React Native brings together two important trends in software development: JavaScript and building mobile apps. The first one, the most popular programming language, is mostly recognized as a useful way to create websites, mostly their front-ends. React Native changes this perspective a bit, allowing JavaScript developers to build native-like mobile apps with their favorite language.
This allowed a number of experienced devs to adjust their career paths and start exploring the world of mobiles more.
But how to hire React Native developers who will really fit your project and make an app ranking high on App Store and Google Play? Here is our short guide full of useful tips.
The most important tech skills of great React Native developers
When working as a developer, a specific set of hard skills is obviously needed. When you look to hire a React Native developer, you should search especially for the following skills.
- Knowledge of JavaScript
As JS is the main programming language to work with when building a mobile app with React Native, expert knowledge of it is truly a must.
- Experience with both React Native and React
Before React Native, there was only React (for a long time known also as React.JS). Unlike its younger sibling, React is a JavaScript library useful when creating stunning websites or web apps. As React Native and React share a number of similarities, it would be great if your new hire has some experience with both technologies.
- Understanding of native technologies
While most of the code in React Native is written using JavaScript, sometimes using native technologies is also possible or even preferred. Because of this, your new React Native developer should also have some experience in native iOS (e.g. Swift) and Android (e.g. Kotlin) app development.
- Being familiar with design and UX good practices
React Native developers often build software dedicated to users who are not so tech-savvy. This means your app must have an intuitive interface that will be easily understandable by anyone. If you run an early-stage startup, you might want your engineering team to do the basic app design and UX work for you, so make sure your new hire understands the good practices in regards to these two areas.
- Awareness of tools useful for React Native app development
There are multiple tools that help developers organize their work and speed up the app-building process. When it comes to React Native, the list includes:
a) Expo - The perfect working environment for every React Native developer. Includes easy access to multiple useful APIs and ready-to-use components which significantly speed up the whole development process.
b) Visual Studio Code and Visual Studio App Center - Microsoft-run solutions for developers that cover nearly the whole process of app development, from writing code to debugging and analyzing to launching the final product.
c) Redux - JavaScript library with a React-dedicated version that helps with managing application state.
d) Bitrise - A popular solution among React Native developers when choosing tools for continuous integration and delivery.
e) Flow - Static type checker for React, developed by Facebook. Makes it easier to write code with fewer bugs.
f) Ignite - CLI (Command Line Interface) for React, including a huge number of useful boilerplates and plugins. Constantly updated.
Soft skills to look for when hiring React Native developers
When working on a mobile app, teamwork is essential. That’s why your new React Native developer, besides the technical knowledge, should also possess the following soft skills.
- Open for feedback
Nobody is perfect and this applies even to the most expert React Native developers. Learning from one’s mistakes and being able to honestly review the feedback received is crucial to successful teamwork. The ability to give feedback to others is, of course, also important.
- Adaptability
New software development tools are released all the time and trends change on a regular basis. That’s why adaptability in the industry is so important - if your devs are rather stagnant and tend to strictly stick to the technology they are already familiar with, your app may quickly become outdated and not meeting the current standards.
- Good time management
Bugs and other issues happen all the time during mobile app development. While Jira and other task management tools are helpful, the developers themselves should be able to prioritize specific features and set deadlines for their launch.
Hire React Native developers who understand your industry
Mobile apps can vary hugely from each other. While probably every professional React Native developer can ultimately build the app you want, one who is already experienced with your industry may do it simply faster and better. Because of this, we highly encourage you to review the candidate’s CV in regard to the similarity of their previous experience to what your company represents.
Working on an e-commerce solution? Find someone who has already worked on a shopping app or with platforms like Shopify.
Thinking about an app for tourists? Look for React Native developers who worked for a travel startup.
Joining the financial mobile revolution? Search for engineers coming from fintechs or banks.
Make sure your new React Native developer hire matches your company culture
Many developers don’t only care about the salary. Those truly experienced, who have been on the market for years, choose their next career step based also on other benefits. This often includes overall company culture as it highly determines how they feel at their workplace and how motivated they will be to come to the office every day.
But successful companies also look for a culture fit in their new hires. According to a report by the “Entrepreneur” magazine, at Zappos, a clothing retailer owned by Amazon, a separate culture company interview, done for each potential employee, significantly influences the final decision of the hiring team. Similar processes are also taking place at other companies worldwide.
What constitutes company culture? How employees interact with each other, what ways of improving their skills during work they have, the trust level between managers and those managed, the goal everyone strives for, and so much more. It’s not an easy way to assess your company culture and find another perfect match to join your team, but it’s definitely worth it, as you can end up with a person who will blend in from day one and stay with you for years to come.
How to check all of the above?
Review the CV and portfolio that your new potential React Native developer has delivered. Ask about all the apps they have contributed to, focusing on those that somehow match what you are planning to do with your own project. Reach out to the developer’s previous bosses (ask for references during the first interview).
Finally, ask a professional React Native developer (or an IT Project Manager with experience in RN) to run the technical interview with you. If you have just started to establish a team for your startup, use your contacts to find someone suitable to help you out.
Potential technical questions that a React Native developer should be asked are:
- Explain what are the differences between using native technologies (Swift/Kotlin/others) and React Native for mobile app development. What are the pros of using React Native and what are the cons?
- What is a code smell and how would you go about finding it while developing a React Native app? What tools would you use?
- What is Virtual DOM? How do React and React Native utilize it?
- What stylesheet.create is? What is it used for?
- Can native technology code be combined with React Native? If yes, in what situations would you do so?
- What is Promise in JavaScript?
- How JavaScript IIFE works?
Assembling a team of IT experts
React Native developers can provide you with all the needed tech base for your project, but there are so many more variables that influence your product’s success. To make your app look attractive, you need a great designer. To understand the needs of your customers, a data analytics expert will be useful. And to manage it all, experts like IT project managers and product owners will come in handy.
How to make sure the team is fully set up to make your product successful? Contact our experts at Ideamotive who can quickly link you up with top IT professionals experienced in your industry and with projects similar to yours.
