Top Prescreening Questions to Ask When Hiring a WordPress Developer

What is your Experience with Wordpress Development?

Experience plays a significant role in any professional field, and Wordpress development is no different. It's important to find out the duration the candidate has been working with Wordpress, the number of projects they have handled, and the nature of these projects. This will give you an insight into their level of expertise and the ability to handle projects similar to yours.

Can you Explain the Structure of the Wordpress Loop?

The Wordpress loop is a fundamental concept in Wordpress development. It's crucial that the developer understands its structure and how it works. This question helps assess the candidate's understanding of this essential core concept.

What are the Key Differences Between Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org?

The distinction between Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org often confuses many, but a proficient Wordpress developer should be able to explain the differences. Their response can indicate their understanding of the different hosting options available and which one suits your project best.

Can you Describe your Experience with PHP and MySQL?

Wordpress is built on PHP and MySQL, so having a solid understanding of these programming languages is crucial. Ask your candidate to describe their experience using these languages in their projects. This will give you an indication of their coding skills and their capability to customize your website.

How Comfortable are You with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript?

A proficient Wordpress developer should be comfortable working with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These languages are essential for designing, styling, and adding functionality to a website. A candidate's comfort level with these languages will indicate their ability to create a visually appealing and functional website.

Have You Ever Built a Custom Wordpress Plugin?

Custom plugins can add unique functionality to your website. If the developer has experience creating custom plugins, it indicates their ability to customize your website to meet your specific needs.

Do You Have Experience in Creating Responsive Web Designs?

In a world where mobile internet usage is skyrocketing, having a responsive website is a must. This question will help you assess the developer's understanding and experience in creating websites that look and function well on all devices.

Can you Explain how You Handle Wordpress Security Issues?

Security is a major concern for all website owners. A proficient Wordpress developer should have a proactive approach to security and be able to explain how they handle potential security issues.

Can You Discuss Your Experience with WooCommerce for Ecommerce Websites?

If you're planning to build an ecommerce website, then the developer's experience with WooCommerce, a popular ecommerce plugin for Wordpress, becomes crucial. Their response will provide insight into their ability to build a robust ecommerce platform for your business.

How Do You Approach Website Performance Optimization on Wordpress?

A slow-loading website can be detrimental to user experience and SEO ranking. Therefore, it's important to gauge the candidate's understanding and approach towards website performance optimization.

Can You Describe How You Have Used Wordpress Hooks in the Past?

Hooks are essential for modifying the default behavior of Wordpress. By asking this question, you can assess the developer's understanding and experience in customizing Wordpress functionality using hooks.

Do You Have Experience with any Wordpress Page Builders like Elementor or Divi?

Page builders like Elementor and Divi can dramatically simplify the process of designing a website. If the developer has experience with these tools, it can be a beneficial asset for your project.

Do You Have Experience in Converting PSD Files to Wordpress Themes?

This question is particularly relevant if you have a specific design in mind for your website. If the developer has experience converting PSD files into Wordpress themes, it signifies their ability to bring your vision to life.

Can You Explain the Process of Migrating a Wordpress Website to a New Host?

At some point, you may need to migrate your website to a new host. A developer who can confidently explain the migration process will be better equipped to handle this potentially tricky task.

Do You Have Experience with Multisite in Wordpress?

If you're planning to manage multiple websites from a single Wordpress installation, then the developer's experience with Wordpress multisite becomes crucial. Their response will provide insight into their ability to handle such a setup.

Have You Ever Used Advanced Custom Fields in Wordpress?

Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) is a powerful tool that allows developers to add custom fields to their websites. It's an important skill for a Wordpress developer, especially if your website requires custom data.

What are the Important Factors to Consider for SEO in Wordpress?

SEO is critical for improving your website's visibility on search engines. A developer well-versed in SEO principles can optimize your website for better search engine rankings.

Do You Have Experience with any Version Control Systems like Git?

Version control systems like Git are essential tools for managing changes and collaborating on code. If the developer is familiar with such systems, it can streamline the development process.

How Do You Ensure a Wordpress Site is Accessible to All Users?

Website accessibility ensures that everyone, including people with disabilities, can use your website. A developer who understands accessibility principles can create a website that caters to all users.

Have You Ever Worked with Wordpress REST API?

The Wordpress REST API allows developers to interact with your website's data in new and innovative ways. If your project requires complex data interactions, this experience could be especially valuable.