An In-Depth Guide To Hiring React Native Developers

While it is said that every successful business starts with an idea, what they do not mention is the fact that those same ideas have to be implemented flawlessly to get the desired results. The concept resonates more within the software development industry because only a functional and responsive application can get users’ attention. 

Speaking of responsive applications, React Native has always been the most favored choice among developers. If we go by numbers, 42% of total developers worldwide prefer to build native-like mobile apps using React Native. 

Some of the most successful implementations of React Native applications include Bloomberg, Facebook, Airbnb, Uber Eats, Instagram, Discord, and many more. The apps owe their success to this cross-platform framework’s development cost, speed, high-performance solutions, and endless possibilities of creating a rich user interface. 

But simply choosing React Native as your preferred platform does not guarantee the success of your application. After all, it is the developer who would be in charge of shaping your dream project. And, if you’re planning to hire a React Native developer, some questions are bound to occur, for example, 

• How do we choose the right React Native developer?
• How many years of experience should they have?
• What skill sets must they possess?

Keeping some of these questions in mind, we’ve created this quick reference article. So let us start addressing such questions and help you better understand when it comes to hiring React Native developers. 

One of the primary responsibilities we expect from every developer is to write clean codes for obtaining the smooth performance of an application. But, being skilled enough to write clean code is not enough. Irrespective of the experience a React Native developer might possess, a list of responsibilities must be laid out for prospective developers to understand what would be expected from them while developing a mobile app. 

Here is a list of some basic responsibilities of a React Native developer.

• Create seamless native-like UI for Android and iOS mobile platforms.
• Translating client requirements into clean, reliable, and maintainable codes.
• Monitoring performance gaps and identifying errors in user experience before they appear.
• Conducting automated tests and performance checks to maintain application quality. 
• Flexibility in employing native APIs for integrating external tools and libraries across cross-platform apps.
• Adhering to the full-stack development process laid out as per company standards and expectations.

Technical knowledge and experience are the primary factors that determine if a developer is proficient enough with React Native. Now that you have some idea about the basic responsibilities of a React Native developer, it’s time to focus on the necessary skills they must possess.

JavaScript is the fundamental language based on which React Native functions for creating cross-platform mobile applications. Developers must have knowledge and proficiency of JavaScript ES6 and later, including its features and enhancements. The skills and domain experience of JavaScript opens up the possibility to build interactive UI components and structuring application logic at an infrastructural level.

Familiarity with React Native framework is one of the key prerequisites to look for while hiring a developing expert. Fundamental concepts like Virtual DOM, JSX, and component lifecycle are like the ABCs of React Native that enhance the User-Interface (UI) and application performance. In addition to that, developers should have a sound understanding of the basics such as customizing and handling the props and state of a React component. The list goes on but possessing the basic knowledge beforehand will help them undergo a steady onboarding and training catered to your project.

Writing clean and understandable code is the foundation for any mobile development process. While potential developers might undoubtedly have the skills to write codes for the application, they must be fully aware of how different classes of codes interact with each other. Developers must strive to add consistent operations to their mobile applications, and it can only be achieved through functional codes. Moreover, monitoring and maintaining application changes at scale can be accomplished only if the React Native developer has the ability to write readable codes. 

If you take this trait lightly, you might end up paying through your nose to handle errors and maintenance when the developer ends up writing inconsistent codes. However, mock tests can be conducted for junior and middle-level developers to identify if they can handle React Native-based fragments and events while writing codes.

Familiarity with adjacent technologies is of potential advantage as it gives developers the ability to create scalable mobile apps that can function with other frameworks when needed. State management libraries like Redux, and MobX, offer operational control over the application logic, making apps run as per expectations. Other tools like Enzyme, Hockeyapp, Bower, Gulp, etc., can make performance testing and full-stack development processes quicker. While junior developers might only have an idea or theoretical knowledge of these tools, companies can gain an advantage if they have practical exposure to its usage.

One of the advantages of the React Native framework is that it provides a single codebase for both Android and iOS platforms, eliminating the need to develop native applications separately. But, it is always beneficial to hire a developer who has experience in at least one or both platforms to meet changing requirements. A candidate with experience in building mobile apps for different platforms would have practical exposure and an analytical mindset to deal with native-app-related issues. A middle or senior-level React Native developer with hands-on experience with native frameworks like Objective C, Swift, or Andriod Studio would have sufficient knowledge about the intricacies of different platforms.

Application debugging and testing is a periodical task during and post-production that requires special attention. Developers must possess the ability to conduct different variations in testing to ensure that the mobile app does not fail. This is because even the slightest glitch can create a negative impression amongst users and for your business growth. Familiarity with type checking and unit testing tools like Jest, TypeScript, Prop Types, Flow, etc., are considered mandatory for performing the necessary tests. 

Potential developers should be able to perform automated tests, indicating their ability to predict application errors. Every testing aspect like security checks, logging, and performance checks are basic activities that a developer must be able to perform.

Performance tuning and optimization are critical skills a developer should have to achieve maximum app performance with optimal resource utilization. While no developer would destabilize application performance on purpose, it is all a part of experience and knowledge that allows them to optimize the codes smartly. 

A developer who possesses this skill can improve the application speed, loading time, interactivity, and smooth performance irrespective of the user’s device and platform globally. Companies looking for skilled developers who possess optimization talents should look for traits such as handling navigator UI transitions, managing UI drops to reduce animation size, and so on.

Delivering a unique user experience through a customized user interface and widgets is the ultimate goal for any good mobile app development project. Such customizations usually involve integrating system resources like the camera, GPS, gyroscope, speakers, and other hardware/ software features. Even though complex in nature, incorporating system resources or platform-specific elements has become part and parcel of every application which provides better accessibility. 

Needless to say, there are various complexities involved when hardware features are incorporated into an application. Therefore, to grasp the prospective developer’s ability, the hiring manager can closely look if the applicant has worked on multiple platforms and the level of sophisticated development they can handle.

One of the advantages of using React Native as a cross-platform framework is that it easily allows third-party tools to be integrated with native features. External API integration enables applications to improve in terms of functionality, accessibility, and rapid updates deployment. In addition, it helps to add premade plugins and widgets instead of building elements from scratch.

Integrating third-party APIs is not as simple as using them. It has to be constantly updated and monitored to look for dependency related-issues within the application. A company looking forward to integrating third-party API services should look for developers who are willing to go beyond their comfort zone to find solutions for effective integration at the fastest rate possible.

While this might not fall exactly under the hard technical skills of a React Native developer, their adaptability, willingness to learn, and community engagement would play a pivotal role for the company. A good developer is not only known for their skills but the willingness to adapt to changing demands and environments. The growing digital market is bound to expand, evolve, and change with time, and new styles, coding, designs, or functions have to be accommodated into the app.

Furthermore, the desire to adapt to changing demands would naturally arrive with the desire to gain more knowledge and expand their skill sets. We all know how quickly trends change, and each new trend comes with new updated technology or a tech stack. Therefore, a flexible learning curve of the developer allows the space for personal growth, which would eventually reflect on the company.

An eager and adaptable developer can always be identified through their traits when they showcase their extracurricular activities or portfolio that indicates diversified exposure towards mobile app development. Be it a junior, middle, or senior React Native developer, asking them about their future goals for the development community and the future of technology will always bring forth the appropriate candidate for the job.