpful.
If hiring independent freelancers, consider live coding challenges or code reviews to assess their coding style, efficiency, and adherence to best practices.
3. Gauge the Soft Skills
Communication is vital for efficient software development. So, before hiring Laravel developers, you should assess whether they can clearly explain technical concepts and actively listen to your needs.
Furthermore, you should also find out if they are organized and can meet deadlines while prioritizing tasks efficiently. This observation is possible by connecting with previous clients or reading testimonials.
Remember, a curious developer is passionate about exploring new technologies. So, such a Laravel programmer can become your valuable asset.
4. Focus on Your Hiring Approach
You should prioritize skills relevant to your project. Also, team dynamics is another vital aspect to prioritize. Consider how the developer fits your team culture and communication style.
Be upfront about your budget and preferred location (remote, onshore, offshore) to attract suitable candidates. Addressing all these pointers can help you make an informed and correct decision before the final hiring phase.
Evaluating Dedicated Laravel Developers: A Handy Table
You can utilize this table as a thorough assessment tool for gauging the proficiency of potential candidates.
| Skill Category | Skill | Description | Assessment Method |
| Core Technical Skills | PHP Foundation | Proficiency in Eloquent ORM, Blade templating, Artisan CLI, routing, middleware, and security practices. | Theoretical questions, code review. |
| Laravel Framework Mastery | Clear and concise communication, active listening, and effective teamwork. | Technical interview, coding challenge, portfolio review. | |
| Front-End Proficiency | Basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for building dynamic interfaces. | Portfolio review, live coding challenge. | |
| API Integration | Clear and concise communication, listening, and effective teamwork. | Technical interview, portfolio review. | |
| Cloud Expertise | Familiarity with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or DigitalOcean for scaling and managing applications. | Technical interview, portfolio review. | |
| Advanced Functionality | Package & Ecosystem Knowledge | Experience with popular Laravel packages and the broader ecosystem to solve specific problems. | Technical interview, portfolio review. |
| Security Practices | Understanding of Laravel security best practices and ability to implement secure coding principles. | Technical interview, code review. | |
| Performance Optimization | Experience with techniques to optimize Laravel application performance. | Technical interview, portfolio review. | |
| Testing & Debugging | Knowledge of unit testing frameworks and debugging techniques for Laravel applications. | Technical interview, code review. | |
| Soft Skills | Communication & Collaboration | Experience integrating various APIs (RESTful, SOAP) for data exchange and expanded functionality. | Interview, references. |
| Time Management & Organization | Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize tasks, and stay organized. | Interview, references. | |
| Learning & Adaptability | Eagerness to learn new technologies and willingness to adapt to changing requirements. | Interview, references, portfolio review. |
Wrapping Up
A skilful Laravel developer is not just a technical geek. Such a professional is also fluent in communication and can understand your team’s work culture.
So, before hiring Laravel developers, assess their skills on various fronts, such as technical expertise, problem-solving attitude, project-centric approach, and vision. It is crucial to check whether the developer has a good command of Laravel fundamentals.
In addition, you should also present real-world scenarios and scan the portfolio of potential prospects. Don’t forget to use the assessment table in this blog as a handy evaluation kit before hiring.
Most companies skip this assessment phase by partnering with a dependable IT vendor. Such outsourcing businesses have a team of dedicated Laravel developers who can assist you on a project basis or become a temporary part of your team through IT staff augmentation. So, suppose you also want to avoid the hassle of evaluating programmers. In that case, the decision to hire dedicated Laravel developers from a trusted IT company can prove profitable.
